Other NI News In Brief

Soldiers' Murders: Man Questioned

A man has been arrested in connection with the Real IRA murders of Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey, (pictured) who were shot dead outside Massereene barracks in Antrim in March this year. The two young soldiers were the first to be murdered in Northern Ireland in 12 years. The 47-year-old, who was arrested in Belfast on Tuesday, is also being questioned about five attempted murders during the attack.

Search Continues For Missing Man

A search for a man who went missing on the north Antrim coast has resumed today (Wednesday). Kenneth Thompson, of Station Road, Garvagh, was last seen in Portrush on Saturday afternoon. The 65-year-old's car was found parked at Ballycastle harbour. The search, which was called off for the night, was hampered by severe weather conditions. The Portrush lifeboat was launched and a Royal Navy helicopter and a police helicopter searched the area. The search area includes the coast from the Giant's Causeway to Fair Head, near Ballycastle.

Ulster Museum Reopens

Tomorrow will see one of Northern Ireland's most popular attractions re-open its doors after undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment. The Ulster Museum closed in October 2006 to allow a £17m renovation to take place with the new-look building expected to soon be attracting record numbers of visitors.

Céad Míle Fáilte On Policing

The Northern Ireland Policing Board will hold its second Irish Language public engagement meeting today. It takes place in The Hilton Hotel, Belfast from 7.00 – 9.00pm. Members of the Irish language community will be given the opportunity to question NI Policing Board Members and the Assistant Chief Constable for Urban Region on current and future policing issues and the procedures the PSNI have put in place to help make policing more accessible to the Irish speaking community. The Board will also outline its approach to community engagement and how it is working in partnership with sections of the community to help build safer communities.

NI Hotel Rates Dips

Competition for custom in the economic downturn has hit profits at hotels in Belfast with rates for rooms down by 25% in a year. However, despite the recession, the hotels are still attracting visitors and there is evidence the drop in numbers may have bottomed out, according to business advisors PricewaterhouseCoopers, who said that Belfast was not performing as badly as it might seem.

Ruane Refuses Nursery Proposals

The NI Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has turned down two development proposals for the establishment of statutory nursery units to replace existing voluntary playgroups at Oakwood and Cranmore Integrated Primary Schools. "Each development proposal must be carefully considered on the basis of all the information pertinent to the individual case and against the backdrop of statutory and policy requirements. There are already existing established and successful playgroups that are offering quality provision for pre-school age children. The Early Years policy is not to displace good quality pre-school provision already in existence, with provision in an alternative setting," she said today.

(BMcC/KMcA)