PSNI Opens New 'Eye In Sky'

A new, twin-engine, £7m helicopter is to be used to "strengthen the fight against crime in Northern Ireland and to make communities safer". The Eurocopter EC 145 can carry 10 people and has space for two stretcher casualties in rescue situations. The new helicopter will be used alongside the existing helicopter which is five-years-old.

Brake On Fakes

Trading Standards are warning traders and consumers to be extremely vigilant when purchasing car parts following a recent seizure of unsafe counterfeit brake pads. The brake pads, branded as Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda and Audi were seized at properties in Belfast and Armagh following a tip-off from the Volkswagen group. An examination of the brake pads revealed that they were highly dangerous, failing to meet the required breaking friction levels and only held together by glue. The test concluded that the fakes would not obtain R90 approval - the European legal standard for brake pads.

Asda Praise Over Booze

The Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew has welcomed Asda's decision not to continue offering below cost price alcohol and has encouraged all other supermarkets to follow their lead in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviour and to reduce the damage alcohol is doing to society. "Alcohol has never before been more readily available and cheaper than today and numerous supermarkets slashing prices has helped lead to this phenomena. What we need to see is either co-operation from all of the supermarkets or the enforcement of a minimum price strategy," she said.

Remains Investigation Continues

Gardaí have resumed a search for human remains at a wooded area in Ballyfolan, Co Wicklow, where a human skull, skeletal remains and personal artefacts were discovered last week. DNA tests are ongoing to determine if the remains are those of missing Dublin man Paul Byrne. Mr Byrne, who is a father of two children, was last seen getting into a car outside his home on July 15th, 2009. His family fear he was murdered and his body hidden. Garda dog teams and technical units have been searching the area for several days following the discovery of the skull by forestry workers last Thursday.

City Staff On Picket

Administrative staff are expected to gather outside Belfast City Hospital today to protest over plans to slash 50 medical secretary jobs and downgrade a further 120. It has been organised by the Northern Ireland Public Sector Alliance who claim the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has so far refused to reveal the full details of the proposals which they fear could lead to a drop in pay for those affected.

(BMcC/GK)