01/04/2009

Other NI News In Brief

Falls Garage Alert 'Hoax'

The PSNI confirmed today that a west Belfast security alert, which forced residents to leave their homes on Tuesday near a petrol station, was declared a hoax around 2.15am this morning. Part of the Falls Road between Broadway and Donegall Road was closed off during the alert which began about 10pm last night and was dealt with by the Army's bomb disposal team, (remote-controlled bomb 'robot' pictured).

Vehicles Highjacked Around Lurgan

Two days of disruption continued for a time on Tuesday with two Belfast security alerts - both of which were declared hoaxes - and a series of vehicle highjackings in Co Armagh. A gang of masked men attacked seven vehicles during a nine-hour period in Lurgan, police have said. They targeted NIE, Royal Mail, Northern Ireland Water and other business vehicles. However, on a separate occasion, residents came to the assistance of a postman, and fought off the would-be hijackers.

See: Hoax Security Alerts Close School

Republican Sources Help Anti-Terror Fight

It has been revealed that information from the republican community in Northern Ireland played a crucial role in the recent arrests over the security force killings, the NI First Minister said on Tuesday. Peter Robinson said that senior police testified to the co-operation of nationalists after charging three people over the murder of a policeman and one over the killings of two soldiers. After Monday's widespread disruption caused by the dissidents, he said there was "no hiding place for those involved in terrorism" and that unionists should not under-estimate the importance of Sinn Feín's support for the police in bringing to justice those with whom they were once associated.

Which? Slams NI Airports

A study, commissioned by Which? yesterday placed both NI's main airports in the lower half of a league table of such UK facilities. Both George Best City and Belfast International airports have scored badly in the customer satisfaction survey looking at parking, shopping and eating facilities. The City Airport received an overall customer score of 55%, with it's parking voted the worst in the UK.

NIHE Installs New Boilers

Over 2,600 households across Northern Ireland have been making savings of up to £170 off their fuel bill after the Housing Executive installed oil condensing boilers. The Housing Executive has teamed up with OFTEC, the body for registered professionals in the oil heating industry, to promote the fitting of efficient A or B boilers across all households in line with current regulations.

(BMcC/JM)

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'Small Bomb' Found During Security Alert
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