Three in court on rioting charges

30 July 2011 Last updated at 16:08 GMT The three appeared over rioting in Ardoyne and east Belfast Three alleged rioters, including a 15-year-old boy, have been released on bail after appearing in court in Belfast.

Two of those who appeared on Saturday were accused of involvement in rioting in the Ardoyne area on 12 July.

The teenager was allegedly involved in trouble at the east Belfast interface.

Police have now arrested 27 people for involvement in the Ardoyne trouble. Officers came under attack from people throwing missiles following a contentious parade in the area.

The court heard that Joseph Rainey, 18, from Flax Street in Belfast admitted throwing missiles at police lines on two occasions in Ardoyne and had accepted that "his behaviour had been disgraceful".

District judge Amanda Henderson said she was only granting bail because of the accused's limited record and acceptance of guilt during interviews.

Ronan Kerr

Objecting to bail for the 15-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, a detective constable revealed that when told to sign paperwork, he had replied: "Do you want me to sign this as Ronan Kerr?"

She also said that he had been involved in rioting at the same time last year and had also been questioned about other incidents in recent months.

The detective said the public had a right to be protected from the teen.

The judge said she would grant bail, but only because of his age and because an address in County Down had been put forward for the boy to go to live with his grandmother.

The teenager was ordered to be electronically tagged, observe a nightime curfew and not to wear a hoodie or baseball cap or other clothing that could conceal his identity.

The court also heard that Martin Brannigan, 25, from Monagh Drive in west Belfast had accepted getting a bus from his house to north Belfast to watch the riot.

However, he allegedly became involved and was identified on CCTV throwing masonry at police.

All three who appeared in court were also ordered to stay 500 metres away from any parade.

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Man arrested following car crash

30 July 2011 Last updated at 11:10 GMT The crash happened in the early hours of Saturday morning A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit after a car crash in County Armagh on Saturday.

The crash happened at Drumintee Road in Meigh in the early hours of the morning.

A woman was taken to hospital for treatment for serious leg injuries.

Two other men and a woman was also hospitalised. Their injuries are not believed to be serious.

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SF has biggest income of parties

28 July 2011 Last updated at 15:39 GMT Sinn Fein continued to have the largest income of all the main parties in Northern Ireland last year - taking in more than ?1.2m.

The party spent less than it took in and remains in the black by ?76,960.

The figures, published by the Electoral Commission, also reveal that the DUP and the SDLP are in the red.

The Ulster Unionists show a healthier balance than previous years with income of around ?440,000 and a balance sheet in the black by around ?40,000.

UUP treasurer Mark Cosgrove said he was delighted his party "continued to show a good set of financial figures and looked forward to maintaining these in the future".

Continue reading the main story

DUP: Income of ?268,456; spent ?335,678 - net loss of ?67,222

Sinn Fein: Income of ?1,289,335; spent ?1,212,375 - ?76,960 in the black.

UUP: Income of ?440,949; spent ?398,295 - ?42,654 in the black.

SDLP: Income of ?346,946; spent ?413,238 - net loss of ?66,292

Meanwhile, the SDLP is refusing to comment on whether or not some staff have been given notice.

The party's chief executive Michael Savage told the BBC that the SDLP did not comment on staffing matters.

He added the party's financial position was similar to other organisations across Europe especially on the back of election campaigns.

"I acknowledge the party has a deficit which we are addressing as an organisation and a plan is in place to deal with that," he said.

Accounts were also filed by the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland.

It took in ?408,127 and spent ?391,359 leaving it in the black by ?16,768.

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Fine for Facebook 'bullet' poster

29 July 2011 Last updated at 13:57 GMT Darryl O'Donnell said he had no regrets about what he posted A 31-year-old chef convicted of posting a menacing message about DUP MP Gregory Campbell on Facebook has been fined ?500 and given a suspended jail term.

Darryl O'Donnell a father of two from Belvedere Park, Londonderry, posted that Mr Campbell "should get a bullet in the head".

It followed comments attributed to Mr Campbell in June of last year about the Saville report into Bloody Sunday.

O'Donnell was given a five month jail sentence suspended for three years.

In his sentencing at Londonderry Magistrates Court, District Judge Barney McElholm said Mr Campbell was entitled to state his opinion whether or not people agreed with what he said.

The district judge said O'Donnell's comments were menacing and offensive and should not have been posted on Facebook.

He said O'Donnell who has 22 previous convictions, 11 of them for public order offences, did not come before the court with clean hands.

'Engage his brain'

Mr McElholm imposed another five month suspended sentence consecutively on O'Donnell plus a ?200 fine when he admitted committing disorderly behaviour at Guildhall Square on 19 May.

Mr McElholm said when Mr O'Donnell opened his mouth he did not seem to engage his brain first and said that only for the fact that he had recently got a job he would be going to jail.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell was the subject of the comment

Following his Facebook sentencing O'Donnell said he was glad it was all over but added he had no regrets.

Commenting on the sentencing, Mr Campbell said: "I reported the comments to the police because of their menacing and threatening nature.

"Just as it is wrong to make such menacing comments against an individual using traditional communication tools it is equally wrong to make the comments through new media."

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Olympics-double dream

29 July 2011 Last updated at 05:19 GMT By Nikki Gregg BBC Sport Jason Smyth faces a tough heat in the 100 metres at the European Championships in Barcelona Comparisons to the fastest man in history aren't easily earned.

A matter of weeks after Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt dominated the opposition on his way to Olympic glory in Beijing, Jason Smyth became the star turn of the Paralympic sprint competition.

He proved himself to be a class apart as he won gold medals in the 100m and 200m, both in world record times.

"It seems so long ago now," he said.

"Also, how quickly the time has flown past. Here we are, a year away from London and, hopefully, I'll be in good shape to do something similar."

Jason is a visually impaired athlete. He has Sargardt's disease, which is a hereditary condition.

Since his success in Beijing, the 24 year-old has been clocking up milestones, becoming the first Paralympian to compete at the European Championships. He reached the semi-finals in Barcelona and this year set a new Northern Irish record at 100 metres.

For the past two seasons Jason has trained in Florida alongside some of the sport's highest profile names, such as former world champion Tyson Gay. Results and confidence show Jason has blossomed in that elite company.

His ambition now is to "double up" and sprint in both the Olympics and Paralympics next summer, which would be a first. At present he is just four one-hundredths of a second outside the qualifying standard for the mainstream competition in London - and his attempt to double up is inevitably attracting a lot of interest.

"Yes I want to qualify and get the Olympic 'A' standard." he told me.

"But it's more about being the best I can be, achieving my potential. Another thing, I suppose, especially for people with disabilities, is that it shows that nothing's impossible.

"That if you want to do something, if you put in the work, it's very much achievable."

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Man injured in work accident dies

29 July 2011 Last updated at 13:42 GMT The accident happened at the JTI factory in Ballymena A man critically injured in an industrial accident in Ballymena on Monday morning has died.

It is understood a piece of machinery fell on the man as it was being serviced. It happened at the JTI plant in the town.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the circumstances.

In a statement on Friday it said: "Heath and Safety Executive NI has been informed by the PSNI that the injured party has passed away this morning."

The man's name has not yet been released.

The JTI plant was formerly the Gallaher cigarette factory.

District journalist Nicola Weir said: "I'm being told that the man was part of a team that was servicing a robotic arm used at the JTI plant.

"It appears that during the servicing this arm fell onto the man and trapped him on scaffolding."

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Man injured in iron bar assault

31 July 2011 Last updated at 08:54 GMT Police have appealed for witnesses to the assault A man has been assaulted by three men wielding iron bars in west Belfast.

The attack happened at Arundel Walk off the Grosvenor Road at about 2245 BST on Saturday night.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for a leg injury and bruising. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Anyone who has any information about what happened is asked to contact detectives at Grosvenor Road PSNI station or the Crimestoppers charity.

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Men assaulted and robbed by gang

27 July 2011 Last updated at 10:30 GMT Two men have been injured after being assaulted and robbed by a group of people in Portrush.

It happened at Causeway Street in the town at about 11:15 BST on Tuesday. Police said a number of people, both male and female, were involved.

It is believed one man suffered head injuries and the other man a laceration to his head. Neither's injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

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Pipe bomb found in Crossgar alert

31 July 2011 Last updated at 08:46 GMT Police cordoned off an area of Crossgar on Saturday morning A pipe bomb has been discovered in a County Down village after a security alert on Saturday.

People living near the scene of the alert at Drumnaconagher Road, Crossgar, were asked to leave their homes after a suspicious object was found.

Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion and confirmed it was a pipe bomb.

Meanwhile, the Army removed a suspected firearm at Blackstown Road in Crumlin on Friday evening.

A police spokesperson said the item was found wrapped in bed linen.

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Man held on loyalist murder freed

30 July 2011 Last updated at 19:04 GMT Bobby Moffett's murder has been blamed on the UVF A 55-year-old man arrested on Saturday by detectives investigating the murder of Bobby Moffett has been released without charge.

Police said he was detained in the north Belfast area on Saturday morning.

Mr Moffett, a former loyalist prisoner, was shot dead by two masked gunmen on the Shankill Road in May last year.

The International Monitoring Commission said the killing was sanctioned by the UVF. A number of people have been arrested but no-one has been charged.

The leader of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionist Party, Dawn Purvis, resigned from the party in protest at the murder.

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Long reach

28 July 2011 Last updated at 16:11 GMT By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI Politics Show presenter Nama controls a number of property developments, some complete and others unfinished The Republic of Ireland's so-called bad bank, the National Asset Management Agency, has released details of properties it has repossessed.

But what does it tell us about the agency's impact north of the border?

Whenever the great property crash hit Ireland at the end of 2007, the Irish banks were stuck with billions of pounds of loans secured on property that was worth a lot less than those loans.

With so much bad debt the banks couldn't function, so the government created the National Asset Management Agency - Nama.

It relieved the banks of the burden, but passed it on to Irish taxpayers.

Now Nama manages billions of debt on a vast array of property connected to Irish banks in the Republic, Northern Ireland and further afield.

Previously Nama has said that it had taken over ?3.5bn of property loans in Northern Ireland. On Thursday we got a first glimpse of that.

The agency has published a list of properties whose developers they have put into receivership. There are houses, sites, a factory and even a pub.

Every county in Northern Ireland now has Nama-controlled properties.

The vast-majority - 49 - are in County Down. That's down to one developer whose properties feature for sale in the latest Belfast Telegraph property section.

Huge slump

Two full pages are from this Nama stable - you can pick up a shell apartment for ?40,000 or a seven bedroom home in Dromore, previously marketed for close to ?1m, for a mere ?400,000.

Why does this matter?

The property market in Northern Ireland is in a huge slump. Nama controls more property here than anyone else - by a mile.

The big worry for local politicians was that Nama might sell everything at a knock-down price.

That is not happening - because it is not in Nama's interests to do so.

But effectively Nama sets the level of the Northern Ireland property market so every move it makes is carefully watched and scrutinised.

Thursday's detail is just the tip of the iceberg as it includes only cases of enforcement action.

Many developers with multi-million pound loans are still trading away because Nama have judged that's the best chance they have of getting some money back at some stage.

So we have much, much more to learn about Nama and its ultimate impact on the value of not just these properties, but every home, office building, and piece of land in Northern Ireland.

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Man accused of sex attack on girl

26 July 2011 Last updated at 13:46 GMT Bishop Street courthouse A Londonderry man has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the city on Sunday night.

James Gallagher, 62, from St Columb's Wells, is accused of assaulting the girl at Bay Road.

His solicitor told Londonderry Magistrates' Court that his client said it was consensual and that he thought the girl was aged 17 or 18.

Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody for a videolink hearing in three weeks' time.

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Titanic teenager gets headstone

29 July 2011 Last updated at 05:17 GMT The headstone will go up in Belfast City Cemetery A teenager thought to have been the first victim of the Titanic has finally been given a headstone on his grave.

Samuel Scott, 15, fractured his skull whilst working on the ship in 1910. His body has since lain in an unmarked grave in Belfast City Cemetery.

However, a new headstone was unveiled there on Saturday as part of the Feile an Phobail festival.

A new children's book, Spirit Of The Titanic, used the teenager as its main character.

The book, published earlier this year, follows the boy's ghost as it haunts the decks of the ship during its voyage.

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GAA coma man's family in appeal

29 July 2011 Last updated at 17:38 GMT Mark McGovern has been in a coma since the match The family of a gaelic footballer who has been in a coma since a match in the US last month want the opposing team to be suspended from all competitions.

Mark McGovern, 20, from Belcoo in Fermanagh, suffered a head injury in an off-the-ball incident in San Francisco.

His parents and three sisters have maintained a vigil at his hospital bedside for the last five weeks.

They claim the Celts, the team Mark was playing against, are not cooperating fully with the San Francisco police.

In a statement, the Celts said: "The San Francisco Celts continue to hold Mark McGovern and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

"The San Francisco Celts have been, and will continue to co-operate with all investigations regarding the incident."

A GAA spokesman said that the GAA felt it would be inappropriate to comment while there was still an ongoing investigation.

Mark's father, Danny, said he was saddened by what he said was a lack of co-operation from the Celts team.

"They're (the police) getting good co-operation from Mark's team but from the opposing team there's none of them coming up with information.

"They have videos and they're not bringing them up at all," Mr McGovern said.

"I have done my best this week to get them barred completely from playing football.

"They played a football match the following week after Mark's injury.

Continue reading the main story

We're here every day, seven days a week sitting at his bedside being confident and being strong around him because we feel that he knows we are there”

End Quote Sister of coma victim Mark McGovern "I do believe the president of the GAA is flying out to see Mark next Tuesday. We'll put pressure on him to get them suspended."

Mark arrived in the USA for a three-month stint with Ulster San Francisco the week before he was injured.

He was accompanied by two other members of his team Belcoo O'Rahilly's. The opposing Celts side is made up mostly of US-born players.

'Signs of improvement'

Mark was given immediate medical assistance at the scene after he was injured and put into a medically induced coma, from which he has yet to emerge.

Danny said he had shown slight signs of improvement.

"Mark has improved slightly. As they say in the hospital baby steps every day in the right direction," he said.

Mark's sister Connie said the family would stay with him until they could bring him home.

"We're here every day, seven days a week sitting at his bedside being confident and being strong around him because we feel that he knows we are there," she said.

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Red Sky company being taken over

27 July 2011 Last updated at 10:35 GMT The sale of Red Sky's Bel-Air company has saved 60 jobs. A company within the troubled Red Sky construction group has been taken over.

Bel-Air Refrigeration, bought by Red Sky a few years ago, has been run by administrators since the whole group went into administration in April.

The acquisition by Belfast-based BI Electrical Services will safeguard 60 jobs within Bel-Air.

The Housing Executive terminated all its maintenance contracts with Red Sky amid allegations over the company's work practices.

BI Electrical Services (NI) Ltd, a specialist in commercial and industrial electrical installation contracts and maintenance, acquired the trade and assets of Bel-Air for an undisclosed sum

Managing director Ian Humphreys said the company intended to build on the 60 jobs saved.

He said Bel-Air had increased its order book in the past two months "in excess of ?1m with new works".

"Whilst Bel-Air has been acquired by new owners it will continue trading as normal.

"The acquisition of Bel-Air provides a strategic fit with our existing business, providing electrical services to the public and private sector across Northern Ireland.

He said the two companies would continue to trade independently.

Mark Montgomery of Bel-Air Services, who has worked for the company for over 20 years, said the acquisition provides a solid foundation for continued growth.

He said: "The acquisition secures the future of Bel-Air given that BI Electrical Services is a very well established business and there will be new opportunities that will arise as a result."

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Attwood in bid to save blaze mill

30 July 2011 Last updated at 19:50 GMT Environment Minister Alex Attwood has vowed to help "save and protect" the listed Tyrone mill badly damaged in a fire on Saturday.

Fire crews battled for hours to contain the blaze which broke out at Herdman's Mill in Sion Mills in the early hours.

Fire crews were first alerted at about 0120 BST but the blaze later re-ignited and burned for several hours.

Mr Attwood said he would work to save the mill which featured in the BBC television series Restoration in 2003.

Last week, Ulster Bank appointed a receiver to the building.

The move ended more than 170 years of ownership for the Herdman family.

The former owners of the historic mill said they feared it may have been completely destroyed by the fire.

Forty fire officers were needed to deal with the blaze which was brought under control in the late afternoon.

Fire-fighters, who used two high-reach appliances while battling the blaze, are expected to remain at the scene until late on Saturday.

Mr Attwood said: "Our built heritage is a vital cog in our tourism industry and this fire greatly concerns me.

"The fire at the Mill damages a jewel in our built heritage... I have already raised my concern with my staff at the Environment Agency and other officials about the increase in fires at important at-risk buildings this year and we are urgently examining what needs to be done."

Senior fire officer Mark Deeney said: "It was a quite difficult fire to fight. Because of the previous fires, the building was very structurally unsound.

'Access problems'

"We have had a minor collapse at the rear of the building overnight because of the previous fire.

"You can also see the fire has spread into the roof area which provides us with problems for access."

It had been hoped to redevelop the 60-acre site which dominates the village.

Celia Ferguson, a member of the Herdman family and a trustee of the Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust, said she was "watching the most important industrial building in Ireland being destroyed by fire".

She said it was because of the "neglect of funders to do anything with the building".

She added: "It's a tragedy not just for Sion Mills, but for the whole northwest."

Strabane District Council chairman Brian McMahon said there was a "palpable sense of loss in the local community" at the devastation.

The Sinn Fein councillor, speaking from the scene, said: ""While the full extent of the damage will not become clear for a few days, this fire has undoubtedly delivered a setback in the efforts to redevelop the mill and the 60-acre site it stands on for the socio-economic benefit of the people of this area.

"However, this setback will hopefully reinforce everyone's determination to forge ahead."

Herdman's Mill, the last wet-spinning flax mill in Ireland, was opened during the potato famine.

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Woman assaulted by two masked men

30 July 2011 Last updated at 15:50 GMT Police are seeking two men after a woman suffered a serious sexual assault in north Armagh.

The men, who were masked, entered her house in Drumbeg South in the Monbrief area of Craigavon at about 22:10 BST on Thursday and assaulted the woman.

She was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the assault to contact them.

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Kennedy: No money for A4 bypass

27 July 2011 Last updated at 08:00 GMT As a 'gateway' to the west, the town has suffered from congestion Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has admitted his department does not have the money to build the A4 bypass.

He was speaking after announcing the preferred route for the proposed A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass.

The minister said his job was to have schemes agreed so that when funds became available work could proceed.

The plans are open for public consultation until the end of August.

The route chosen by the minister would lead from the A4 Belfast Road, in the vicinity of the Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, to the A4 Sligo Road, in the vicinity of Ashwoods Road.

It will cross the A509 Derrylin Road en route and extend over four kilometres.

A shorter bypass from the A4 Dublin Road to the A509 Derrylin Road is also a consideration.

Mr Kennedy said he had to be "realistic".

"I have to be absolutely honest and say, as of today, I do not have the money to fund the Enniskillen bypass," he said.

'Competing priorities'

"That is not to say that I, and my officials shouldn't be continuing to bring forward projects and schemes, to put in place the necessary planning permissions and the statutory approvals, so that when money becomes available we can act quickly and proceed with a project of this nature."

The minister said there were "competing priorities" within the entire executive.

"As regional development minister, it is my job to look strategically as to where we want to be in a number of years, not just to say we don't have any money, we can't do anything, but to look forward to the opportunities that are provided by a scheme of this nature."

Mr Kennedy said that when funds became available and if the project went ahead, it would provide "major benefits" in terms of improving safety and journey times for traffic currently passing through the town.

Information on the preferred route corridor for the Enniskillen Southern Bypass along with feedback forms and Roads Service contact details will be available at three public display venues - Enniskillen Town Hall, the public library and the Roads Service Section Office at Castle Barracks.

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Worthington reacts to tough draw

Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland will face matches against Russia and Portugal Manager Nigel Worthington believes the World Cup draw has handed Northern Ireland an exciting challenge.

Worthington's men are in qualifying Group F with Portugal, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

"It looks reasonably tough, but it could have been worse. There is a fair bit of travelling but you have to deal with that," said the NI manager.

"Russia have been a fantastic team for years, Israel are a tough nut to crack and we know the stars Portugal have."

The Republic of Ireland are in Group C with Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan.

The winners of the nine European groups qualify automatically and the eight best runners-up play off for the four places remaining.

Worthington added: "We will look at the home and away games against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan as ones we can take maximum points from. It is never easy until you have actually achieved that.

"Then it is a matter of taking as many as you can from the other three teams in the group.

"It is a brand new competition and a great thing for the supporters to look forward to."

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Norris admits campaign 'trouble'

31 July 2011 Last updated at 09:18 GMT Mr Norris has vowed to continue his presidential campaign despite the problems Irish senator David Norris has vowed to continue his presidential campaign despite admitting his chances of being nominated are "slim".

It has emerged that Mr Norris wrote to an Israeli court pleading for clemency for his former partner Ezra Yizhak who was accused of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in 1992.

The letter said his former partner was a "good and moral person".

A number of people have resigned from Mr Norris' campaign team.

Written on parliamentary notepaper, the letter said that Yizhak had been lured into a "carefully prepared trap" and had unwisely pleaded guilty to the charges.

Mr Norris told the Sunday Independent that he remained absolutely committed to his campaign but it was now "in serious trouble".

He was embroiled in a separate controversy at the end of May over an interview in which he expressed views on paedophilia and incest.

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Green MLA steps down from council

27 July 2011 Last updated at 11:35 GMT Steven Agnew is resigning his seat on North Down Borough Council Green Party MLA Steven Agnew has announced he is stepping down from North Down Borough Council.

Mr Agnew said he was doing so to "focus fully on representing the people of North Down in the Northern Ireland Assembly".

He represented the Abbey Ward and will now be replaced on the council by Green Party activist Dr John Barry.

Mr Agnew said the party was fulfilling its manifesto promise not to engage in "double-jobbing".

"I was very clear prior to the election that should I be elected to both council and the assembly I would pass on my council seat to the best qualified person within the Green Party to represent the people of Abbey.

"I am very confident that Dr John Barry will be a strident political advocate for the area," he said.

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Property company owed banks £83m

28 July 2011 Last updated at 11:03 GMT The Carvill Group was behind a planned redevelopment of the Sirocco Works site in Belfast One of Northern Ireland's leading property firms owed banks around ?83m when it was placed into administration in May.

The details are contained in a report by the administrators of the Carvill Group.

The report said the Ulster Bank and Northern Bank can expect "a significant shortfall" because of the fall in the value of the firm's assets.

Smaller unsecured creditors are unlikely to get any of what they are owed.

They are owed a total of ?2.3m.

They include a County Antrim plastering firm owed ?80,000 and a Belfast architect who is owed ?94,000. The transport company Translink is owed ?118,000.

The administrator said Carvill had seen "unprecedented" growth between 1995 and 2007, but that the business came under increasing pressure from 2007 when the property price bubble burst.

The collapse in house sales reduced Carvill's income while interest payments on the firm's loans continued to mount.

Cost cutting

The administrator singled out the cost of the Sirocco site in Belfast as being particularly significant. The firm bought it in 2006 for a reported ?40m.

The report laid out how the Carvill directors fought to cut costs through redundancies and three rounds of pay cuts.

However, in the months before the administration the business was operating at the limit of its ?10m Northern Bank overdraft with no prospect of the limit being increased.

Northern Bank had also provided the loans for the Embankment apartment development at Stranmillis in south Belfast and a small site in the Donegall Road area.

Ulster Bank funded the Sirocco deal and the development of the Woodbrook 'eco village' near Lisburn.

Carvill also had other significant properties in Dundonald, Dunmurry and Portadown.

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Benefits of breast screening

29 July 2011 Last updated at 10:14 GMT The benefits of breast screening are being scrutinised One woman tells BBC News Online how going for a cancer screening saved her life.

Patricia Kearns from Banbridge was diagnosed with breast cancer after being screened in 2009.

"In October 2008 my sister put both our names down in Gordon's Chemists as it was breast cancer awareness month," she said.

Three months later she got a call from Action Cancer to arrange an appointment.

She went to Action Cancer in February and had a mammogram.

Within a week she was recalled: "I had no lumps or history."

"I attended the City Hospital in Belfast where I had five little white pin dots, which they had picked up, removed," she said.

"I was told I could have cancer in any part of my body within a year, five years or 10 years down the line.

"In May I went and had a mastectomy and reconstruction where I had six lymph nodes removed and three of those had cancer cells."

'Shock'

Patricia had more surgery in June to get the rest of the lymph nodes removed. A month later she began a course of chemotherapy.

Patricia Kearns said her story could have been very different if she had not gone for a screening

"To be fit and well and not worried about anything, it was such a shock to my system," she said.

"I have to be really grateful to Action Cancer that they have that service for all women to take up because my story could have been a lot different."

She said a lot of her friends have since gone for screening because of her story.

"I was very very lucky," she said.

I have met girls who in their 30s were diagnosed with breast cancer. Even women in their late 30s and early 40s who have been diagnosed as well, so early screening definitely pays off."

She thinks women who do not take up the offer of free screening are "scared and afraid to be told they have cancer".

Patricia urged them to reconsider not attending.

"It is a shock to the system, but there are organisations there to help you through the different stages. I am grateful for the help and support I received," she said.

"My story could have been a lot different."

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Donegal 1-12 0-14 Kildare

Kildare's Eamonn Callaghan fends off the challenge of Donegal opponent Paddy McGrath Donegal are through to the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Championship after a sensational win over Kildare in Dublin.

The Ulster champions scored the last four points in extra-time to snatch a barely believable victory.

Donegal substitute Christy Toye got the only goal of the game and Kevin Cassidy landed the match-winning point.

Kildare will feel they should have won in regular time as they had a goal controversially disallowed for a square ball when three up in the second half.

They were three points up early in the second half when Tomas O'Connor netted after John Doyle's effort had come off an upright.

It did not count and soon afterwards Toye struck his goal.

Toye, plagued by injuries in recent seasons, had been on the pitch for just a few seconds having come on as a substitute for Colm McFadden.

Continue reading the main story Kildare free-taker Eoghan O'Flaherty was coached by Ireland rugby star Ronan O'Gara before the gameDonegal manager Jim McGuinness played for the county when they won their only All-Ireland title in 1992

Donegal captain Michael Murphy, who had been a doubt with a hamstring injury, did not start the match, but came on in the 26th minute.

Eoghan O'Flaherty, who took on free-taking duties after Doyle sent two wide early on, scored three points in the first half and Padraig O'Neill and Eamonn Callaghan were also on target.

Donegal scored through 17-year-old Patrick McBrearty, Rory Kavanagh and Mark McHugh.

An O'Flaherty free put Kildare 0-6 to 0-3 ahead and then came the disputed decision when referee David Coldrick disallowed what Kildare felt was a perfectly legitimate goal.

That verdict looked all the more crucial when Donegal scored three points in a row - through sub Murphy, Ryan Bradley and Dermot Molloy - to level the contest.

Kildare replacement Alan Smith edged Kildare ahead but then Donegal got the goal when Toye shot home after being found in space.

It looked like the Ulster county were going to defy the bookies' odds but they gave away to much possession and allowed Kildare back.

O'Flaherty slotted over a free from well out on the left and James Kavanagh pulled off an audacious point form play to leave just one point in it.

Kildare got a free in stoppage time and O'Flaherty kept his nerve to sent them match into extra-time.

Kieran McGeeney's men scored the first three points in the added period through Ronan Sweeney, Gary White and Smith while Karl Lacey responded for Donegal.

Emmett Bolton pointed for Kildare but back came Donegal again, reducing the deficit to one after two scores from talisman Murphy.

Toye levelled the match and then with seconds left Cassidy grabbed the victory.

In the semi-finals, Donegal will play either Dublin or Tyrone.

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Tyrone 3-19 1-14 Roscommon

Tyrone's Sean Cavanagh goes on the attack as Cathal Cregg of Roscommon attempts to charge the ball down at Croke Park Tyrone will face Dublin in a mouth-watering All-Ireland football quarter-final on 6 August after an 11-point win over Roscommon at Croke Park.

Outsiders Roscommon had led by four in the first half after a mistake by Tyrone keeper Pascal McConnell led to Karl Mannion scoring a goal.

Tyrone hit back quickly with Sean Cavanagh firing in a low shot after a powerful run through the middle.

Cavanagh and Mark Donnelly got late goals as Tyrone finished strongly.

Apart from the goals, Mickey Harte's men outscored the Connacht runners-up 10 points to six in the second half with a workmanlike performance.

However, they know they will probably have to up their game when they return to headquarters for the clash with Dublin.

Continue reading the main story This was the first time Tyrone and Roscommon had met in the ChampionshipTyrone had nine different scorers in the second half

Roscommon went into the game 11-2 outsiders but there was never more than a single point between the sides until Mannion's 26th-minute goal.

Cathal Cregg's high dropping ball should have been dealt with by keeper McConnell but he punched it straight to Mannion who blasted into the net.

Tyrone, however, responded with a goal of their own just two minutes later.

Four-times All Star Cavanagh set off in a charge through the middle and finished with a strong, low left-foot shot.

Cavanagh got the last point of the half, his third overall, to give Tyrone a slender 1-9 to 1-8 interval advantage.

Tyrone's other points had come from Kevin Hughes, Kyle Coney (2), Brian McGuigan, Peter Harte and Colm Cavanagh.

On target for Roscommon were Cregg, Donie Shine (3), Senan Kilbride (3), and Darren McDermott.

Tyrone were fortunate to be in the lead as Roscommon had put eight attempts wide, including seemingly straightforward frees by Shine.

Mannion landed a point from play to level matters early in the second half but Tyrone rattled off five points without reply through Brian McGuigan, Mark Donnelly, Philip Jordan, Harte and Sean O'Neill.

McDermott, Shine and Mannion kept Roscommon hopes alive while Owen Mulligan, a half-time substitute, scored for Tyrone.

Colm Cavanagh, Conor Gormley and two Harte frees swelled Tyrone's tally before Cavanagh went through for his second goal.

Goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey was soon picking the ball out of the net for a third time as Donnelly put a gloss on the scoreline.

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Plans for 280 jobs in North West

27 July 2011 Last updated at 08:32 GMT The Fort George site Londonderry's urban regeneration company, Ilex, has confirmed plans to build a cross-border regional science park.

It would be based at two sites: the former army base at Fort George in Derry and at Letterkenny Institute of Technology.

Ilex said the venture could create up to 280 high-paid technology jobs.

Chief executive Aideen McGinley said they were currently involved in discussions with private investors.

"A year ago, we had nobody asking us about Fort George. We now have a number of interests from outside," she said.

"We have at least two good leads in terms of local and international interest."

She said the cross-border dimension of the project was very important.

"That starts to get us an all-Ireland presence and we really do make ourselves the digital capital of the island."

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Thousands turn up for gay parade

30 July 2011 Last updated at 16:47 GMT Thousands of people lined the streets of Belfast city centre for the annual Gay Pride parade on Saturday.

Now in its 21st year, the Belfast parade is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Ireland and in the top ten in the UK.

Small religious protests were held along the route but the organisers of the parade said it was good for Belfast.

They said they had gone to significant lengths to make it 'family friendly'.

The parade kicked off a number of events over the weekend including a sports and family fun day in Ormeau Park on Sunday.

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Man 'drove at and killed cousin'

29 July 2011 Last updated at 12:52 GMT Mr Quinn was knocked down on the Gortgonis Road in Coalisland A man allegedly murdered his second cousin by driving straight at him as the victim raised his arms for the car to stop, the High Court has heard.

Declan Quinn was flung into the air and sustained fatal injuries in the hit-and-run collision in Coalisland, County Tyrone, prosecutors said.

The 37-year-old died two days after the 16 July incident

Anthony Quinn, 21, of Maplebrook Hill in the town, is charged with his murder and driving while disqualified.

The court heard the incident was linked to an ongoing dispute between factions of his family.

The accused denies deliberately driving at his cousin.

Anthony Quinn claims he ducked behind the wheel because the victim was standing in the road with a claw-hammer while another man brandished a gun at him.

He was granted bail but banned from entering Coalisland or driving any car.

Declan Quinn suffered brain injuries, a severed spinal chord, broken neck and two broken legs after being hit by a Vauxhall Corsa on the Gortgonis Road.

'Arms raised'

Crown counsel Kate McKay said: "It was alleged the applicant drove directly at Declan Quinn, knocking him over the car bonnet and into the air before making off from the scene."

Witnesses claimed the deceased was one of two men chasing the vehicle on foot, but had stood on the road with both arms raised for it to stop, according to the prosecution.

Anthony Quinn voluntarily went to police a day after his second cousin died, and denied intentionally driving at him.

Opposing bail, Mrs McKay claimed there was a risk he could flee Northern Ireland.

Continue reading the main story

As far as he was concerned the window had either been hit by a bullet or the claw-hammer.”

End Quote Neil Rafferty Defence lawyer She said it was believed he was taken to County Kildare after the incident where he has family links.

Concern for his own safety was raised, with the court told: "This is something which has raised public hackles in the area where it happened."

Neil Rafferty, defending, said his client had been at his grandmother's house when his father made a panic phone call that three men were trying to break into his home.

The alleged intruders were said to be armed with a gun, sledgehammer and claw-hammer.

"The next thing the defendant heard is his father saying 'they are in' and the phone went dead," Mr Rafferty said.

He told the court the house had been wrecked, and that Anthony Quinn was chased by a Mercedes car and other alleged raiders on foot after he arrived at the scene.

One of them raised a gun, while Declan Quinn waived a hammer at him, it was claimed.

Mr Rafferty said: "This defendant ducked down behind the dashboard and continued to drive, simply to get away.

"He heard a bang and glass came in and he drove off. As far as he was concerned the window had either been hit by a bullet or the claw-hammer.

"It was not until that evening that he found out the tragedy that Declan Quinn, his cousin, had been hit."

Dealing with fears of further violence, Mr Rafferty added: "It has been indicated through the family that there will be nothing more."

Granting bail, Lord Justice Girvan ordered the accused to live at an undisclosed address outside Coalisland.

The judge also ordered him to surrender any passports, banned him from leaving Northern Ireland or contacting witnesses in the case, and told him to report to police daily.

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Money to burn

29 July 2011 Last updated at 05:12 GMT By Colletta Smith BBC NI Business Reporter A stove like this is saving a lot of money for a Magherafelt businessman We are all feeling the squeeze when it comes to oil and gas prices.

Utility bills are sky high, and if you are a business with a big premises to heat then you will be especially sensitive to it.

Paul Stewart runs the JC Stewart supermarket in Magherafelt and he has found an alternative.

Paul has converted his heating system to Biomass wood pellets, but he said it is not a step back to the olden days of heating a building by wood-burning fires. This is the new generation of stoves.

The story begins at a factory in Enniskillen. Most of the goods being piled into the lorries leaving Balcas are big timber orders for construction sites, or posts for fencing.

But there is plenty of sawdust left over and the company have realised that there is money to made.

Now they sell Brites wood pellets, made from compressed wood residue. And that is what Paul Stewart has opted to use as his fuel shop's heating and hot water systems.

He said: "While oil and gas prices are fluctuating, at least I know how much I'll be paying, and it's normally cheaper."

According to Paul it is not only made good business, it's also improved the company's carbon footprint. Biofuel stoves are recommended by the Carbon Trust, and his firm managed to get a loan from them to cover the switch over.

He says it is saving him money and giving another local firm an extra source of income from selling their by-product.

"It's a win-win situation," said Paul.

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Rory has a swipe... McIlroy Twitter row at Irish Open

28 July 2011 Last updated at 16:21 GMT The US Open champion had a disappointing first round at the Irish Open in Killarney Northern Ireland's US Open champion Rory McIlroy has stumbled into a row on Twitter at the Irish Open in Killarney.

The 22-year-old responded to criticism of his first round 70 in Killarney from BBC radio commentator Jay Townsend.

McIlroy replied "your opinion means nothing" to Townsend on the social networking site.

McIlroy's opening round was spoiled by a double bogey on the 18th, ruining his promising start.

All three of Northern Ireland's recent major winners - McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell - are playing in the competition. As is the Republic's three-time major winner Padraig Harrington.

McIlroy was four under after 10 holes but bogeyed the 11th and then found the water with an iron shot at the 18th.

Townsend, a former European Tour player who now works for BBC radio, tweeted: "McIlroy's course management was shocking. Some of the worst course management I have ever seen beyond under-10 boys' golf competition."

McIlroy quickly replied: "Shut up ... you're a commentator and a failed golfer, your opinion means nothing!"

When asked about the exchange McIlroy said: "Well I stand by my caddie".

The US Open winner has had JP Fitzgerald on his bag since the middle of his first full season as a professional in 2008.

"He's been having a go at JP every now and again since then and this was the first time I've responded - it was the straw that broke the camel's back," said McIlroy.

"Now I've blocked him on Twitter so I won't be reading anything more."

India's Jeev Milkha Singh currently leads the tournament on eight under par.

McDowell lies one over while newly crowned Open champion Clarke finished with a two under round of 69.

'Hard to take'

McIlroy had begun his day brightly with birdies at the fourth, sixth, eighth and 10th holes before falling down the leaderboard.

"I put myself in a good position but my second nine was pretty disappointing," said McIlroy.

"I played some scrappy golf on the way in and a six at the last is hard to take, but I'm still not too far away.

"The course is in great condition and has been set up really nicely.

"The greens are a little slow but at least you can be aggressive with your putts."

McDowell carded two birdies and three bogeys as he struggled to an unconvincing 72.

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Corporation tax cost rises £100m

20 July 2011 Last updated at 10:01 GMT NI corporation tax cut estimate rises by over ?100m

The estimated annual cost of devolving corporation tax to Northern Ireland has increased by more than ?100m according to new Treasury figures.

If Stormont gains the power to lower corporation tax, it must compensate the UK government by a corresponding cut in the amount of money it receives each year for spending.

A previous Treasury estimate put that at around ?300m.

It is understood it has now presented a revised figure of about ?400m.

The reason for the increase is that the latest figure includes estimates for the profits earned by large UK companies - such as Tesco - who operate in Northern Ireland but declare their profits in Great Britain.

It is thought that if corporation tax is lowered, some of those companies may declare their Northern Ireland profits here.

Factoring in these so-called branch profits has increased the potential cost of devolution by a third.

Ministers and officials at Stormont are seeking further information from the Treasury over how the figure was worked out and believe other mitigating factors could bring the final figure down.

Negotiation

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said on Wednesday that he could not confirm the latest figure, but that if the original estimate of a ?300m cut in the block grant was to increase it would be "even more challenging" for Northern Ireland.

He said if the cost was too high it would "deflate the economy immediately".

"We would be wanting to talk to the Treasury about just how feasible the whole situation would be," he added.

"However, there is considerable room for negotiation with the government over what other taxes you include, how much tax do they assume will be moved to Northern Ireland and the administration costs.

"That amounts to a couple of hundred million pounds and that is the kind of thing we need to talk to the government about."

The Treasury consultation on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy, which included discussion of the devolution of the powers to set corporation tax closed on 8 July.

More than 700 responses have been received.

Low rates of corporation tax are considered an important means of attracting overseas investment.

The overall UK rate is 26% and will fall by 5% over the next four years, but will still be much higher than the 12.5% rate in the Irish Republic.

Both the first and deputy first ministers have said they want Northern Ireland to be able to set its own corporation tax rates in the future.

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Musgrave group buys Superquinn

19 July 2011 Last updated at 10:59 GMT Most of the Superquinn stores are in the Dublin area Irish supermarket chain Superquinn has been bought by the convenience retail group Musgrave.

Superquinn went into receivership on Monday.

Musgrave own the Supervalu, Centra and Mace brands which operate in Northern Ireland.

Superquinn, which was founded in Dundalk 50 years ago by the entrepreneur Feargal Quinn, was an innovator in the Irish grocery market.

It was the first supermarket to emphasise quality, highlight the source of food and introduce innovations such as online sales and self-scanning.

BBC NI economics and business editor, Jim Fitzpatrick said the chain had faced tough competition in recent times.

"The group, which has 24 stores, mostly in the Dublin area, seems to have been squeezed at both ends of the market by high quality competition from the British groups like Tesco, and low price competition from German retailers like Aldi and Lidl who have done particularly well in these tough economic times," he said.

The deal, if approved by the competition authority, will create a food retailer to rival Tesco's 27% share of the Irish grocery market.

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Victim 'was stabbed with crowbar'

22 July 2011 Last updated at 15:28 GMT A crowbar may have been used to stab a man through the neck in a feud in Belfast, a court has heard.

Joe Henry is still fighting for his life after the attack in the Markets area on 2 July.

James McCormick, 42, with an address at Friday Bridge, Berkley Street, Birmingham, was in court in Belfast on Friday charged with his attempted murder.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody.

Opposing bail, a detective said police believe the attack on 2 July was part of an ongoing feud.

He told the court two men are believed to have come to the door of the house, stabbed the man through the neck with a jemmy bar and beaten him about the body.

Mr McCormick was remanded in custody to appear again next month via video-link.

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City gets all dressed up with banner display

21 July 2011 Last updated at 13:40 GMT 'The Birds' represent the display of aerial acrobatics by starlings on the Queen's and Albert bridges The first of 400 patterned banners have been unfurled in Belfast as part of a so-called "city dressing" project.

The banners are to be rolled out at 262 sites across the city, with the first being put up on East Bridge Street.

Featuring 12 themed patterns, the colourful banners aim to welcome visitors as well as making Belfast's streets brighter and attractive.

They are themed on patterns unique to Belfast including the Dome of City Hall, the stain glass window of Clonard Monastery and Harland and Wolff's iconic cranes.

Costing ?81,000, the quirky banners will be sited in the centre of Belfast and on arterial routes into the city.

They will be hung from now until November, and will remain on site for three years. New patterns will be introduced at Christmas and throughout 2012 and 2013.

The City Dressing Plan has been developed by Belfast City Council in partnership with Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, Belfast City Centre Management, DRD Roads Service and the Department for Social Development.

To support the initiative and encourage visitors to find out more about the concepts as well as explore the areas represented, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau has launched a new 'patterns of the city' section on www.gotobelfast.com

Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Council's Development Committee, said he was delighted to see the city's streets "all dressed up" to welcome visitors.

The City Hall banner

"These original and quirky designs convey patterns of our city, unique to Belfast's people and heritage," he said.

"We have engaged with locals including our young people from across the city to identify patterns which best represent Belfast.

"The result is a concept which builds on the Belfast brand and celebrates a city which is welcoming, sociable, witty, optimistic and bursting with energy and enthusiasm.

"Innovative and colourful city dressing attracts both business and people to cities and is a key part of using our streets to convey positive messages as well as transforming the look of our city," he added.

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Man in court over police shooting

22 July 2011 Last updated at 12:41 GMT The officer was shot in the arm while chasing suspects in south Croydon A man charged in connection with the suspected attempted murder of an unarmed police officer in London has no direct link to the shooting, a court in Belfast has been told.

Jason Anpomah, 20, was arrested in Belfast along with a 26-year-old man as part of the inquiry into the gun attack last Friday.

The policeman was shot in the arm as he chased three men in south Croydon.

Mr Anpomah denies assisting offenders and withholding information.

The receptionist, with an address at Dunluce Avenue, Belfast, was arrested on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast on Wednesday night.

A house was searched and a number of items were removed for examination.

The 26-year-old suspect was taken back to London for questioning about the alleged attempted murder.

Operation Trident

Mr Anpomah's lawyer, Dennis Boyd, told Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday that his client denied the allegations against him.

Mr Boyd told the court the charges were linked to a wider inquiry being run by Operation Trident, the Metropolitan Police Service unit set up to investigate gun crime among London's black community.

He added: "There is no suggestion that this man is linked to that attempted murder."

Mr Anpomah did not apply for bail.

He was remanded in custody for a week, to appear again via video-link.

Another two men, aged 21 and 22, have already been charged in connection with the incident.

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Major search for missing teenager

16 July 2011 Last updated at 11:05 GMT A teenager who went missing overnight after falling from a pier in Donegal had been enjoying a birthday celebration.

The 17-year-old man, believed to be from Derry, fell into the water at Rathmullan pier, Donegal at about 0130 BST on Saturday.

Irish police, the coastguard and lifeboat crews have taken part in overnight searches along the lough.

The youth's family are keeping watch at the pier where he was last seen.

Joe Joyce from Lough Swilly RNLI said an extensive search was carried out overnight fro Rathmullan to Ramelton and Letterkenny.

The coastguard helicopter joined in.

"Conditions were not great. There was a lot of cloud cover and mist. We did a number of parallel searches along the lough using flares to illuminate the area," he said.

"The coastguard and the helicopter were there using infra red technology to detect the person.

"We searched all night."

A diving club and local people are helping look for the missing man.

"I believe it was just a birthday celebration that went wrong," Mr Joyce said.

"I know the family are there on the pier keeping watch."

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Sharp rise in NI suicides

By Debbie Randle
Newsbeat reporter Depression has been an 'ongoing issue' in Northern Ireland There are growing concerns about the suicide rate in Northern Ireland, especially among young men.

That's after figures reached a record level last year.

In other parts of the UK the rates have been falling slightly.

Newsbeat went to one walk-in centre set up for young people in Bangor.

Anyone dealing with a problem, from not being able to find a job, to drinking too much, to being bullied, can drop in here.

'Ongoing issue'

But advisor Karl Williams says he has seen an increase in the number of young people suffering with depression, and more seriously, those who've considered taking their own lives.

Young NI men remember lost friend

"It certainly seems to be coming up more and more now, particularly in young men.

"It has been an ongoing issue in Northern Ireland, certainly since the troubles."

Unlike other parts of the UK, the suicide rate in Northern Ireland has been rising for a while.

A record 313 suicides were registered last year, and a large percentage of those who died were young men.

Karl thinks some of the problem is caused by a loss of identity.

"There are still issues that go on in Northern Ireland that aren't happening elsewhere and those underlying issues still have a major effect, particularly on young men.

"There's pressure on how they fit into society."

The rise in these figures has been linked to a number of factors, including unemployment and the current economic climate.

Suicide rates are twice as high in deprived areas of Northern Ireland - for young men, it's often said to be down to the over-use of alcohol and drugs.

NI youth worker talks about suicide rate increase

One person who visits here regularly is 16-year-old Conor.

Around a year ago he was struggling, he'd got heavily into drink and drugs and it started to have a huge effect on his mental health.

'Felt unwanted'

"Six months into taking cannabis, I was turning on my family.

"I didn't want to speak to anyone. I just didn't think anyone wanted me around at all. I felt unwanted, unloved.

"I thought maybe it was better if I was away and maybe I shouldn't even be here," he explained.

Conor managed to get help before it got any more serious.

Adam and Aaron also come here after their friend Jamie took his own life when he was 17. They found him dead one night after returning from a party.

"It's something that no one should have to see - it will defintely stay with me until the day that I die," Aaron said.

"I still haven't come to terms with it. I feel stupid at times for not seeing the signs," Adam said.

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Tuition fees 'will not increase'

14 July 2011 Last updated at 12:34 GMT There will be no large increases in university tuition fees for students starting courses in 2012, the first and deputy first ministers have confirmed.

They said the fees would only rise in line with inflation.

Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson said they had yet to work out how to take money from other departments to pay for the ?40m shortfall.

They said they would look for the mechanism which caused least pain to other government departments.

The ministers said they should have worked out a method of finding more money and protecting the universities by the time of the next executive meeting in September.

"We believe as an executive that we can deal with the implications of that vis-a-vis the funding," Mr McGuinness said.

Last week Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry tabled a paper for a Northern Ireland Executive meeting suggesting a number of options on fees, but it was not discussed.

Capping the fees at ?3,200 a year plus inflation was considered the most likely option to be adopted.

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Man on school grounds rape charge

14 July 2011 Last updated at 15:36 GMT The alleged attack happened in the grounds of Foyle College on Friday night A 19-year-old man has been charged with raping a teenage girl in Londonderry at the weekend.

The 15-year-old was allegedly attacked in the grounds of Foyle College on the Northland Road on Friday night.

The man has also been charged with aggravated assault and grievous bodily harm with intent.

He will appear before Londonderry Magistrates Court on Friday morning.

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Football team attacked on Twelfth

14 July 2011 Last updated at 13:48 GMT Crumlin Star player Anthony Braniff needed stitches after the attack (picture courtesy of Irish News) Members of a north Belfast football team had to be treated in hospital for injuries including stab wounds after they were attacked on the Twelfth.

The men, who play for Crumlin Star, were on their way home after a day at Dundalk Races when they were targeted at Alliance Avenue.

Up to eight were injured. One suffered a broken leg and fractured foot.

Police confirmed they are investigating the incident which the men believe was sectarian.

Details of the attack were reported in the Irish News on Thursday.

Crumlin Star member Ciaran Reid, said the team had travelled to Dundalk on Tuesday "to get away from the trouble in Belfast".

Facial injuries

He said they were aware of disturbances on the Crumlin Road and as a result their bus driver dropped them off on Alliance Avenue.

"We were walking down in twos and threes - the next thing 30-40 guys with golf clubs, bottles and sticks came running straight at us," he said.

"They caught up with a couple of us and got us on the ground".

Mr Reid said they were not wearing football tops but shirts and ties. However he said the fact that they were walking towards Ardoyne identified them as Catholic.

He suffered a broken leg and fractured foot while another player Anthony Braniff sustained facial injuries and received stitches above his eye.

He said eight players were injured with a number being treated in hospital.

A police spokesman confirmed the attack happened around 2030BST and a motive "had yet to be established".

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Five accused 'intent on revenge'

16 July 2011 Last updated at 12:13 GMT Five men have been charged over the attack Five men arrested in connection with a gang rape and assault that lasted over 12 hours, had nothing to do with the actual attack, a court has heard.

In fact, police feared the five were intent on revenge for that assault.

The men from Lithuania were charged with possessing an offensive weapon and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm in court in Lisburn on Saturday.

The court was told two of the men had gone to police to provide information about a sex assault on Wednesday.

A police officer said the five were arrested as they were carrying out searches at 2230 BST on 14 July at Tandragee Road, Portadown.

A 6in knife, and two metal poles were found in the men's car, police said.

The driver of the car told police they intended to get those who assaulted their friend.

He was referring to a serious gang rape and assault at Dingwell Park, Lurgan, on Wednesday 13 July in which a man and a woman were seriously injured.

The five men are Deividas Miskinis, 27, of Mourneview Street; Dainius Ulevicius, 24, from St John's Crescent, Vytautas Petryia, 19, from the Tandragee Road; Aurimus Kliavga, 25, from Clonavon Avenue, all in Portadown and Donatas Endrikaitis, 21, from Park Road, Craigavon.

A detective objected to bail saying police feared that if released, the men would commit further offences and interfere with the investigation into a rape and physical assault which happened on July 13.

She said two of the men provided information but within hours, police on mobile patrol spoke to Mr Miskinis who was driving the car who told them they were "going to get the men" who comitted the assaults.

When the car was searched, the police uncovered the weapons.

"Police believe that the defendants were going to take justice into their own hands," she said.

A solicitor said the men had clear criminal records and were in fact intent on assisting the police investigation.

If they had intended to take justice into their own hands, it was unlikely they would have gone to the police station beforehand, the solicitor argued.

All five were granted bail.

The magistrate said this was a highly unusual case.

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Widow 'conned into lending £7k'

14 July 2011 Last updated at 16:52 GMT The case was heard at the High Court in Belfast on Thursday An alleged fraudster conned a newly widowed woman into lending him more than ?7,000 after they met in a Belfast bar, the High Court heard on Thursday.

Prosecutors claimed London-based Lawrence Nwachukwu said the money was for a deposit on a house.

The 36-year-old married Nigerian national was said to have kept his true identity hidden.

He denies the allegations, and claims she paid for his flights and hotel accommodation during his visits.

A judge was told that police investigating the case also suspect he obtained six new mobile phone contracts and debit cards in the name of a friend and neighbour.

Mr Nwachukwu, of no fixed abode, has been charged with multiple counts of fraud by false representation, and possessing articles for use in fraud.

He was granted bail to live at an agreed address in Belfast, but ordered not to leave Northern Ireland and banned from contacting either alleged victim.

The court heard he met the woman at a bar in March, telling her he was an American living in England.

He claimed to be in Belfast on business and developed a friendship with her during the course of a number of visits.

'Duped'

Crown counsel Kate McKay said the woman gave him ?4,000 in cash and then a further ?3,200.

She agreed after the accused provided her with a driving licence number and utility bills for an address in London.

Mrs McKay claimed the woman had been "duped" while in a vulnerable state following the recent death of her husband.

"Perhaps she hadn't looked into it with as much care as she should have," the barrister said.

The court was told the woman did not hear from Mr Nwachukwu again after handing over the second bundle of cash.

A cheque he had written her was said to be for an account which was ?25,000 overdrawn.

The accused was tracked down after inquiries were made at the Ramada Encore Hotel where the woman had driven him.

CCTV footage was also obtained from Belfast City Airport for the dates of his flights.

He was arrested in June as he travelled from Belfast to Gatwick in London.

Mrs McKay told the court Mr Nwachukwu admitted maintaining contact with the woman after they met in a bar.

Vulnerable

Richard McConkey challenged the prosecution's assessment of the woman.

"To describe this lady as vulnerable, the Crown are only saying that because her partner had died," he said.

Mr McConkey told the court his client had lived in the UK for five years.

"He makes the case that he struck up a friendship with this lady when in Northern Ireland," he added.

"He kept up a relationship and any use of a false name was an attempt to hide from his wife the fact he was having this affair."

The judge said the behaviour alleged by the Crown involved fraud on a "not insignificant scale".

Describing the application as a "borderline case", Mr Justice Treacy ruled that Mr Nwachukwu should be granted bail.

He also ordered the accused to surrender his passport and any other photographic identification

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Belfast coastguard will not close

14 July 2011 Last updated at 13:00 GMT The UK government said the coastguard service needed to modernise It has emerged that Belfast Coastguard has been saved from closure following a review of UK coastal stations.

It had been feared that the station, based in Bangor, would be lost under government plans to close more than half of the 18 coastguard centres.

The plans argued that new technology could modernise the service safely.

Belfast Coastguard is responsible for the whole of the coastline, from Lough Foyle, to Carlingford Lough, as well as Lough Neagh and Lough Erne.

The original proposal would have seen the number of centres reduced from 18 to eight - with only three remaining open 24 hours a day.

Transport Minister Phillip Hammond told the House of Commons on Thursday that Belfast Coastguard would remain open, and operate 24 hours a day.

North Down DUP MLA Peter Weir welcomed the decision.

"Had this decision gone the wrong way, it would not simply have been a blow for the staff here in Bangor, but for all of Northern Ireland," he said.

"It would have left the people of Northern Ireland very vulnerable. People talk about the golden five minutes - the first five minutes of an incident which are crucial to determining whether a person lives or dies.

"I think without the station here there would have been confusion and ultimately deaths."

The Bangor station will be one of eight, along with Falmouth, Holyhead, Milford Haven, Aberdeen, Humber, Stornaway and Shetland.

A smaller station will be retained in London and the Southampton/Portsmouth area will be the base for the Maritime Operations Centre for the UK.

Coastguard stations at Clyde, Forth, Portland and Liverpool will be closed.

Campaign

Plans to close the facility were opposed by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland.

The issue was raised with the prime minister and the taoiseach .

Campaigners warned that the original plans could put lives at risk and ministers agreed to reconsider.

Diana Gadd, one of those campaigners, said it was vital that the service remained "fully operational".

"There was talk about downgrading it to a 12-hour station, a daylight only station," she said.

"Statistics can indicate that incidents do occur between a certain time period, but we all know that an incident can happen at any time.

"If the station were to close, crucial local knowledge would be lost, so precious time could be lost at the start of any incident."

During the consultation period Shipping Minister Mike Penning visited Bangor where he met the MP for North Down, Lady Hermon.

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Loyal Crusaders fans get their reward

14 July 2011 Last updated at 05:41 GMT Blind supporter Graham Heslip (left), who will open one of Crusaders FC's new stands at the Fulham game, with his father Billy Loyalty in football is often taken for granted, but on Thursday night one Irish League club will show its gratitude to two supporters who have taken their devotion to another level.

Crusaders FC are set to host English Premiership side Fulham at their north Belfast ground Seaview in the Europa League second qualifying round.

It will also mark the official unveiling of two new stands at the ground which has undergone major refurbishment over the close season.

And instead of getting a famous footballing celebrity to cut the ribbon, the club have decided to reward two VIPs closer to home.

Blind supporter Graham Heslip travels regularly to Crusaders games with the help of his father Billy who provides match commentary.

He will open the West Stand for the European tie which is arguably the biggest competitive game at Seaview since Liverpool were the visitors in 1976.

The other special guest will be another life member of the club, Madge Hunter, who has served tea to players and officials for more than 50 years. She will open the stadium's East Stand.

Crusaders will be hoping for a victory on the night against their London opponents, but win or lose, it appears the club have already scored with fans off the pitch through their gesture.

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New butterfly species found in NI

14 July 2011 Last updated at 17:53 GMT The cryptic wood white butterflies have previously been unknown to scientists A new species of butterfly has been found in Northern Ireland.

The cryptic wood white butterfly was completely unknown to scientists until its discovery.

Experts originally believed it was an existing rare and endangered breed found in English woodlands in summer.

However, it has many more chromosomes and is genetically 70,000 years old - much older than those similar in appearance in England.

Catherine Bertand from the Butterfly Conservation in Northern Ireland described the butterflies as "very delicate, pretty little things".

"Unfortunately people can't rush out and see them because they fly in springtime and have now finished for this year," she said.

"Scientists have worked very hard to prove the Irish one is different from the one you find in Britain.

"They looked at it with microscope and they discovered that the butterflies are different enough that they can't breed with one another, even though they look exactly the same."

Ms Bertand said one of the best places to view them next year will be at Craigavon Lakes nature reserve.

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NI riots 'must shake complacency'

14 July 2011 Last updated at 12:11 GMT Police have been attacked in areas across Northern Ireland in recent days Recent violence in Northern Ireland should make people less complacent about the peace process, the first and deputy first ministers have said.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness met at Stormont Castle on Thursday to discuss recent rioting.

Mr Robinson said "as a society we have begun to get a bit careless about how hard won the peace was".

Mr McGuinness said the riots "should shake some people out of their complacency about the peace process".

There was trouble in nationalist areas of Belfast on Monday night and again on Tuesday night as well as in parts of the north west, Armagh and Ballymena.

There was also violence in loyalist areas of Ballyclare, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey at the weekend.

The violence occurred at the height of the Protestant marching season which culminates in the Orange Order's Twelfth of July parades.

Mr Robinson said there would be repercussions for Northern Ireland as a result of the violence.

"When it becomes one of the major stories around the world, it is damaging to Northern Ireland's reputation.

He said many of those involved in the rioting "intend to destroy the work we're involved in, others are being manipulated by those same people".

"All of them must realise that this community has overwhelmingly decided that it wants to move forward."

Mr McGuinness said the lesson for future 'Twelfths' was that all sides must talk to resolve the issue of contentious parades.

"I want to give due credit and praise to all those within communities who have been very proactively involved in trying to lessen the violence that we anticipated," he said.

"All of those people out there who think it is a good idea not to talk need to get real," he said.

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Clarke secures one-shot Open lead

By Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Sandwich Venue: Royal St George's, Sandwich, KentDates: 14-17 JulyCoverage: Live on BBC TV, HD, Red Button, online (UK only) and Radio 5 live; text commentary on BBC Sport website (#bbcgolf) and mobiles; watch again on iPlayer-5: D Clarke (NI)-4: D Johnson (US)-2: R Fowler (US), T Bjorn (Den)-1: MA Jimenez (Sp), L Glover (US)Selected others level:: P Mickelson (US)+4: T Watson (US), S Garcia (Sp), R McIlroy (NI)+5: T Lewis (am) (Eng)+11: P Casey (Eng), J Rose (Eng) Clarke's ball-striking was exemplary in the challenging conditions Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Open at Royal St George's on Sunday.

The 42-year-old escaped some brutal morning weather and fired a one-under 69 to edge to five under on a day of attrition on the Kent coast.

American Dustin Johnson climbed into second after sharing the joint best round of the day, a 68, with countryman Rickie Fowler.

The 22-year-old Fowler's impressive score, despite enduring some of the worst of the driving rain and 35mph winds, took him up to a tie for third with first-round co-leader Thomas Bjorn (71) of Denmark.

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez slipped to a two-over 72 to end one under alongside joint overnight leader Lucas Glover (73) of America.

World number six Phil Mickelson headlined a group at level par comprising fellow American Anthony Kim (70), US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love (72), Germany's world number three Martin Kaymer, Dane Anders Hansen (72) and South African George Coetzee (72).

US Open champion Rory McIlroy struggled to a round of 74, which included a double-bogey seven after going out of bounds at the 14th, to end on four over.

Just three players negotiated Royal St George's under par on Saturday and only six are under par for the tournament going into the final round. Eight years ago when the Open was last played at Sandwich, only winner Ben Curtis finished under par.

The record comeback in the last round of the Open was Paul Lawrie's 10-shot reverse courtesy of Jean van de Velde's meltdown at Carnoustie in 1999. Going into Sunday, 36 players are still within 10 shots of the lead.

Clarke, who was second at Royal Troon in 1997 and third at Royal Lytham in 2001, went off in the last group at 1505 BST as the driving rain and 35mph gusting wind was abating.

But despite a birdie at the first he was unable to stretch further clear and swapped two more birdies with two bogeys in evening sunshine.

"I've a pretty decent chance. A major is always tough to win, but I've put myself in position," Clarke said.

"From tee to green I can't really play any better. I had one of those days where I had full control of my ball flight, but I didn't have the speed with my putting at all.

"If somebody had said before the start I could have 69, though, I would have bitten their hand off."

As for the ovations he received he laughed and replied: "I think most of the crowd identify with a guy who's not quite an athlete and likes a pint."

Johnson's six birdies kept him in contention for the title

The powerful Johnson, 27, slipped back to one under after a bogey at the fourth, playing the hardest hole on the course because of the wind direction, but edged forward with a mix of six birdies and three bogeys.

Johnson, who tied for 14th at last year's Open, took a three-shot lead into the final round of the 2010 US Open before collapsing to a closing 82 at Pebble Beach.

"Obviously I've been in this situation a few times, so I think the more and more you can put yourself in it the more comfortable you get," he said.

"I know what to expect. I know how to approach it and what to do."

Fowler, playing with McIlroy for the third straight day, traded a bogey and birdie on the front nine and dropped another shot on the 10th but picked up three shots in his last six holes.

"I had quite a bit of fun out there today," said Fowler. "Obviously it wasn't the best conditions possible, but I knew going into the day that it was going to play tough and just had to make the most of it. I would have loved a couple over par going into the day, but we made the best of the conditions and played well."

McIlroy, 22, began the day at level par and was pleased to get through 13 holes in two over after bogeys at the first, third and eighth and a birdie at the long seventh.

Five more pars followed as he battled the worst of the wind and rain but on the 14th at the far edge of the course his tee shot flew out of bounds on the right and his seven knocked the wind out of his sails.

"It's a big setback," McIlroy said. "I obviously wanted to go out and get myself closer to the lead and not further away from it.

"I wasn't able to do that and I'll need a good one tomorrow, and if it doesn't look like I can win, I'll try my best to get a top 10 or top five."

Simon Dyson is the highest-placed Englishman at two over after a 72, while five-time champion Tom Watson also carded 72 to end four over, a shot better than 20-year-old English amateur Tom Lewis, his partner for the first two days.

Lewis, playing with Mickelson on Saturday, took 76 but heads American Peter Uihlein (75) by two shots in the competition for the Silver Medal for leading amateur.

Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen took 74 for six over, while Masters winner Charl Schwartzel had a 75 for three over and Australian Jason Day, second at the last two majors, amassed 76 for seven over.

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Helicopter launched over gun hoax

14 July 2011 Last updated at 17:02 GMT The police helicopter was sent to search for a gunman after a hoax call A PSNI helicopter was sent on a search mission after a Bangor man made a hoax call to say he was going to attack a house with a gun, a court has heard.

Specialist firearms officers were also deployed after the man claimed he was en route to the house with a pistol.

A judge was told Jackie Johnston's "bizarre" behaviour could have resulted in him being shot by police.

Mr Johnston, 28, of Ballyree Gardens, faces charges of wasting police time and making a false report of an offence

He is also accused of sending a message by a telecommunications system to cause annoyance or inconvenience.

Mr Johnston is further accused of two counts of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knuckle duster and Stanley Knife, and making multiple threats to kill over an incident two days later.

Prosecutors said the helicopter, which costs ?1,600 an hour to put in the air, was deployed because the incident was taken so seriously.

The court heard police were told in a phone call on 30 June that Mr Johnston had been seen loading a semi-automatic pistol and claiming to be on his way to shoot up the house in question.

A search operation launched in the Bangor and Ballynahinch areas failed to locate him.

'Rambo'

Crown counsel Kate McKay said a man who identified himself as Mr Johnston phoned police the next day asking why his mother's home had been searched and the helicopter used.

She told the bail hearing: "He stated 'Do you think I'm running about with a machine gun like Rambo?'"

Mr Johnston was subsequently arrested and charged with the offences before the court.

After disclosing the cost of using the helicopter, Mrs McKay added: "There have been incidents of this type in England, of people running amok with guns.

"The matter was taken very seriously. A lot of police resources and time was spent on it.

"Police are not sure what he will do next because of this bizarre way he has been behaving."

Defence barrister Richard McConkey stressed that no gun was ever involved in the incident.

He said Mr Johnston could not remember making the phone call but had shown remorse and even offered to make a payment towards the costs.

He said Mr Johnston denied making threats to the brother and sister whose house was threatened.

Granting bail, Mr Justice Treacy banned the accused from entering either Ballynahinch or Downpatrick, and told him to have no contact with any alleged victims or witnesses.

He also imposed an alcohol prohibition and directed Johnston to seek assistance from his doctor within 48 hours of being released.

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Three arrested in overnight riots

16 July 2011 Last updated at 16:19 GMT Three people have been arrested following rioting in Portadown, County Armagh, on Friday evening.

The trouble came after what police said was a planned peaceful protest about the alleged removal of flags. But elements in the crowd turned violent.

A crowd of about 70-100 people threw 12 to 15 petrol bombs as well as bricks, fireworks and bottles in the loyalist Corcrain Road area.

The rioters attacked police land rovers with sledgehammers.

In reply, police fired 19 plastic baton rounds.

Local nationalists said their homes across the peaceline were a target. Meanwhile, the police said there was no evidence paramilitaries were involved.

Police Superintendent Jason Murphy said: "We should be very clear in our condemnation of the rioting and the serious violence that we saw last night.

"We should also outline that the only people who suffer here are the unionist community in Corcrain and the nationalist community in Obin Street."

The scene of the violence in Portadown

Local people said the violence flared after loyalist flags were removed close to a peace line.

Police said a planned peaceful protest had been hijacked by a minority.

Upper Bann MP David Simpson, DUP, said such violence served to disrupt and deface the area.

"I know many elderly people living in the area where living in fear last night and did not endorse this violence. Such scenes must be condemned," he said.

Mayor of Craigavon Councillor Alan Carson condemned the violence and appealed for calm.

"This does not do anyone any good," he said.

"People have a right to live peacefully and feel safe in their own homes. The violence we witnessed last night was something that we had hoped we had assigned to the history books.

"I would appeal to those members of the community to respect the law and not to take their frustrations out on innocent members of the public."

John O'Dowd, Sinn Fein, said a number of foreign national families fled their homes in the trouble.

"They packed their bags, so distressed were they at the violence," he said.

"Their neighbours tried to reassure people that they would be safe in their homes but they left."

Alliance councillor Sheila McQuaid said: "I am disgusted at the activities of those involved in this disorder. I would appeal for people to act responsibly.

Both sides in Portadown have appealed for calm.

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