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".

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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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