In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

First march of season passes off peacefully

The first major loyalist parade of the marching season has passed off without major incident in Belfast.

The Tour of the North parade, which has witnessed serious violence in recent years, completed its route through central and north Belfast last night, including a section at Ardoyne.

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Serious violence broke out at the Ardoyne sectarian interface in 2005, setting the tone for the rest of the summer on the streets of Northern Ireland.

The Irish Times was told last night that a series of contacts between representatives of both nationalist residents and loyalist marchers had taken place, paving the way for a level of understanding about the conduct of the parade in contested areas.

One reliable source said the parade was marshalled by members of the unionist community while nationalist residents oversaw the Ardoyne flashpoint where a small protest was mounted at an agreed location.

NI householders to get flood funds

Householders whose homes are flooded are to receive £1,000 (€1,470) in emergency funding from the Stormont Executive.

The announcement was made yesterday by Minister for the Environment Arlene Foster who received the extra funding from DUP colleague and Minister for Finance, Peter Robinson.

A third day of persistent rain continued across much of Northern Ireland. Eastern counties, especially Antrim and Down were particularly affected and parts of Belfast also suffered as the normal total of rain for June fell in just 24 hours.

Towns and villages in north Down appeared worst hit, with roads made nearly impassable by local flooding.

Routes along the Ards peninsula were blocked for a time. Rail services were also hit with the Belfast to Bangor line closed for a time yesterday.

The Fire and Rescue Service responded to 400 calls. In some areas flood water had mixed with raw sewage and was spilling into the streets.

Collision victim named by gardaí

Gardaí at Fermoy, Co Cork, have named the man who died in a traffic collision on Thursday on the N8, north of Fermoy as Slawomir Siwonia (33) of Anach Cuain, Dublin Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Fisheries role welcomed

The Taoiseach's decision to award Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan responsibility for sea fisheries in the new Government has been welcomed by the national Federation of Irish Fishermen and the aquaculture sector, writes Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent.

The welcome comes five years after a furious row over Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's failure to include marine in 2002 Cabinet postings.

The title was subsequently awarded to minister for communications and natural resources, Dermot Ahern.

Arson prosecution challenged

The prosecution of a 14-year-old girl, who allegedly took part in an arson that caused €15,000 worth of damages to her family home, is to be challenged in the High Court.

The girl is facing prosecution at the Dublin Children's Court for causing criminal damage to her home, in south Dublin, by fire, in late 2005.

She was aged 13 when the alleged incident happened.

Defence solicitor Catherine Ghent yesterday applied for the case to be adjourned saying that in the meantime a case would be brought to the High Court in relation to the issue of delay in bringing the prosecution against the girl.

Judge Bryan Smyth consented to the application and remanded the girl on continuing bail.