Today's other stories in brief
Policing powers transfer laws to be introduced
Legislation to facilitate the eventual transfer of policing and justice powers to the Northern Executive will be introduced at Westminster before the end of February, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward has announced.
Mr Woodward said that the enabling legislation represented a “vital building block” in the process of devolving justice powers.
Teenager jailed for 14 months
A Limerick teenager previously convicted in connection with an arson attack on two young children was jailed for 14 months and banned for driving for 10 years yesterday.
Robert Sheehan (18), Pineview Gardens, Moyross, pleaded guilty at Limerick District Court to a “litany of appalling charges”, which included dangerous driving, possession of a knife and trespass.
In October 2007, Sheehan received two years in detention after he pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering Gavin and Millie Murray at Pineview Gardens, in September 2006. They suffered horrific injuries after a petrol bomb was thrown at their mother’s car.
At Limerick District Court yesterday, Sheehan pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges between April 2008 and January this year.
Body undetected for up to six weeks
A man’s body lay undetected for up to six weeks at his home in Togher, Cork, an inquest at Cork Coroner’s Court has heard.
Christopher Forde (53) was discovered on February 16th last year. The body was in a state of decomposition. The inquest at Cork Coroner’s court heard Mr Forde was dependent on alcohol.
Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of death was difficult to ascertain because of liver decomposition, but signs of heart disease were evident. Cork deputy coroner Dr Philip Comyn returned a verdict of death by natural causes.
Irish spend less on Valentine’s gifts
Irish people spend less on St Valentine’s Day gifts than any other European nation and prefer to communicate through instant messaging than face to face, according to an online survey.
The survey by Microsoft’s Windows Live Group across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, found the Irish will spend just over €16 on their Valentine this year, the lowest of any European country.
However, they spent 2 per cent less last year at €15.94.
McManus to fund North bursaries
Higher education scholarships worth £5,500 a year each for over 250 disadvantaged students in Northern Ireland are to be funded by racing magnate JP McManus. The Limerick-born businessman has provided a fund of about €6 million (£5.4 million) to help A-level pupils.
Talks on rail courier services
Northern Ireland Railways has started talks with Iarnród Éireann following the decision to discontinue the FasTrack national courier service which operates across Iarnród Éireann’s network. Spokesman Barry Kenny said modern trains had reduced capacity and less storage to maximise space for passengers, leaving less room for parcels.