Other NI News In Brief

Woman 'Critical, But Stable' Following Crash

A woman is in a critical, but stable, condition in hospital, following a crash in Warrenpoint on Monday night. The collision happened on the Newry. The injured woman is believed to have been a passenger in one of the vehicles involved. A second woman and a man were also taken to hospital for treatment, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The Newry Road has now re-opened.

Ballynahinch Farmer Fined For Pollution Offence

A Co. Down farmer has been fined £500 plus £22 court costs at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court for a pollution offence. Edwin Smyth, of Crossgar Road, Ballynahinch, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On February 19, 2009, a Water Quality Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency inspected a stream adjacent to 110 Crossgar Road, Ballynahinch and observed that it was discoloured, foul smelling and contained sewage fungus. The inspector traced the waterway upstream and observed a concrete pipe discharging what appeared to be slurry to the stream. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Smyth. A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Robinson And McGuinness Meet With Spanish Ambassador

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister have met with Spanish Ambassador Carles Casajuana during a one-day familiarisation visit to Belfast. During the visit, Mr Casajuana was briefed in relation to ongoing political developments and both Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness welcomed the recently announced ceasefire by Basque separatist group ETA. Mr Casajuana also met with MLAs during his visit, as well as the Speaker of the NI Assembly William Hay, and undertook a tour of the city.

(KMcA/GK)