Other NI News In Brief

Two Bomb Alerts End

People have returned to their homes following a hoax security alert in Enniskillen.The alert began at approximately 11pm on Thursday after a suspicious object was discovered at the front door of a house in the town's Kilmacormick estate. Army technical officers were tasked and a controlled explosion was carried out. Police have since confirmed the alert was a hoax and said that some 25 householders were allowed to return to their homes around 4am on Friday. Meanwhile, a security alert, which caused traffic disruption in south Belfast on Friday morning, is over. It was sparked after a suspicious object was found on the Malone Road and the police closed the road from the House of Sport to New Forge Lane for a time.

Strabane Bombers Slammed

Alliance Justice Spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has expressed his disgust at those behind a security alert in Strabane on Thursday morning after a suspicious object was discovered on Bradley Way. A nearby nursery had to be evacuated. "I am disgusted that this is the fourth time this week that young children have been put at risk," he said. "Violence has never achieved anything except to cause death, injury and disruption to local people trying to get on their daily lives. These thugs are trying to drag us back into the dark days of the troubles. They obviously have no respect for the lives of other people. I would urge anybody with any information about this security alert to contact the police. They must be brought before the courts to be given severe punishments for their senseless actions," he said.

West Belfast Blaze

There has been a suspicious fire at a house in New Barnsley Gardens in west Belfast, it happned just before midnight on Thursday with extensive damage caused to the hallway and kitchen area. Police said the rest of the property was smoke damaged. No-one was in the house at the time of the fire. There are no reports of any injuries.

Chinese Robbed

The police are seeking help to find two masked men armed with guns who robbed a Chinese restaurant in Londonderry early on Thursday. The men entered the restaurant in Springtown industrial estate and demanded money around a quarter past midnight and forced staff to hand over a small sum of cash, before fleeing on foot. One of the men was about 5ft 9ins. He was wearing an army jacket and black and grey trainers. The other man was about 5ft 6ins and was wearing a black, white and light blue fleece.

SF On The Buses

Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Gerry Adams and the MLA Paul Maskey have visited the Falls Bus Depot and met with shop stewards and workers amid concerns by workers about the future of the depot and threatened job losses. Gerry Adams said: "We had a very good and informative meeting with the shop stewards and workers in the Falls depot," noting a welcome Translink statement that the future of the Falls depot "is secure". However the politician said there is also the very important issue of the capacity of the Falls depot and the impact job losses would have for its future viability and said that Sinn Féin believes that the capacity of the depot should not be decreased in any way and on the contrary that it should be increased. "The workers have brought forward their own proposals in respect of this which deserve careful consideration by management."

Suicide Victims Recalled

There has been a candlelight vigil on the outskirts of west Belfast to remember six young people who took their lives over the summer. The event in Twinbrook came on the eve of World Suicide Awareness Day. It was organised by the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership to remember those who had died and to highlight the high rates of suicide in the area. The group believes 60 people have taken their own life in the past 13 years.

Wastewater Works Completed

The £1m upgrade at the Wastewater Treatment Works in Stewartstown, Co Tyrone has recently been completed for NI Water. Located on the Castle Farm Road, the upgraded Wastewater Treatment Works will improve the sewerage infrastructure and keep pace with rising demand in an area that has experienced significant growth over the past number of years. The work undertaken included the design and construction of two new pumping stations within the existing site and the construction of an associated pumping main. Improvements will also be evident at Ballinderry River and the works will ensure that wastewater treatment in Stewartstown complies with all current national and European regulations now and into the future. Graham Construction completed this project in partnership with RPS Consulting and NI Water.

(BMcC/GK)