Other NI News In Brief

Tragic Death 'Not Suspect'

The death of a missing man during the summer is not being treated as suspicious by the police. The PSNI said yesterday that the body of a missing Bangor man James Fenton was discovered on Saturday near the hospital where he was being treated for depression after he had been missing for two months. He was last seen outside Ulster Hospital in Dundonald on Friday 2 July. Following a planned search of the area close to the hospital last weekend, his body was found.

Bangor Marina Body Shock

The police are today working to establish if a man accidentally fell to his death in the water in Bangor, Co Down. The man's body was found this morning around 7am and the PSNI are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, that left the victim, believed to be aged in his 70s, dead.

Treasury Summit Held

Stormont Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, along with the Scottish and Welsh Finance Ministers. They discussed the 2010 UK Spending Review, the economy and welfare reform. Minister Wilson said: "This was a constructive meeting which allowed me to raise some highly important financial issues with the Chief Secretary. I was able to highlight to the Chief Secretary the crucial importance of early engagement on the outcome of the 2010 UK Spending Review. I also emphasized the particularly severe impact that any spending cuts could have on the local economy, given our heavy public sector reliance." The meeting is one of a series of engagements with Treasury in the run up to the Spending Review announcement on 20 October. "My top priority in this process is that Northern Ireland is not unfairly treated as we face inevitable budgetary reductions imposed by Westminster," he concluded.

999 Games Funded

Justice Minister David Ford has joined with representatives from the Police, Fire and Prison Services at Newforge Country Club for the official announcement of Government funding for World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) in 2013. Welcoming the Executive's decision to provide up to £6m towards the hosting of the games, the Minister said: "Northern Ireland was successful in bidding for this event because of the vision, hard work and determination of our emergency services. I am delighted that the Executive has seized the opportunity to provide funding to host the Games which will bring to an international audience a very positive demonstration of how Northern Ireland has moved forward."

Youth Project Praised

Stormont Junior Ministers Gerry Kelly and Robin Newton have praised a Belfast project which has helped improve life chances for children and young people. The Colin Integrated Development Fund, an OFMDFM initiative, aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion by addressing the needs of children and young people to ensure that every child has the best start in life. Junior Minister Kelly said: "Children and young people who experience poverty or social exclusion can be vulnerable in a number of different ways. Their skills levels are likely to be lower than their more affluent peers; they are likely to have lower expectations about what life has to offer, and to set limits on what they can achieve in life," he said, noting that "this work provides a focus on the rights and needs of children and young people". Junior Minister Newton said: "The Colin project set out to address the needs of children and young people, to reduce underachievement and improve the life chances of children and young people."

(BMcC/KMcA)