NI News In Brief

Dog Walker Stabs Men

Police in Belfast are appealing for witnesses of a knife attack in the west of the city last night in which two men were injured. The incident happened around 11.50pm last night outside a pub on the Springfield Road. The two victims were standing outside the premises when they were approached by a man walking his dog. He produced a knife and attacked them. Both men sustained hand injuries and were taken to hospital. Witnesses should call police on: 0845 600800 with information.

Newtownabbey Stabbing Appeal

An investigation has been launched after a stabbing near the nationalist Bawnmore estate which straddles north Belfast and Newtownabbey. Detectives have now made an appeal for witnesses to come forward. They said that the attack happened earlier this month, but Newtownabbey Police only released details of the incident this week and said that it happened around 11am on Sunday, June 1, when the victim - a man - was assaulted as he walked along Mill Road. The male victim was walking with a friend when he was set upon and stabbed with a broken bottle by an unknown male. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the attack to contact them on 0845 600 8000. A man was murdered earlier this year at the nearby Whitehouse Royal British Legion Club, which was quickly followed by arrests.

See: Legion Murder Victim Named

Addict Jailed For Robberies

A Co Antrim cocaine addict has been jailed for 14 years for a string of armed robberies across Northern Ireland. A judge said he had considered giving Emmanuel Curoe a life sentence, so bad were his offences which included 10 armed robberies at jewellers shops and other businesses between March 2005 and August 2007. The 36-year-old was involved in robbing £150,000 worth of Rolex watches and £100,000 worth of Cartier watches from separate jewellers. The court heard that Curoe, formerly of Sandyknowes Park in Newtownabbey - and now of no fixed address - was a cocaine addict who carried out the robberies to pay off drug dealers.

Racist Blaze Probed

The police are treating an attack on a house in east Belfast as racist. It's understood three windows were broken and paint was thrown over the front of the property at Cregagh Sreet in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Robinson 'Gay Slur' Scrutinised

The NI Assembly's standards watchdog is being asked to investigate contentious anti-gay comments attributed to MLA Iris Robinson - wife of the newly appointed First Minister, Peter Robinson. The news follows confirmation that the PSNI is launching its own probe into the controversial comments after receiving at least two official complaints. Last week the DUP MP and MLA sparked a row when she described homosexuality as an "abomination" and claimed gay people could be 'turned around' with psychiatric help. Appeals have been lodged with Tom Frawley, the Interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards who will consider whether or not to launch an investigation.

Cop Sex Charges

A serving policeman is still being quizzed by colleagues on suspicion of running a brothel. Two women - understood to be from Thailand - were also remained in custody. It is understood that the brothel is in the quiet seaside backwater of Castlerock, Co Londonderry. Officers were granted a further 36 hours to question the man, who is in his 40s, at a hearing at Ballymena Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. A PSNI spokesman said: "Police have carried out a number of searches in the Castlerock and Coleraine areas under the Sexual Offences Act. "Police went to court on Thursday morning to seek additional time to question those arrested."

(BMcC)