19th NI swine flu case is confirmed

Another case of swine flu has been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

The latest case, the 19th, is a man who recently returned from London. He has been given anti-virals and is recovering at home.

'Renaissance' scheme for Downpatrick

Public views have been sought on a £3m public realm 'renaissance' scheme for Downpatrick.

Works will take place on St Patrick's Square, Market Street, Scotch Street, Grove and St Patrick's Avenue areas of the town.

Funding will be spent on upgrading footpaths, ensuring better use of space for civic events, new street lighting, and street furniture, states build.ie.

18th Swine Flu case confirmed in NI

Another case of swine flu was confirmed in Northern Ireland today.

The latest case, the 18th in the province, is a woman who was in contact with a previously confirmed case within the province rather than someone who had picked it up abroad, according to breakingnews.ie. The Department of Health and Social Services in Belfast said there were another 10 potential cases under investigation in the region.

Minister Killeen Meets EU Commissioner Joe Borg

In a meeting with European Commissioner Joe Borg at today’s Fisheries Council in Luxembourg, Mr. Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for fisheries, outlined for the Commissioner the current issues facing the industry.

Minister Killeen commented: “I highlighted the current problems where we are again seeing rising fuel costs at the same time as the price of fish at the quayside is falling for many of the important stocks including hake and prawns.” He said that the economic viability of the fishing sector had again come into question. The Minister continued: “Ireland would like to put back on the table its submission for an emergency aid package for discussion with the Commission. These proposals, based on a restructuring package for the fishing fleet & involving the provision of additional EU funding are now needed to assist the industry. I asked that in the current circumstances we reconsider the need for an EU funded package of measures. I also asked that the EU Commission ensure that imports of fish into the community respect all appropriate rules & that we do not increase the volume of fish imported at reduced or zero tariff levels.”

Minister Killeen raised issues in relation to the Cod Recovery Plan in the Irish Sea and in the North West. He asked for changes that would maximize the available fishing effort for the Irish fleet by allowing Ireland to choose the reference years to be used to establish the effort for each individual fishery. The Minister also asked for other practical changes to the rules that would help alleviate the impacts on the fleet particularly in the North West and in the Irish Sea.

Two more swine flu cases confirmed in NI

Two more cases of swine flu were confirmed in Northern Ireland today.

It brings the total diagnosed in the region to 17, according to breakingnews.ie. One of the new cases is a man who has recently returned from Mexico. The other is woman just back from the the USA.

Both are recovering at home, according to the Department of Health. Five other suspected cases are still under investigation.

Newcastle, County Down is Ireland's Best Kept Town

Newcastle, Co. Down is the overall winner of Ireland's Best Kept Town competition, 2009.

The results were announced today by Mr. Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at an awards ceremony in St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle.

Newcastle also won the Best Kept Large Town category. Ennis, Co. Clare won the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category, Loughhall, Co. Armagh won the Best Kept Village Category and Glenties, Co. Donegal won the Best Kept Small Town category.

Shared Neighbourhood Programme for eleven NI housing areas

Eleven housing areas across Northern Ireland have been unveiled as the latest participants in a major £1m initiative designed to support and encourage shared neighbourhoods.

Participation in the Shared Neighbourhood Programme will provide access to grants to celebrate diversity and bring together people, from all backgrounds, who live in these areas, reports build.ie. Participants also benefit from community relations training, community consultations and support to design their own Neighbourhood Charter and deliver their own Good Relations Programme.

The 11 housing areas, joining an existing five participants in the programme are Redburn and Loughview, Holywood; Suffolk and Lenadoon, Belfast; Skegoneil and Glandore, Belfast; Shandon Road & Belfast Road, Newry; Central Brownlow, Craigavon; Sion Mills Village; The Glen, Limavady; Whiteabbey Village; Castle Street/Westgate, Ballymoney; Areema, Lisburn; and Windmill/Minorca Drive, Carrickfergus.

Man in court over Newtownards murder

A 35-year-old man was to appear in court today charged with murdering a man in County Down.

The killing happened in the Balfour Street area of Newtownards on Tuesday. RTE reports today that the suspect was to appear at Newtownards Magistrates' Court this morning and the charges will be reviewed by prosecutors.

Weekend disruptions for rail users

A security alert on the Belfast to Dublin railway line has disrupted cross-border train services.

Bus transfers between Newry and Dundalk are currently in operation due to the alert.

Meanwhile, rail users are being warned about major disruption to train services at Dublin's Heuston Station this weekend. Bus transfers will be in place for all inter-city routes into and out of the station from 8pm this evening until Sunday night. The closure is due to work on the Kildare Project, which involves the construction of new tracks and stations between Hazelhatch and Dublin.

14th Swine Flu case for Northern Ireland

A 14th case of swine flu has been confirmed in Northern Ireland.

The latest case is believed to be in a female who recently returned from the USA.

She has mild flu symptoms and is recovering at home.

Mourne walker found

The 22-year-old Belfast man who went missing in the Mourne Mountains last night has been found.

The man got separated from a group of family and friends while out walking. The group was staying at a Caravan Park near Carlingford Lough, reports RTE.

A team from Mountain Rescue spent the night searching the area for him and the coastguard was called in at 5.30am this morning.

Kilkeel air crash victims laid to rest

Pilot and former policeman Hugh McKnight, a 54-year-old retired police officer, and Stephen Annett and Andrew Burden, both 24, were all from the Annalong area of County Down.

The accident happened as they returned from the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races last Friday.

An investigation is continuing into why the light aircraft crashed in a field and burst into flames near a private airstrip in Kilkeel, reports UTV.

Huge increase in NI unemployment rate

Unemployment in Northern Ireland showed another upward leap today and the the number of people claiming benefits is now over double what it was 15 months ago.

The number of people unemployed was 49,000 for the three-month period to the end of February, up 3,000 over the quarter and 16,000 over the year, reports breakingnews.ie.

The rate of unemployment has now hit 6.2% - 0.5% up on the quarter and 2.1% up on a year ago.

Ballynahinch homes to be restored

Works to restore Ballynahinch homes destroyed in a blaze last year have been completed, according to build.ie.

Twelve residents living in the Loughside Drive block of flats were relocated by the Housing Executive while the fire damage was repaired. Many of the residents had been living in temporary accommodation whilst others made their own arrangements, some moving in with family and others to alternative permanent accommodation.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie welcomed the residents back to their newly renovated homes.

Polish national murdered in Down

The PSNI have arrested a 35-year-old man following the murder of a Polish national at a house in County Down last night.

The 26-year-old victim was found dead at a house on Balfour Street in Newtownards shortly after 10.30pm, reports the Irish Times. The man arrested in connection with the killing is also believed to be from Poland.

The police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

Another swine flu case confirmed in Northern Ireland

Members of the public in Northern Ireland were urged not to get alarmed today after another case of swine flu was confirmed.

The total number of confirmed cases in the North is now nine, and another six possible cases are under investigation. Breakingnews.ie reports that the latest case relates to travel outside the UK and does not involve a school, workplace or other setting in the North, the Public Health Agency (PHA) said.

The sufferer has mild symptoms and is at home and taking antiviral treatment.

NI teenagers treated for drink and drugs

More than 400 under-18s are treated for alcoholism and drug addiction in the North each year, it was revealed today.

The majority of the teenagers receiving hospital care have a drink problem, according to the North's Department of Health, reports breakingnews.ie.

Meanwhile, police caught 1,200 under age drinkers in the region last year, the youngest being only ten. In those operations 24,000 items of alcohol were seized.

Rugby player dies from suspected heart attack in Down

A 31-year-old rugby player has died after collapsing during training in County Down over the weekend.

Graham Ryans, a father-of-two from Bangor, was training at his local club on Saturday when he became ill. Friends tried to resuscitate him before he was rushed to hospital, where he later died.

He is believed to have suffered a heart attack, reports breakingnews.ie.

Memorial service for County Down doctor

A memorial service has been held in County Down for a young doctor killed in the Air France crash two weeks ago.

Eithne Walls, 28, from Ballygowan died along with her friends Aisling Butler, from Roscrea in Tipperary, and Jane Deasy from Dublin.

The three women had graduated in medicine from Trinity in 2007.

Lisburn stab victim loses fight for life

Police have launched a murder inquiry after a young man stabbed during a street row in Northern Ireland lost his fight for life.

Three men are being questioned over the attack on 20-year-old Darren Roberts in Lisburn, reports the Irish Times.

The victim, who is from the city, was stabbed in the body during the incident at Millbrook Road shortly before 2am.