A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Policing board chairman faces land deal inquiry
The chairman of the policing board has voluntarily gone to the PSNI to answer questions about a controversial north Belfast land deal his company is linked to, writes Dan Keenan.
Barry Gilligan insists he has not been involved in any wrongdoing, and has consistently pledged full co-operation with police who have been investigating a deal involving the site at Nelson Street.
The Housing Executive, which is responsible for social housing provision in Northern Ireland, called in the police last March in connection with the site, which is owned by Big Picture Developments.
Mr Gilligan is listed as one of its directors.
Last week, police searched Mr Gilligan’s office at policing board headquarters, and his home in Belfast.
Mr Gilligan issued a statement following the searches, in which he pledged to co-operate with the police and confirmed he would present himself at a mutually convenient time to help them with their inquiries.
Worker loses job over €63,000 fraud
The board of Cork Opera House yesterday confirmed that it had terminated the employment of a member of staff following an internal investigation into an alleged payroll fraud of €63,000.
In a statement, board chairman Damian Wallace said he and his fellow board members were “very disappointed” to learn of the alleged fraud and they “immediately informed the gardaí and the Cork Opera House stakeholders”.
The statement said the opera house interim chief executive Padraic Liston led an internal investigation into the matter and, following an appropriate disciplinary process, an employee had been removed from their position.
The statement also said the alleged fraud was not related to recent financial difficulties at the theatre, though it had contributed to its current year loss.
Farmer dies after fall into slurry tank
A farmer died after falling into a slurry tank yesterday.
The 56-year-old man was spreading slurry on his land when the accident happened. The incident occurred in Killare near Mullingar, Co Westmeath at about 1.20pm.
Neighbours removed the man from the tank and attempted to resuscitate him until the ambulance arrived.
He was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar where he was pronounced dead.
The incident is being investigated by the Health and Safety Authority and the Garda.