A round-up of other home news in brief
Minister to face questions over NI Water
Northern Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy is to appear before an Assembly committee to answer questions about the turmoil at NI Water.
Mr Murphy is expected to respond to questions about the sacking of four members of the company board, various investigations into the company’s management and the suspension of the Minister’s top civil servant earlier this month.
Paul Priestly, Mr Murphy’s permanent secretary, was suspended by the head of the North’s civil service, Bruce Robinson, two weeks ago pending an investigation.
The role of Mr Priestly came to the fore following a UTV programme investigating the water company, its tendering procedures and the dismissal of the four board members. Declan Gormley, Ruth Thompson, John Ballard and chairman Chris Mellor were fired six months ago amid concerns that more than £28 million in contracts had been awarded without proper tendering.
Garda ombudsman sends file to DPP
A file has been sent by the Garda Ombudsman Commission to the DPP, following the death of a young man who was being followed by a Garda car when his car collided with a barrier.
Paul Peel (19), Coultry Road, Ballymun, Dublin, was injured in a road traffic incident at Virginia, Co Cavan, on November 6th, 2009, and died just over a week later.
Commissioner Carmel Foley told coroner Dr Brian Farrell at Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday that a file has been sent to the DPP but the commission had not received it back yet.
Ms Foley requested an adjournment of the inquest under section 25.1 of the Coroner's Act 1962, which the coroner granted. He adjourned the inquest to October.
Gilligan in court on phone charges
Convicted drug dealer John Gilligan made an appearance at a sitting of Tullamore District Court yesterday.
Gilligan (58) is charged with possessing a mobile phone at his Portlaoise Prison cell on July 30th, 2008.
If convicted under the 2007 Prisons Act, he faces a possible five-year sentence.
Gardaí and the Army escorted him from Portlaoise to Tullamore for the hearing. Supt John Moloney applied to have Gilligan remanded in custody.
Judge Gerard Haughton remanded him in custody to appear before Portlaoise District Court on September 23rd.
O'Callaghan rules out presidency bid
RTÉ presenter Miriam O'Callaghan has ruled herself out as a contender for next year's presidential election,
writes Harry McGee.
There had been considerable speculation since the weekend that the
Prime Timeanchor would be interested in seeking a nomination for the election.
O'Callaghan (49) issued a personal statement yesterday saying she was delighted and honoured to have been considered by some people as a potential candidate.
The statement said she "would like to stress that she will not be standing for the position, independent or otherwise, in the upcoming election in 2011".