Local
30 jobs created as new pound shop opens in city centre
THIRTY jobs are being created with the opening of another pound shop in Londonderry. The local retail jobs are being created with the establishment of Poundworld’s first store in Londonderry. It officially opens on Friday (May 31).
Unverified claim of threat to Protestants
A CLAIM has been posted on social media that four Protestants have been threatened by dissident republicans in Londonderry. The post claimed: “Dissidents are said to have threatened the lives of four Protestants in Londonderry.”
Iranian born director explores rich tapestry of our new diversity
IRANIAN film-maker Zhenia Mahdi-Nau is screening her exploration of Northern Ireland’s increasingly diverse community at the Londonderry Nerve Centre today Wednesday (May 22) at 10.30am.
Large cuts loom for EU peace pot
THE amount of peace cash spent here will be drastically reduced over the next seven years regardless of the outcome of ongoing negotiations in Brussels about the forthcoming EU budget.
Driver crashed into tree and fled on foot
A DRIVER who crashed a car into a tree near Claudy made off on foot across the fields. A red Toyota Corolla, registration P827 TKG, was found crashed into a tree on the Glenshane Road at the junction of Foreglen Road at 6.30pm on May 19th. The driver made off across nearby fields. Contact police on 08456008000 or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.
£8k for Waterside Theatre sign
LONDONDERRY regeneration firm Ilex has helped the Waterside Theatre with a permanent, illuminated sign and demountable drop-down banner for the UK City of Culture 2013.
3.6k to start at secondary level
OVER 3,600 pupils will start at secondary schools in WELB in September. Any queries contact: 02882411460/1547/1571
Pete’s Place to become flat
PETE’S Place at the corner of Cranagh Terrace and Strand Road is to be converted into a single unit of accommodation.
Anti-vandal unit to be used for consultation
THE community centre in Shantallow will be extended with an anti-vandal unit to be used as a consultation room. A plan has been lodged for an extension of the centre to also include the conversion of one room into a changing area.
Counties bridge club results
THE results from the Counties Bridge Club were: North/South; 1st place Alan Moy and Margaret McFarland; 2nd place Peggy O’Dwyer, Kathleen Colhoun; 3rd place Margaret Moore and Malcolm Muir. East/West; 1st place Esther Loughlin and Christine Mitchell; 2nd place Clare Kelly and Mary Orange; 3rd place Phyllis Crockett and Jean Johnston.
WELB teachers are older
TEACHERS are older here than elsewhere. The average age in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) was 42 in 2011/12. It’s 41 everywhere else.
£50m of repairs needed in WELB
THE cost of carrying out repairs to schools in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) is £50m and has risen by £4m over the past four years.
RAF carried out 41 air drops
THE RAF provided 41 of the air drops to snowbound Northern Ireland farms during the recent inclement weather with the Irish Air Corp providing just five drops.
SIB spent £8.6m on consultants
THE body responsible for investment strategy across Northern Ireland spent over £8m on consultants between 2007 and 2013.
EMZ tarmacing bankrupt
A BANKRUPTCY order has been made against Dungiven tarmacing contractor James Steele.
Three Flowers bankruptcies
BANKRUPTCY orders have been made against two publicans behind Londonderry’s Three Flowers bar.
McGurk and Moore petition
A PETITION to wind up contractor McGurk and Moore will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice next week. Judy Mooney of McCambridge Duffy LLP, who is supervising the firm’s insolvency arrangements, presented the petition in February.
Blackhill creditor meeting in Belfast
DIRECTORS of Dungiven firm, Blackhill Construction, will meet the firm’s creditors at the end of the month. The purpose of the meeting is to lay a statement of affairs before creditors and consider the appointment of a liquidator.
Tuition fee hike by £110 to £3,685
TUITION fees have been hiked by £110 to £3,685 for the 2014/15 academic year.
Work to facilitate ne w cancer centre at Altnagelvin
THE Western Trust has applied for permission to relocate clinical training and office space to facilitate the new radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin.
Stopping poor dying younger is a priority
HEALTH Minister Edwin Poots has told East Londonderry MLA Gregory Campbell that stopping poorer people dying younger than richer people is a key priority for his Department.
Mum urges folk to take part in walk in memory of son Michael
THE mother of Londonderry teenager Michael Clarke, who died from meningitis in 2003 is urging people to take part in a ‘Big Stroll’ for a vaccine to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.
Over 150 jail staff sick last year
OVER 150 prison staff at HMP Magilligan reported sick over the past year with 21 absent as of March 31.
Invest NI urged to sell science and tech park around globe
THE owner of Londonderry’s original science park has urged Invest NI to promote the facility to investors across the globe in order to redress a “growing imbalance in regard to securing jobs for the region.”
WELB teachers sicker than other parts of NI
TEACHERS were sicker in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) in 2011/12 than anywhere else in Northern Ireland whilst the year before that local non-teaching staff missed 8.11 days on average, costing the people £3,260,367.
Bonds Glen trip to famine village
THE Kildoag and Bond’s Glen History Club are running a bus trip to the Famine Village at the Isle of Doagh on June 29.
Rosie’s epic cycle gathers £15k for kids MRI scanner
FORGET Bradley Wiggins - Waterside woman Rosie Croucher recently took time out from pulling pints in the 18th century Bell and Jorrocks in Kent - to cycle back home in a fundraiser for a kids brain scanner, all inspired by little Newbuildings girl Millie Slater who was struck by a mystery illness in 2010.
Clady too small to qualify for DSD regeneration cash
CLADY and Castlederg are disqualified from regeneration funded by the Department of Social Development because it’s too small and rural, according to the Minister Nelson McCausland.
Booklet to keep firms in line with Brussels rules
INVEST NI has launched a booklet to help Londonderry businesses make sure they obey Brussels and Strasbourg. Damian McAuley, Invest NI’s, EU and Risk Management, said it will help ensure that “all recipients of EU money are fully informed of the European Union’s requirements on publicity, audit and claims processes.” Visit: http://www.investni.com/EUSCP
A short history of the Fleadh and what to expect in August
IRISH television personality Síle Ní Bhraonain is looking for a co-host to help present 18 hours of coverage of the Londonderry UK City of Culture Fleadh that will be beamed live into 40million homes in the United States.
OFMDFM refuses to answer questions on appointments
THE Office of First and Deputy First Minister is refusing to answer questions about whether it was aware of the potential for events at Temple Bar Cultural Trust in Dublin to cast a shadow of controversy over the UK City of Culture.
The revelation comes as questions are being asked over another City of Culture appointment, and follows the resignation last month of Project Director Dermot McLaughlin who had been seconded from Temple Bar Cultural Trust by the Strategic Investment Board, which is responsible to OFMDFM.
Temple Bar Cultural Trust was the subject of a damaging report earlier this year, which itself followed a hugely critical report (Latitude Report) in June 2011. While there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of individuals, The Sentinel exclusively revealed damning details of the latest audit, which was commissioned by Dublin City Council. The organisation is now being wound down.
Posing questions to OFMDFM about Mr McLaughlin’s appointment on March 25, the Sentinel said the suspension and then sacking of former Head of Communications Garbhan Downey had brought controversy to the City of Culture last autumn and with a tribunal hearing likely to happen sometime this year, further controversy is almost assured.
We added: “Yet the new project director Dermot McLaughlin was seconded from an organisation under review for its financial governances etc and has since been the subject of an adverse report.”
Mr McLaughlin was brought in at an inflated salary (an extra 19,600 euro above what he was paid in Dublin) without any tender being issued. OFMDFM gave SIB approval for that Single Tender Action.
On March 25, OFMDFM was asked whether it gave any consideration to the possibility that the development might potentially attract more controversy, and if it had been placed in full possession of the facts before making such a decision.
Mr McLaughlin resigned from the City of Culture post for personal reasons, a short time later. He has since returned to his position with Temple Bar Cultural Trust, but was this week suspended with pay.
Despite giving approval for the Single Tender Action, OFMDFM responded on April 2, saying simply: ““This is an operational matter for the Strategic Investment Board.”
OFMDFM is also responsible for Ilex Urban Regeneration Company, whose Interim chair is Matt McNulty, who resigned as chair of Temple Bar Cultural Trust at the end of 2011.
On April 22, a similar question was posed to OFMDFM about whether it had considered that the events at Temple Bar may have the potential to cast a shadow over his appointment as interim chair of Ilex in March of last year.
A response two days later said: “Matt McNulty was appointed as a Director of the Ilex Board on 1 April 2008 for a three year period until 31 March 2011. His appointment was extended for a second term on the 1 April 2011 until 31 March 2014.
“In response to the resignation as Chair of Ilex by Sir Roy McNulty, Mr Matt McNulty agreed to accept the post of interim Chair of Ilex from March 2012, until a new public appointment competition could be completed to secure a new Chair.
“As required by all candidates submitting an application for a public appointment to the board of Ilex, Mr McNulty provided details of all current and previous public appointments, which among other public appointments included details relating to his position and period served as a member of the Temple Bar Cultural Trust.
“At the time Mr McNulty was originally appointed to the board of Ilex, there were no known issues relating to the Temple Bar Cultural Trust which would have called into question his ability to serve on the board of Ilex.”
The Sentinel immediately responded by pointing out that our original query referred to Mr McNulty’s appointment as interim chair in 2012 - by which time the Latitude report had been produced on Temple Bar Cultural Trust - whereas their response referred to his appointment to the board in 2008. OFMDFM was asked to comment on the actual question posed by us, but despite a number of attempts being made by us to get an answer since April 24, it has failed to respond.
Despite advertising vacancies for positions of both chair and chief executive, Ilex has failed to fill the posts.
The Sentinel revealed in February: “ILEX remains headless a month-and-a-half into Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 - departed CEO Aideen McGinley’s big idea - and a FULL YEAR after former chair Roy McNulty left the company. Oversight of the company has been headed up by Interim Chairman Matt McNulty since Roy McNulty stood down in February 15, 2012. Meanwhile, the business end of the operation has been led by Interim Chief Executive and Ilex’s designated Accounting Officer Mel Higgins, since Ms (Aideen) McGinley left for a job at the BBC Trust on Hallowe’en.”
Also attracting some controversy at the moment is the appointment of Horatio John Storm Farquhar Smith from a London based events company by Derry City Council, which has been backed by the Department of Arts, Culture and Leisure. Derry City Council said the need for this post was identified by Mr McLaughlin.
He was appointed in March for a maximum of 120 days at a rate of £1,000 per day inclusive of expenses. It’s understood his rent is also being paid. It’s been confirmed that the additional resource is being picked up by DCAL.
Spark for peace idea struck in far off Helmand
THIS Sunday the son of legendary Baptist Minister and civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King will attend the unveiling of an eternal peace flame in the heart of Londonderry as part of Rev David Latimer’s visionary ‘Bright Brand New Day’ initiative.
Undying peace flame to be lit
PROTESTANT and Catholic children will light an undying flame in the presence of the son of a true icon of peace in the heart of Londonderry on Sunday.
Trust wants you to get active
THE Western Trust is encouraging people of all ages to incorporate some physical activity into their everyday routine to improve both their physical and mental wellbeing.
45 stakeholders at airport opening
FORTY-FIVE external stakeholders attended the grand opening of City of Derry Airport’s newly refurbished aviation facilities on May 10, 2013.
Cadet is honoured at Hillsborough Castle event
Londonderry Cadet Jack Gibson has been honoured at a ceremony at Hillsborough Castle where he was formally appointed to serve in the role of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for the City of Londonderry for the coming year.
Rich Hall brings new show to COC13
ACCLAIMED comic Rich Hall will appear at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry on Friday (May 17).
Incredible Antartic explorer in city
INCREDIBLE explorer Mark Pollock - the first blind man to reach the South Pole - will meet the Mayor of Londonderry in the Everglades Hotel this afternoon (Tuesday, May 14).
Gransha charity bridge evening
A CHARITY evening of bridge will take place at the Foyle U3A in Gransha Park this Friday (May 17) at 7pm. Donations of £10 are requested.
Service for babies who died at birth
A SERVICE in memory of babies who died following miscarriage or stillbirth and neonatal and infant deaths will take place in Altnagelvin on Sunday, May 19.
Dermot McLaughlin suspended from Temple Bar post
Dermot McLaughlin, the man drafted as the Project Director for UK City of Culture in Londonderry, but who resigned for ‘personal reasons’ in March from the 120,000 plus Euro role, has this morning been suspended from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Temple Bar Cultural Trust (TBCT).
DCC refuse to provide risk facts
DERRY City Council has refused to provide the Sentinel with details of the risk register for the publically-funded Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 project.
Eaton and Coogan’s latest partnership
‘THE Look of Love’ - starring Steve Coogan, Imogen Poots, Anna Friel and Tamsin Egerton and currently on limited cinema release - is the latest production by Londonderry man, Andrew Eaton.
16 oil and gas wells are now obsolete
SIXTEEN oil and gas wells drilled off our coast since 1965 have either been abandoned or plugged.
Consultant ordered bankrupt in court
LONDONDERRY consultant Robert Tyrrell has successfully applied for bankruptcy.
Sex pests can apply to be taken off list
QUEEN Elizabeth II has approved the destruction of fingerpints and DNA samples, which would previously have been retained by the PSNI.
NW fosterers urgently needed
AN unemployed single mother who fosters children in the Western Trust area has urged people in Londonderry not to rule themselves out of providing care just because of their personal circumstances.
332% increase in new HIV diagnoses over past decade
A POLICY officer with a charity working with people affected by HIV says there has been a 332 per cent increase in new diagnoses in Northern Ireland over the past decade.
Volunteer leaders sought
CROSS-COMMUNITY group REACH across is recruiting volunteer leaders (20yrs plus) and assistant leaders (18yrs plus) for its 2013 Summer Programme. Applications are welcome from throughout the west of Northern Ireland and Donegal. Contact the Project Co-ordinator on 028 71 280048 or email reach_across@hotmail.com.
Policing partnership looking into Irish Street centre claims
THE Londonderry’s community safety partnership has not received any complaints over noise and litter problems at the new Shared Future Centre in Irish Street.
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Weather for Londonderry
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
