More news in brief.
Brown to hold NI investment conferences
British chancellor Gordon Brown has told the Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness that he will hold two investment conferences for Northern Ireland over the next 12 months, writes Gerry Moriarty.
The first minister and deputy first minister designate together met Mr Brown in Edinburgh yesterday to press for additional funding to boost the prospects for devolution which is to formally return on Tuesday.
Mr Brown said Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK that had a guarantee of £50 million (€73 million) in spending over the next 10 years. "We are determined to do everything we can to bring prosperity to, particularly, those people who have missed out on prosperity in Northern Ireland in recent years," he said.
Mr McGuinness said he and Dr Paisley made a strong case to Mr Brown that Northern Ireland suffered from a "legacy of under-funding".
33% of over-65s have disability
Close to a third of people aged 65 or over suffer from disability, new research from the National Council on Ageing and Older People has shown. The Quality of Life of Older People with a Disability in Ireland study, launched in Croke Park, Dublin, yesterday, also reveals that 70 per cent of those over the age of 85 experience a disability.
The council warned that this figure would rise as the age profile of the Irish population increases.
Musician killed in Tyrone road crash
A well-known traditional musician and republican in the Border region, Declan Mohan (41), died on Wednesday after his van collided with a car on the Carteel Road not far from his home in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone.
The driver of the car, a man in his 70s, was taken to hospital where his condition was described as "comfortable".
North kidnap case adjourned
A brother-in-law of deputy first minister designate Martin McGuinness was involved in a tax fiddle in the Republic, it was alleged in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
The claim was made by a crown lawyer during a bail application by Marvin Canning (45), Glendara, Derry, who has denied seven charges arising out of the kidnapping of Brendan Cranston and Linda Doherty at Mullingar, Co Westmeath, last month.
Mr Justice Treacy adjourned the application until May 17th so that police statements running to 80 pages and the results of forensic tests could be made available to the defence.