A round-up of today's other stories in brief
State must exploit full potential of ghost estates, says Cuffe
The State needs to look beyond the health and safety aspects of “ghost” estates and consider the problem in terms of its needs for tourism, housing and healthcare.
Former minister of state for planning Ciarán Cuffe (Green) yesterday called for an integrated solution to incomplete housing estates. Responding to a report from the Department of the Environment, Mr Cuffe said Nama, local authorities, health boards and others needed to consider unfinished houses as an opportunity.
He said local authorities should move to secure them from vandalism and the elements as soon as possible.
“We need to go beyond the health and safety aspects – I want local authorities to use all their powers in all their areas of responsibility,” he said. Some houses could provide tourist accommodation or social or HSE-controlled housing.
Labour criticised the €5 million fund set aside by the Government to deal with safety aspects of the estates. Ciarán Lynch said Labour in government would ask local authorities and Nama to complete or demolish the homes.
Republican guilty of murder attempt
A prominent republican was yesterday convicted of shooting and attempting to murder a part-time UDR soldier 30 years ago.
Belfast Crown Court also convicted Terence McGeough (52) of being a member of the IRA between January 1975 and June 14th, 1981, and of possessing the two revolvers used in the assassination attempt on postman Samuel Brush.
As McGeough was led to the cells, he shouted “long live the Irish nation” to cheers from the public gallery. Sentencing was adjourned until next month.