A roundup of today's other stories in the North
Loyalist Stone's appeal delayed until next year
Loyalist Michael Stone will have to wait until next year to appeal his conviction for trying to murder Sinn Féin leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, it was confirmed yesterday. Judges said the challenge would not proceed any earlier than February after being told defence lawyers were still waiting for transcripts from the original trial.
Stone (53), was found guilty of attempting to kill the top republicans in a lone assault on Parliament Buildings at Stormont, in November 2006.
A trial judge rejected his claims that the attack was part of an elaborate piece of performance art.
The one-time loyalist leader had gone to Stormont armed with explosives, knives, an axe and a garrotte. He was wrestled to the ground by two security guards after bursting through the main doors as Assembly members were gathered inside.
As well as the two attempted murder charges, he was convicted in December 2008 on seven other counts, including causing criminal damage to the Stormont building.
Woman jailed for killing boyfriend
A 27-year-old Fermanagh woman who killed her former 19-year-old boyfriend, but who has since married and given birth in the subsequent two years, was yesterday jailed for three years. Kerri Cassidy, who admitted the manslaughter of Gary Elliot, stabbed with a kitchen knife, agreed to serve a further two years probation on her release. Jailing the mother of two, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Hart said that despite defence claims he did not consider the circumstances of the case to be so exceptional as to allow a non-custodial sentence.
Mr Elliot was stabbed once in the heart during a drunken row in Cassidy’s then Townhill Park home in Irvinstown on September 23rd, 2007.
Jail term for man who hid incendiaries
A man who admitted hiding six viable, prototype incendiary devices was yesterday jailed for 18 months after agreeing to a further 18 months on probation.
Belfast Crown Court heard that police uncovered the six devices hidden in a plastic bag in the back bedroom of 33-year-old Seán Diver’s flat in Lisnafin Park, Strabane, on April 28th, 2004.
Arrested and interviewed, Diver admitted he was the flat tenant but denied touching the bombs or having anything to do with them, but he later pleaded guilty to possessing them in suspicious circumstances.
Man remanded on child porn charges
A Co Antrim man extradited from the US was remanded in custody yesterday accused of multiple child pornography offences.
David Boatright appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court after being sent back from Miami, Florida.
He faces 28 counts of making indecent photographs of children on dates between 1999 and 2002.
Boatright, of unknown age and formerly from Upperton Drive, Old Mossley, Newtownabbey, returned to Northern Ireland on Thursday after police secured his extradition.
Man accused of two murders gets bail
A Cystic fibrosis sufferer accused of murdering two British soldiers was granted bail yesterday after a judge heard prison authorities failed to provide medical treatment for him.
Lord Justice Coghlin ruled that Brian Shivers should be released because he could not be assured that proper medical safeguards were in place within the jail.
Mr Shivers (44), Sperrin Mews, Magherafelt, Co Derry, is charged with the murders of sappers Mark Quinsey (23) and Patrick Azimkar, (21), who were gunned down at the gates of Massereene army barracks in Antrim in March.
He is also accused of multiple attempted murders and possessing firearms and ammunition with intent in connection with the Real IRA ambush on soldiers collecting food from pizza delivery men.
Despite being refused bail last month, his legal team returned to the High Court to allege serious failures in prison management of his condition.
Lord Justice Coghlin said he was prepared to admit Mr Shivers to bail on tight conditions.