SAOIRSE32

BreakingNews.ie

21/12/2006 - 09:22:41

One of the most mysterious sites of ancient Ireland will this morning attract devotees keen to observe the first light of the Winter Solstice.

Thousands are believed to have applied for permission to witness the first rays of light creep through the ancient monument at Newgrange, but only a handful are lucky enough to have been allowed access to the structure’s main chamber.

Many more are expected to gather near the Co Meath site to mark the shortest day of the year.

The world famous monument is believed to date from around 3200 B.C, making it 500 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and a thousand years older than England’s Stonehenge.

Archaeologists believe the grass-covered mound is a “passage tomb”.

This refers to a passage running to a cave-like chamber, where the remains of the dead were placed.

The site attracts large numbers of visitors each year from around the globe.

*See also Mythical Ireland - Image by Fodor’s

BBC

The Department of Education has approved the closure of a primary school and refused to grant integrated status or funding to five schools.

The integrated movement is angry at what it considers the latest snub to its plans to expand the integrated schools movement.

Three new integrated schools have been turned down for funding.

They are a secondary in Antrim and primaries in Ballymoney, County Antrim, and Strabane in County Tyrone.

Two more existing primaries which wanted to transform into integrated have been turned down.

They are Knockbreda in Belfast and Collone in Armagh.

However, Education Minister Maria Eagles has agreed to a new primary school in Moira, the transformation of Tyrella primary, the expansion of Omagh primary and the move of Ballycastle nursery into the integrated primary.

‘Acknowledged contribution’

In a separate announcement, Ballyduff primary in Newtownabbey is to close in August 2007.

Ms Eagle said: “Government is fully committed to increasing the levels of integration within the education sector, which is why we asked Sir George Bain to examine the issue as a core element of his strategic review of education.

“The Bain Review acknowledged the contribution of integrated schools in educating young people together.

“It also recommended that government should take a more inclusive approach to integrating education throughout the school system.”

Michael Wardlow of the NI Council for Integrated Education said the government “has denied integrated choice to parents in seven areas during 2006 alone”.

“Not only do these refusals appear to be at odds with the government’s commitment to shared future, which is predicated on sharing over separation, but also appear to contradict the core recommendations of Sir George Bain in his recent report.”

BBC

A second Sinn Fein assembly member from Newry and Armagh has been de-selected, the BBC has learned.

Pat O’Rawe failed to be chosen at a selection meeting two nights ago, when Davy Hyland was also rejected by the local party members.

Sinn Fein confirmed Ms O’Rawe’s de-selection while announcing that three candidates were chosen to stand at the forthcoming assembly elections.

The party has so far declined to name the candidates.

The names are expected to be announced after ratification by the party’s ard comhairle (executive).

It is likely that the sitting MP, Conor Murphy, was among the three.

Two other names have been given to the BBC but have not been confirmed.

One is thought to be a newcomer.

It is not clear why the two sitting members were deselected.

BBC

A challenge to the acquittal of loyalist William ‘Mo’ Courtney on a murder charge will begin on 18 January.

Willliam “Mo” Courtney was acquitted of murder

It will be the first time prosecution lawyers in Northern Ireland have attempted to retry a person on a murder charge.

The prosecution claims the judge made a mistake and have lodged 10 grounds of appeal.

Last month, Courtney was acquitted of the murder of Alan McCullough who was shot dead in 2003.

Courtney is out on bail and was in court when the date for his re-trial was fixed.

Earlier hearing

Last month, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice McLaughlin said he could not convict him of the murder of Mr McCullough - a former associate of UDA leader Johnny Adair - or UFF and UDA membership.

The body of Mr McCullough, 21, was found in a shallow grave on the outskirts of north Belfast. He had been shot.

An earlier hearing had been told that Mr McCullough had been a member of the so-called “C company” of the UDA - headed by Adair.

“C company” had been expelled from the UDA in 2002, and a number of its members, including the victim, had been ordered out of Northern Ireland by UDA leaders.

Mr McCullough returned to Northern Ireland in April 2003 and his body was found on 5 June.

BBC

The judge at the Omagh bomb trial has ruled the case should continue.

Mr Justice Weir rejected a defence application calling for the case to be thrown out.

In a short statement, he said at this stage the evidence did not have to show a case against Sean Hoey “beyond reasonable doubt”.

Mr Hoey, 37, from Jonesborough in south Armagh, denies 56 charges, including the Omagh bombing. Two charges against him have now been officially dropped.

The judge said the test to decide if the trial should continue was whether the evidence was “so discredited or so intrinsically weak” that it could not support a conviction.

He ruled that the case did not fail that test.

The prosecution accepted there was no case to answer in the two charges that were dropped.

The remaining charges against Mr Hoey include include 29 counts of murder as a result of the Omagh bombing, which happened in August 1998.

There have now been more than 50 days of evidence at the trial.

The crown had completed its case before the application by the defence to have it thrown out.

Mr Hoey’s legal team will begin responding to it when the trial resumes in the new year.

BBC

A convicted murderer has had his early release under the Good Friday Agreement revoked after being charged with money laundering and fraud offences.

Seamus Francis Mullan from Lisnascreaghog Road, Garvagh, in County Londonderry, appeared in court last week.

Secretary of State Peter Hain revoked his early release licence on Wednesday.

Last week, Mullan, 52, was described by police in court as a disaffected republican.

He denies acquiring criminal property, having almost a quarter of a million illegal cigarettes and dishonestly obtaining nearly £20,000 in benefits.

Mullan, who served a 14-year prison sentence for murder, had assets worth £300,000 frozen last week.

Mullan was refused bail at Londonderry Magistrates Court after a senior detective warned he was likely to re-offend and interfere with witnesses.

He was arrested during police raids on 16 houses in Limavady and Coleraine on Tuesday in which a number of people were arrested.

The accused was remanded in custody to appear again on 11 January.