SAOIRSE32

By Clare Weir
Belfast Telegraph
11 December 2007

Revelations that a new £200m jail to house up to 1,000 prisoners will be built at the site of the existing prison at Magilligan were today welcomed by the area’s MP.

The move would more than double the inmate population at the jail, and could have a similar effect on the 458-strong workforce.

However, Sinn Fein today claimed it would be a blot on the landscape in a popular tourist area.

Sinn Fein MLA Francie Brolly has repeatedly called for the closure of both Magilligan prison and the nearby Army shooting range and again today said the prison would be a blight.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell is a member of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee which will publish its findings on the issue tomorrow.

While the Government had been pushing for a new facility in Ballymena or Craigavon, it is understood the high-level report recommends that due to cost restrictions, the new jail should be built in the North West.

At present, the prison has 458 staff managing up to 452 prisoners.

Mr Campbell, while not wishing to pre-empt the report’s publication, said today that a decision to build at Magilligan would signal a boost to the economy of Limavady following November’s announcement that US technology giant Seagate will close with the loss of 900 jobs.

Electronics firm Huco Lightronics at Aghanloo is also to shut with the loss of 70 jobs and around 200 posts will also go when the Army leaves Shackleton Barracks in Ballykelly in the New Year.

As well as housing a growing prison population, the work at Magilligan, set to begin in 2011, will signify a massive improvement to the fabric of the crumbling facility.

BY ROISIN MCMANUS
Irelandclick
12/11/2007

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams hosted, ‘Ceiliúradh na Gaeilge’– ‘A Celebration of the Irish Language’ in the Great Hall in Stormont on Friday.

At the packed event, Toireasa Ferris was Bean an Tí and among those who participated were a children’s choir, Nollaig and Áine Brolly, Gearóid Mac Lochlainn, Máire Bean Uí Bhruadair and Frances Black.
Welcoming the large number of Irish language activists who came to Stormont to enjoy the craic and the music, Gerry Adams described it as “a wonderful opportunity to reunite and interact and to celebrate the Irish language development”.
“The Irish language has made great strides forward in recent years,” said the Sinn Féin President.
“Much of this has been community-driven and is down to the hard work and dedication of teachers, parents, Irish language activists and others who kept Irish alive down the years.”
Mr Adams thanked all those from all parts of the island and beyond who have worked hard over the years to promote and develop the Irish language, music and dance.
“Today the Irish language is growing, and increasing numbers of young people want to learn it, want to speak it and are speaking it.
“The key to the continued growth of the Irish language is to ensure that it is a vibrant part of people’s everyday lives,” he said.
Mr Adams said that Friday night’s event was an important part of this and provided an opportunity for Irish language activists, musicians, community and political activists, children and others to showcase the best of Irish music, language and culture.
“I would like to say one more thing,” said Mr Adams.
“There is a clear need for an Irish Language Act.
“There are those who are opposed to it.
“Let me, and us, be very certain and very assertive tonight in stating our confidence that there will be an Irish Language Act.
“I don’t know when, but there will be an Irish Language Act.
“However, let us not lose sight of the fact that an Irish Language Act in the North was not needed to create a Shaw’s Road Gaeltacht, or the Gaelaras, An Droichead or the Cultúrlann.
“An Act was not needed to establish the Meánscoil or recognition for Lá Nua or the Gaeltacht Quarter,” he added.

4ni.co.uk
10 December 2007

Belfast’s busiest road has once again become a ‘front line’ as tensions build between rival loyalist and nationalist youths.

The Westlink – which has previously been the scene of many clashes between ‘warring’ factions - is once again being highlighted after a house at Roden Street, in the loyalist Donegall Road area, was targeted twice over the weekend.

The opening of a new pedestrian bridge is being blamed for exacerbating the trouble which led to windows at the property, owned by grandmother-of-five, being smashed on Friday and on Saturday.

Community workers from the loyalist Village and nationalist Grosvenor Road areas where the attacks are happening said problems have escalated since a new footbridge was built over the Westlink.

They claim the design and location of the bridge gives youths an easy escape route.

Heather Elwood of the Village Focus Group said: “We have had 72 incidents in three weeks.

“Until this new bridge there were few problems. There had been problems in the past but both communities were working together to resolve the situation.

“There was no consultation with either community about the location, if there had been we could have told them this sort of thing would happen.”

Daniel Jack from the Safer Neighbourhood Project which works in the nationalist Grosvenor estate said: “The bridge is a magnet for youngsters because it is so easy for them to access the other side.”

Residents want to see the bridge closed off at night in a bid to prevent such attacks.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police in south Belfast are investigating an incident of criminal damage in the Roden Street area and are liaising with community representatives to resolve the situation.”