In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

PSNI deployed in Derry as man charged with firearm offences

Armed police officers, including members of the PSNI’s tactical support group, were deployed outside the Bishop Street courthouse in Derry yesterday for the appearance of a 53-year-old local man charged with firearms and ammunition offences.

Thomas Christopher Nash from Iveagh Park, Prehen, in the Waterside district, is charged with the possession of a hunting rifle, a silencer and a magazine of ammunition.

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He is further charged with possessing 141 cartridges, a canister of CS gas spray, an imitation handgun and a replica AK47 assault rifle.

Larger ferry for Dún Laoghaire route

The Stena Exploreis to return to service on April 1st, Stena Line announced yesterday.

The large ferry is to resume its daily round trip between Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, and Holyhead, Wales, until September 13th. It had been expected that the smaller Stena Lynxferry would operate on this route until the larger ferry took over for the summer months.

The reintroduction of the Stena Explorewill allow Stena Line to handle higher volumes of foot passengers.

UUP adviser sacked over allegations

The Ulster Unionist Party has sacked a key education adviser after allegations were made about his private life by a Belfast newspaper, writes DAN KEENAN.

Dr Brian Crowe, a lay preacher and specialist adviser to Minister for Employment and Learning Danny Kennedy, was dismissed after the Belfast Telegraphpublished allegations against him yesterday. He denies the claims. Dr Crowe was initially suspended by the UUP but Mr Kennedy later made his dismissal announcement.

“The recent allegations regarding my special adviser Dr Brian Crowe have in my opinion made his position untenable,” Mr Kennedy said. “It is for this reason I have decided to terminate his employment with immediate effect.”