Council completes probe into ‘near miss' lion incident at Belfast Zoo but refuses to disclose details
Belfast City Council has completed its probe into a 'near miss' incident which involved a young trainee being locked in the lion enclosure last summer — but is refusing to share any details with the public due to commercial concerns among other considerations.
The Belfast Telegraph has made repeated queries about the investigation that was launched in August 2024 after an individual on a training scheme managed by the Department for Communities was left in the company of a pride of Barbary lions.
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Belfast City Council warns of legal action over 'asbestos' at bonfire site
Belfast City Council is considering legal action against the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) over concerns about suspected asbestos at a bonfire follows complaints over materials on derelict land beside Meridi Street near the Westlink road in the south of the NIEA said it was informed of "potentially hazardous waste" and enquiries were council said it "continues to engage" with NIEA and the landowner to ensure the materials are removed "as soon as possible". It said councillors agreed "this may include pursuing legal action against the NIEA and/or the landowner, if the necessary steps are not taken".An "abatement notice" has also been served requiring the landowner to secure and contain the materials, the council are lit annually in unionist communities across Northern Ireland to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the region's parading discussed the Meridi Street site behind closed doors at a committee meeting on committee agreed to "delegate authority to officers to undertake legal action and the necessary steps to secure the site", according to the believe the cost of removing the material could be a six-figure sum, sources have told BBC News is believed legal action could involve seeking a court injunction. Previous action over asbestos In a statement, the council said it previously took enforcement action and secured the site due to asbestos in 2011."When this work was completed, officers were satisfied that the site did not pose any risk to people living or working in the area, but were clear that we could not state there was no contamination left at the site," it said."Council became aware of a further issue at this site last month and has been engaging with the landowner to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials were adequately secured."The current landowner has put temporary measures in place to fence off the materials." 'Deeply worrying' Alliance Party assembly member Paula Bradshaw described the "asbestos pile" as "deeply worrying".Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme last month, she expressed concern at the "potential" of young people using the material on the Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor Séamas de Faoite said there was "a real health risk"."No matter what your political perspective, this should cause concern," he Unionist Party (DUP) councillor Tracy Kelly also expressed concern but warned against "scaremongering"."It's a very, very big bonfire site and the bonfire is not where this asbestos is. It's on another part of the site," she said. Kelly, who recently became Belfast's new lord mayor, said she understood the material was from an old factory if the bonfire construction should be paused to remove the material, she said: "Of course if it's going to be removed then obviously the safety precautions need to be put in place."In a statement, a spokeswoman for Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the NIEA's "enquiries are ongoing"."The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May," she said."Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing."
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I'm convinced someone's going to kill me at some point': NI most dangerous place in UK for journalists
A new report features interviews with reporters, including the Belfast Telegraph's Allison Morris, who have been told they will be shot or stabbed, threatened with bombs under their car and given 48-hour ultimatums to leave the country — all because of their journalism. It names Northern Ireland as the most dangerous place in the UK to work as a journalist. The report outlines that some journalists have been physically attacked. Equipment has also been damaged and reporters' cars have been battered with poles with nails attached to them. Northern Ireland has seen two journalists killed over the years — Martin O'Hagan and Lyra McKee — in 2001 and 2019 respectively. The evidence from those most at risk outlined the steps they'd taken to safeguard themselves, including having their homes fitted with bulletproof windows and alarms linked to police stations. The report includes testimony from Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris, who said she is living under constant threat. 'I'm convinced someone's going to kill me at some point,' she said. 'I always think I'll never die of natural causes. Most of the time, I pretend that the threats don't annoy me, but clearly, they do. This is not a normal way to live.' Ms Morris said the police visited her home nine times between December 2023 and October 2024 to deliver threats from paramilitary or criminal groups. On one occasion she received a warning and 24 hours later a pipe bomb was discovered near her house. Sunday Life news manager Ciaran Barnes also described the intense security precautions he has to live with. 'I've got bulletproof windows front and back,' he said. 'I've got a bulletproof door. I've got cameras all around the house. I've got sensor activated lights and panic alarms.' These security measures are paid for by employers, as journalists are currently ineligible for the government's Home Protection Scheme. Amnesty noted that with journalists excluded from the scheme, many have been left feeling at risk. National Union of Journalists assistant general secretary Séamus Dooley said: 'In what is supposed to be a normalised society, post the peace process, journalists are living in fear and behind high security measures. That really is not the sign of a normal functioning democracy.' Amnesty's research for the report titled, 'Occupational Hazard? Threats and violence against journalists in Northern Ireland' uncovered more than 70 incidents of threats or attacks since the start of 2019. Most come from a range of proscribed paramilitary groups, loyalist and republican, as well as organised crime groups, some also with links to paramilitaries. Very few threats lead to criminal charges, with only two successful prosecutions since June 2022 — and none involving paramilitary groups. Amnesty's Patrick Corrigan said: 'When journalists are under attack, press freedom is under attack. The state must create a safe environment where journalists can work freely and report without fear of reprisals.' Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, the PSNI lead for journalist safety, said the force will take time to consider Amnesty's report. 'The PSNI takes the safety of journalists very seriously and has been very much involved in developing both national and local plans to tackle this issue over the last couple of years,' he said. 'As a result, we have developed a joint strategy and joint plan with NUJ and with local editors. We have appointed two Journalist Safety Officers, established an internal Journalist Safety Group, implemented screening arrangements within our contact management centre and ensured that reports of threats and crimes by journalists are investigated by detectives. 'The Police Service has also arranged a number online seminars for local media around internet and personal safety. 'Journalists do not have to tolerate threats and crimes as part of their role. That has been our recent, consistent message. If any journalist needs advice in relation to an incident, threat or crime which is connected to your role as a journalist, please contact 101 and report the matter. 'I would also encourage journalists to speak with one of the Journalist Safety Officers in our Strategic Communications and Engagement Department."
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Asbestos bonfire site in south Belfast to be ‘secured' and cleared out
The controversial site at Meridi Street/Maldon Street in the Village area is to be the subject of a legal undertaking by Belfast City Council to secure part of the site for removal of the asbestos. The site is at the old Ulster Weavers factory location, an area that has long been derelict. It is not clear whether or not the bonfire in the area will go ahead this summer. At a secret meeting of a Belfast Council Committee, held away from the public and press, elected members agreed to take legal action to assure safety at the site, which is privately owned. Minutes released of a special meeting of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on May 30 states: 'The committee was informed that the Bonfire Panel had requested that the site located at Meridi Street, Belfast be referred to the committee for its consideration. 'After discussion, the committee agreed to delegate authority to officers to undertake legal action and the necessary steps to secure the site. The committee also noted that further information would be submitted to a special Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, if required.' The council abatement notice will be issued under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (NI) 2011. A bonfire was in the process of being constructed at the site in recent weeks. Certain exposed asbestos materials can break and explode in proximity to fire. All asbestos fibres are deemed to be carcinogenic category one, and cause severe damage when inhaled into the lungs. Belfast Council said in a statement: 'Belfast City Council previously took enforcement action at this site in 2011 due to the presence of high-risk asbestos-containing materials which were being disturbed due to demolition works. 'When the then owners failed to take action to deal with those materials, the council undertook significant works and the site was secured. 'When this work was completed, officers were satisfied that the site did not pose any risk to people living or working in the area, but were clear that we could not state there was no contamination left at the site. 'Council became aware of a further issue at this site last month and has been engaging with the landowner to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials were adequately secured. 'The current landowner has put temporary measures in place to fence off the materials. Council has also served an abatement notice on the landowner requiring them to secure and contain the materials. News Catch Up - Monday 2nd June 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency is currently undertaking an enforcement investigation, as they are the lead enforcement authority in relation to this issue. 'The council continues to engage with NIEA and the landowner to ensure that the materials are removed as soon as possible. Elected members have also agreed that this may include pursuing legal action against the NIEA and/or the landowner, if the necessary steps are not taken to remove the materials and secure the wider site. 'Council officers are also continuing to liaise with the local community to ensure that these materials remain fenced off.'
