News from around the North

Asbestos fight: County Antrim

Newly-elected Crumlin Sinn Féin councillor Ann Marie Logue says she is 100% behind residents who are seeking a judicial review of the Department of Environment (DOE) decision to grant planning permission for an asbestos dump near the County Antrim village.

Crosshill man Stanley Rankin sought legal aid to bring a judicial review against the DOE but his application was refused, but at a public meeting in Crumlin, attended by Logue, residents decided to make a fresh application from the local pressure group, Crumlin Against Asbestos.

"I am impressed by the determination of the local community to have this decision overturned on the grounds of their health and the health of their children," said Logue. "The community is rallying together to devise ways of raising the legal costs of the challenge, which could amount to around £40,000."

Racism: County Derry

It has emerged that no disciplinary action will be taken against workers of a County Derry meat factory who intimidated around 30 Polish workers on 8 April, the day of Pope John Paul II's funeral.

The Polish workers walked out of the Foyle Meats factory in Lisahally after suffering sectarian and racist taunts from a number of individuals.

The company released the findings of its investigation to the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) on Thursday 9 June. It said that after interviewing all staff in the relevant production area they concluded that, "some form of goading occurred on the day of the funeral.

"There was no evidence in relation to specific staff members, meaning no disciplinary action could be taken against individuals."

However, factory management conceded that it failed to anticipate the impact of the Pope's death and had dealt with the situation poorly.

Discrimination: County Down

The Fire Service is to review its recruitment policies after a landmark settlement in which a Catholic firefighter from South Down was awarded £4,000 in a settlement over alleged religious discrimination.

Senior fire officer John Allen brought the case after successfully applying for a position as a Divisional Fire Officer in 2003. He was forced to turn down the post, because as part of the job, he was required to live in a predominantly Protestant area close to Fire Service Headquarters in Lisburn.

Allen argued that the Fire Authority's restriction on residence discriminated against him on grounds of religious and political opinion.

Prior to the scheduled hearing of Allen's complaint at the Fair Employment Tribunal in Belfast on Monday 13 June, the Fire Authority agreed to pay Allen compensation of £4,000 and gave an undertaking with regard to future recruitment policies.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on human rights, Caitríona Ruane, said the landmark decision will have long term implications for public sector bodies throughout the North. "For too long, the fire service has been a cold house for Catholics, particularly at senior level," she said. "I want to commend the bravery, determination and far sightedness of John Allen, whose stand against discrimination in the fire service will have long term benefits for people who would otherwise have faced similar discrimination."

Spy posts: Armagh

A group of South Armagh residents campaigning to have British military bases removed from near their homes are to take their fight to the European Union.

A delegation will travel this week to Brussels to attend a conference titled 'Military Bases in Europe' and will use the opportunity to raise awareness of the heavy British Army militarisation in the Border area.

Damian McGennity of the South Armagh Demilitarisation Committee said his group has prepared a DVD depicting the numerous negative effects of the ongoing British Army presence in the area.