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Monthly Archives: October 2013
Shankill vigil ‘contrasts sharply to antagonistic IRA memorial’
A dignified walk to remember Shankill bombing victims was in stark contrast to the “antagonistic” unveiling of a tribute to one of the bombers, an Ulster Unionist MLA has claimed. Roy Beggs said the vigil held on the Shankill Road on Tuesday evening, commemorating 20 years since the IRA atrocity, was “reflective” and a fitting mark of respect. Over 1,000 people joined survivors and relatives of the nine innocent civilians who died on October 23, 1993, when a device being carried by Thomas Begley exploded in a fish shop. Tuesday’s commemoration – which included a religious service and wreath laying – also remembered the victims of four other bomb attacks in the Shankill area during the Troubles. Mr Beggs said: “It is a fact that many residents of Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey have migrated from north Belfast and the greater Shankill area during the course of the Troubles and are now … Continue reading
Call to Extend Bowel Cancer Screening
Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim Roy Beggs Jnr has highlighted the fact that Carrickfergus has the worst statistics for bowel (Colectoral) cancer for men in Northern Ireland. After Lung and Breast, Bowel Cancer is the third most deadly cancer in the UK. In a debate at Stormont Mr Beggs called for an extension of the screening programme for bowel cancer which was introduced under former Health Minister Michael McGimpsey 3 ½ years ago. Roy Beggs MLA said: “In preparing for the Stormont debate on Bowel Cancer, I learned about research statistics published by Queens’ University about cancer death rates in Northern Ireland. For the 2006-2010 period the standardised mortality rates for colectoral cancer- which is also known as colon, rectal or bowel cancer- is alarmingly high in the borough of Carrickfergus. At 152.9 the male mortality rate for Carrickfergus is the worst in Northern Ireland. At 121.4 overall it … Continue reading
Posted in Health Committee, Press Releases
Tagged Bowel Cancer, Carrickfergus, NHS, NI Cancer Registry, QUB, Screening
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Beggs contrasts reflective walk with antagonistic plaque
With many residents of Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey having moved out from North Belfast during the course of the troubles, Roy Beggs, East Antrim MLA has contrasted the reflective walk that has occurred on the Shankill Road with the erection of an antagonistic plaque at Ardoyne. Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist MLA said ‘On the 20th anniversary of the Shankill bomb at Frizzell’s Fish Shop I would commend those who have organised the dignified reflective walk revisiting the 5 bomb sites in which 25 civilians were killed and hundreds injured. This walk stands in great contrast with those who decided to erect a antagonistic plaque in the Ardoyne area to remember the bomber who inflicted so much pain and was himself killed by his own bomb. Thomas Begley’s family are of course entitled to remember their family member but I am aware of the pain that has been caused and the adverse effect … Continue reading
Changes to School Funding Formula Miss Target-Beggs
Ulster Unionist Party MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has urged schools in his East Antrim constituency to respond to the Department of Education’s proposal to change the way schools are funded through the Common Funding Formula. The Department of Education is currently consulting on proposed changes to how they calculate annual school budgets. Mr Beggs said: “The consultation period for the proposed changes to funding for schools ends this Friday, and I would encourage all Schools to respond. The negative impact which these projected changes would have on most local school budgets is of real concern. The vast majority would see their budgets cut dramatically, in many cases losing between £5,000-£10,000. Some schools are losing even more. The Ulster Unionist my Party fully recognises that a new funding model may be necessary in order to tackle the correlation between poor educational attainment and social deprivation. However, we believe that the current … Continue reading
Posted in Children and young people, Press Releases
Tagged DEDNI, education, NEELB, Roy Beggs MLA, schools
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New children’s hospital for Belfast
A long-delayed plan to build a new regional children’s hospital for Northern Ireland has finally been given the go-ahead by the Stormont Executive. Finance Minister Simon Hamilton told the Assembly on Monday that an initial £15.5m would be allocated to the project on the Royal Victoria Hospital site in Belfast next year. He said: “Two weeks ago, I accepted an invitation from the Health Minister to visit the children’s hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. “I was shocked by what I saw: dedicated health professionals going beyond the call of duty to treat some extremely ill children but doing so in surroundings that, I am ashamed to say, are far from fit for purpose.” Delivering his speech on the outcome of the October Monitoring round, Mr Hamilton announced some £80m to departments in the remainder of this financial year and funding of £177m for 2014-2015. Mr Hamilton added: … Continue reading
