27 5t

niversary An Y

r ea

Price: 80p (IR 1.10 EURO) Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The pride of Northern Ireland

www.newsletter.co.uk

Since 1737

Actors words of wisdom for graduates P3&27

Jury awards 80k to man SF libelled P6&7

INSIDE
TWO SUPER PULL-OUTS
News Letter, Tuesday, December 18, 2012 29

Violence as flag protests escalate

BY MARK RAINEY
mark.rainey@newsletter.co.uk

Tuesday | December 18

| 2012

VIOLENCE flared in parts of Belfast last night during an evening of widespread protest against the City Hall flag policy. Roads were also blocked in many other areas of the Province, including Portadown, where a protester was taken to hospital after being hit by a car. In Carrickfergus, a number of demonstrators entered and disrupted a meeting at the Town Hall before being removed by police. No one was injured during the incident which an Alliance councillor present described as a fullfrontal attack on democracy. Police were attacked with missiles and attempts made to hijack cars as a crowd blocked a road near Shaws Bridge in south Belfast. Other demonstrations in opposition to the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall on designated days only were taking place in many other areas at the same time. Missiles were thrown at police in Lisburn, on Belfasts Lower Newtownards Road and in the Sandy Row area of Belfast, where one officer was reported injured. Other roads were blocked by protesters in Larne, Londonderry, Ballyclare and Coleraine. The Secretary of State has joined the First and Deputy First Ministers in appealing for the protests to stop. See pages 4&5

First of US shooting victims laid to rest

Minis serve up a try feast

CLOGHER LEFT TO FLy FLAG FOR ULSTER IN ALL IRELANd JUNIOR CUP Ps 32-33
FUTURE: Young stars from Dungannon and Portadown put on some superb displays Stevenson Park when they at several mini rugby games met in

INSIdE TOdAy

MORE PICTURES IN PAGE 35

PICTURE: WJ MCKENZIE

RUGByFORCE INITIATIVE IS LAUNCHEd By ULSTER BANK P 36 SCHOOLS REVIEW P 34-35

the best doMesti c coverage

Business
Nesbitt gives star billing to university
PAGE 27
BY rIChArD

All the action from the pitch

News Letter, Tuesday, December 18, 2012 23

POUND/EURO

UP 0.0016 AT 1.2304

POUND/DOLLAR

UP 0.0065 AT 1.6202

Business home and away

PAGES 28&37

BELFAST-based telecoms ShErrIFF group Business Correspondent eircom UK has today announced plans to increase its r.sherriff@newsletter.co.uk workforce and expand operations in posts profits of 3.6 the city as it ENTERPRISE Minister million for the past financial year. ter today launches the Arlene FosThe firm, which of business support second phase Enterprise ploys more than 40 currently emDanske Bank Export programme staff in NorthMinister Arlene First a ern Ireland and GB, Northern Ireland Chamber Foster with of Com25 per cent increase is aiming for a merce initiative which by the end of aims Northern Ireland the year. aspiring and new exporters. to help Chamber of The figures for the Following a highly 30 come after a 1.3m year to June Commerce chief lot phase from June successful piloss recorded 2011 to August for the previous full executive Ann this year, Danske Bank year. Export First Overall revenues for will continue to provide McGregor and the year support to ending 30 June 2012 potential exporters, Danske Deputy were down increase aware5.1m as a result of ness amongst SMEs the Chief Executive of existing exfrom loss making parts firms exit port schemes and provide of the busiKevin Kingston at assistance ness. to firms seeking new the launch of the market opporIt has been an encouraging tunities by linking them year second phase of for us in what everyone als who have experience to individurecognises are challenging economic business support ing many of the issues in addresstimes, and queries said general manager programme encountered by first Darren Lemtime exporters. on. Danske Bank The second phase We are now seeing gramme will continueof the proExport First the benefits to feature from the strategy we leadership events a Northern implemented with some of four years ago to create Northern Irelands top a Ireland Chamber service business working managed well as a focus on new exporters, as of Commerce markets and lic sector and corporate with pubthe development of customers. the skills set reinitiative aimed at This area has experienced quired to operate in doublethem. helping aspiring digit growth for the I welcome the continuation third year runshy away from taking ning. of the and new exporters advantage of next Export First initiative them. level, she said. after a very Of course, eircom UK successful pilot phase, helping them Export First has already Invest Northern Ireland about Northern Ireland. is not just said Mrs raised nities throughto seize those opportuFoster. works the profile of There is a hard to increase our export. exporting substantially strategy in place for export base among Exporting can often expansion into Export has been identified and has a full range smaller companies GB and our recent of measures to ular as bedaunting experience, seem like a help success in beand made a significant in partic- ing the key vehicle for sustainable companies increase ing part of a body of contribu- economic for smaller businesses.particularly abroad. their sales tion to 12 companies, the work of the Northern growth here and, if export selected by the Cabinet like this are particularly Initiatives making Local companies are already Ire- is the Office to land Executive and build a world class important, great strides in emerging Invest Northern Bank vehicle, we see the Danske because they put first Public Service Ireland in markets like China Export First initiative Network across the and India, and I exporting the creation of a culture of tential exporters in time and poas beUK, gives us a ing the driver. We am sure others will superb platform for within the local business look forward to with someone who direct contact follow their ex- community. this market. working alongside has been there, ample. The Public Services the Northern done that and can Ireland Chamber of We are very grateful is a fundamental building Network Ann McGregor, Chief Commerce over first hand, practical therefore give Executive of block of advice. Bank for making phase to Danske the next year to equip the governments ICT Northern Ireland Chamber aspiring and The current economic Strategy protwo of this experienced of Com- programme viding the infrastructure merce, said Danske situation, local exporters possible through the she said, made it more knowledge and confidence with the important for services to citizens more to deliver First had provided Bank Export provision of resources businesses to look support to 230 tise. efficiently to break and exper- into new to and cost effectively. local businesses in its markets for the in order to thrive and new markets first year, rollimprove their take their export activityfirst time or In the last year alone Kevin ing out 10 events in competitiveness. eircom UK to the next locations across executive Kingston, deputy chief level. has invested more Northern Ireland. and MD for than 2 million Historically, exports in the expansion of focused on During its First phase, corporate banking at business & The next phase of the near markets such its Danske Bank Bank Danske as GB, providing seamless network in commented: As part been adapted to include project has of Ireland or Great the Republic connectivof a large, suc- ported Export First has been supaspects of cessful ity for companies working the pilot as well as a by 20 of these are important,Britain. While European banking on both secondary level we group, most successful Northern Irelands sides of the Irish Sea. many opporof support designed appreciate the wealth tunities exist right across exporters including to assist compa- lent We are exporting our the world nies that are committed opportunities that lie of excel- Almac, Boomer Industries, and it is important that knowledge Concenand services to the SMEs do not their exports and take to growing Northern Ireland for our outside of trix, Dale Farm, Moy Park, wider UK marSuki Tea, indigenous Terex, ket and our profitability them to the companies Whale Pumps and and are committed continue to invest in allows us to Wright The business supplement to Bus. people and to will not be published expand here in Belfast.

Programme to support aspiring and exporters

Who are the Autumn statement winners?

PAGE 41

3.6m profits fuel growth and jobs

on Tuesday, December

25, nor on Tuesday, January

1, 2013. Publication will

resume on Tuesday, January

8, 2013

News, comment and analysis Find out how much crime there is in your area
See page 9

Barbara Wells of Shelton, Connecticut, holds her three-year-old daughter Olivia close as she pays her respects at one of the makeshift memorials for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown. Belfast opened a book of condolence yesterday as the first childrens funerals took place. See pages 8&9

PICTURE: AP/Mary Altaffer

Couples Specials
Award-winning Restau aurant

Celebrate this Christmas at The Grouse

Now Taking Bookings for Christmas Day 50 per person 25 2 - 10 years Christmas Lunch Available Throughout The Month Of December Party Night at the Grouse 8th December 2012 20 per person Meal, Entertainment & Free Entry into Prize Draw for a Weekend for 2 in Dublin A Party night with a difference... for further details contact The Grouse

Every Friday & Saturday Night 5pm - 9pm 2 Course 2 People 30 Includes glass of house wine each

SANTA SUNDAY FOR ALL THE KIDS

December 16th from 1pm Visit Santa at The Grouse Grotto

BOOKING ESSENTIAL Ballyhagan Road, Loughgall, BT61 8PX

Telephone: 028 3889 1778