Chief Supt Simon Walls

POLICE are asking members of the public to be wary following the reports of two scams in recent weeks in Counties Antrim and Armagh.

A Co Antrim man, aged in his fifties,  has been a victim of fraud totalling some £60,000.

The telephone scam, which took place on Wednesday 23rd October, involved a number of calls to the victim’s landline and the combined, unscrupulous efforts of three males.

The first call was from a man claiming to be from a telecommunications company.

The fraudster informed the man that his internet line had been hacked and that he would need to download software to his PC and await a call with instructions from a cybercrime investigator.

The man did as requested and, shortly afterwards, received the call from the supposed ‘cybercrime investigator’.

He, the second conman, stated that there had been fraudulent activity within the man’s bank and that his funds were insecure.

A third collaborator, posing as the head of the bank, then convinced the victim to set up a new bank account, to which £60,000 was subsequently transferred.

PSNI’s Chief Superintendent Simon Walls said: “This was a carefully calculated and despicable act, which involved the collaboration of several individuals.

“To many, £60,000 is a lifetime of savings.

“This is a huge financial blow, as well as a loss of one’s trust and confidence.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there. We’ve recently been informed of an incident that took place earlier this month, on Friday 4th October, and this time in Co Armagh.

“The Co Armagh man received an email, supposedly from his accountant, requesting him to transfer an amount of £12,782 to a specified account number, belonging to HMRC.

“The email contained specific details, which led the victim to believe it was authentic.

“He subsequently made the requested transfer before finding out, from his real accountant, that the email was in fact fraudulent.”

Chief Superintendent Walls continued: “Scams come in all shapes and sizes, from mandate fraud to the plain and simple telephone scams.  All have one thing in common.

“Those responsible are ruthless and will go to any length to trick victims out of their hard-earned money.

“They have no regard whatsoever for the impact of their actions, which can be devastating.

“Our message is simple – never disclose your personal or banking details to anyone over the phone or online, no matter how convincing they may seem, and never allow an unauthorised person to have access to such details via your computer.

“If you have any concerns about unsolicited calls, emails or letters then please report it to Action Fraud via their website www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phoning 0300 123 2040.  You can also call police on the non-emergency number 101.”

For further advice and information visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni

POLICE have smashed a cannabis factory (pictured above) situated in an uninhabited cottage and seized plants worth £20,000.

The cannabis factory was found in the disused cottage on the Annaghad Road in Cullaville, south Armagh.

Sergeant William Nulty said: “We received information in the early hours of Tuesday 19th February that illegal drugs were being grown at the property.

“Officers attended and found cannabis plants with an approximate value of £20,000 and a large quantity of cultivation apparatus.

“This was a very professional operation which had been set up in a rural location in an effort to avoid detection.

“I am very pleased to have taken these drugs off our streets.

“No arrests have been made at this stage but our enquiries into the matter are ongoing.

“I would appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area of Annaghad Road recently or anyone who has any information about the supply or use of illegal drugs in the South Armagh area to contact officers at Crossmaglen on 101.

“Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”

A Co Antrim man says he is “gutted” after losing his pride and joy Rolex watch worth around £10,000.

The Rolex Sub Mariner with a Gold and Black dial and Stainless steel and 18K Yellow Gold Oyster Bracelet was a “prized possession”.  

The stunning Men’s Watch was only a couple of years old and appears to have fallen from his wrist whilst touring the north coast near Glenarm last week.

The gentleman from Carrickfergus explained “I remember having it on Monday night at the Omniplex in Larne and then when getting into bed on Tuesday night I noticed it was missing.

“Needless to say I’m gutted that I have lost it.

“Not only was it a timepiece but it was also an investment as the watch has increased in value this year by about £1000.00

“The watch is a stunning example of the Rolex Sub-mariner range.

“The serial and model number has been reported to the police. In the event someone hands it in.”

A YouTube movie of a similar watch can bee seen at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-F-wX5DoV8

THE Smart Grid Innovation Hub has announced a competition to find the most promising start-up for a Smart Grid solution or service, with the opportunity for the winner to receive up to €10,000 in funding as well as a range of other valuable prizes.

The competition offers a unique opportunity to pitch your idea to senior executives across the energy industry in Northern Ireland and Ireland at the 2014 Energy Show in Dublin’s RDS on March 12th.

A Smart Grid is an electricity network which facilitates the large-scale integration of renewable energy, utilises the electricity infrastructure efficiently through the optimal use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) & seamlessly integrates the actions of all users connected to the network in order to deliver sustainable, economic & secure electricity supplies.

Northern Ireland and Ireland have a significant opportunity in Smart Grids due to the levels of wind-generated electricity on the power system, which can be up to 50% at any one time.

This enables us to become effectively a live laboratory of Smart Grid evolution, as our system as our system must be managed in a unique way.

The Smart Grid Innovation Hub is a collaborative initiative by EirGrid Group and NDRC to promote the development of innovative Smart Grid solutions, with a focus on entrepreneurial initiatives by companies, academics and entrepreneurs in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

This competition is open to any Northern Irish or Irish start-up with a Smart Grid solution or service which has been in operation for less than 3 years and has received under €1 million in funding to date.

Entrants will be judged on the originality of the idea, the ability to address current and future electricity system challenges and the market opportunity & business case.

Four short- listed entrants will pitch their ideas to a judging panel of top industry professionals and noted experts in front of an audience at this year’s Energy Show on 12th March. All information can be found on the Smart Grid Innovation Hub’s newly launched website at www.smartgridinnovate.com .

The closing date for applications is February 21st.

The Prize

The winner will have an opportunity to receive funding of up to €10,000 and will be given a promotional opportunity to showcase their winning Smart Grid solution, product or service at ‘The Energy Show 2014’ at the RDS, Dublin 4, on 13 March 2014.

In addition, the winner may avail of intensive solution and business validation workshops through the Smart Grid Innovation Hub and may be short-listed to one of NDRC’s investment programmes.

The famous Titanic violin which was sold at auction for £900,000

THE violin that soothed frightened passengers on the doomed Titanic ship was sold for £900,000 in just 10 minutes.

It was played by band leader Wallace Hartley, who died along with 1,517 others as the ship went down.

The violin – lot 230 – fetched three times its guide price of £300,000.

The auctioneers in Wiltshire set the bidding at £50 for the violin, so “two of his friends could bid” – but after just a couple of minutes it had passed £100,000.

It eventually sold for £900,000 after fierce bidding between two telephone bidders.

Hartley has become part of the ship’s legend after leading his fellow musicians in playing as the vessel sank.

They are famously said to have played the hymn Nearer My God To Thee.

It had taken seven years for the Devizes auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son, to authenticate the instrument.

Several experts were used, including forensic scientists who said the wood still contained salt deposits from the sea water.

Some people still doubt whether the violin is the genuine article, however, and believe it could not have survived being submerged in the sea.

But it is claimed the violin survived in a leather case strapped to Mr Harley’s body who was found wearing his cork and linen lifejacket.

A diary entry by his fiancee, Maria Robinson, said it was saved from the water and returned to her.

Following her death in 1939, the violin was given to her local Salvation Army citadel and was later passed on to the current anonymous owner’s mother in the early 1940s.

The auction house said it had attracted interest from collectors all over the world and added that more than 315,000 people viewed it during a three-month exhibition in the United States.

The most money previously paid for a piece of Titanic memorabilia is thought to have been a plan of the ship used in the 1912 inquiry into the sinking.

This was bought by a private collector at auction for £220,000 in 2011.

Woman goes on trial at Belfast Crown Court accused of conning her mum out of over £40,000

A BELFAST daughter has gone on trial accused of using forged signatures to con her elderly mother out of over £40,000, a jury has heard.

Prosecution lawyer David McClean told Belfast Crown Court it was the Crown case that at no time did 49-year-old Heather Ruth Noble have her mother’s permission to sign her name on the cheques.

He told the jury of seven women and five men that the alleged fraudulent behaviour took place between July 2006 and August 2008.

The lawyer said the indictment related to eleven specimen counts reflecting the total of 32 cheques allegedly forged by the daughter amounting to £41,000.

Noble, of Aughnabrack Road, north Belfast, denies the two charges of theft, two of forgery and a further seven of fraud by false representation.

The court heard the offences happened when her mother Johnina Noble was 78 or 79 years old and who had since died.

However Mr McClean told the jury a statement by Johnina Noble would be read to them in the course of the trial.

The alleged fraud began shortly after Noble moved in with her mother to help take care of her, he said.

The accused then bought the mother’s house on the Aughnbrack Road for the agreed sum of £100,000, less £18,000 for an outstanding mortgage, leaving £82,000 and allowing Mrs Noble Snr to live out her days in her former home with her daughter.

However, Mr McClean said it was while she was hospitalised between July and November 2006 that the fraud occurred and that evidence and exhibits would prove the defendant had written a £5,000 cheque to a kitchen company, £3,000 to clear a credit card debt and a £2,000 cheque to herself in that period and that all 32 cheques “had been signed dishonestly and without permission”.

After being arrested and questioned about the matter Noble admitted forging her mother’s signature but had claimed it was done with her mother’s permission and full knowledge.

He added that in her police statement Johnina had contested that and had “denied all knowledge” of the cheques, of ever having a credit card or giving her daughter permission to sign her name.

The trial continues.

Publicans meet in The Northern Whig to plan ‘Backin Belfast’ campaign

THE STORMONT Executive has thrown its weight behind an advertising campaign to help Belfast traders who have suffered over the Union flag protest.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said on Wednesday the government is funding a £600,000 advertising campaign to encourage shoppers and revellers to come back into Belfast.

He said the aim was to “get people back into the city centre and into businesses”.

Protests have been held since councillors voted on 3 December to limit the number of days the union flag flies over Belfast City Hall.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) estimates the protests have cost businesses up to £15m.

Mr Wilson said the money would be made available through the department of enterprise.

“There will be immediate money made available for a campaign which I think is going to start next week,” he said.

“We’re taking immediate action and then we’re looking in the medium-term around coming up the major events in the summer, we can do some more to promote businesses across Northern Ireland.”

But loyalists protesting over the removal of the flag have countered the view of the traders saying their rallies did not affect trading in Belfast.

It has produced poster which saying a “one hour weekly protest” didn’t ruin their Christmas.”

Loyalists say weekly protest not to blame for traders woes

The  poster reads: “BELFAST SHOP KEEPERS.

“DON’T blame the 1 hour weekly protest.

“BLAME the online shopping.

“BLAME your high prices.

“BLAME the weather.

“BLAME the nationalist MLAs.

“BLAME the Allliance Party.

“A 1 hour weekly protest does not bring your shops to its needs.”

Earlier this month, Belfast City Council agreed a rates freeze to help traders affected by the flags trouble but ruled out a reduction or payment holiday.

“Some of these businesses are talking about laying off 20 or 30 people – even if it was possible legally to give them a rates holiday for say three months, that might mean about £3,000 or £4,000 for them.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson

“That’s not going to save those jobs, what you need is people coming in and spending money, on a daily basis and that’s why it was the organisations themselves who said, look what we want is some help with an immediate campaign to get people back in and spending money so that our members can pay their bills,” Mr Wilson said.

“All we can do is say to protesters ‘don’t destroy the economy of your own country’.”

The minister said it was about adopting a “two-pronged approach”.

“Let’s promote the city but let’s also appeal to those who are engaging in these destructive protests to exercise some restraint and find other ways of expressing their anger and their frustration.”

Mr Wilson said it was part of an ongoing series of steps to help businesses in Northern Ireland.

The CBI said people had been put off coming into Belfast city centre as a result of the protests.

It estimated the cost to businesses in the city from the protests was between £10m and £15m, but there could be additional economic damage from discouraging potential tourists and investors.

The CBI said in the run-up to Christmas there were demonstrations in the city centre on Saturdays, a peak period for traders and takings were down by about 40%.

The iconic Titanic building in Belfast

And the landmark venue is also celebrating after experiencing bumper festive visitor numbers which exceeded all expectations.

The World’s Largest Titanic Visitor Experience in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter has continued to show its popularity with local and international visitors and had to put up SOLD OUT signs in the final days of 2012.

Sold out between Christmas and New Year, Titanic Belfast saw visitor numbers rise to more than 33,000 from December 1 to December 31.

And this excluded almost 10,000 visitors to its meet Father Christmas Victorian Christmas experience.

In fact, between December 27 and January 6, more than 23,000 people experienced the Titanic Belfast exhibition.

Having surpassed all visitor number expectations, Titanic Belfast has now welcomed more than 650,000 visitors in just nine months since opening on March 31, 2012 until year end, making it the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland and one of the top attractions in Ireland.

Tim Husbands, Titanic Belfast CEO and Business Person of the Year award winner, said: “Our visitor numbers over the festive and New Year periods exceeded expectations and clearly show that Titanic Belfast is an all-year round attraction for domestic and international visitors.

“This was our first Christmas and also the first time we hosted a Christmas experience at Titanic Belfast, and almost 10,000 people visited our Victorian Christmas street scene to meet a traditional Father Christmas, and be transported back in time to a magical Christmas period.

“Our latest visitor number of more than 650,000, is very encouraging. It’s a great and positive news story for Belfast and Northern Ireland tourism.

“The Titanic Belfast exhibition has also been refreshed with new additions, such as props from James Cameron’s TITANIC movie, and the Titanic Inquiry Plan.

“We have also found that visitors are coming back to it on more than one occasion, with local people saying that they were often treating relatives visiting Northern Ireland over the festive holidays to experience Titanic Belfast, and that they were proud to show off the building.”

“2013 has started on a high for Titanic Belfast, and we look forward to the challenges the year will present. As the attraction is open all year round we encourage those that have not yet been to go online and book now before the busy spring season begins.”

TITANIC FESTIVE FACTS:

1. More than 6,700 cups of festive-flavoured coffees were drunk by visitors to Titanic Belfast between December 1 and December 31, 2012.

2. More than 21,000 cups of tea were consumed by visitors to Titanic Belfast between December 1 and December 31, 2012.

3. Turkey and Ham was the most popular festive dish served to visitors to Titanic Belfast between December 1 and December 31, 2012, in the Bistro 401 restaurant.

4. More than 4,200 Mince Pies were consumed by visitors to Titanic Belfast between December 1 and December 31, 2012.

Fitzwilliam Hotel cuts its annual losses

A FIVE-STAR hotel in Belfast city centre has cut its losses by £1.5 million.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel opened in 2009 and had racked up debts of £1.7 million.

However, in 2011 it was able to cut its annual losses to £257,000 due in large a greater number of tourists coming into the city centre.

According to its annual accounts, the Fitzwilliam’s turnover and profitability had.

And in a note of optimism, it said there should be further growth in 2012, showing a performance “significantly above” that achieved in 2011.

The details are contained in the annual accounts of Graffan Hotel Ltd, the firm which owns the Fitzwilliam.

The hotel, which is next to the Grand Opera House on Great Victoria Street, employs about 75 people.

Turnover increased from £4.1m in 2010 to £4.4m in 2011.

A report from the consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers has suggested that 2012 has been the best year for major Belfast hotels since 2006.

The report, which was published in November, found that year-on-year occupancy for the eight months to the end of September was up 15% on the year before, and overall revenue was up by 20%.

It identified the opening of the Titanic Belfast tourist attraction as a major factor in the improved performance.

Children in Need’s Pudsey

CHILDREN in Need in Northern Ireland raised almost £800,000 last night.

Across the UK, the charity raised a record on-the-night total of £26,757,446.

As phone lines closed in Northern Ireland at 02:00 GMT on Saturday, the NI total stood at £793,858.

Last year on-the-night, the Northern Ireland total was £755,954.

Sir Terry Wogan, Fearne Cotton, Tess Daly and Nick Grimshaw presented the main appeal show from London on Friday, with John Daly and Sarah Travers hosting proceedings in Belfast.

Donations were encouraged by performances from a wide range of celebrities.

A combined choir of young people from Grosvenor Grammar School, Lagan College and Lumen Christi College in Northern Ireland joined more than 2,000 others from the rest of the UK who were taking part in a live rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water.

A special television highlights programme from the night will be shown on Saturday on BBC One Northern Ireland from 17:25 GMT.

It will include the highlights from the London show, as well as reflecting the fundraising activity around Northern Ireland and how Children in Need money is spent.

The hour-long programme will feature a new performance from the BBC Northern Ireland Children in Need choir and rising Londonderry-born singer/songwriter Soak.

Viewers can still give to the appeal by texting the word DONATE to 70710 during Saturday evening’s programme.

Text messages will cost £10 plus standard network charge, with £10 going to BBC Children in Need.

For full terms and conditions visit the website. You must be over 16 years of age and ask the bill payer’s permission.