| New Zealand police investigating murder of Orcadian woman |
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A 26-year-old Orkney woman has been murdered in New Zealand.
Kirkwall police acting-inspector Eddie Graham confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been in contact reporting the woman’s death.
He said: “Next of kin have been informed. It is not our inquiry and we will not be releasing any details. At this time the family are highly distressed by the news.”
The woman was found, with critical head injuries, in the central North Island town of Taupo by police. She was taken to the town ’s hospital but died shortly after arrival. |
| New Kirkwall bar moves a step closer |
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Kirkwall businessman Neil Stevenson's plans for a new bar in the town have taken another step closer to fruition.
Members at Thursday’s Orkney Area Licensing Board meeting granted Mr Stevenson outline provisional grant of public licence works for the property at 14 Harbour Street in Kirkwall.
His legal representative, Ms Georgette Herd, told councillors that the venture would be “very much in keeping with the historic feel of this part of the town.”
The proposed new bar will offer a selection of wines, beers and spirits, but will also serve non-alcoholic drinks and coffees, along with a host of local produce. |
| Energy award for Orkney Islands Council |
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Orkney Islands Council has been recognised for its efforts in reducing energy consumption.
The council has been accredited by the Energy Institute under the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme.
The award is based on the efforts the council is making to minimise its energy consumption and covers all aspects of management, financial commitment and quality energy efficiency projects.
The council will also receive a certificate for its Carbon Management Programme, which was approved by full council this year. |
| Solicitors' appoint first chairman |
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Kirkwall law firm, Lows, have appointed Duncan Hill as their first chairman for a two-year term.
Mr Hill has worked with the firm since 1983 and took on the new role on Monday. The firm will no longer have senior partners.
There will be further changes in the near future when the firm extends its offices at 5 Broad Street into part of the former Ola Gorie premises.
At that point, staff at the firm’s 6 Bridge Street Wynd office will move to the Broad Street site. |
| Rape trial under way in Aberdeen |
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The trial of a 35-year-old Bradford man, accused of raping a 23-year-old woman, in Orkney, in 2006, is under way in Aberdeen.
Appearing at the Aberdeen High Court, Robert Wilson denies repeatedly raping the woman on a dive boat boat on September 15, 2006, while she was under the influence of alcohol, at times unconscious, and unable to resist.
The trial continues. |
| Police investigations into sudden death |
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Northern Constabulary is investigating the death of a 32-year-old man, Ian Graham, in the Papdale area of Kirkwall overnight on Sunday into Monday.
Police inquiries are ongoing but at present it is not thought to be suspicious.
A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course. |
| Man remanded in custody |
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Jonathan Hodgson, 29, of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody on Wednesday following offences committed on January 13.
Hodgson pled guilty to taking and driving a car in Finstown and also theft by house breaking in Stromness on Sunday.
Hodgson was remanded in custody until January 23. |
| OIC statement confirms harbours department redundancies on the cards |
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Following a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, discussing the staffing in the OIC's harbours department, the OIC has issued the following statement:
"A full meeting of Orkney Islands Council has agreed that as a result of a significant deficit within the Department of Harbours trading account and a reduction in shipping traffic to Scapa Flow oil port there is a need to reduce staffing levels within that Department. There is the potential for 11 redundancies.
" The council will now enter into consultation with trade unions and staff concerning these redundancies.
Additionally, a wider review of Department of Harbours operations is ongoing." |
| NorthLink to introduce photo ID system |
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NorthLink is to launch a system of photographic identification for passengers from May 1.
The ferry company will launch the new scheme on its fleet of ferries operating between the Northern Isles and the Scottish mainland.
Chief executive Bill Davidson said this will bring NorthLink into line with the policies being operated by other major public transport providers.
The types of ID eligible under the new scheme include a passport, photographic driving licence, national concession scheme card, and a student ID or workplace photo ID by well known employers and organisations. |
| New security measures at Balfour Hospital |
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New security measures have been put in place at the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall.
All entrances to the hospital are now locked on week days between 4.15pm, and 8am the next morning. At weekends, all entrances to the building will be closed from 4.15pm on Friday until 8am on Monday.
During these hours, patients, visitors and staff are advised to use the night entrance door on Hornersquoy, which will remain open until 9pm. After 9pm access will be via a buzzer.
The new arrangements are as a result of a review of security arrangements at the hospital and will be monitored on a weekly basis. |
| Man fined for breach of the peace |
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A 35-year-old man appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon and pled guilty to a breach of the peace.
Christopher John Kelly, of Grainbank, Kirkwall, admitted throwing his restriction of liberty box out of the house and into a porch, and placing a woman in a state of fear and alarm on January 12.
Honorary Sheriff Eric Green fined unemployed Kelly £133 in view of his early guilty plea. |
| Ice closes Old Finstown Road at weekend |
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The Old Finstown Road was closed to traffic on Saturday after ice made it unsafe to use.
The road was closed from 7am until 2pm while efforts were made to bring the road back up to standard.
Sergeant Niall Maclean commented: "It was closed because the road was treacherous, because of the ice.
”It is my understanding that the Orkney Islands Council gritter that attended also left the road.” |
| Drivers urged to take care around new school crossing |
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From Monday, pupils from the Deerness Road area of Kirkwall had a new helping hand on the walk to school.
Orkney Islands Council has employed a School Crossing Patrol Officer (SCPO). This followed an extensive review of all existing and potential crossing patrol sites in Kirkwall and Stromness. The new crossing point will be near Grassick Court.
The crossing patrol will operate from 8.30am to 9.30am and 3.15pm to 4.00pm. Drivers are asked to take extra care when approaching the crossing. |
| No suspicious circumstances in Caithness death |
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Police in Caithness investigating the death of a man found on the foreshore at John O' Groats on Thursday have identified the man as Frank Rooney (51) from Dundee.
Next of kin have been informed .
The does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a further report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in Wick. |
| Road safety DVD highlights the importance of staying alert |
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‘Hometime’, an educational film, produced locally by the Orkney Road Safety Forum, received its premiere on Monday night.
The group intends to raise awareness of school bus safety, particularly pupil’s responsibilities when crossing country roads after getting off the bus.
The DVD is to be distributed to all road safety units across Scotland and was shown to an invited audience at Orkney College. |
| Home win for ORFC |
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Orkney Rugby Club's First XV were back in action on Saturday, with a convincing win against Waid Academy FP at Pickaquoy.
The Orkney side ran home winners 71-3 in their latest game in the Scottish Hydro Electric Caledonia League Division One. |
