Ulster’s female politicians last night rallied to support the Belfast Rape Crisis Centre after a Government threat to withdraw its funding. They threw their weight behind the centre, dedicated to helping victims of rape and sexual violence, after it emerged it may close if funding is stopped. The department yesterday threatened to withdraw the £66,000 annual funding as the organisation’s “continued failure to meet Government accounting requirements” had left it with “no other option”.

Last year, the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Teresa Carey, published her first annual report. It contained details of all of the inspections she had carried out in 2004 and noted a ‘range of issues’ that were having a ‘serious negative effect’ on the quality of services available to people in Ireland with mental health problems. Now one year on, her second annual report has been published. It looks at all inspections carried out in 2005.

An Ulster woman who waited 18 months in agony for desperately needed rheumatoid arthritis wonder drugs, has gone to the House of Commons – to campaign for a better deal for patients across the UK. Armed with a five-point action plan, Hazel Mark was one of 10 women urging the Government to provide more cash for life-changing treatment such as Remicade and Enbrel. As part of their campaign, Hazel (38), from Ballymena, and other women were interviewed by MPs throughout the UK for a special book on the condition.

The remaining provisions of the Mental Health Act, 2001, are to come into effect on November 1. This will provide for the establishment of independent tribunals to review the legality of people being involuntarily detained in psychiatric facilities. Announcing the news, Health Minister, Mary Harney, said that the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Mental Health Commission and the Department of Health ‘are currently finalising preparations to ensure the smooth transition of the new arrangements under the Act’.

A children’s charity has welcomed consultation on reforming the law on sexual offences in Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson announced a three-month consultation period and said he wanted to provide “modern, robust legislation.” It could mean tough new laws on rape and other sexual offences next year.

One of Northern Ireland’s education boards faces legal action unless it agrees to cost-cutting measures. The South Eastern board has until 1800 GMT on Thursday to implement the cuts, which will affect special needs pupils.

Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson today vowed to take account of the views of thousands of Ulster people demanding an end to the controversial 50% remission for dangerous sex offenders. Petitions signed by over 20,000 Belfast Telegraph readers, concerned that serious sex offenders and violent criminals are walking free after serving half of their sentences, were presented to him today at Stormont. This paper launched the Justice for Attracta Campaign in response to public outrage after retired librarian Attracta Harron was murdered by a convicted rapist who had been released after serving half of his sentence.

Nurses involved in the care of people with learning disabilities converge on the University of Ulster’s Jordanstown campus next week for the National Network for Learning Disability Nurses’ annual conference. Now in its 24th year, this is the first time the conference, which will attract learning disability nursing practitioners from all over Ireland and the UK, has been hosted by the University of Ulster.

The Gardai are investigating the death of a 65-year-old woman in a long-stay Hospital in Cork. 65-year-old Hannah Comber died from asphyxiation after becoming entangled in straps in a special chair.

Community leaders in County Antrim are attempting to steer children away from anti-social behaviour by keeping them busy over the summer holidays. The council-backed initiative aims to keep young people off the street and out of trouble. The scheme is aimed at children living in the Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Larne areas. Organiser Elaine Manson said: “The scheme has been developed from good practice in Liverpool.” There, the Summer Splash scheme “engages thousands of young people over the summer months”, she said.