Muckamore Abbey – the Antrim hospital which treats people with learning difficulties – is at the centre of fresh controversy following revelations that convicted sex offenders are being housed in the vicinity of children and young people.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Paul Goggins, has learned of the benefits achieved from the Fostering Achievement Scheme he launched last year. Young people and carers, who have benefited from the scheme, met with the Minister to tell him of how their lives have improved.

The HSE has launched a new National Service User Executive (NSUE) for mental health services. The HSE says this means that for the first time, mental health service users will have a meaningful and significant input into shaping the future development and direction of the services.

The NI commissioner for children and young people says she is disappointed by the action plan to address problems at Muckamore Abbey Hospital. The plan, announced by Health Minister Paul Goggins on Monday, aims to address the delayed discharge of children and young people from the hospital. However, Patricia Lewsley said it did not address all the issues.

The government has pledged £3m to ensure that no children will be living in a hospital in two years’ time. The announcement follows news that 100 adults and 17 children with learning disabilities have been living in hospital unnecessarily – because of a lack of funding to keep them in the community.

A campaigning charity last night branded a Coronation Street storyline as an insult to victims of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. Women’s Aid has attacked a storyline where evil Tracy Barlow murdered her boyfriend and pretended she was acting in self-defence as “mocking” abuse suffered by real victims.

Draft standards for all residential care have been announced by Ireland’s Minister for Health Mary Harney. The draft standards contain new initiatives such as individual care plans for patients and a minimum quota of 50 per cent of care staff to have FETAC level 5 or an equivalent qualifications.

An Irish group representing adults with learning disabilities has accused the Electoral Office of effectively disenfranchising its clients. There are currently 17 people attending the Prospects Day Centre in Ballybot House where they receive training in social and life skills.

One year after the launch of the Irish Government’s new national mental health policy, there has been almost no progress on some of its key recommendations, psychiatrists have said. A Vision for Change, which was launched last January, marked the Government’s first mental health policy update in over 20 years.

Police colluded with loyalists behind several murders in north Belfast, a report by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland is to confirm. Nuala O’Loan’s report will say UVF members in the area committed murders and other serious crimes while working as informers for Special Branch.