THE son of an elderly farmer

who died in a slurry pit has

told how he warned his father
of the potential dangers just
moments before the tragedy
happened.
G r e a t
grandfather
Glenny Hynd-
man from
Maghera had
just recently
reached his
79th birth-
day.
He died on
Monday after
falling into an
underground
slurry tank.
Yesterday,
his son Ivor
told the News Letter that his
father had been left alone for
just a matter of minutes.
I keep thinking to myself
that I shouldnt have left him
but that is something which
Ill have to get on with, he
said. My father was a big, ft
and able man.
He had a lifetime of
experience of working on the
farm and knew about all the
dangers that is why it is hard
to take in that something like
this happened at his age.
Son tells of
anguish over
farm tragedy
THE DUP last night vowed to use
its veto at the Stormont executive to
block any attempt by Justice Minister
David Ford to remove British symbols
from the Northern Ireland Prison
Service.
The news came after a day of drama
at Stormont with First Minister Peter
Robinson threatening to resign if the
Royal title and Crown are dropped
from the service.
The row began in the assembly on
Monday evening when TUV leader
Jim Allister pressed the justice
minister on whether Royal insignia
and titles would be removed from the
service.
David Ford refused to rule out the
possibility of such radical changes
which led to an angry reaction from
unionists.
Yesterday, Mr Robinson said he
would resign if the changes went
ahead.
The justice minister moved to
clarify the situation yesterday, saying
no decision had been taken.
But justice committee chairman
Paul Givan of the DUP said last night:
I welcome the clarifcation by David
Ford that any change to the Northern
Ireland Prison Service symbols or the
title used by our prisons would be a
matter for the executive.
The DUP MLA added: As the largest
party in the executive, the DUP would
veto any attempt to remove Her
Majesty from our prisons titles.
By Mark rainey
mark.rainey@newsletter.co.uk
Marching to a
different tune
SEE PAGE 20
The pride of Northern Ireland
Price: 72p (ir 1.05 eUrO) Wednesday, november 16, 2011
A WOMAN who was injured in
a car accident in east Belfast
has died in hospital, police
said last night.
The female pedestrian
was injured in a one-vehicle
road traffc collision on the
Albertbridge Road on Monday
night.
Police said yesterday that
she had died in hospital and
named her as 72-year-old
Delores Friar, also known as
Delores Thompson, from the
Templemore Street area.
Woman dies
after collision
Since 1737
www.newsletter.co.uk
Minister takes CAP
concerns to Brussels
AGRICULTURE Minister Michelle ONeill MLA met yesterday with EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos to discuss the CAP reform proposals. This was a joint meeting with the Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman MP, the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead MSP and Welsh Deputy Agriculture Minister Alun Davies AM. Minister ONeill also attended the November EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Speaking after the meeting the minister said: I have maintained from the outset of the CAP reform process that it will be important for our views to be put directly to the EU Commission. During this meeting, which covered a range of reform issues, I emphasised to Commissioner Ciolos the sheer complexity of the proposals and the diffculties this would pose for both farmers and paying agencies, particularly in the areas of active farmers and greening. I was able
to share with him some of our own analysis and stressed the need for an effective and workable defnition of an active farmer which would make it clear precisely who was eligible for support. I am deeply concerned that the Commissions current approach will fail in all of these points. The minister continued: I also share the concerns already being raised by stakeholders on the proposals to green Pillar 1. I highlighted the diffculties that greening would cause in a region such as the north of Ireland, where an already small cereal sector could shrink further, thereby reducing diversity of production and habitats, as well as the potential for some of the greening proposals to undermine our agricultural competitiveness. The minister concluded: These were very benefcial discussions but we are at an early stage of the CAP reform process and much more work needs to be done in order to obtain the necessary improvements to the reform proposals. I will continue to promote our local interests in
Europe robustly and am keen to receive the input of stakeholders to our recently launched consultation to assist me in this process. Meanwhile Defra Ministers have told the Europe Unions Agriculture Commissioner that his draft proposals to reform the CAP fall short of meeting the key challenges he correctly identifed some months ago to make farming more productive and protect the environment. Ahead of negotiations in Brussels today on the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy which, at 47bn, made up nearly half the total EU budget last year Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman led a delegation of ministers from across the UK to meet the European Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos. Mrs Spelman said: The Commission was right to identify the challenge of food security and climate change but has failed to respond adequately to the huge opportunities presented by rising prices.
Its very important for the Commission to hear about the
impact of its proposals in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and I wanted them to be able to put their views to Mr Ciolos. During the negotiations its important that the UK speaks with one voice, so that we can use the full weight of the UKs position effectively in order to get best deal for all of the UKs farmers and taxpayers and for the environment. The UK wants signifcant reform of the CAP so that, over the long term, farm production is not reliant on direct subsidies. The UK also wants farmers to be better rewarded for the valuable benefts they provide, for wildlife, people and the landscape, that are not rewarded by the market. Defra ministers are participating actively in negotiations following the publication of reform proposals by the European Commission. At the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels today, Defra Ministers will be meeting counterparts from other member states to build alliances on areas of shared interest. Mrs Spelman added: We remain
BY RICHARD HALLERON
All the latest
equestrian news
PAGES 9-14
YFC news, reports
and pictures
PAGES 15-17 ONeill in talks with EU Agri Commissioner
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
HARD AT WORK: Adrian Jamison harvesting potatoes at Lisanoure Farms, Loughgiel, Co Antrim, in a Dewulf Mega. PICTURE: KEVIN MCAULEY PHOTOGRAPHY MULTIMEDIA
Continued on page three
Don't let your
money Ilutter
uwuy !
Sell your poultry
n
ClussIeds
Kmul lneuge to clussIed@IurmnglIe.com
DUP vow to block
prison titles plan
For all your
agri news
INSIDE TODAY
Glenny
Hyndman
See page 7
Turn to page 12 See pages 4 & 5
Despite his threat to resign as frst minister over proposed changes to prison service emblems, Peter Robinson
looked relaxed yesterday when he attended the offcial opening of new offces in Belfast by international law
frm Allen & Overy PICTURE: Aaron McCracken/Harrisons