December 16, 2020 4:41 pm
A key Stormont committee has urged Northern Ireland’s health minister to ensure meat-processing sector workers are prioritised in plans to roll-out Covid-19 vaccinations.
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer, who chairs the region’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee, said: “Meat processing plants are a crucial part of our food supply chain and have experienced significant challenges throughout the world as a result of Covid-19 outbreaks.
During the lockdowns of 2020, people have developed a greater appreciation of how vital it is to have a secure supply of food in the local shops.
“This consistency of supply is thanks to key workers such as those employed in food processing plants. I believe they should be prioritised, along with other key workers, when rolling out the vaccine.”
The West Tyrone MLA said:
“Meat processing plants are a crucial part of our food supply chain and have experienced significant challenges throughout the world as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks.
“During the lockdowns of 2020, people have developed a greater appreciation of how vital it is to have a secure supply of food in the local shops.
“This consistency of supply is thanks to key workers such as those employed in food processing plants.
“When the request from NIMEA came before the committee last week we unanimously agreed to ask the DAERA Minister to take forward the matter with the health minister.
McAleer concern for Bord Bia farmers farminglife.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from farminglife.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A man who fought for answers and justice after the loyalist murder of his pregnant mother, and who also lost two of his brothers in accidents, has died suddenly.
Patrick O Hagan (34), from Greencastle in Co Tyrone, endured so much suffering and hardship in his life, including witnessing UVF terrorists shoot dead his mum Kathleen in 1994, West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer, a family friend, said.
Mr O Hagan fell ill on Sunday and was taken to hospital. He died in the early hours of yesterday. A post-mortem has been carried out and funeral arrangements are being made. The community is devastated to learn of the passing of Patrick O Hagan, said the Sinn Fein MLA.
Ulster Herald
Advertisement Posted: 2:32 pm December 10, 2020
By Alan Rodgers
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Greencastle man whose mother was murdered by loyalist in one of the most shocking killings of the Troubles.
Patrick O’Hagan died in the early hours of this morning (Thursday). He is pictured with other members of the family at a special commemoration event for his mother in 2014.
His mother, Kathleen O’Hagan, who was seven months pregnant, died in a hail of bullets in the corner of a bedroom in her isolated bungalow near Mountfield in 1994.
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Her young sons, Damien, Patrick, Niall and Raymond were found cradling their mother’s body when their father, Patrick O’Hagan, returned home a few hours later.