Price: 72p (IR 1.

05 EURO) Wednesday, October 5, 2011

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32-page glossy magazine

Back to square one for Kercher family SEE PAGE 3

N.I. Charolais Club & Ulster Bank
Wednesday, October Born Char Calves OnTuesday 11th Oct Judging 5.30pm Sale 7pm Sharp ULSTER FARMERS

Christmas Day killer

Jury finds Walsh guilty of murdering neighbour, 81
CRUCIFIX killer Karen Walsh is today facing up to life in prison after she was unanimously convicted of the horrific murder of her defenceless elderly neighbour Maire Rankin on Christmas Day three years ago. Speaking outside court in Belfast yesterday, her heartbroken family said the 81-year-old had died alone and frightened, and that their own lives had been decimated by the violent way in which mammy met her death. The jury of five men and seven women took just one hour and 52 minutes before delivering their damning judgment on the Dublin pharmacist. Handing down the life sentence to an emotionless Walsh, Mr Justice Hart said: Whatever happened on that night, this was a brutal attack on an elderly and defenceless woman. See pages 6&7 Right, convicted murderer Karen Walsh, and, left, 81-year-old victim Maire Rankin
MAIN PICTURE: Paul Faith/PA

ENNISKILLEN

5, 2011

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PAGES 9-14

All the latest equestrian news

payment timetable for the 2011 scheme and targets year is a boost to year will be published in November. AGRICULTUR welcome this. producers and we for 15% of the E and industrys output Rural Single Farm Payments Development Despite the slight here (Gross Output Minister, Michelle are set in the improvement in Euro and converted ONeill MLA, + total direct exchange rate, payments) and has announced to Sterling iterated the UFU reeach year using matching Total that the exchange Income from Farming its view the exchange rate rate to be used calculated in accordance to calculate at 273.7m system should that the payment The calculation 2011 be changed so with EU farm regulations. The of the that exchange Payments, subject Single Farm incomes are not : rate on 30th September as exposed to to rate according rate is the market exchange rate Commission approval, final EU is a key date fluctuations. for the agricultural Central Bank onto the European will be that Mr Thompson of 1 = 0.86665. industry in 30 added: We still Northern Ireland the year concerned. September of hold the Noting the and particularly view that the exchange rate, the majority of Commenting current farmers system the minister on who receive their said: This years these flawed of using a single date is developments Single exchange rate Farm payment because it leaves in sterling. John Thompson UFU president more farmers favourable than is slightly more exposed to While the is to see stable said: Our goal fluctuations the daily last years rate determined on exchange rate and is good news and profitable in the money markets. farm incomes. 30th for local farm Thankfully in 2011 was 1 = 0.8665 September businesses as recent years Payment is a The Single Farm exchange it will have a small and is slightly the higher than positive effect the 0.85995 figure farm incomes vital element of has been rate on the 30 September on the used last year, and this current satisfactory, Single Farm Payment amount of exchange it is clearly be preferable but it would received. rate the very favourable still less than Under to at least see farmers Single stability means the average European rate achieved in 2009 which remains Union will Farm Payment exchange rate regulations the largely remain for an the highest entire month used department is Euro:sterling rate unaffected permitted to commence to establish the the exchange achieved so far. The average exchange processing rate issue; in by figure. full payments the slight fact rate for the in December. The SFP is vitally past 12 months The exchange improvement in the important to NI works out at agriculture and rate compared 0.8681. 1= in 2010 amounted to last to 271 Commenting million, thus accounting on the Continued

BY RICHARD HALLERON

Euro exchange ra more favourable te

Minister confirms positive effect on SFP

Pictured getting in from sponsor AH some practice for this years YFCU Ward and Boyd and fencing competition Crosby Cleland from is Sam Crosby Cleland Fencing.Agnew from Straid YFC. Checking his progress is Colin For full story see page 15 Boyd PICTURE: KEVIN MCAULEY PHOTOGRAPHY MULTIMEDIA

PAGES 15-17

YFCU news, pictures and reports

PLUMBRIDGE LIVESTOCK SALES

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER @ 12noon SALE OF TOP QUALITY STORE LAMBS & EWES FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER @ 12noon Sale of Suckled Calves Please Note: Calves will be sold as pre-booked Sale Days Telephone: (028) 8164 8940
Brian:(028) 7139 7088 or 077 31667407 Mervyn: 077 7569 7726

on page three

INSIDE For all your agri news

Strike action lacks support

TODAYS strike action by public sector workers in Northern Ireland has been slammed as pointless and lacking support. The walk-out which will affect all health workers, except doctors, and some school staff is in protest against front-line budget cuts. But the DUPs Jim Wells has claimed the health department has bent over backwards and said the Unison action has no mandate. See page 4

Black in NI on day of kidnap

A SCOTTISH delivery man accused of murdering a Co Antrim schoolgirl accepts he was in the region the day she vanished and also drove along the road where her body was found, his trial has heard. But London-based Robert Black, now 64, denied it was he who snatched nine-yearold Jennifer Cardy as she cycled to a friends house in the quiet village of Ballinderry on August 12, 1981. The jury has been asked to return to court on Friday. See page 10

SAINTFIELD AUCTIONS WANTED FOR UPCOMING SALES

50B Lisburn Road, Saintfield All Antiques and modern household items

Tel: 028 97 519592

SALE THIS SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER, STARTING 12 NOON. Pick up and Delivery can be arranged.