NEWS

Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Frances Burton (DUP) , has revealed she is having sleepless nights over the plight of three elderly residents she knows well who are in desperate need of home care. The Clogher Valley DEA representative made the comments at the Development Committee meeting of Mid Ulster District Council on December 3, where she argued that recent grant funding from the Department for Communities (DfC) should, at least in part, be used to train

George Mitchell, 48, from Harryville, Ballymena Tributes have been paid to Ballymena man George Mitchell, who tragically died in a house fire at his home on Boxing Day. Mr Mitchell, aged 48, lost his life in the incident at a property on Waring Street, which occurred on Friday 26 December. Emergency services attended the scene, but he was sadly pronounced dead at the property. Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and enquiries into the circu

Police have issued a public appeal for information to help locate a missing 15-year-old boy who was last seen in Antrim earlier today. Artie Robinson has been reported missing, prompting concern from officers who are seeking the public’s assistance in establishing his whereabouts. Artie is described as being 5ft 11in tall, with brown hair styled in a mullet. At the time he was last seen, he was wearing a black and grey hoodie, a black Trespass body warmer, black joggers and b

Sparky, the Budget Energy mascot, joins players as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms the eight Northern Ireland representatives for the 2026 Boys’ Minor Section, the first official team announcement ahead of next summer’s 43rd edition of the tournament. Pictured left to right are Callum McCabe (Rosario YFC) , Dylan Harkin (Maiden City), Archie Muir (Ballymena United) , Flynn Johnston (Cliftonville), Luke Duddy (Linfield) , Lorcàn Duffy (Newell Academy), Ben Robinson (Glen

Grammy Award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti Grammy Award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti has made a highly anticipated return to Belfast, marking her first solo tour in a decade with a special performance at the Ulster Hall — now set to reach audiences across the UK and Ireland through a major Sky Arts broadcast. The concert, filmed last week at the iconic Belfast venue, will air as Nicola Benedetti & Friends on Monday, 29 December at 7.30pm on Sky Arts , with the pro

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick is joined by Chris Ward (Workforce Training Services) and Jessica Smyth (LMP) to launch the SIA Academy A new bespoke Employment Academy has been launched in Antrim and Newtownabbey to address skills shortages in the security industry and help local residents take their first steps into sustainable employment. The week-long intensive programme, delivered by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Labour Market Partnership (LMP

As the festive season draws to a close, residents in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland are being advised to prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures and the possibility of wintry weather in the coming days. According to the latest forecasts from the UK Met Office, the week from Monday 29 December 2025 to Monday 5 January 2026 will bring predominantly cold and dry conditions at first, transitioning to more unsettled patterns with a risk of snow toward the latter part of th

Shane and Maria Hourican from Business Exhibitions (BizEx) Ltd, organisers of the All-Ireland Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show in Dublin Northern Ireland’s outdoor travel enthusiasts are being encouraged to make the short journey south this January, with organisers of the All-Ireland Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show offering free entry to NI residents travelling to Dublin for the event. Running alongside the popular Holiday World Show Dublin, the All-Ireland Caravan, Campin

Staff, community partners, service users and family members pictured at a celebration event marking 20 years of Day Opportunities in the Northern Trust. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Adult Community Learning Disability Team (ACLDT) is marking two decades of shared progress, partnership and positive change through its Day Opportunities service — a milestone that reflects how support for adults with learning disabilities has evolved to place choice, independence a

An appeal against the refusal of full planning permission by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a proposed house in multiple occupation (HMO) at 14 Victoria Road, Larne, has been dismissed by the Planning Appeals Commission. Full planning permission had been sought to change the use of a six-bedroom dwelling to a ten-bedroom HMO. The appeal was submitted by Nadia Property Ltd, and a site visit took place on June 2. In the commissioner’s report, it was stated that “the ma

Fourteen police officers were assaulted across the PSNI’s South Area over the course of Friday evening and Saturday morning, including two officers injured when their patrol vehicle was deliberately rammed in Forkhill. The scale of the assaults has been described as “totally unacceptable” by senior officers, with one officer requiring hospital treatment after sustaining a bite injury during the incidents. The South Area covers the policing districts of Newry, Mourne and Down;

Ring camera footage as the blaze took hold at the rear of the Nichols’ family home in Antrim A County Antrim family have shared a stark warning about fire safety after a terrifying early-hours blaze on Boxing Day that could have destroyed their home — and potentially cost lives — had circumstances been even slightly different. Graeme and Victoria Nichols, who live in the Antrim area with their children, were woken in the early hours of Boxing Day morning to find flames engulf

A woman has sadly died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the Ardglass Road in Downpatrick on Friday evening, 26 December. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 5.40pm following reports of a collision involving a black Seat Arona and a white Vauxhall Insignia. Chief Inspector Simpson from the Collision Investigation Unit said: “Police received a report of a two vehicle collision, i

A 23-year-old man has died following a single-vehicle road traffic collision involving a forklift in the Craigantlet area of Newtownards on Christmas Eve. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the fatal collision occurred on a laneway off the Holywood Road on Wednesday 24 December, shortly before 1pm. Emergency services were called to the scene, however the young man was pronounced dead despite the efforts of first responders. Chief Inspector Simpson of

Search and Rescue volunteers from Community Rescue Service (CRS), working alongside colleagues from Lough Neagh Rescue, were deployed in the Portadown area on Christmas morning to carry out pre-planned searches for a high-risk missing person. While many families across Northern Ireland gathered at home to mark Christmas Day, volunteers left their own loved ones behind to take part in the operation, highlighting the quiet sacrifices made by emergency responders during the fest

Missing person, Stuart Crawford Police in Antrim have issued an urgent appeal for public assistance as concern grows for the welfare of a high-risk missing person, Stuart Crawford. Officers say Stuart was last seen at approximately 1.20pm on Thursday, 26 December, in the area of Andraid Close in Antrim. Police have described his disappearance as increasingly concerning and are keen to establish his whereabouts as quickly as possible. In a statement, police said they are “grow

A 20-year-old man has died and two teenagers have been seriously injured following a multi-vehicle road traffic collision in Cookstown in the early hours of Friday morning. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the fatal collision occurred on the Drum Road shortly before 12.40am on Friday 26 December and involved three vehicles. Chief Inspector Simpson of the Police Service’s Collision Investigation Unit said police received reports of a two-vehicle co

A man in his 40s has died following a house fire in the Waring Street area of Ballymena, police have confirmed. Emergency services were alerted to the incident shortly before 9.45am on Friday 26 December. Police officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), but the man was sadly pronounced dead at the property. In a statement, police said enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire are ongoing. At this stag

Some of the Farm Families Health Checks Team at Balmoral Show earlier this year. Farm Families Health Checks will return to livestock marts across Northern Ireland this January, continuing its mission to bring vital healthcare directly to farming families following a year of significant impact and national recognition. As 2025 draws to a close, the team has highlighted its continued commitment to improving health and wellbeing across rural and farming communities. The award-w

Local police officers pictured with members of Harryville Men’s Shed Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in Mid and East Antrim stepped in at the last minute to help spread festive cheer, responding to an urgent request “from up North” to support Harryville Men’s Shed in delivering Christmas magic to local children. In a light-hearted nod to the season, officers said it was a call they simply could not refuse. “After all you don’t say no to a man who c