NEWS

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is to establish an independent confidential process for anyone with information or concerns relating to Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in the party to come forward, saying its initial internal review was only “a first step, not the end of the matter”. The move follows Donaldson’s conviction on 18 child sex abuse offences, including rape, and represents the party’s most significant organisational response since the verdicts. Independent route outside

The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club (AMRRC) has announced an agreement with King of the Roads that will see this year’s Armoy Road Races broadcast live to road racing fans around the world. Road racing fans across the world will be able to watch this year’s Armoy Road Races live for the first time after organisers secured a new broadcasting agreement with King of the Roads. The deal means the County Antrim event, taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, will reach an

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, with party colleague, Bannside councillor Jackson Minford during a visit to the scene of a murder-suicide in Ballymena The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has visited the scene of last week’s family tragedy in Ballymena, where he laid flowers and urged society never to become desensitised to domestic abuse. North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows visited the home on the Old Cullybackey Road on Saturday, where a 39-year-old woman and her eight-year-old d

Larne RNLI has officially welcomed a new era in its lifesaving service after its new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, Machiko Nancy, was formally named during a ceremony in Larne on Saturday. The vessel, which has been on operational service since February, was dedicated during a special ceremony at East Antrim Boat Club attended by RNLI volunteers, supporters, dignitaries and the families whose generosity helped fund the lifeboat. The naming marks a significant milestone

Cannabis plants seized after the discovery in Co Tyrone A man has been arrested after police discovered what is believed to be a cannabis factory containing around 300 plants at a property in Co Tyrone. The discovery was made on Friday, 18 July, after officers carried out a search of a house in the Ardean Manor area of Moy. Suspected cannabis factory uncovered Police said approximately 300 cannabis plants were seized during the search. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspici

Portrush RNLI all-weather lifeboat Portrush RNLI volunteers were called to two separate rescue incidents within just 20 minutes on Saturday evening, with three people rescued after becoming cut off by the tide at Dunseverick while another crew recovered a capsized jet ski at West Strand. The back-to-back launches saw both the station’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and inshore lifeboat (ILB) deployed following requests from Belfast Coastguard. The first call came at 6.25pm, when

The Giant’s Causeway, on Northern Ireland’s North Antrim coastline. Thousands of coins wedged into the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway have now been removed after experts warned the long-standing visitor tradition was causing lasting damage to one of Northern Ireland’s most famous natural landmarks. The National Trust has confirmed that a major conservation project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been completed, with specialists removing 20.5kg of coins — around

Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Many people in Northern Ireland are unaware they can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic abuse – something Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says must change. Burrows has written to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Naomi Long calling for a major public awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law – officially known as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme

26-year-old Jamie Fleming A 26-year-old motorcyclist who died following a road traffic collision in Doagh on Friday afternoon has been named by police as Jamie Fleming, from the Ballyclare area. The collision happened shortly before 1.40pm on Friday, 17 July, at the junction of Ballymena Road and Deer Park Road, involving a blue Yamaha motorcycle and a blue Skoda Enyaq. Emergency services, including officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland

Aerial view of the existing Guest House complex. A long-established guest house on the outskirts of Ballymoney could be converted back into a private family home after a planning application was lodged with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The application seeks permission to change the use of Harmony Hill Guest House and Restaurant, at 60–64 Balnamore Road, from guest accommodation to a single domestic dwelling. A return to the building’s original purpose Planning do

Summer camps across Northern Ireland have the chance to claim free ice lollies this summer as Iceland Foods launches a limited giveaway aimed at helping community groups keep young people cool during the school holidays. The supermarket chain is giving away 160 rocket ice lollies to each of 10 successful camps, with sports camps, school clubs and community-led summer schemes all eligible to apply. How to apply Camp organisers who would like to take part should email...

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured officially opening the Revv It Up Festival, Dungiven Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Dungiven this weekend as the Revvv It Up Festival returns for its biggest event yet, bringing world-class tractor pulling, live music and family entertainment to the area. Organisers are expecting more than 20,000 spectators and competitors from across the UK, Ireland and beyond during the three-day festival, which runs from F

The scenes on Thursday when a fight broke out among a number of men in a Ballymena housing estate. A street fight involving weapons in one of Ballymena’s newest housing developments has led to three arrests, after an incident that unfolded while children were playing nearby prompted renewed concern from local residents about ongoing antisocial behaviour in the area. Witnesses described seeing a number of men involved in a violent confrontation in St Patrick’s Place at around

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has formally begun the process of appealing his convictions for multiple child sex abuse offences. His legal team lodged appeal papers with the Court of Appeal in Belfast on Friday, setting out the grounds on which they will seek to have all 18 guilty verdicts overturned. Donaldson is currently being held in Maghaberry Prison while awaiting sentencing after a jury found him guilty of 18 offences involving

The scene on Monday, July 13, when the tragic incident was discovered at a home on the Cullybackey Road, Ballymena. (Image: Steven McAuley, McAuley Multimedia) Detectives investigating the deaths of three family members in Ballymena have renewed their appeal for information as inquiries into the tragedy continue. A 39-year-old woman and her eight-year-old daughter were found dead alongside a 41-year-old man at a home in the Cullybackey Road area on Monday, 13 July. Police pre

Recalled to prison: Jonathon White Police are appealing for the public’s help to locate a recalled prisoner who is believed to be in Northern Ireland. Jonathon White is wanted after having his licence revoked and being recalled to prison. Police have urged anyone who knows where he is to contact them immediately, but stressed that people should not post information about his whereabouts on social media. Description released Mr White is described as being approximately 6ft 2in

The array of solar panels positioned on the roof of Causeway Hospital in Coleraine Causeway Hospital has saved almost £142,000 on electricity costs in the first year since installing Northern Ireland’s largest solar roof on a Health and Social Care building, according to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. The hospital’s 2,300 rooftop solar panels generated enough renewable electricity during 2025-26 to offset electricity costs by around £141,700, while also preventing

Alderman Stewart McDonald thanks council workers for responding to local residents concerns over an overgrown hedge Residents in the Mount Hilary area of Ballymena have seen an overgrown hedge cut back after concerns about its condition were raised with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The work was carried out after local residents contacted TUV Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald, who then brought the issue to council officials. Residents’ concerns addressed Following com

24-year-old Raven Adams A 24-year-old woman has sadly died and a man has been left seriously injured after they were struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run collision in north Belfast during the early hours of Thursday morning. The woman has been named by police as Raven Adams, originally from the Tipperary area. A 22-year-old man was also seriously injured in the collision, which happened in the York Street area at around 2.40am on Thursday, 16 July. Driver arrested after leavi

RNIB’s Kirsty Campbell stands with Jeannie in her front garden as she presents a cheque for £100. People visiting a front garden in Ballygally this week were doing more than browsing handmade crafts — they were supporting a Larne woman who turned her own experience of sight loss into an act of kindness for others. Now in her 80s, Jeannie Hunter raised £100 for RNIB Northern Ireland by hosting an arts and crafts exhibition at her home in the picturesque coastal village, inviti