NEWS

Parents across Northern Ireland could soon have a stronger say in where their children go to school under plans unveiled by Education Minister Paul Givan to overhaul the current admissions system. The proposed changes would make it easier for schools to increase pupil numbers where there is parental demand, even in cases where families currently miss out on their preferred choice despite places being available elsewhere in the education system. Announcing the reforms in a Wri

Don’t miss paw-some fun this weekend as Barket returns to The Junction, Antrim Thousands of visitors and their four-legged companions are expected to descend on Antrim this weekend as one of Northern Ireland’s biggest pet-friendly events returns for a third year. Barket will take over The Junction Retail and Leisure Park on Saturday, July 4, transforming the popular destination into a celebration of pets, animal lovers and local independent businesses. Running from 11am until

Detectives investigating the serious disorder that erupted in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland during June have made 35 arrests and say efforts to identify and prosecute those involved are continuing at pace. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that 27 people have already been charged to court as part of the investigation, while a further seven individuals have been released on bail pending further enquiries. One additional person has been reported

A home in Larne was ransacked after intruders forced their way inside during a burglary on Wednesday evening. Detectives are appealing for witnesses and CCTV footage following the incident in the Main Street area of Larne. Police received a report of the burglary shortly after 10.15pm on Wednesday, July 1. Officers who attended the scene discovered damage had been caused to the property’s front door before access was gained to the interior of the house, which had been extensi

“Failure to effectively manage bonfire-related activity across the borough” has been identified as a potential risk for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The issue has now been added to the local authority’s corporate risk register, which is monitored by the senior management team on a quarterly basis. The proposed addition was presented for consideration by councillors, behind closed doors, at a meeting of the council’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee in May. Minutes of that

Stormont Parliament Buildings, Belfast. (Photo: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University) A major new study has found that people across Northern Ireland want any future debate on Irish unity to be driven by evidence, planning and practical answers rather than political rhetoric, with the experience of Brexit continuing to shape public attitudes towards constitutional change. Research published on Wednesday, July 1, by Ulster University suggests the conversation around Northern Irela

ACC Ryan Henderson with two neighbourhood officers The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched its 2026 Safer Summer Together campaign, urging people across Northern Ireland to enjoy the summer months while remaining alert to a range of safety risks affecting homes, roads and public spaces. Launched on Wednesday, 1 July, the annual initiative aims to promote safer behaviour during a period when longer evenings, warmer weather and school holidays typically see more peo

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has launched a sharp criticism of new PSNI search guidance issued by the Department of Justice, claiming it leaves frontline officers facing uncertainty in some of the most sensitive situations they encounter. The North Antrim MLA said the interim arrangements, introduced following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex, place too much responsibility on individual officers rather than providing clear operati

Cullybackey New Cemetery A local woman has spoken of her upset and frustration after sentimental items were damaged and removed from her brother’s grave in Cullybackey, marking the second reported act of vandalism at the site in just over six months. The incident happened at a grave in Cullybackey New Cemetery on Fenaghy Road and has prompted a police appeal for information. According to the woman, the latest damage occurred within days of her placing a handmade tribute on th

Sentenced: Kyle Anderson, 33, for involvement in Ballymens riots A Ballymena man has been jailed for his part in the serious disorder which erupted in the town in June last year, as police warned that further prosecutions and sentences will follow. Kyle Anderson, 33, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday, 1 July, after being convicted of riot offences connected to the violence in Ballymena on Tuesday, 10 June 2025. The court heard that Anderson, from Ballymena, was

People of all ages have helped the MEA Outdoors team with beach cleans at Ballygally A community beach clean at Ballygally brought local people together on Monday evening to help care for one of Mid and East Antrim’s most popular coastal beauty spots. The clean-up event, which took place on Monday 29 June, saw volunteers join forces with the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Outdoors team to collect litter from the shoreline and surrounding beach areas. With coastal locatio

Two Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been dismissed after separate cases involving sexual misconduct towards female colleagues, with senior officers describing the behaviour as “abhorrent” and completely incompatible with the standards expected within policing. The dismissals followed Special Case Hearings conducted by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and form part of what the PSNI says is a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct, misogyny and sexist behavio

L-R: Shannon Brown, Spa Manager, Salt Spa; Carl McGarrity, Director of The Salthouse Hotel; and Elizabeth Dillon, Guest Experience Manager, The Salthouse Hotel. A £5 million investment has transformed one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive hospitality destinations into a fully realised luxury wellness retreat, with the opening of a major new spa creating 30 additional jobs and completing the final phase of development at The Salthouse near Ballycastle. The launch of the n

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister has announced an £80 million investment package aimed at cutting some of the region’s longest healthcare waiting times, expanding treatment capacity and improving access to elective care services. The funding, which has been ringfenced through the Executive’s Programme for Government, will be used during the 2026/27 financial year to increase assessments, diagnostic tests and treatments across the health service while supporting continued ef

Ballymena United Girls Academy is giving aspiring young footballers across the area the opportunity to take their game to the next level with the launch of a free four-week open training programme this summer. The academy is inviting girls born in 2010 and 2011 to take part in a series of Under-16 open training sessions beginning this week at Ballymena Showgrounds. Designed for players who are serious about developing their abilities and progressing within the game, the initi

Dr Rachel Louise Milliken A mother who put higher education on hold to raise her son has graduated with a doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast after being inspired by her father’s remarkable return to education following a life-changing motorbike accident. At 39 years old, Dr Rachel Louise Milliken will graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast, bringing to completion a ten-year educational journey that began with an A

Louise Black, Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast A Carnlough woman has been appointed to lead Northern Ireland’s largest professional services office outside London, as PwC unveiled one of its biggest leadership and promotion rounds in recent years. Louise Black has been named Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast, taking responsibility for the strategic direction of the firm’s Belfast operation and its workforce of approximately 2,400 people. The appointment places the Co

Ryan McKenna, 43 A former Police Service of Northern Ireland officer has been jailed after admitting a child sex offence committed against a girl when she was just 10 years old. Ryan McKenna, 43, was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court on Tuesday, June 30, for one count of gross indecency towards a child following an investigation by the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department. The court heard that the offence came to light in June 2020 when the victim, by then an adult, repo

Ballymena Rail & Bus Centre Thousands of public transport users across Northern Ireland, including commuters and families travelling from the Ballymena area, are being urged to check their journeys in advance after Translink confirmed revised bus and rail timetables for the July holiday period. The changes will affect rail passengers, Ulsterbus users, Goldliner services and Metro routes over the Twelfth celebrations, with additional disruption expected in Belfast due to road

A Co Antrim man who stole more than £200,000 from a Belfast charity that helped children maintain contact with separated parents has been sentenced to prison. Robert Moore, 73, from Newtownabbey, admitted seven fraud-related offences after abusing his position as treasurer of Central Belfast Contact Centre over a period spanning more than 12 years. The offences, which took place between December 2009 and January 2022, saw Moore fraudulently write cheques to himself, depriving