NEWS

TUV Ballymena councillor Matthew Armstrong A peaceful protest in Ballymena over immigration and border concerns has been praised by TUV representatives, who claimed hundreds of people gathered at the Seven Towers Roundabout without violence following days of heightened tension across Northern Ireland. The statement from TUV Ballymena councillor Matthew Armstrong comes after widespread condemnation of disorder and violence linked to protests elsewhere, including ongoing fallou

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service faced an intense night of emergency callouts on Tuesday as crews responded to dozens of incidents linked to escalating disorder across the Greater Belfast area, with additional appliances drafted in from across Northern Ireland to cope with demand. In an operational update issued shortly after midnight, NIFRS revealed its Regional Control Centre handled 256 calls between 7pm and midnight alone, resulting in attendance at 62 separate inci

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launch the 'Designing Homes for All' guide at Parliament Buildings. A new housing design guide launched by Stormont ministers could change how homes across Northern Ireland are built and adapted for people living with dementia, autism, learning disabilities and sensory impairments. The joint initiative, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, is designed to help architec

Level Crossing at Castlerock on the Belfast to Derry~Londonderry line. Two men have been hit with fines totalling £15,000 after the High Court took action over dangerous misuse of a railway crossing in Co Londonderry — in what Translink says is one of the largest penalties ever imposed for level crossing offences in the UK. The case, linked to a User Worked Crossing in the Limavady area, comes as the rail industry marks International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) on Tu

A 30-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a serious knife attack in north Belfast that left a man in hospital. Detectives investigating the incident in the Kinnaird Avenue area on Monday night confirmed the suspect has also been charged with possession of an article with blade or point in a public place and threats to kill. The charges follow a fast-moving police investigation into the attack, which sparked significant concern in the local community a

The UK Home Office has confirmed that the man arrested over the brutal attempted murder in north Belfast is a Sudanese national who was granted refugee status in the UK after arriving in 2023 — with questions around the attacker’s status sparking a heated Commons clash today involving North Antrim MP Jim Allister and Secretary of State Hilary Benn. In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, a Home Office spokesperson said: “We can confirm the individual is a Sudanese nationa

ACC Ryan Henderson speaking to media at police headquarters. A man remains in hospital with devastating injuries to his eyes, face and back after what police have described as a “brutal” attempted murder in north Belfast that has sparked shock, fear and growing political tensions across Northern Ireland. Police confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that a Sudanese man in his 30s remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack in the Kinnaird Avenue area on M

Brian Willis hands over his painting to Radiographer Lesley Thompson at Causeway Hospital’s MRI Unit. A heartwarming artwork created by a 90-year-old North Coast artist is helping to bring comfort, colour and conversation to patients attending the MRI Unit at Causeway Hospital. The newly installed painting, titled The MRI Noisemakers, has quickly become a talking point among both staff and patients thanks to its imaginative and playful design — replacing people with teddy bea

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA speaking on Tuesday in the Northern Ireland Assembly Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has called for calm across Northern Ireland following a shocking attempted murder in north Belfast that has left a man in a serious condition in hospital. Speaking after raising the incident in the Assembly on Tuesday morning, Mr Burrows condemned what he described as a “barbaric attack” and warned against escalating tensions as graphi

McDonald’s Ballymena Ballymena’s McDonald’s restaurant is set to reopen tomorrow following a major £1.1 million transformation that has expanded the site, modernised operations and created 20 new jobs in the town. The popular restaurant at Braidwater Retail Park has been closed for six weeks while builders moved in for an extensive refurbishment designed to tackle one very modern fast-food problem — too many delivery drivers, too little space, and customers wondering where ex

Jim Allister says attack reflects ‘alien culture’, while UUP Leader Jon Burrows has secured Matter if the Day for the brutal incident to be discussed in The Assembly TUV leader Jim Allister has linked brutal knife attack in north Belfast to “unchecked immigration” and Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots accepted a Matter of the Day from Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows following the declaration of a PSNI critical incident. The chilling attack has left a man with serious injuries t

Police have declared a critical incident after a man, who they first believed to be Somali but later confirmed was Sudanese, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a brutal knife attack that left another man with serious injuries to his face, neck and back in north Belfast. The assault happened in the Kinnaird Avenue area shortly after 10.30pm on Monday night, 8 June, and has sparked widespread shock across Northern Ireland following the circulation of graphi

Police arrived at the incident in Belfast where the video reveals the attacker raise a knife in the air, shouting, before proceeding to try and cut at the victim’s neck. A widely circulated video showing a brutal stabbing in north Belfast has sparked political demands for the immediate release of details relating to the suspect’s nationality, immigration status and religion following what one senior unionist described as “one of the most horrific pieces of footage” he had eve

Members of the carers walking group pictured in Antrim Castle Gardens with Claire Campbell and Louise Feeney from the Northern Trust’s Carer Hub. Unpaid carers across the Northern Trust area are being offered new support through a wide-ranging programme of wellbeing classes, peer support groups and activities designed to help them look after their own physical and mental health. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has launched its latest Carer Support Programme during C

Free electric vehicle charging for MLAs at Stormont has been suspended after mounting public criticism over taxpayer-funded electricity use and concerns around travel expense claims. The Assembly Commission confirmed on Monday morning that a new paid charging system will now be introduced for all EV charging points under its control at Parliament Buildings following a cross-party meeting chaired by Speaker Edwin Poots. The decision comes after days of political pressure and g

Views across Tullygarley bridge toward the proposed housing development site near the River Braid Planning officers have recommended approval for a controversial housing development beside Ballymena’s Braid River Walk despite months of fierce opposition from residents, environmental concerns and a petition backed by hundreds of people. The proposal, which has triggered one of the most emotionally charged local planning disputes in Ballymena in recent years, would see 28 new h

Pictured staff from Kirkinriola Primary School, Ballymena: (L-R) Viola Stewart SEN classroom assistant, Emily McCaffrey Principal, Emma Laird SEN classroom assistant, Chloe Parr teacher, Gillian Todd classroom assistant, Emma Lee Adams SEN classroom assistant, Jodi Crawford teacher and Naomi Quaite SEN classroom assistant. A Ballymena school community is preparing to walk, scoot and rally together this week in support of a nine-year-old pupil facing the fight of her life aft

James McHenry (1817-91) pictured in Paris on railroad business, 1861. (Image: Carte de visite, James McHenry, 1861 – Allegheny College Library Special Collections) A powerful 19th century financier who once moved in the same circles as some of the biggest names in American industry has been largely erased from history for more than a century — but groundbreaking new research is now bringing his extraordinary story back into the spotlight. Historian Dr Barry Henderson is se

Pictured: South Antrim MP Robin Swann South Antrim MP Robin Swann is set to host a public conservation event in Toome focused on protecting native swifts as concern grows over the future of the birds across Northern Ireland. The free event will take place between 1pm and 2pm on Friday 12 June at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage in Toome as part of the upcoming Great Big Green Week. Mr Swann will be joined by local swift conservationists, including representatives from the RSPB Antri

Graffiti sprayed outside a local GAA club in Rasharkin Police are investigating two sectarian hate crimes after graffiti was sprayed on both a GAA club and an Orange Hall in Rasharkin within hours of each other, escalating tensions in the North Antrim village ahead of the marching season. The incidents happened on Sunday evening, June 7, with criminal damage reported first at St Mary’s GAC on Townhill Road before a second attack later that night on Rasharkin Orange Hall on Ma