NEWS

E-scooters and e-bikes seized by police over the weekend around Lurgan and Craigavon Monday, August 3, 2026 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has reminded officers of their existing powers to seize uninsured e-scooters as concerns continue to grow about the increasing use of the vehicles on roads and footpaths across Northern Ireland. The clarification comes after an internal police document, intended for officer use only, highlighted the legal powers available wh

Inset: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, and the scenes in a Fivemiletown field where dozens of cattle were shot by DAERA officials. Monday, August 3, 2026 An independent review will be carried out into the controversial DAERA enforcement operation near Fivemiletown that resulted in the euthanasia of dozens of cattle, after Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister announced the investigation will now be conducted by someone from outside his department. The decision marks a significa

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with students Naomi Duncan-Todd and Jay Curry encouraging eligible students to apply for the prestigious All Ireland Scholarship Scheme. Thousands of students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-Level and BTEC results are being encouraged to check whether they could qualify for a scholarship worth £5,850 a year to help cover the cost of university. The All Ireland Scholarship Scheme, funded by the JP McManus Trust, is no

People with time to spare and a passion for helping others are being invited to volunteer in a new role designed to make visits to Antrim Area Hospital’s Emergency Department a little less daunting. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is recruiting Emergency Department Companion Volunteers to provide comfort, reassurance and practical support to patients and their families while they wait for assessment or treatment. The initiative aims to improve the experience of peop

A vehicle seized by police for no insurance in the Henry Street area of Ballymena Motorists across Ballymena have been reminded to drive safely after police launch a series of road safety enforcement activities across the district as part of Operation Lifesaver. Officers from the PSNI’s D Section were on patrol throughout the weekend, carrying out vehicle checkpoints, roadside breath tests, speed checks and inspections of vehicle condition as part of the ongoing initiative to

People across Northern Ireland are advised to expect potentially disruptive weather after the Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning covering the entire region for Tuesday. The warning comes into effect from 12 noon until 9pm on Tuesday, August 4, with forecasters warning that slow-moving heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause disruption to travel and outdoor activities. Heavy rain and thunderstorms expected According to the Met Office, showers will begin develo

Two people were brought safely ashore after both of their jet skis broke down off the County Antrim coast on Saturday afternoon, prompting a rescue operation by Larne RNLI. The volunteer crew launched their D class inshore lifeboat Terry at 2.24pm on Saturday, 1 August, after HM Coastguard received a distress call from one of the jet skiers reporting that the pair had become stranded near Browns Bay. Weather conditions were favourable at the time, with calm seas and a light n

Police have seized 23 scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters during a two-day operation targeting illegal and anti-social riding in the Lurgan and Craigavon areas, with officers also uncovering suspected drug offences, drink-driving and a stolen e-bike. The enforcement operation, carried out on Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, followed ongoing complaints from local residents about the dangerous and anti-social use of two-wheel vehicles. In total, police seized 23 vehicles

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons presents medals for the Men’s 90kg Boxing, including Bronze for Garyn McAllister, at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Northern Ireland’s athletes are returning home from the 2026 Commonwealth Games with 16 medals, three of them gold, after producing one of Team NI’s strongest performances on the international stage. Across the competition, Team NI competitors claimed three gold, four silver and nine bronze medals, while many others rec

(L-R) Annette McWilliams, Mary Waide, Maire McCormack, Johnny O'Boyle, and Clare Barr Volunteers from St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Conferences in Ballymena and Antrim have come together at a Mid Antrim Area Gathering as the charity continues to respond to increasing demand for support from people experiencing poverty and hardship across Northern Ireland. The event brought together local members to share experiences from the communities they serve, discuss emerging challenges and

The scene of destruction at a farm in Fivemiletown, County Fermanagh Political pressure is mounting on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) over a controversial cattle destruction operation in County Tyrone, with politicians from across the political spectrum and Northern Ireland’s largest farming organisation demanding greater transparency over how the operation was planned and carried out. The controversy does not centre on the court order th

Ballymena Pet Vets on Henry Street, Ballymena For most pet owners, there are few decisions more important than choosing the right vet. Whether it’s an excited puppy’s first vaccination, an ageing dog beginning to slow down, a rabbit refusing to eat or the heartbreaking moment a beloved companion becomes seriously ill, every visit comes with one thing in common: trust. It’s that trust that Ballymena Pet Vets has worked to earn since opening its independent practice on Henry St

Amble and John Creedon in Creedon's Musical Atlas of Ireland 2026 (Episode 2) Music, memory and identity take centre stage this weekend as John Creedon returns to RTÉ One with a new series exploring the stories behind Ireland’s musical heritage. The broadcaster’s acclaimed documentary series, Creedon’s Musical Atlas of Ireland, begins on Sunday 2 August at 6.30pm, taking viewers on a journey across the country to discover how music has helped shape Irish identity through gene

A man has been arrested after two members of staff at a Carrickfergus off-licence were threatened during what police have described as a terrifying armed robbery on Friday evening. The incident happened shortly before 8.10pm on Friday, 31 July, when a man allegedly entered the store, grabbed a female employee from behind and held what was later established to be a screwdriver to her throat while demanding money. According to detectives, the woman was forced into the rear of t

A total of 260 new homes were completed across Mid and East Antrim during the financial year from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, according to a new council report. Presented to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee at The Braid in Ballymena on Thursday, the Housing Land Availability Report shows Ballymena accounted for 41 per cent of all new homes completed during the year, ahead of Carrickfergus (13 per cent) and Larne (almost 12 per cent). The report also

Preparations are continuing to get the premises in Ballymena town centre ready for the new coffee shop and amusement arcade. Planning permission has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the change of use of a retail unit into a coffee shop and amusement arcade in Ballymena town centre. The proposal relates to a vacant retail premises at 41–43 Church Street, which planning documents say has stood empty for several years after accommodating a number of diffe

45-year-old Damien Paul Bintley A 45-year-old man from Holywood has died following a road traffic collision involving a car and a lorry in Co Tyrone. The collision happened on the Crossowen Road, Clogher, at approximately 12.40pm on Friday, 31 July. Police said the crash involved a white MG HS car and a Volvo lorry. Emergency services, including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, attended the scene and medical treatment was provided to a number of people. The driver of t

16-year-old Connor Magee Campbell A 16-year-old boy has sadly died following a collision involving a scrambler motorcycle and a lorry in Co Tyrone. The teenager has been named by police as Connor Magee Campbell, from the Clonoe area. He was seriously injured in the collision on Derryloughan Road, Coalisland, on Thursday evening and later died in hospital. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is now appealing for witnesses and any video footage that could help investi

Overall Champion A ewe lamb from a County Antrim breeder’s flock claimed both the championship and the highest sale price at this year’s Northern Ireland Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeders’ Club Premier Show and Sale in Ballymena. Held at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Monday, 27 July, the club’s 54th annual event saw Ellen McClure’s Mountdale flock continue a remarkable run of success, with her champion ewe lamb selling for 2,800gns after catching the eye of judge Joe

Nerell Browne and Emily Morgan A charity-funded support programme is helping the Northern Health and Social Care Trust retain more newly qualified nurses as they make the often-challenging transition into frontline healthcare roles. Funded through the Trust’s Charitable Trust Funds, the initiative has improved support for newly registered nurses working across Medicine and Emergency Medicine services, with the Trust reporting better retention rates and increased confidence am