NEWS

Cancer patients in Northern Ireland are significantly less likely to survive if their illness is first detected during an emergency hospital admission rather than through planned referral routes, according to newly released data covering diagnoses between 2018 and 2022. Figures published today (Wednesday 29 April 2026) by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry at Queen’s University Belfast show stark differences in survival outcomes depending on how patients enter the healthcar

A 29-year-old man has been charged to court following a fatal two-vehicle collision in the Nutts Corner area on Sunday 26 April, in which a teenage boy lost his life. The man, who had been arrested in the aftermath of the crash, has now been charged with causing death by dangerous driving along with a number of other offences. Court appearance scheduled He is due to appear before Limavady Magistrates’ Court today, Wednesday 29 April. The charges come as part of the ongoing in

Emmet Potter who was tragically died as a result of the road traffic collision A 38-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal road traffic collision in Caledon which claimed the life of Emmet Potter, with police confirming he is due to appear in court today. The charge follows the single-vehicle collision on Derrycourtney Road on Saturday, 25 April, which resulted in Mr Potter’s death and sparked an investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Coll

Residents across Mid and East Antrim are being invited to collect free compost from local Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) as part of a borough-wide initiative to promote sustainability and reduce landfill waste. The scheme, delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with Natural World Products (NWP), will run for a limited four-day period from Wednesday 6 May to Saturday 9 May 2026, marking International Compost Awareness Week. During the initiative, h

Cregagh Wood, the location for Dance Encounters An immersive dance experience set deep within one of the Glens of Antrim’s most scenic woodland areas will see audiences step directly into a live performance this weekend, as Maiden Voyage Dance brings a unique guided tour to life during the Cushendun Big Arts Weekend. Taking place on Saturday 2nd May, “A Walk in the Woods with Dance Encounters” invites participants to explore Cregagh Wood not just as a landscape, but as a livi

A major wildfire in the Mourne Mountains that scorched an estimated 1,000 hectares has now been brought under control after a prolonged emergency response involving more than 80 firefighters, while crews remain locked in an ongoing battle against a second large blaze in Hilltown. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed the Ballagh Road fire in Newcastle — one of the most significant incidents over the weekend — was fully dealt with by 10.08am on Tuesday

Castlerock’s iconic Victorian railway bridge is set to reopen on Friday, May 8, marking the end of a six-year absence after a major £730,000 restoration project to address serious structural decay and safety concerns. The listed wrought iron pedestrian bridge, a familiar landmark in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, was originally removed in October 2018 after inspections revealed significant deterioration. Its reinstatement now signals the return of a key piece of local her

The vehicle on fire following the explosion outside a police station in Dunmurry Detectives investigating the attack on Dunmurry Police Station at the weekend have made a significant arrest, as a 66-year-old man was detained under the Terrorism Act and taken into custody for questioning. The man was arrested on Tuesday morning, 28 April, following police searches in the Dunmurry area, marking a major development in the ongoing investigation led by the Police Service of Northe

A 77-year-old man has been jailed for historic child sexual abuse offences spanning more than four decades, with survivors describing the lifelong trauma they endured and calling on others to break their silence. William Lloyd Lavery, from Lisburn, was sentenced at Laganside Crown Court on Tuesday, April 28, to two years’ imprisonment for six counts of indecent assault against children. The court heard that between 1976 and 1978, Lavery sexually assaulted four girls all aged

Communities across Northern Ireland are set to see a marked increase in police activity in the coming days, as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) rolls out a high-visibility operation in response to ongoing threats from dissident groups—concerns sharpened by a recent attack on Dunmurry Police Station. The operation will bring a noticeable shift on the ground, with more vehicle checkpoints and an increased presence of patrolling officers across towns and rural areas

Thousands of families across Northern Ireland risk losing vital weekly Child Benefit payments this summer unless they take action before a key deadline, with HM Revenue and Customs urging parents of teenagers approaching 16 to confirm their child’s next steps in education or training. Child Benefit payments automatically stop on 31 August on or after a child’s 16th birthday unless parents actively extend their claim — a requirement that affects households whose teenagers are

A powerful programme of remembrance in Ballymena will shine a local light on one of Northern Ireland’s darkest wartime chapters, as the 85th anniversary of the German air raids of 1941 is marked with a deeply personal focus on Mid Antrim lives lost. The commemorative event, titled German Air Raids: A Mid Antrim Perspective, will take place at Ballymena Services Club on Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 7:30pm, forming part of a wider series organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Co

A man who died following a single-vehicle collision in Caledon at the weekend has been formally named by police, as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident and a suspect remains in custody. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the victim was Emmet Potter, who lost his life after the collision in the Derrycourtney Road area on Saturday evening, 25 April. The fatal incident has prompted an active investigation b

Motorcyclist Richard Cooper Seven-time Briggs Equipment North West 200 winner Richard Cooper is set to make a high-profile return to 1000cc competition at this year’s event, confirming a late deal to ride for the SMS/Nicholl Oils team during Race Week from May 4–9. The 43-year-old, already one of the most decorated riders on the Triangle circuit, will contest the Amici Ristorante and CP Hire sponsored Superstock races on both Thursday and Saturday aboard a BMW M1000RR, adding

A 53-year-old man is to appear in court after detectives seized suspected drugs worth an estimated £4 million at Larne Harbour, in a significant operation targeting organised crime networks operating across Northern Ireland and the wider island of Ireland. The development follows a major joint investigation involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch and the An Garda Síochána National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, working together under the Joi

Katrina Kelly, Assistant Director Nursing and User Experience Unit at the Northern Trust. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is calling on patients, carers and service users across Northern Ireland to share their healthcare experiences as part of Patient Experience Week, highlighting how public feedback is already driving improvements in frontline services. Running from 27 April to 1 May, the awareness week puts a spotlight on the role patient voices play in shaping ca

Autistic people and families across Northern Ireland are still not seeing consistent, reliable support in their daily lives despite more than a decade of legislation and successive government strategies, a landmark independent report has found — warning that a persistent gap between policy and reality continues to drive delay, fragmentation and distress for autistic people and their families. The first Annual Report from the Independent Autism Reviewer, covering the period fr

Dramatic footage released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland shows officers running door-to-door to evacuate residents in Dunmurry moments before a bomb detonated outside a police station, as an attempted murder investigation continues into what has been described as a reckless attack that could have claimed multiple lives. The video captures officers placing themselves directly in harm’s way, clearing homes and bringing residents to safety as the explosive device igni

Drugs seized during the police operation at Larne Harbour, County Antrim Detectives have seized suspected drugs worth an estimated £4 million following a major cross-border operation targeting organised crime, after a lorry travelling from Scotland to Larne Harbour was stopped and searched on Monday, 27 April. The operation, led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch in collaboration with the An Garda Síochána National Drugs & Organised Crime Burea

Fire crews are set to remain on the ground in the Mourne Mountains throughout the week as Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed around 95 firefighters are tackling ongoing wildfires — with a government minister warning the destruction is “soul destroying” and poses a real risk to lives and communities. The large-scale emergency response continues to focus on two major incidents at Ballagh Road in Newcastle and Sandbank Road in Hilltown, where fires that i