NEWS

Leaders of Unionism, (L-R) Gavin Robinson MP (DUP), Jim Allister MP (TUV), and Jon Burrows MLA (UUP). The debate over Unionist co-operation has intensified following a call from Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson MP for closer working between pro-Union parties — a proposal that has drawn cautious and, in the case of Traditional Unionist Voice, sharply critical responses. In a message to party members and supporters, Mr Robinson described 2026 as a pivotal year

Northern Trust Health Visitor, Mary Donnelly, winner of the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) Student Health Visitor Award, pictured with Alison Morton, Chief Executive of the Institute of Health Visiting. A newly qualified health visitor with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has received national recognition after winning a prestigious UK-wide award from the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV). Mary Donnelly secured first place in the Specialist Commu

Pictured: Wayne Reid Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid in Coleraine have arrested four additional people as enquiries into the case continue. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that three women, aged 39, 33 and 28, and a man aged 41 were arrested on Friday, 16 January, on suspicion of murder. All four remain in police custody at this time. Their arrests follow the earlier detention of a 33-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on

Bryson Recycling has apologised to householders following widespread disruption to recycling collections, as councils across Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey move to address growing public frustration. The waste contractor issued a statement online on Friday, 16 January , acknowledging recent service delays and outlining steps being taken to restore normal collections. “Disruptions to our collection services recently are a result of staff shortages, weather co

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault on a man in the Sentry Hill Park area of Ballymena in the early hours of Christmas Eve. Police say the incident occurred during the early hours of Wednesday 24 December, when a man was walking in the Sentry Hill Park area and was approached by a number of people before being seriously assaulted. The victim sustained injuries significant enough to require hospital treatment. The incident has prompted an appeal

Ulster Unionist Party Leader-Elect Jon Burrows MLA speaking at the 2025 Ulster Unionist Party conference Ulster Unionist Party Leader-Elect Jon Burrows MLA has spoken of his pride, renewed energy and sense of duty after being formally nominated as a candidate to succeed Mike Nesbitt MLA as party leader, as the Ulster Unionist Party enters the next phase of its leadership transition. Reflecting on his nomination on Friday 16 January, Mr Burrows set out a vision of a “strong,

Pet lovers across Northern Ireland are being invited to start the New Year on a high note as Barket, the much-loved market celebrating pets and their people, returns to The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in Antrim on Saturday 17 January 2026. Running from 11am to 4pm, the event promises a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, with over 50 stalls and exhibitors offering everything from gourmet dog treats and eco-friendly toys to bespoke collars and pet wellness products. Now f

(L-R) Neil Irwin, Philanthropy Manager, Haemochromatosis UK and James Hagan, Founder of Hagan Homes. Thousands of households across Northern Ireland are to be offered free genetic screening for haemochromatosis, the region’s most common inherited condition, as part of a major early-detection initiative launching in January 2026. The programme, delivered by Haemochromatosis UK and supported by Hagan Homes and other donors, will offer up to 23,500 households in selected postco

Eugene McKeever, Founder and Group Chair welcomes Norman McBride to the Board of McKeever Hotels The McKeever Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Norman McBride to its Board of Directors, marking a significant step in supporting the company’s accelerated growth and expanding operational footprint. Mr McBride joins the Board in the newly created role of Group Operations Director, with responsibility for overseeing operations across the Group’s seven hotels. The appoin

Planning permission was refused for a change of use for a property at Waveney Road, Ballymena Planning permission for a proposed House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) in Ballymena has been refused following a closely contested vote at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee. The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee held on Thursday 15 January 2025, where elected members voted five against , four in favour of the application, and two left the room , o

Ralph and Cathrene Singco who sadly died as result of a road traffic collision in Co Antrim The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed the identities of the man, woman and unborn baby who tragically lost their lives following a two-car collision near Nutts Corner, Crumlin, on Sunday afternoon. The man who died has been named as Ralph Anthony Singco , aged in his 30s. His wife, Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco , also died as a result of the collision. Police have

Aerial views of the proposed new leisure centre in Ballymena Plans for a long-awaited £25 million leisure, health and wellbeing centre in Ballymena have been formally approved by councillors, marking a significant milestone in efforts to replace the town’s ageing Seven Towers Leisure Centre. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light on Thursday 15 January 2025 for the major development, which will be located on 1.7 hectares of land at the S

A group of 19 boys have been suspended at a Co Antrim school, with parents making an official complaint about the principal’s actions amid concerns relating to “toxic masculinity”. An official complaint has now been made to the school’s board of governors by most of the parents regarding the disciplinary actions taken by the principal, who suspended the students following an alleged incident at a school assembly on January 8. The matter has come to light as the Education Auth

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has acknowledged continued pressure on cancer waiting times while insisting that early signs of improvement are already emerging following the introduction of a new regional breast assessment service. Newly published cancer waiting time statistics for July to September 2025 capture what the Minister described as “an early stage in the transition” to the regional model, the first quarter in which all five Health and Social Care (

Last year’s 2025 Lidl Kickstart participants. Lidl Northern Ireland has called on food and drink producers across Co Antrim to apply for its 2026 Lidl Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, following the success of several local businesses that have already benefited from the initiative. Applications are now open for the ninth year of the programme, which is designed to help small and medium-sized agri-food suppliers break into the highly competitive supermarket retail sec

Murdered: 43-year-old Wayne Reid A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Coleraine, with a 33-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder. Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team are investigating the death of 43-year-old Wayne Reid , who was pronounced dead at the scene in the Society Court area of the town on Monday morning. Emergency services were called to the address shortly after 11.30am on Monday 1

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched a new recruitment campaign for student officers and Custody Detention Officers, calling on people from all backgrounds and communities to step forward and help build a safer, more connected Northern Ireland. The campaign was officially launched on Wednesday 14 January 2026 and will run over the next three weeks. Members of the public will see a wide-ranging advertising push across broadcast and print media, as well as

Minister Muir was speaking at Primrose Cottage Social Farm, where he presented their grant aid Letter of Offer for £4,960 to Anne Brown. More than £120,000 in funding has been awarded to Social Farms across Northern Ireland under a new capital grant scheme aimed at improving accessibility, inclusion and wellbeing for some of society’s most disadvantaged people. DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA today announced that 15 eligible Social Farms have received funding through the Depar

Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA has called on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to take urgent action following widespread disruption caused by snow and ice across Northern Ireland last week. Mr Stewart has confirmed that, at his request, the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee has agreed to write formally to the Minister, seeking answers over the handling of winter services during the recent spell of severe weather. The cold snap led to signif

The former DUP Advice Centre on Church Street, Ballymena More than £5,000 in unpaid rates remains outstanding on premises linked to a DUP advice centre in Ballymena, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been told. The issue was raised during Assembly questions on Monday, January 12, when TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston asked the Minister of Finance to outline the current position regarding the rates bill for 9–11 Church Street, Ballymena — an office previously associated wi