NEWS

UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham Northern Ireland politicians have urged the UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to ensure his promises of change deliver tangible benefits for people across the region, with the cost of living, trade and the future of the Union among the issues they want addressed. The calls came as the Prime Minister began his first full day in office by speaking with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, signalling a commitment to work

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is preparing to launch its first charity-owned helicopter later this summer, marking a major milestone as the life-saving service celebrates nine years of emergency medical care across the region. The aircraft, due to enter service in late summer 2026, will replace the current leased model and is expected to strengthen the long-term resilience of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), which is delivered in partnership with the Northern

The red SEAT vehicle that was brought to a halt on the A26 A driver is due to appear in court after a police pursuit on the A26 near Ballymena ended with a car stranded on four burst tyres and two men attempting to flee across nearby fields. The incident happened on the A26 Lisnevenagh Road when Road Policing Interceptors on a routine patrol spotted a red SEAT. Police said the driver accelerated after noticing the patrol vehicle, prompting officers to signal for the car to st

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court Two men have been charged following an armed fight in a Ballymena housing development that unfolded while children were playing nearby. The charges relate to an incident in the St Patrick’s Place area on Thursday, July 16, when police were called to reports of a fight. Witnesses at the time reported seeing weapons including what appeared to be a knife, a sword and a shovel during the disorder. Two to appear in court A man in his 50s has been charg

CGI showing overview of proposals for Ballee Playing Fields, Ballymena A £15 million proposal that would transform the former Ballee Playing Fields into a major mixed-use development featuring sports facilities, a community hub, healthcare provision and commercial investment has formally been submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The long-awaited planning application would redevelop one of Ballymena’s most prominent gateway sites, bringing a floodlit football faci

Inset: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Households in Northern Ireland are set to receive financial support with electricity costs this winter after the UK Government announced plans to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills across Great Britain from 1 October. Because of post-Brexit VAT arrangements, the tax change cannot automatically apply in Northern Ireland, meaning the Northern Ireland Executive will instead receive comparable funding to ensure local households benefi

Justice Minister Naomi Long with the Annual Report and Threat Assessment for the Organised Crime Task Force 2024/25 Northern Ireland’s organised crime groups were hit by more than £26.5 million worth of drug seizures over the past year, while 651 potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking were identified, according to the latest annual assessment of serious organised crime. The figures are contained in the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Annual Report for 202

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was seriously assaulted inside a house in north Belfast on Monday evening. Police were called to a residential property in the Duncairn Parade area shortly before 6pm following reports that a man had been assaulted. Three men arrested The three suspects — one aged in his 30s and two aged in their 40s — were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. All three remain in police custody while detectives co

Shoppers using the M&S store at Aldergrove can expect a significantly larger food hall, hundreds of new products and up to 25 new jobs after the retailer confirmed plans for a major expansion. The store will temporarily close at 6pm on Saturday 1 August while work is carried out, before reopening in the autumn following an extensive refurbishment. Store set to double in size The biggest change will see the existing M&S store expand into the neighbouring service station unit,

Natasha Gove A woman who died following a single-vehicle collision in the Glenariffe area on Saturday evening has been named as Natasha Gove. Ms Gove, 31, was from the Ballyclare area. She died after the silver Ford Transit Custom van in which she was travelling was involved in a collision on the Glenariffe Road shortly before 9.10pm on Saturday, 18 July. The other occupant of the van, a 41-year-old man, also died at the scene. Investigation continues Officers from the Police

People across Northern Ireland who are looking for a physically demanding career with the opportunity to make a real difference now have the chance to apply to become a wholetime firefighter, as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) launches its latest recruitment campaign. Applications opened today, Monday 20 July, and will remain open for two weeks, closing at 12 noon on Monday 3 August 2026. Successful applicants will join NIFRS as wholetime firefighters, working

Two people have died following a single-vehicle road traffic collision in the Glenariffe area on Saturday evening. The victims, a 41-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, were pronounced dead at the scene after the crash involving a silver Ford Transit Custom on the Glenariffe Road. Emergency services attended The Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers were called to the collision shortly before 9.10pm on Saturday, 18 July. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambul

Close racing between Michael Sweeney and Conor Cummins during the Race of Legends at Armoy in 2025. (Photo by Rod Neill/Pacemaker Press) The Armoy Road Races will welcome some of the biggest names in international road racing this weekend, with organisers confirming a star-studded rider line-up ahead of two days of action on County Antrim’s famous circuit. Racing takes place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, with competitors from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Irel

A major independent review has concluded that Northern Ireland should press ahead with plans to bring its pathology services under a single regional structure, with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcoming the findings as support for an ongoing transformation of diagnostic services. The review, led by Lord Carter of Coles, says pathology services across the UK have already demonstrated the benefits of greater integration and modernisation, and argues that the priority is now to

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at Roe Valley Residents Associations Youth and Community Hub in Limavady where she met some of the young people who have participated in the Peaceplus Journeys Project. More than 1,000 young people across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have taken part in a cross-border programme designed to help disadvantaged young people build confidence, gain qualifications and move towards education or employment. The mileston

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is to establish an independent confidential process for anyone with information or concerns relating to Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in the party to come forward, saying its initial internal review was only “a first step, not the end of the matter”. The move follows Donaldson’s conviction on 18 child sex abuse offences, including rape, and represents the party’s most significant organisational response since the verdicts. Independent route outside

The Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club (AMRRC) has announced an agreement with King of the Roads that will see this year’s Armoy Road Races broadcast live to road racing fans around the world. Road racing fans across the world will be able to watch this year’s Armoy Road Races live for the first time after organisers secured a new broadcasting agreement with King of the Roads. The deal means the County Antrim event, taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 July, will reach an

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, with party colleague, Bannside councillor Jackson Minford during a visit to the scene of a murder-suicide in Ballymena The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has visited the scene of last week’s family tragedy in Ballymena, where he laid flowers and urged society never to become desensitised to domestic abuse. North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows visited the home on the Old Cullybackey Road on Saturday, where a 39-year-old woman and her eight-year-old d

Football clubs and other users of Knockan Road Playing Fields in Ballymena are continuing to face problems with ageing facilities and maintenance issues, according to a local councillor who says action is needed to improve the site. Ulster Unionist Party Braid councillor Alan Barr has highlighted a series of concerns affecting the popular playing fields, including the continued use of shipping containers as changing rooms and toilets, alongside a list of maintenance defects h

Psychological thrillers, summer fiction and fantasy continue to dominate the shelves at Waterstone’s Ballymena, with this week’s Top 10 bestseller chart reflecting readers’ appetite for page-turning suspense, heartfelt storytelling and bestselling new releases. The latest update from the Ballymena bookshop also highlights half-price offers, the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, an exclusive Game of the Month, a major Rebecca Yarros pre-order, family storytime and three welcomi

Larne RNLI has officially welcomed a new era in its lifesaving service after its new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, Machiko Nancy, was formally named during a ceremony in Larne on Saturday. The vessel, which has been on operational service since February, was dedicated during a special ceremony at East Antrim Boat Club attended by RNLI volunteers, supporters, dignitaries and the families whose generosity helped fund the lifeboat. The naming marks a significant milestone

Cannabis plants seized after the discovery in Co Tyrone A man has been arrested after police discovered what is believed to be a cannabis factory containing around 300 plants at a property in Co Tyrone. The discovery was made on Friday, 18 July, after officers carried out a search of a house in the Ardean Manor area of Moy. Suspected cannabis factory uncovered Police said approximately 300 cannabis plants were seized during the search. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspici

Portrush RNLI all-weather lifeboat Portrush RNLI volunteers were called to two separate rescue incidents within just 20 minutes on Saturday evening, with three people rescued after becoming cut off by the tide at Dunseverick while another crew recovered a capsized jet ski at West Strand. The back-to-back launches saw both the station’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and inshore lifeboat (ILB) deployed following requests from Belfast Coastguard. The first call came at 6.25pm, when

The Giant’s Causeway, on Northern Ireland’s North Antrim coastline. Thousands of coins wedged into the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway have now been removed after experts warned the long-standing visitor tradition was causing lasting damage to one of Northern Ireland’s most famous natural landmarks. The National Trust has confirmed that a major conservation project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has been completed, with specialists removing 20.5kg of coins — around