NEWS

The Essence Vault is set to sponsor the Open Race at this year’s Armoy Road Races. Pictured at the firm’s headquarters in Randalstown are, from left, Neil Kernohan, road racer, Bill Kennedy MBE, AMRRC Director, Connor Martin, The Essence Vault Managing Director and William Munnis, AMRRC Clerk of Course. A fast-growing County Antrim business with a global customer base has signed up to support one of Northern Ireland’s best-known motorcycle road racing events, with The Essenc

Police officers carried out a major operation in Ballymena on Monday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into the suspected supply of illegal drugs. Multiple police units were deployed to the Orkney Drive area of the Ballykeel 2 estate, where residents reported seeing several unmarked police cars and vans arriving in the area. The activity formed part of a wider operation spanning both Ballymena and Antrim and focused on suspected involvement in the supply of Class A

Brendan Gallagher, Key Account Executive, Diageo; ​Steven ​Davidson, Commercial Investment ​Manager, Diageo; Megan ​Armstrong, General ​Manager, ​Belfast International ​Airport; ​Chris ​Annon, Company Director, Mount ​Charles. Passengers travelling through Belfast International Airport are increasingly choosing a final taste of familiar Irish brands before take-off, with sales of Guinness, Rockshore and other Diageo draught products surging by 53% at the airport’s Northern Qu

A planning application has been lodged with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for a proposed second phase of a solar farm at Dublin Road, outside Antrim, which developers say could generate enough electricity to power more than 5,000 homes. The proposal is for a 20MW solar farm and associated infrastructure, including ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on support frames, two transformer cabins, fencing, CCTV cameras, an internal service road, landscaping, and

Dogs Trust foster carer Janet Millar, with dog Jeff For Janet Millar, opening her home to rescue dogs waiting for their forever families has brought companionship, routine and purpose — and now the County Antrim woman is encouraging others to consider doing the same. The Parkgate resident says becoming a foster carer for Dogs Trust Ballymena was “the best decision I’ve ever made”, as the charity launches an appeal for more volunteers across Northern Ireland to help meet growi

A planning application has been lodged with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for a proposed new social housing development comprising 14 dwellings in Toomebridge. The application for full planning permission has been submitted by an agent on behalf of JAMDAC Developments Ltd, of Hillhead Road, Toomebridge, for lands to the rear of 36-42 Main Street. The proposal includes the demolition of an existing property at 42 Main Street and the creation of a new access road to s

Ambulance handover times have shown “some improvement” across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, board members have been told. Presenting a performance report for May at a meeting at Antrim Hospital last week, Neill Martin, Divisional Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and ICT, said that 11.8 per cent of patients arriving by ambulance were handed over to medical staff within 15 minutes at Antrim Area Hospital, compared with 8.6 per cent at Causeway Hospital i

Viewing Gallery at Swim! Newtownabbey Olympic swimming legend Becky Adlington is bringing her fast-growing children’s swim brand to Northern Ireland for the first time, with a £1 million-plus investment set to create up to 50 jobs in County Antrim. The four-time Olympic medallist and television presenter has confirmed plans for a purpose-built children’s swim centre in Newtownabbey, with construction expected to begin next month ahead of an autumn opening. The new facility, k

The Junction, Antrim, has rallied local businesses Murdock Builders Merchants & Home Centre and Shannon Site Solutions along with Brackenwood Property & Estate Management to restore Women’s Aid’s Safe Haven Garden following recent storm damage. A vital sanctuary for women and children escaping domestic abuse in Antrim has been restored after local businesses joined forces to repair storm damage that threatened the privacy and security of the space. The Safe Haven Garden at th

Drugs and cash seized by police in County Antrim A man in his thirties has been arrested and suspected drugs with an estimated street value of £225,000 seized following a planned police operation which stretched from north Belfast into Newtownabbey and Mallusk. The arrest followed a proactive operation by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Paramilitary Crime Task Force targeting the suspected supply of Class A drugs. Police said officers attempted to sto

Don’t miss paw-some fun this weekend as Barket returns to The Junction, Antrim Thousands of visitors and their four-legged companions are expected to descend on Antrim this weekend as one of Northern Ireland’s biggest pet-friendly events returns for a third year. Barket will take over The Junction Retail and Leisure Park on Saturday, July 4, transforming the popular destination into a celebration of pets, animal lovers and local independent businesses. Running from 11am until

A Co Antrim man who stole more than £200,000 from a Belfast charity that helped children maintain contact with separated parents has been sentenced to prison. Robert Moore, 73, from Newtownabbey, admitted seven fraud-related offences after abusing his position as treasurer of Central Belfast Contact Centre over a period spanning more than 12 years. The offences, which took place between December 2009 and January 2022, saw Moore fraudulently write cheques to himself, depriving

Trade union Unison has voiced concern over healthcare workers undertaking additional hours through staffing “bank arrangements”. Speaking at a meeting of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday, Unison official James Large acknowledged the financial pressures facing health and social care trusts across Northern Ireland. “We increasingly hear concerns that staff are being expected and encouraged to undertake additional hours through bank

(L-R) Ray Lee, Mark Millar, and Elijah Lee Older people across parts of Northern Ireland, including victims in the Antrim area, were robbed of almost £205,000 in cash and jewellery by criminals who posed as police officers in a cruel fraud operation targeting vulnerable members of the community. Six members of the gang were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, June 29, after being convicted in connection with offences including conspiracy to commit fraud by false repre

Sentenced: Jamie Kinley for involvement in riots in Ballymena A man has been jailed for his role in the race-motivated disorder that brought scenes of violence and destruction to Ballymena last year. Jamie Kinley, from Antrim, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Monday, June 29, to 30 months imprisonment after being convicted of riotous behaviour connected to the disturbances. The sentence will see Kinley serve 15 months in custody followed by a further 15 months on licenc

The young collie dog that was punched and abused by its Antrim owner. An Antrim man has been banned from keeping animals for a decade after a court heard he repeatedly punched a young collie, twisted her neck and slammed her to the ground in an attack captured on video. Dan Hustiu, from the Antrim area, was sentenced at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 25, after previously pleading guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to ensu

The interim chief executive of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has offered reassurance to its international workers following recent civil unrest across Northern Ireland. Speaking at a meeting of the Trust Board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday morning, 25 June, Suzanne Pullins acknowledged the difficulties experienced by Trust staff during this period, particularly colleagues from the international community. “There is no place for racism in our society. I want to re

Political, military and community representatives gathered at the Knockagh Monument on Sunday to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. (All photos: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) The sacrifice of thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during one of the First World War’s bloodiest battles was remembered on Sunday (June 28) as veterans, military personnel, civic leaders and community representatives gathered high above County Antrim for a poignant commemoration at Knoc

Antrim Town Scoops Top Town Award in All Ireland Awards. Pictured (L-R): Trevor Edwards, President of the NI Amenity Council; Paul Mawhinney, Head of Parks at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Minister Dara Calleary, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (RoI); Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cllr Henry Cushinan and Doreen Muskett MBE, Chair of the NI Amenity Council. Antrim has officially been named the best kept town anywhere on the island

Victim of road traffic collision: 31-year-old Matthew McIlroy The man who died following a single-vehicle collision in Ballyclare on Friday evening has been named by police as 31-year-old Matthew McIlroy, from the County Antrim area. Emergency services were called to the scene on Green Road at around 6.45pm on Friday, June 26, following reports that a black Audi A5 had crashed and overturned. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland attended alongside colleagues f