NEWS

Dr Rachel Louise Milliken A mother who put higher education on hold to raise her son has graduated with a doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast after being inspired by her father’s remarkable return to education following a life-changing motorbike accident. At 39 years old, Dr Rachel Louise Milliken will graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast, bringing to completion a ten-year educational journey that began with an A

Entrance to Tullygarley Community Centre car park, and the local playing fields Residents living near Tullygarley playing fields are set to see overnight access restrictions introduced after concerns were raised about anti-social behaviour involving vehicles in the area. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed it will arrange for the entrance barrier at the popular Ballymena facility to be closed nightly between 8pm and 8am once repairs to the existing gate have bee

Louise Black, Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast A Carnlough woman has been appointed to lead Northern Ireland’s largest professional services office outside London, as PwC unveiled one of its biggest leadership and promotion rounds in recent years. Louise Black has been named Market Senior Partner for PwC Belfast, taking responsibility for the strategic direction of the firm’s Belfast operation and its workforce of approximately 2,400 people. The appointment places the Co

Ballymena Rail & Bus Centre Thousands of public transport users across Northern Ireland, including commuters and families travelling from the Ballymena area, are being urged to check their journeys in advance after Translink confirmed revised bus and rail timetables for the July holiday period. The changes will affect rail passengers, Ulsterbus users, Goldliner services and Metro routes over the Twelfth celebrations, with additional disruption expected in Belfast due to road

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

County Antrim man, John Marshall, as he graduates this week from Ulster University with a degree in Sports Coaching and Performance A Ballycarry father who battled stage four cancer, endured the heartbreaking loss of his young son and faced years of personal challenges is celebrating a remarkable achievement after graduating from Ulster University this summer. John Marshall, who works as a Community Engagement Officer with the Irish Football Association Foundation, crossed t

Pictured at the Northern Area Mental Health Collaborative Board (NAMHCB) workshop are, back row, Dr Alan Lewis and Dr Jeevan Jayaprakash, middle row William Gould (Rehability), Dr Petra Corr (Northern Trust Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Wellbeing Services), Helen McNally (Public Health Agency), Jackie McCaughey (MindWise), Sharon McVicker (Northern GP Federation Mental Health Manager), Sharon Bingham (Northern Trust Service Improvement Manager)

Motorists travelling through parts of Causeway Coast and Glens on Wednesday evening are being urged to plan ahead, with significant traffic disruption expected as a series of large parades take place across four towns across the borough. The largest events are expected to attract substantial numbers of participants and spectators to Cloughmills, Garvagh, Coleraine and Limavady, with police warning that delays are likely throughout the evening. For many drivers travelling betw

Motorists and residents across Northern Ireland are being urged to prepare for potentially disruptive weather this afternoon after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms covering all six counties. The warning comes into effect from 12pm today (Tuesday, June 30) and remains in place until 6pm, with forecasters warning that slow-moving thunderstorms could bring localised flooding, hazardous driving conditions and disruption to travel. The alert covers

The chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Council has underlined the importance of resolving Northern Ireland’s housing crisis in a bid to build stronger communities. Knockagh Alliance councillor Aaron Skinner, who is also a member of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there are approximately 50,000 applicants on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s waiting list across Northern Ireland. At the end of March

The refurbished Greenvale Street, a key pedestrianised thoroughfare in Ballymena that enhances accessibility for pedestrians and visitors. Ballymena is celebrating 400 years of history this year, marking four centuries of growth, industry and community spirit in one of Northern Ireland’s best-known market towns. The milestone comes at a time of significant change for town centres across the UK, with traditional retail facing increasing pressure from online shopping, changing

Victoria Craig from Broughshane, graduated on Monday, receiving her PhD in Nursing at Queen's When Catherine Craig was born 12 weeks early at Antrim Area Hospital in 2006, her mother Victoria had no idea that the frightening weeks which followed would shape the rest of her life. The tiny baby arrived at just 28 weeks and one day gestation following an emergency caesarean section and would spend the next 10 weeks in the hospital’s Neonatal Unit fighting through the earliest da

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

Hayley Barr LMP, Denise Mayo LMP, Paul Truscott GM Harbourview Hotel, Kelli McRoberts, Annie McSparron, and Jacqueline Dickson A hospitality programme delivered in Mid and East Antrim has helped local residents secure jobs, gain recognised qualifications and take their first steps towards launching businesses of their own. The latest Hospitality Taster Programme, delivered by Carrickfergus Enterprise in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Labour Market Partnership and Clanmi

A 55-year-old motorcyclist from the Bellaghy area has sadly died following a serious road traffic collision in Cushendall on Sunday afternoon. Police confirmed the man died at the scene following the two-vehicle collision on Chapel Road on Sunday, June 28. The incident prompted a major emergency response, with police and other emergency services attending the scene shortly before 1pm. Fatal collision closes Chapel Road Detective Inspector Stewart, from the Collision Investiga

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