NEWS

TUV leader Jim Allister MP TUV leader Jim Allister MP has warned that Northern Ireland will enter 2026 facing tighter EU controls, increased costs for businesses and further divergence from Great Britain, as he delivered a hard-hitting New Year message criticising the Protocol, Stormont and unionist rivals. Mr Allister said the new year would “begin where 2025 left off”, with what he described as the continued tightening of European Union restrictions under post-Brexit arr

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, with motorists and early-morning commuters urged to take extra care due to the risk of icy conditions and possible travel disruption. The warning is in effect from 00:00 until 10:00 on Friday, 2 January 2026, and covers all six counties of the province — Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. According to the Met Office, the warning follows a spell of rain, sleet and

Members of Alliance Amateur Swim club, winners of the £1000 Hafner’s Sports Grant. Alliance Amateur Swim Club has been awarded £1,000 through the Hafner’s Sausages Sports Fund 2025, as part of a £5,000 initiative supporting grassroots sport across Northern Ireland. The Antrim-based club is one of five local organisations to receive the funding, alongside North Down Softball Club in Bangor, St Patrick’s Football Club in Castlederg, Redmond O’Hanlon’s GAC in Poyntzpass , and E

Ballymena Santa Run participants Ballymena hosted the annual Santa Run just before Christmas, returning with festive cheer and delivering a memorable evening of community spirit while raising vital funds for Cancer Fund for Children. With festive costumes lighting up the streets and the sound of seasonal music filling the air, the event proved to be far more than just a run. It was a powerful show of generosity, bringing together runners, volunteers, families and local busine

Tom presenting the Christmas Window Dressing - Hospitality Award to Kim from Shot Coffee Shop Festive creativity and community spirit were centre stage across Ballymena this Christmas as the Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its 2025 Christmas Window Dressing Competition. Organised by Ballymena Chamber of Commerce , the long-running competition attracted a record number of entries this year, reflecting growing enthusiasm among local businesses to create eye-catchin

A man has been arrested and a significant quantity of suspected Class A drugs seized following a dramatic police pursuit that began in the Antrim area and ended near Templepatrick on Monday evening, 29 December. Police say the incident unfolded shortly after 9pm when officers attending an unrelated report in Antrim observed a white Audi A4 behaving suspiciously. Sergeant Wallace explained how the situation escalated rapidly across several locations, posing serious risks to o

Police have issued an urgent appeal for information as concern grows for the welfare of a missing 85-year-old man. John Burnim was last seen in the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast at around 9am on Tuesday, 30 December. Officers say they are increasingly concerned for his wellbeing and are asking the public to remain vigilant. At the time he was last seen, John is believed to have been wearing a grey jumper, dress trousers and combat boots. Given his age, any information, n

Images: Jason Bain / Larne RNLI Larne RNLI volunteers came to the aid of three crew members onboard a broken-down fishing boat on Monday afternoon (29 December), after the vessel became at risk of being pushed onto rocks off the County Antrim coast. The volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked at 12.03pm following a call from HM Coastguard, after one of the fishermen reported that their vessel had suffered a breakdown near the Maidens Lighthouse, placing them in danger. Larne RNLI

George Mitchell, 48, from Harryville, Ballymena Tributes have been paid to Ballymena man George Mitchell, who tragically died in a house fire at his home on Boxing Day. Mr Mitchell, aged 48, lost his life in the incident at a property on Waring Street, which occurred on Friday 26 December. Emergency services attended the scene, but he was sadly pronounced dead at the property. Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and enquiries into the circu

Police have issued a public appeal for information to help locate a missing 15-year-old boy who was last seen in Antrim earlier today. Artie Robinson has been reported missing, prompting concern from officers who are seeking the public’s assistance in establishing his whereabouts. Artie is described as being 5ft 11in tall, with brown hair styled in a mullet. At the time he was last seen, he was wearing a black and grey hoodie, a black Trespass body warmer, black joggers and b

Sparky, the Budget Energy mascot, joins players as the Budget Energy SuperCupNI confirms the eight Northern Ireland representatives for the 2026 Boys’ Minor Section, the first official team announcement ahead of next summer’s 43rd edition of the tournament. Pictured left to right are Callum McCabe (Rosario YFC) , Dylan Harkin (Maiden City), Archie Muir (Ballymena United) , Flynn Johnston (Cliftonville), Luke Duddy (Linfield) , Lorcàn Duffy (Newell Academy), Ben Robinson (Glen

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick is joined by Chris Ward (Workforce Training Services) and Jessica Smyth (LMP) to launch the SIA Academy A new bespoke Employment Academy has been launched in Antrim and Newtownabbey to address skills shortages in the security industry and help local residents take their first steps into sustainable employment. The week-long intensive programme, delivered by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Labour Market Partnership (LMP

As the festive season draws to a close, residents in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland are being advised to prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures and the possibility of wintry weather in the coming days. According to the latest forecasts from the UK Met Office, the week from Monday 29 December 2025 to Monday 5 January 2026 will bring predominantly cold and dry conditions at first, transitioning to more unsettled patterns with a risk of snow toward the latter part of th

Staff, community partners, service users and family members pictured at a celebration event marking 20 years of Day Opportunities in the Northern Trust. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Adult Community Learning Disability Team (ACLDT) is marking two decades of shared progress, partnership and positive change through its Day Opportunities service — a milestone that reflects how support for adults with learning disabilities has evolved to place choice, independence a

An appeal against the refusal of full planning permission by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a proposed house in multiple occupation (HMO) at 14 Victoria Road, Larne, has been dismissed by the Planning Appeals Commission. Full planning permission had been sought to change the use of a six-bedroom dwelling to a ten-bedroom HMO. The appeal was submitted by Nadia Property Ltd, and a site visit took place on June 2. In the commissioner’s report, it was stated that “the ma

Ring camera footage as the blaze took hold at the rear of the Nichols’ family home in Antrim A County Antrim family have shared a stark warning about fire safety after a terrifying early-hours blaze on Boxing Day that could have destroyed their home — and potentially cost lives — had circumstances been even slightly different. Graeme and Victoria Nichols, who live in the Antrim area with their children, were woken in the early hours of Boxing Day morning to find flames engulf

Search and Rescue volunteers from Community Rescue Service (CRS), working alongside colleagues from Lough Neagh Rescue, were deployed in the Portadown area on Christmas morning to carry out pre-planned searches for a high-risk missing person. While many families across Northern Ireland gathered at home to mark Christmas Day, volunteers left their own loved ones behind to take part in the operation, highlighting the quiet sacrifices made by emergency responders during the fest

Missing person, Stuart Crawford Police in Antrim have issued an urgent appeal for public assistance as concern grows for the welfare of a high-risk missing person, Stuart Crawford. Officers say Stuart was last seen at approximately 1.20pm on Thursday, 26 December, in the area of Andraid Close in Antrim. Police have described his disappearance as increasingly concerning and are keen to establish his whereabouts as quickly as possible. In a statement, police said they are “grow

A man in his 40s has died following a house fire in the Waring Street area of Ballymena, police have confirmed. Emergency services were alerted to the incident shortly before 9.45am on Friday 26 December. Police officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), but the man was sadly pronounced dead at the property. In a statement, police said enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire are ongoing. At this stag

Some of the Farm Families Health Checks Team at Balmoral Show earlier this year. Farm Families Health Checks will return to livestock marts across Northern Ireland this January, continuing its mission to bring vital healthcare directly to farming families following a year of significant impact and national recognition. As 2025 draws to a close, the team has highlighted its continued commitment to improving health and wellbeing across rural and farming communities. The award-w