NEWS

A seven-year-old boy remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition following a serious road traffic collision in Coleraine on Sunday evening. Police are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam footage as they investigate the collision, which involved the young boy while he was riding his bicycle and a black Volkswagen Scirocco. Collision on Warnocks Lane The incident happened in the Warnocks Lane area at around 6.40pm on Sunday, 13 September. Inspector Roxborough said:

85-year-old Maud Kerr sadly died folloei g the collision in Coleraine An 85-year-old woman has died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision in Coleraine. Police have named the woman as Maud Kerr, from the Macosquin area. The collision happened on the Windyhill Road at approximately 12.30pm on Saturday, 12 September. Man remains in hospital Detective Inspector Stewart, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “At approximately 12

Inset: TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley has expressed disappointment over what he says is a lack of progress by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on exploring alternatives to traditional fireworks at its Halloween events. The councillor raised the issue again during September’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, almost a year after suggesting that options including silent fireworks and drone shows should be considered. Concerns ove

Four primary schools—including two in the wider Love Ballymena coverage area—have vowed to continue building inclusive school communities after Education Minister Paul Givan rejected their applications for integrated status. Larne and Inver Primary School and Killowen Primary School in Coleraine were refused alongside Ballyhenry Primary School in Glengormley and Downshire Primary School in Hillsborough. The four ministerial decisions were dated Sunday 30 August, immediately b

The late poet Seamus Heaney Tuesday 8 September 2026 A landmark collection that transformed Seamus Heaney from a young Co Derry writer into one of the most recognisable poetic voices of his generation will be celebrated at a free two-day conference in Belfast this week. Digging at 60: From the Archives will take place at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September. The event marks 60 years since the publication of Death of a N

Police believe disorder involving up to 50 masked people in Londonderry was orchestrated, with young people allegedly “used and exploited” by adults during the violence. Petrol bombs were thrown at officers in the Waterside area on Monday evening, 7 September, after reports that some members of the group were carrying weapons. No police officers were injured. Masked group reported near playing fields Police received reports from around 7.30pm that between 40 and 50 masked ind

The controversial proposal to move emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim is set to face a tougher ministerial test after Northern Ireland’s new Health Minister pledged to challenge the evidence behind major hospital changes and warned that reform cannot simply mean centralisation. Robbie Butler has also put proposed new hospital categories on hold and announced plans for an independent expert committee to scrutinise major or controversial changes to Healt

A “significant improvement” in lengthy ambulance handover delays at Antrim and Causeway hospitals has been highlighted by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Figures presented to a recent Trust board meeting show the number of patients waiting more than two hours to be handed over to hospital staff fell substantially compared with earlier in the year. Interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins acknowledged the “commitment and hard work of the emergency teams”. Two-hour wa

The Northern Trust has agreed £50 million of savings and confirmed it is now working to wind down Phone First — but says much of the detail showing what its wider financial plan will mean for patients and frontline staff is still being worked through. Love Ballymena put 12 detailed questions to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust after examining its 2026/27 Savings Plan, seeking clarity on a 23% reduction in winter planning funding, a targeted 25% reduction in enhanced

Albert and William Wallace discuss genotyping with CAFRE Dairy Adviser, Luke Murray. A Tobermore farming family whose dairy herd ranks among Northern Ireland’s highest-performing producers is highlighting how genetic testing can help farmers make more informed breeding decisions, ahead of a major government-backed genotyping scheme opening on Tuesday. Albert Wallace and his son William, who farm just outside Tobermore, have been using genotyping for six years to identify the

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has been awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Causeway Coast and Glens, honouring more than a century of public service and remembering the 32 members of the service who lost their lives while serving the community. The prestigious civic honour was conferred during a special ceremony at Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre on Saturday, attended by Prison Service representatives, members of the Lieutenancy, elected representatives and invite

Two police officers have been injured and a patrol vehicle significantly damaged after a car was allegedly used to repeatedly ram police during a pursuit in Londonderry. A 23-year-old man was arrested following the incident on Thursday evening, 27 August, on suspicion of offences including attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. Police said District Support Team officers had been carrying out proactive patrols in the Water

The debate continues around the allocation of medical services between the Northern Trust’s Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital. Inset: Dr Eunice Minford, clinical director of surgery Clinical director tells Trust board safety cannot be guaranteed if service reaches a ‘point of collapse’ A leading consultant surgeon has warned that the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s current emergency general surgery model is “fragile”, as she set out the case for consolidating

(L-R) Lisa McLaughlin, Harbour Master, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Robert Skelly, Chair of Coleraine Harbour Commissioners. A major £1.2 million project to secure the historic Barmouth Moles at the mouth of the River Bann has been completed, reducing the risk of tidal flooding, coastal erosion and disruption to vessels using Coleraine Harbour. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins visited Castlerock Pier to see the finished marine engineering works, which were prior

General and colorectal surgeon Damian McKay, NI representative for the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) Monday 24 August 2026 A leading Northern Ireland surgeon has warned that prolonged delay over the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital would place already stretched clinical teams under increasing pressure — as he revealed that he and colleagues sought the intervention of three major surgical associations following even

Entrance to Causeway Hospital site in Coleraine. Three leading surgical organisations have written to Northern Ireland’s new Health Minister Robbie Butler MLA warning that further delays to reforming emergency general surgery risk worsening workforce pressures, limiting access to care and widening inequalities in patient outcomes. The intervention comes amid continuing debate over the future configuration of emergency general surgery in Northern Ireland, including the Norther

Causeway Hospital Friday 21 August 2026 No decision has yet been made on the future of emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, MLAs have been told, with Department of Health officials stressing that the assessment process remains “not complete”. Officials also told Stormont’s Health Committee that there are no plans to close Causeway’s emergency department and said any eventual business case must demonstrate better health outcomes before it would be recommended t

Causeway Hospital, and (inset) newly appointed Health Minister Robbie Butler Robbie Butler has been confirmed as Northern Ireland’s new Health Minister, taking charge of a health and social care system facing severe waiting-list pressures and major decisions over the future of hospital services. Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows announced the nomination on Thursday, less than two days after Mike Nesbitt resigned amid a political dispute over emergency general surgery a

Ulster Unionist Party MLA Robbie Butler Ulster Unionist Party MLA Robbie Butler is set to be confirmed as Northern Ireland’s new Health Minister, taking over one of Stormont’s most demanding roles following Mike Nesbitt’s resignation. The Lagan Valley representative will inherit responsibility for a health service facing severe waiting-list pressures, difficulties accessing primary care and continuing controversy over the future configuration of hospital services. Among his m

Passengers travelling between Derry~Londonderry and Coleraine are being urged to plan ahead as essential engineering work will close the railway line across two weekends in September. Rail replacement buses will operate during the closures, while early-morning services will also face changes on the following Tuesdays. Dates passengers need to know Engineering work will take place on: Saturday 19, Sunday 20 and Monday 21 September Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 September