NEWS

A High Court ruling that the Parades Commission acted unlawfully in its handling of the Drumcree parade has triggered demands for the entire Commission to resign, with political pressure now expected to move to Westminster. Mr Justice McAlinden today quashed the Commission’s determination preventing Portadown District Orange Order from completing its traditional church parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The court outcome represents a significant d

A Co Antrim beautician has received a suspended prison sentence and fines totalling £3,600 after being convicted of unlawfully possessing prescription medicines intended for sale or supply from an aesthetics clinic operating at her home. Nadine Poole, 39, of Whitehill Lodge, Lisburn, was sentenced at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court after previously being found guilty of 12 offences under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and a further offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows The sentence imposed on a former dementia care worker convicted of abusing vulnerable patients cannot be referred to the Court of Appeal for review under current Northern Ireland law, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has confirmed. The update has prompted Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows to call for changes to sentencing laws and the powers available to the Director of Public Prosec

Inset: Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has called for the sentence handed to a former healthcare assistant who secretly filmed and mocked vulnerable dementia patients to be reviewed, arguing it may be unduly lenient. Jon Burrows MLA said he has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions asking that the sentence imposed on Ciara Corvan be considered under Northern Ireland’s Unduly Lenient Sentence Mechanism, which allows

A former healthcare assistant who secretly photographed and filmed vulnerable dementia patients before sharing the images with degrading commentary on social media has been sentenced in what police have described as the first prosecution of its kind in Northern Ireland. Twenty-eight-year-old Ciara Corvan, from Armagh, appeared before Craigavon Crown Court today, where she was sentenced to a two-year probation order and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service after

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

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has formally begun the process of appealing his convictions for multiple child sex abuse offences. His legal team lodged appeal papers with the Court of Appeal in Belfast on Friday, setting out the grounds on which they will seek to have all 18 guilty verdicts overturned. Donaldson is currently being held in Maghaberry Prison while awaiting sentencing after a jury found him guilty of 18 offences involving

PSNI custody photo: Derek McManus, aged 54 A Limavady man has been jailed after a woman was severely beaten, locked inside his house overnight and left needing emergency brain surgery. Derek McManus, aged 54, was sentenced yesterday at Laganside Crown Court for domestic abuse offences, including grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault. McManus was handed a sentence of three years and two and a half months in prison, followed by three years and two and a half month

(L-R) Logan Carley and Jack Redmond Two men have been jailed for their roles in the large-scale disorder that erupted in Ballymena in June last year, with police warning that further prosecutions will follow as investigations continue into the violence that left officers injured and caused widespread damage across the town. Jack Redmond, 22, from Ballymena, and Logan Carley, 24, from the Ballymena area, were sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday, 8 July, after being co

Ian McCollum who sadly died following a workplace accident A man has been jailed for causing the death of a work colleague in a fatal workplace accident in Newry, while the company where the incident happened has also been fined £120,000 following the tragedy. Walter Manley, 53, from the Newry area, was sentenced at Newry Crown Court on Wednesday, 8 July, after previously admitting manslaughter and a breach of health and safety legislation in connection with the death of fell

Sentenced: Nineteen-year-old Michael Elliot A man who took part in the serious disorder that erupted in Ballymena in June 2025 has been sentenced to 40 months in prison after being convicted of common law riot. Nineteen-year-old Michael Elliot, from the Ballymena area, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Monday, July 6. He will serve 20 months in custody followed by 20 months on licence. Elliot was arrested after police identified him as having participated in the large-sc

Sentenced: Kyle Anderson, 33, for involvement in Ballymens riots A Ballymena man has been jailed for his part in the serious disorder which erupted in the town in June last year, as police warned that further prosecutions and sentences will follow. Kyle Anderson, 33, was sentenced at Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday, 1 July, after being convicted of riot offences connected to the violence in Ballymena on Tuesday, 10 June 2025. The court heard that Anderson, from Ballymena, was

Ryan McKenna, 43 A former Police Service of Northern Ireland officer has been jailed after admitting a child sex offence committed against a girl when she was just 10 years old. Ryan McKenna, 43, was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court on Tuesday, June 30, for one count of gross indecency towards a child following an investigation by the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department. The court heard that the offence came to light in June 2020 when the victim, by then an adult, repo

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

(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

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court A farmer has been banned from owning or keeping animals after a court heard serious animal welfare failings led to 19 calves being euthanised because they were suffering unnecessarily. Ian Wilson, 55, of Ballydermot Lane, Bellaghy, appeared before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court today where he was sentenced for ten offences under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and one offence under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) Regulations

Guilty: Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson The conviction of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on multiple sexual offence charges has prompted immediate calls for his knighthood to be revoked, with political leaders across unionism describing the verdict as a profound betrayal of public trust and praising the courage of the women who came forward to give evidence. Donaldson was found guilty on all charges by a jury, bringing one of the most significant political an