NEWS

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a violent burglary at a family home Co Antrim in which a woman was assaulted and children were present. The incident occurred on Friday night, January 30, in the Carnany Park area of Ballymoney. Police say they received the report shortly after 9pm, prompting an emergency response. Inspector Dalzell said officers were alerted to a serious disturbance involving armed intruders. “We received a report at around 9.15pm

The home in Broughshane boarded up following the incident, and (inset) Braid UUP councillor Alan Barr An attack on the home of two Indian men living in Broughshane is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime, prompting condemnation from political representatives and concern across the local community. Police were called to a property on Main Street in the village after all front windows were smashed and the front door was broken during an incident at around 11.45

Inset: Victor Hamilton who was murdered in Ballymena in 2022 A man charged with the murder of a Ballymena resident has been arrested in Portugal, reigniting scrutiny of serious criminal justice and deportation failures highlighted by Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie. Victor Hamilton, a 63-year-old man who had only recently moved to Ballymena, was stabbed to death in July 2022. His body was discovered in the driveway outside his home on Orkney Drive in the Ballykeel area of th

Murder victim Victor Hamilton, and the scene of the incident in Orkney Drive, Ballymena. Ulster Unionist justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has challenged serious failures in the deportation of foreign national offenders, citing the murder of a Ballymena resident as a stark example of systemic breakdowns within Northern Ireland’s Criminal Justice System. Speaking about the killing of Victor Hamilton in July 2022, Mr Beattie said the case exposed “yet another failing” i

Sentenced: Kornelijus Bracas A man who murdered his sister and deliberately set fire to her home, placing the life of his 12-year-old niece in grave danger, has been told he will serve at least 24 years in prison. Kornelijus Bracas, 27, appeared before Belfast Crown Court on Monday, 26 January, where the minimum tariff of his life sentence was formally set. Bracas was sentenced last October after pleading guilty to murder aggravated by domestic abuse, along with a series of s

Murdered: Coleraine man Wayne Reid Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid in Coleraine have carried out further searches in the town as part of ongoing enquiries into his death. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team were conducting searches on Saturday, 24 January, in the Lisnablagh Road area and surrounding locations. Mr Reid, aged 43, was pronounced dead at an address in the Society Court area of Coleraine on Monday, 12 J

Slew of offences uncovered when Nissan Micra vehicle stopped by PSNI Road Policing Interceptors in Ballymena town centre A routine stop by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Road Policing Interceptors has uncovered a catalogue of alleged motoring offences after officers intercepted a Nissan Micra in the Ballymena area late last night (Friday 23 January). Police say the driver appeared to be missing several of the most basic legal requirements for being behind the w

PSNI Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson A senior officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has renewed an urgent appeal to motorists to prioritise road safety, after new figures revealed hundreds of drink and drug driving arrests during the Christmas period. Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson issued the warning as data from the PSNI’s winter anti-drink and drug drive campaign highlighted the continuing scale of dangerous behaviour on Northern Ireland’s roads.

Murdered: 43-year-old Wayne Reid Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid have issued a renewed appeal for information as police activity continues in the Society Street and Society Court areas of Coleraine. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team carried out further searches in the area earlier today, Wednesday 21 January, as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of the 43-year-old man. Wayne Reid was pronounced dea

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in the Antrim area on suspicion of a number of drug-related offences following police searches in Randalstown and along the Ballymena Road. The arrest followed the search of a vehicle on the Ballymena Road shortly before 2.00pm on Tuesday, 20 January. During the search, officers seized a quantity of suspected Class B controlled drugs along with a sum of cash. Police then carried out a further search at a residential property in The Parade a

Convicted 70-year-old Edward Allen Police have praised the courage and resilience of a victim after a 70-year-old man was sentenced for a series of sexual offences at Dungannon Crown Court. Edward Allen, aged 70 , was sentenced on Monday 19 January for two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration. The court handed down a four-year prison sentence, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence . A Sexual Offences Prevention Order

Convicted Murderer Colin Howell (Image: Pacemaker Press) A new BBC documentary series is set to revisit one of Northern Ireland’s most disturbing murder cases, revealing chilling police recordings that have never before been broadcast and shedding fresh light on crimes that went undiscovered for almost two decades. Confessions Of A Killer tells the story of dentist Colin Howell, who on 29 January 2009 walked into a police station in Coleraine, County Londonderry, and confesse

Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid in Coleraine have charged a man in connection with the case. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that on Sunday 18 January, a 33-year-old man was charged with murder. He is due to appear before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 January. As is standard procedure, police said the charge will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. Six other people remain in police custody as enquiries continue. They i

Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid in Coleraine have been granted a court extension to continue questioning three suspects as the inquiry remains ongoing. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that on Sunday 18 January, detectives were given an additional 36 hours to question two women aged 39 and 33, and a man aged 41. The three were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday 16 January. Police have also confirmed that a 19-year-old woman was arreste

Colin Howell A new BBC documentary series will bring to light chilling, never-before-broadcast police recordings from one of Northern Ireland’s most disturbing murder cases, shedding fresh insight into crimes that remained hidden for almost two decades. Confessions Of A Killer tells the story of dentist Colin Howell, who on 29 January 2009 walked into a police station in Coleraine, County Londonderry, and confessed to murdering his wife, Lesley Howell, and his former lover H

One of the fake £20 Bank of England notes that was passed to a local retailer Businesses across Ballymena are being urged to remain vigilant following reports of a significant rise in counterfeit bank notes circulating in the town over the past fortnight. Several local traders have contacted Love Ballymena to warn fellow business owners after discovering fake notes being passed during everyday transactions, particularly in busy retail settings. According to reports received,

Drugs, cash and other items seized by police following a vehicle stop in Ballymena Two men have been released on police bail following the seizure of suspected cannabis and a large quantity of cash during a late-night vehicle stop in Ballymena. Road Policing officers based at Steeple were carrying out routine patrols in the town on Wednesday night, January 14, when a vehicle caught their attention. Police carried out a search of the vehicle, during which a substantial quantit

Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid in Coleraine have arrested two further women, bringing the total number of people currently in police custody to seven. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that a 38-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman were arrested today, Saturday 17 January, on suspicion of murder. Police have also confirmed that five other people previously arrested in connection with the investigation remain in custody at this time. The arr

Pictured: Wayne Reid Detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid in Coleraine have arrested four additional people as enquiries into the case continue. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that three women, aged 39, 33 and 28, and a man aged 41 were arrested on Friday, 16 January, on suspicion of murder. All four remain in police custody at this time. Their arrests follow the earlier detention of a 33-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault on a man in the Sentry Hill Park area of Ballymena in the early hours of Christmas Eve. Police say the incident occurred during the early hours of Wednesday 24 December, when a man was walking in the Sentry Hill Park area and was approached by a number of people before being seriously assaulted. The victim sustained injuries significant enough to require hospital treatment. The incident has prompted an appeal