NEWS

Northern Ireland has no identified link to a rare case of classical BSE — commonly known as mad cow disease — confirmed on a farm in Scotland, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said. The case was discovered on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway and identified through routine BSE surveillance. Movement restrictions have now been put in place while investigations continue to establish the origin of the case. Importantly, the affected animal did not enter the human food chain, a

Almost one in three victims of domestic abuse crimes recorded in Northern Ireland last year were male, according to figures released as part of a new campaign challenging the stigma that can prevent men from seeking help. The Police Service of Northern Ireland recorded 5,817 domestic abuse crimes against male victims between April 2025 and March 2026. Men represented 32% of all victims recorded during the 12-month period, while the crimes involving male victims had a sanction

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with Justin Kerr, head of the Department for the Economy Careers Service. The Department has 78 careers advisers on hand to support people reach their chosen pathway. Thursday 13 August 2026 Young people receiving A-Level, AS and vocational results across Northern Ireland today are being reminded that professional careers advice is available to help them decide what comes next. Whether results have opened the door to a first-c

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured with students Naomi Duncan-Todd and Jay Curry encouraging eligible students to apply for the prestigious All Ireland Scholarship Scheme. Thousands of students across Northern Ireland receiving their A-Level and BTEC results are being encouraged to check whether they could qualify for a scholarship worth £5,850 a year to help cover the cost of university. The All Ireland Scholarship Scheme, funded by the JP McManus Trust, is no

Jay Reardon was just 21 when he died The family of a young County Down man who died in a motorcycle crash a decade ago have issued a heartfelt appeal to all road users, urging them to remember that “every person deserves to get home safely.” Jay Reardon was just 21 when he died on 31 July 2016 after the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a single-vehicle collision on Belfast Road in Newtownards. No other vehicle was involved. Marking the 10th anniversary of his death, J

Thousands of young people across Northern Ireland are being urged to book a free MenB vaccination from this week, as the Public Health Agency (PHA) launches a programme aimed at protecting those most at risk before they start university or residential college this autumn. The vaccination programme opens on Thursday 31 July and will be available through GP practices and participating community pharmacies. Health officials say the vaccine could help prevent life-threatening men

John Broderick, Director and Optometrist, and the team at Fitzsimons Opticians in Ballymena. Burning, watery or gritty eyes are often dismissed as a minor annoyance, but a Ballymena optician is encouraging people to seek help rather than simply putting up with symptoms that could affect their everyday quality of life. During Dry Eye Awareness Month, Fitzsimons Opticians is highlighting a condition that affects around one in three adults in the UK and can make everyday activit

Katie McKay, from Rathkenny, outside Ballymena, who shares her experience with thyroid cancer. A routine appointment for blood tests turned into a life-changing cancer diagnosis for a woman from Rathkenny – and she is now urging others not to ignore unexpected changes or delay getting them checked. Ahead of World Head and Neck Cancer Day on Sunday, July 27, Katie McKay has shared her experience after a nurse spotted a lump on her neck during a visit to her GP surgery, despite

Co Antrim farmer Denis Minford. A County Antrim farmer who spent three weeks in a coma after a devastating farm accident is urging others to make safety part of every working day as this year’s Farm Safety Week draws to a close. Crumlin farmer Denis Minford has shared his personal story in support of the annual campaign led by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), with backing in Northern Ireland from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the

Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Many people in Northern Ireland are unaware they can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic abuse – something Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says must change. Burrows has written to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Naomi Long calling for a major public awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law – officially known as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme

Thousands of people heading to Twelfth of July parades, family celebrations or just enjoying the summer break are being urged to protect themselves from the sun, stay hydrated and think carefully before drinking alcohol if they are taking medication, as Northern Ireland prepares for a hot and sunny week ahead. With prolonged periods expected outdoors, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding people to take simple precautions against sunburn, dehydration and heat-related il

Larne RNLI all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy. (Image: Jason Bain) Two paddleboarders have been brought safely back to shore after being found on the Isle of Muck off Islandmagee on Saturday evening. Larne RNLI’s volunteer crew was returning from an earlier emergency call when it received a fresh request from HM Coastguard at around 5.20pm on 11 July. A member of the public had spotted that the paddleboarders were in difficulty and raised the alarm — a decision the lifeboat c

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with George Doherty, Programme Officer at FCN Northern Ireland. Farmers, agricultural workers and rural residents across Mid and East Antrim are being encouraged to seek medical help early if they notice possible signs of cancer, after councillors agreed to support the ‘Nip it in the Bud’ campaign. The initiative, led through the Rural Communities Cancer Project, aims to raise awareness of cancer symptoms among

Senior RNLI Lifeguard Annie Jagoe A swimmer was rescued from a dangerous rip current on the Antrim coast after getting into difficulty outside the designated bathing area, prompting a rapid emergency response from RNLI lifeguards, the Coastguard and the ambulance service. The incident happened at around 5pm on Monday, 7 July at Portrush West Strand, when lifeguards were alerted by a member of the public to a woman struggling against strong surging waves beyond the red and yel

Thousands of households across Northern Ireland are set to see their electricity bills rise again next month after SSE Airtricity announced a tariff increase of 6.2%. The increase, which takes effect from 1 August 2026, will add around £76 a year to the bill of a typical credit customer and standard-rate keypad customer. For many households already dealing with higher living costs, the latest rise means annual electricity costs for a typical SSE Airtricity customer will incre

ACC Ryan Henderson with two neighbourhood officers The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched its 2026 Safer Summer Together campaign, urging people across Northern Ireland to enjoy the summer months while remaining alert to a range of safety risks affecting homes, roads and public spaces. Launched on Wednesday, 1 July, the annual initiative aims to promote safer behaviour during a period when longer evenings, warmer weather and school holidays typically see more peo

For years, people in Northern Ireland living with severe obesity have faced a reality patients elsewhere in the UK did not. There was no specialist NHS obesity management service. There was no NHS bariatric surgery programme. For many, the options were limited to paying privately, travelling abroad for treatment or trying to manage alone. Now, after years of pressure from clinicians, patients and campaigners, Northern Ireland is finally preparing to launch its first dedicated

Darragh pictured with his mum Fiona, sister Emily and dad Chris. A County Armagh father has spoken candidly about the daily realities of raising a child with a rare inherited condition that affects significantly more babies in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK, as calls grow for greater awareness and improved access to emerging treatments. On International PKU Day (Sunday 28 June), Craigavon-based pharmaceutical company Galen Limited has joined patients, families and

Hot weather may be welcomed by many across Northern Ireland, but health experts are warning that prolonged exposure to heat and sunshine can have serious consequences, with rising numbers of sunburn injuries, heat-related illnesses and deaths linked to excessive temperatures. The Public Health Agency (PHA), alongside the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Children’s Burns Trust, is urging people to take simple precautions to protect themselves and t

Professor Christine Brown Wilson Dementia is set to become one of the biggest health challenges facing Northern Ireland in the coming decades, with the number of people living with the condition expected to almost double by 2040. That warning comes from a leading dementia expert at Queen’s University Belfast, who is urging greater understanding, earlier diagnosis and stronger community support as thousands more families are expected to be affected. Currently, more than 22,000