NEWS

A commemorative ceramic Poppy Wreath made by prisoners in Maghaberry Prison. (Image: Michael Cooper) The chairperson of Northern Ireland’s Prison Officers Association has called on all 11 councils to formally recognise prison staff murdered while serving in the line of duty. The appeal comes after Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council approved plans for a permanent cenotaph memorial to prison officers ahead of this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations. The council area is

Chief Superintendent Kelly Moore and Rhonda Geary, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre this week as the Balmoral Show returns for four days of farming, food, business and family entertainment — with the PSNI warning motorists to expect delays and plan ahead. Running from Wednesday 13 May to Saturday 16 May 2026, the annual event is one of the biggest fixtures in Northern Ireland’s rural calendar, draw

The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (GOLI) is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to its stand at this year’s Balmoral Show, with organisers promising a busy four days featuring community engagement, heritage displays, fundraising efforts and giveaways. The Institution will once again have a presence at Northern Ireland’s largest agricultural showcase when the 157th Balmoral Show takes place from 13–16 May at the Eikon Exhibition Centre. More than 120,000 visitors are ex

Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA launching the Assembly’s engagement events at the 2026 Balmoral Show. The Northern Ireland Assembly is set to bring major public policy discussions directly to thousands of visitors at the Balmoral Show next week, with Assembly committees launching a series of engagement sessions on issues ranging from health and renewable energy to marriage law and the Windsor Framework. The initiative will see Assembly Members and scrutiny c

Brothers and keen farmers, Adam and Matthew, join Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) operations director, Rhonda Geary as they count down to this year's show and encourage visitors to travel by bus or train, with convenient, reliable and hassle-free services available throughout the event. Northern Ireland’s biggest celebration of farming, food and rural life is set to return next week, with thousands expected to descend on the Eikon Exhibition Centre for the 2026 Balm

A 77-year-old man has been jailed for historic child sexual abuse offences spanning more than four decades, with survivors describing the lifelong trauma they endured and calling on others to break their silence. William Lloyd Lavery, from Lisburn, was sentenced at Laganside Crown Court on Tuesday, April 28, to two years’ imprisonment for six counts of indecent assault against children. The court heard that between 1976 and 1978, Lavery sexually assaulted four girls all aged

Two people have died following a devastating two-vehicle collision in the Lisburn area on Saturday evening, prompting an active police investigation and a renewed appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the fatal crash occurred shortly before 6pm on Saturday, 25 April, on the Glenavy Road in Upper Ballinderry, involving a motorcycle and a car. Emergency services, including officers, the Northern Ireland Ambulance

A 12-year-old child has been left with serious injuries after being knocked down by a car in Lisburn on Monday afternoon, prompting a police appeal for dashcam footage from anyone who may have witnessed the incident. The collision happened on Prince William Road at around 3.15pm on April 20 and involved a black Honda Civic. Child taken to hospital with serious injuries Emergency services attended the scene following the incident, where the child sustained injuries described a

Two men are in hospital in a critical but stable condition after a serious single-vehicle collision involving a motorbike in Lisburn on Saturday afternoon. Police have issued an appeal for witnesses following the crash on Pond Park Road East, which happened at around 4.25pm on Saturday 4 April. The incident involved a motorbike which is understood to have collided with a crash barrier, leaving both riders with serious injuries. Serious injuries after collision with crash barr

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth speaks to those gathered to mark the special occasion at the the Ulster Aviation Society. One of the world’s most iconic military aircraft has found a new home in Northern Ireland after the head of the Royal Air Force personally handed over a historic Harrier jump jet to the Ulster Aviation Society. The landmark donation, made on 1 April to coincide with the RAF’s 108th birthday, sees the celebrated aircraft join one of Nor

Marks & Spencer has reaffirmed its long-standing support for Northern Ireland’s farming community, announcing its return as Platinum Sponsor of the Balmoral Show — a move that reinforces the retailer’s deep ties with local producers and the agri-food sector. With more than 25 years of backing behind it, the partnership signals continued investment in an event widely regarded as the heartbeat of rural life in Northern Ireland, bringing together farmers, food producers and thou

Families across the borough are being invited to a magical spring adventure as Dobbies Garden Centres partner with DreamWorks’ popular children’s show Gabby’s Dollhouse for a special free event next month. The themed Little Seedlings Club workshop will take place on Saturday 4 April at Dobbies stores in Antrim and Lisburn , offering children a fun-filled hour of crafts, discovery and Easter-themed activities. A spring adventure for young gardeners The event will transport ch

Pictured left to right are Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Hugh Cormican, CEO of Cirdan, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Alison Currie, Chief Development Officer, Invest NI. A £12.9 million investment by Cirdan Imaging is set to create 72 highly skilled jobs while strengthening Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre for life and health sciences innovation. Announced by the First Minister, deputy First Minister an

A Northern Ireland-wide phone app has left a Lisburn patient in medical distress following claims that a “serious condition” was revealed before a doctor could present her test results. Northern Ireland is the first UK region to fully roll out the ‘My Care’ app through the Encompass IT system, with a Co Down councillor raising concerns about a potential system “blip”. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s recent full council meeting heard that a local resident claimed she h

PD Ice after the discovery A police dog’s nose for hidden cash has helped detectives uncover £90,000 and make two arrests in a County Antrim during a targeted operation against suspected illegal money lending. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Predatory Lending Team (PLT) carried out planned searches at three residential properties in the Donard Drive and Tirowen Drive areas of Lisburn on Thursday, 19 February. What they discovered — thanks in large part

Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have arrested two people in Lisburn on suspicion of illegal money lending and associated criminality, as part of an ongoing investigation by its Predatory Lending Team. The arrests were made on Thursday, 19 February. A 59-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man were detained during the operation, and a significant amount of cash was seized. Both suspects have since been released on bail pending further enquiries. Cash s

Rhonda Geary, RUAS Group Operations Director and Cormac McKervey, Senior Agriculture Manager, Ulster Bank, kick off the countdown to the 2026 Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank. The pair are joined by county Antrim farmer, John Cross, who received the award for Champion Clydesdale at the 2025 event. The countdown to Balmoral Show 2026 has officially begun, with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) announcing that Ulster Bank will return as principal sponsor

A Northern Ireland council has been urged to recoup ratepayers’ money after stepping in to support a struggling bin collection service. An environment committee report presented this week revealed that Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) staff and vehicles assisted Bryson Recycling with collections at around 20,000 properties for approximately a week in January. According to the report, the council’s intervention has now enabled Bryson Recycling to return to “busines

Parents of 19 boys suspended from Lisburn’s Laurelhill Community College have called for an internal investigation using CCTV footage relating to alleged incidents at the school. The parents have also asked the Education Authority (EA) to step in directly, saying they are “defending our children” as fellow pupils come forward with eyewitness accounts of what took place. The male students were suspended for one day on January 9, following an assembly. The school principal rai

A woman aged in her 90s has tragically died following a fire at a residential property in Lisburn, as the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) issued an urgent home fire safety appeal after four fatal house fires across Northern Ireland in just three days. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed officers received a report of an ongoing fire in the Tansy Road area shortly before 6.30pm on Sunday evening, December 14. Police attended alongside colleagu