NEWS

Drugs seized by police in Mid Ulster Police in Mid Ulster have seized drugs valued at over £80,000 in a major operation targeting local drug supply. During a coordinated Day of Action on Friday 20 February, officers recovered Class A and B substances, including suspected cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis. The proactive searches were carried out across multiple properties in the Cookstown and Stewartstown areas. Local District Support Team (DST) officers led the operation, with

A viable device has been discovered in a residential area of Upperlands, prompting a significant police response and an urgent public appeal for information. Detectives are investigating the security alert in the Oakvale Terrace area, which unfolded on Saturday, February 21. The incident led to the establishment of multiple cordons as specialist officers attended the scene. Detective Inspector Keon confirmed the seriousness of the find. He said: “Following a report to police

Hollybank staff members Darren Mitchell and Kellie Grant. Hollybank Supported Living in Magherafelt is recruiting additional Band 3 support workers, as the Northern Health and Social Care Trust encourages people to consider a career in social care supporting adults with learning disabilities. Recruitment open days will take place in March, with applications now open online. The Trust is seeking staff to work across supported living and short breaks services at Hollybank, offe

Anna Short secured a scholarship through CAFRE’s Industry Support Programme in conjunction with Pilgrim’s Europe. A paid placement year through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Industry Support Programme has helped a Greenmount Campus student gain hands-on experience across the poultry sector and clarify her future career ambitions. Anna Short, a BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture student at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus , secured a scholarship placem

Inset: SDLP Councillor Malachy Quinn SDLP Councillor Malachy Quinn has expressed delight that his campaign for the introduction of Caoimhé’s Law is continuing to gather momentum, with the Justice Minister and two Northern Ireland local authorities now pledging their support. In October 2025, the Torrent DEA representative tabled a motion calling for legal restrictions on the sharing on social media of images and videos taken at the scenes of serious road traffic collisions.

Two men have been arrested following an arson attack on a residential flat in Cookstown that caused significant damage and forced the evacuation of neighbouring residents. Police confirmed they received a report of a fire at an upstairs flat in the Sullenboy Park area at approximately 7.10pm on Saturday, 31 January. A PSNI spokesperson said: “We received a report at approximately 7.10pm on Saturday, 31st January of a flat fire in the Sullenboy Park area. “Upon officers’ arriv

Nurse Bernie Rogers A nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has said she would “absolutely do it all over again” as she marks an extraordinary 50 years of service to the nursing profession. Bernie Rogers, from Maghera , began her career in January 1976 at the School of Nursing in Mid Ulster Hospital. Five decades on, and despite officially retiring, she continues to play a valued role within Team North, supporting colleagues and patients alike. A special event

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

Missing Cookstown man, 21-year-old Taylor Stewart Police have confirmed that the body of a man has been located in Cookstown this afternoon, Wednesday 7 January, following days of intensive search efforts across the town. While formal identification has not yet taken place, police have confirmed that the family of Taylor Stewart, who has been missing since the early hours of New Year’s Day, has been informed. Taylor, aged 21, was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookst

Missing man: Taylor Stewart (21) from Cookstown Police have issued a renewed appeal to help locate missing Cookstown man Taylor Stewart, as officers share a direct and emotional message from his grandfather amid ongoing search efforts. Taylor, aged 21, was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at around 5.30am on New Year’s Day, Thursday 1st January. Since then, police have been carrying out extensive searches across the town, supported by specialist teams and vol

Missing man Taylor Stewart Police are continuing to appeal for information on the whereabouts of missing Cookstown man Taylor Stewart, as officers today released an image of him taken on the night he went missing. Taylor, aged 21, is pictured in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at around 5.30am on New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January, the last confirmed sighting of him before he disappeared. Officers say concern for Taylor’s welfare is increasing as enquiries continue, with

Missing person: 21-year-old Taylor Stewart Police are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 21-year-old man reported missing in Cookstown, prompting an urgent public appeal for information. Taylor Stewart was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at approximately 5.30am on Thursday, 1 January, sparking fears for his safety as the search continues into the day. Taylor is described as being approximately 5ft 8in tall, of medium build, with dark hair an

Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Frances Burton (DUP) , has revealed she is having sleepless nights over the plight of three elderly residents she knows well who are in desperate need of home care. The Clogher Valley DEA representative made the comments at the Development Committee meeting of Mid Ulster District Council on December 3, where she argued that recent grant funding from the Department for Communities (DfC) should, at least in part, be used to train

A 20-year-old man has died and two teenagers have been seriously injured following a multi-vehicle road traffic collision in Cookstown in the early hours of Friday morning. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the fatal collision occurred on the Drum Road shortly before 12.40am on Friday 26 December and involved three vehicles. Chief Inspector Simpson of the Police Service’s Collision Investigation Unit said police received reports of a two-vehicle co

Police in Cookstown have seized counterfeit goods potentially worth hundreds of thousands of pounds during a coordinated operation targeting illegal trading in the town. The seizure was made on Monday, 15th December, when officers from the Cookstown Neighbourhood Team, supported by the District Support Team and Trading Standards, carried out proactive searches at a number of houses and business premises. During the operation, conducted as part of Operation Season’s Greetings,

Police in Magherafelt have issued a public appeal for assistance in identifying the body of a man found in the Diamond area of the town earlier today, Sunday 14th December. Officers were alerted to the discovery during the morning, prompting an immediate investigation. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed that the man is believed to have died within the past 24 hours and that his death is not being treated as suspicious at this time. Inspector Knipe has

Cannabis plants discovered at a property in Cookstown Police have arrested three men after discovering a suspected cannabis factory in the Kinturk Road area of Cookstown late on Friday, 5th December. According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), officers were responding to a report of criminal damage when they uncovered the large-scale drugs operation. Detective Inspector Maguire of the Organised Crime Branch said: “Officers received a report that four men had

Pictured are Anne O’Reilly, Chairperson Northern Trust, Jackie Burns, Ethel Glasgow, Iris Burns and Suzanne Pullins Chief Executive Northern Trust Cookstown woman and former nurse Ethel Glasgow, aged 93, has been announced as the winner of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s 2025 Christmas card competition, after her hand-drawn festive design captured the hearts of judges. Mrs Glasgow, who attends Cookstown Day Centre, created a charming winter scene featuring a robin

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is now looking for new Community Health and Wellbeing Champions to join its volunteer community. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has launched a new volunteer drive, appealing to members of the public with a passion for improving health outcomes in their local communities. The Trust is now seeking Community Health and Wellbeing Champions who will work alongside staff to help share information, services and resources aimed at

Two police officers were injured after their vehicle was deliberately rammed during an incident in Maghera on Tuesday night. The collision occurred at around 10.20pm on Tuesday, 18 November, after police received reports of a van “speeding and swerving dangerously” on the Glenshane Pass. When officers arrived in the area, the van was observed travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway, heading directly towards oncoming traffic. Police say the 18-year-old male driver the