NEWS

Lyra McKee, 29, was killed after being shot by terrorists on 18 April 2019 Detectives investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have renewed their appeal for information more than seven years after she was shot dead during disorder in Derry/Londonderry, as an independent charity offers a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to those responsible being brought to justice. The renewed appeal is backed by the independent charity Crimestoppers, which is offering

David Kelly flew to his first ever ITRC win on the Circuit of Ireland. (PHOTO: D Harrigan Images) The countdown is on to one of Northern Ireland’s biggest motorsport weekends, with the 50th Modern Tyres Ulster Rally set to bring thousands of competitors, fans and visitors to Ballymena and across County Antrim on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The landmark anniversary event will feature many of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading rally drivers, iconic closed-road stages through no

Police Ombudsman figures released following internal review show that 26 serving PSNI officers and three former officers are now under investigation over allegations of abuse of position for sexual purposes (APSP). The updated figures were disclosed after the Police Ombudsman changed an earlier decision to withhold a breakdown of serving and former officers in response to a Freedom of Information request. The information was released just one day before the Police Ombudsman a

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

Northern Ireland’s skiers and snowboarders can now book their Winter 2027/28 flights to the Austrian Alps after Jet2.com launched its latest ski programme from Belfast International Airport. The airline has put its weekly Saturday service to Salzburg on sale, giving travellers the opportunity to secure flights more than a year in advance for the 2027/28 ski season. Weekly flights to Austria Jet2.com said the service will operate from mid-December 2027 and continue throughout

Northern Ireland dentists working in General Dental Services (GDS) saw their average taxable income rise by almost 14% during 2024/25, according to newly published official figures. The latest estimates show the average taxable income for self-employed NHS dentists increased from £77,000 in 2023/24 to £87,600 in 2024/25 — a statistically significant increase of 13.7%. The figures, published by NHS England, provide an insight into the earnings and business costs of self-employ

Thomas Haighton, manager of Hawthorns Adult Centre in Carrickfergus, pictured with service users Julia, Lauren and Roy who between them have accumulated almost 150 years of attendance at the centre. Five decades of friendship, opportunity and inclusion were celebrated this week as Hawthorns Adult Centre in Carrickfergus marked its 50th anniversary with service users, families and staff reflecting on a remarkable journey. The centre, which first opened in July 1976, has suppor

CGI showing elevations of approved plans to create 19 town centre apartments at a historic former bank building in Ballymena. Planning permission has been granted to transform a historic former bank building in Ballymena town centre into 19 apartments. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved the application at a meeting in The Braid on Thursday morning. The proposal will see the partial demolition of the building at 97 Mill Street, alongside its ada

A new once-daily tablet that could improve the lives of people living with a serious inherited heart condition is being considered for use in Northern Ireland after receiving approval for NHS patients in England. Aficamten, marketed as MYQORZO, has been authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and simultaneously recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic c

Grove Road, Ballymena Drivers in Ballymena are being warned to expect up to eight weeks of disruption as a £627,000 resurfacing scheme gets under way on Grove Road next month. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that resurfacing work on the C109 Grove Roadwill begin on Monday 10 August, with the project expected to continue until Wednesday 7 October, subject to weather conditions. What road is affected? The £627,000 investment will see 2.17 kilometres of Gro

A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after a single-vehicle collision on the Coast Road in Glenarm on Wednesday night. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 9.55pm following reports of the crash in the Glenarm area. Police said the rider, a man, was injured in the collision and was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition has not been disclosed. Appeal for witnesses Officers are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have c

One of London’s famous red Routemaster buses undergoing extensive refurbishment by Ballymena headquartered Wrightbus London’s famous red Routemaster buses are being given a new lease of life through a major refurbishment programme led by Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus. The latest bus to complete the programme has returned to passenger service after a comprehensive overhaul, with dozens more set to follow over the coming year as part of a project designed to extend

Barry Cummins and Katja Mia present the new RTÉ podcast series, ‘Unsolved’. (Photo: Marc O'Sullivan) A new RTÉ true crime podcast examining some of Ireland’s most enduring unsolved criminal cases has launched today, aiming to keep long-running investigations in the public eye while giving victims and their families a renewed voice. Unsolved, released every Wednesday, explores unsolved murders and other unresolved crimes from across Ireland, with experienced crime journalist B

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

Young gymnasts from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin Young gymnasts from a Co Antrim club will make up a significant part of the Northern Ireland team at this year’s National Gymnastics League National Finals after three more athletes secured selection. Anabel McMurray, Katie DeNiro and Emily Rose McGuckin, all from Elite Gymnastics Academy in Toomebridge, have been chosen to represent Northern Ireland at the British Gymnastics-bac

Photo: D Harrigan Images Ballymena will become the centre of Northern Ireland motorsport next week as the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new home and the return of some of the country’s most famous stages. For the first time in seven years, the rally has moved north from Newry, with Ballymena Showgrounds serving as the hub for the landmark event on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The venue will host Rally HQ, the service park, scrutiny, media

A suspected stolen car was brought to a stop by specially trained police officers after a high-speed pursuit along the A1 on Tuesday afternoon, following what officers described as a dangerous attempt to drive the wrong way towards Newry. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the incident began at around 1.49pm, when officers received a report that a grey Volkswagen Passat CC had been stolen in the Tates Avenue area of Belfast. Officers from the PSNI’s Auto Crime

Pictured at an event in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026were the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA with dancer Laila Hendrick and musicians Riley McAuley and Michael McErlane; Labhrás Ó Murchú, Director General of Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Eireann and Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, President of Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Eireann. Traditional music and dance from across Northern Ireland took centre stage at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday as the Norther

A leading County Armagh historian will visit Broughshane this week to give a public presentation examining one of the most significant events in Irish and British history ahead of the annual Relief of Derry commemorations next month. The Broughshane Branch of the Apprentice Boys of Derry is hosting historian Quincey Dougan for an evening exploring the Siege of Derry and the history of the Apprentice Boys, with the talk taking place on Wednesday 29 July at Broughshane Orange H

A 55-year-old woman has been charged with allegedly breaching the lifetime anonymity protecting alleged victims in the ongoing court case involving former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson. Detectives from Newry Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the woman in the Ballynahinch area on Tuesday, 28 July, as part of their investigation into an alleged breach of reporting restrictions linked to the high-profile case. She has been charged with breaching a lifetime ban on r