NEWS

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,

(L-R) Tina McMullan, Business and Improvement Advisor ETTNI, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Jessica Smyth, Business Development Project Officer LMP Fully funded programme offers local electrical professionals qualifications in solar PV, battery storage, and EV charging installation Fifteen qualified electricians from the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough are set to benefit from a groundbreaking new training initiative designed to prepare the l

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

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Joan Burney Keatings MBE with cast and crew from Cinemagic Placement Insights Programme. Young filmmakers from across Mid and East Antrim have taken centre stage after seeing their work showcased on the big screen at a special short film screening held at the Ecos Hub. A group of 23 talented young people, aged between 17 and 24, attended the screening of The Friendship Garden, an original short film develo

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

A tray of mail discovered by a dog walker on Saturday morning along a local river walk in Ballymena. Royal Mail has launched an investigation after a tray of undelivered letters was discovered along a popular riverside walk in Ballymena. A local resident made the unsettling find on Saturday morning, 17 January, while walking his dog along the Braid River Walk in the Tullygarley area of the town. The man noticed one of Royal Mail’s distinctive grey plastic ‘perstop’ trays conc

Leaders of Unionism, (L-R) Gavin Robinson MP (DUP), Jim Allister MP (TUV), and Jon Burrows MLA (UUP). The debate over Unionist co-operation has intensified following a call from Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson MP for closer working between pro-Union parties — a proposal that has drawn cautious and, in the case of Traditional Unionist Voice, sharply critical responses. In a message to party members and supporters, Mr Robinson described 2026 as a pivotal year

Northern Trust Health Visitor, Mary Donnelly, winner of the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) Student Health Visitor Award, pictured with Alison Morton, Chief Executive of the Institute of Health Visiting. A newly qualified health visitor with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has received national recognition after winning a prestigious UK-wide award from the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV). Mary Donnelly secured first place in the Specialist Commu

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

Bryson Recycling has apologised to householders following widespread disruption to recycling collections, as councils across Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey move to address growing public frustration. The waste contractor issued a statement online on Friday, 16 January , acknowledging recent service delays and outlining steps being taken to restore normal collections. “Disruptions to our collection services recently are a result of staff shortages, weather co

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

Ulster Unionist Party Leader-Elect Jon Burrows MLA speaking at the 2025 Ulster Unionist Party conference Ulster Unionist Party Leader-Elect Jon Burrows MLA has spoken of his pride, renewed energy and sense of duty after being formally nominated as a candidate to succeed Mike Nesbitt MLA as party leader, as the Ulster Unionist Party enters the next phase of its leadership transition. Reflecting on his nomination on Friday 16 January, Mr Burrows set out a vision of a “strong,

Pet lovers across Northern Ireland are being invited to start the New Year on a high note as Barket, the much-loved market celebrating pets and their people, returns to The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in Antrim on Saturday 17 January 2026. Running from 11am to 4pm, the event promises a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, with over 50 stalls and exhibitors offering everything from gourmet dog treats and eco-friendly toys to bespoke collars and pet wellness products. Now f

(L-R) Neil Irwin, Philanthropy Manager, Haemochromatosis UK and James Hagan, Founder of Hagan Homes. Thousands of households across Northern Ireland are to be offered free genetic screening for haemochromatosis, the region’s most common inherited condition, as part of a major early-detection initiative launching in January 2026. The programme, delivered by Haemochromatosis UK and supported by Hagan Homes and other donors, will offer up to 23,500 households in selected postco

Eugene McKeever, Founder and Group Chair welcomes Norman McBride to the Board of McKeever Hotels The McKeever Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Norman McBride to its Board of Directors, marking a significant step in supporting the company’s accelerated growth and expanding operational footprint. Mr McBride joins the Board in the newly created role of Group Operations Director, with responsibility for overseeing operations across the Group’s seven hotels. The appoin

Planning permission was refused for a change of use for a property at Waveney Road, Ballymena Planning permission for a proposed House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) in Ballymena has been refused following a closely contested vote at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee. The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee held on Thursday 15 January 2025, where elected members voted five against , four in favour of the application, and two left the room , o

Ralph and Cathrene Singco who sadly died as result of a road traffic collision in Co Antrim The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed the identities of the man, woman and unborn baby who tragically lost their lives following a two-car collision near Nutts Corner, Crumlin, on Sunday afternoon. The man who died has been named as Ralph Anthony Singco , aged in his 30s. His wife, Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco , also died as a result of the collision. Police have

Aerial views of the proposed new leisure centre in Ballymena Plans for a long-awaited £25 million leisure, health and wellbeing centre in Ballymena have been formally approved by councillors, marking a significant milestone in efforts to replace the town’s ageing Seven Towers Leisure Centre. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light on Thursday 15 January 2025 for the major development, which will be located on 1.7 hectares of land at the S