NEWS

Northern Ireland has recorded its highest number of house fire fatalities in a quarter of a century, prompting an urgent appeal from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) for the public to prioritise home fire safety and check on vulnerable loved ones and neighbours. Newly released figures show that 2025 saw 16 people lose their lives in house fires, the highest annual total since 1999. The data highlights stark and preventable risks, with smoking materials respo

PSNI Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson A senior officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has renewed an urgent appeal to motorists to prioritise road safety, after new figures revealed hundreds of drink and drug driving arrests during the Christmas period. Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson issued the warning as data from the PSNI’s winter anti-drink and drug drive campaign highlighted the continuing scale of dangerous behaviour on Northern Ireland’s roads.

Inset: Cairndhu House, Larne Police in Larne have issued a public safety warning following a rise in reports of people entering derelict and abandoned buildings across the district, highlighting the serious risks associated with so-called “urban exploring”. Officers say the trend, which often involves individuals accessing disused industrial sites, vacant homes or former commercial premises, can carry life-threatening dangers and potential legal consequences. Larne Neighbourh

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting Northern Ireland, with the potential for localised flooding as heavy rainfall combines with milder temperatures and melting snow. The warning is in effect from 9.00pm on Saturday 10 January until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 January , covering the entire region. According to the Met Office, bands of rain will move across Northern Ireland during Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, bringing the risk of flooding in

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the Infrastructure Minister to review the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) Roads policy on grit provision, warning that the current approach risks undermining community efforts to improve safety during winter weather. The intervention follows recent snow and icy conditions, during which many communities relied heavily on grit to help keep roads and footways passable. Mr Swann said residents have expressed a willingness to take p

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has paid tribute to road gritting teams for their efforts in keeping Northern Ireland’s main routes safe during the Christmas period and the current spell of severe winter weather. Gritting crews have been operating throughout the festive season and during an ongoing cold snap that has brought heavy snowfall to parts of the Northern Ireland, placing increased pressure on road services and frontline staff.

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall and wintry showers move across the region. The warning is in force between 6:00pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and 11:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026, with icy patches likely to form on untreated surfaces, increasing the risk of travel disruption. Forecasters say that after a day that has been less cold than recent days, conditions

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is urging households to make fire safety a year-round habit rather than a short-lived New Year’s resolution, as new figures highlight the continued risk of accidental house fires during the winter months. The appeal follows a series of tragic house fires in December and comes as data shows winter remains one of the most dangerous times of year for accidental dwelling fires, with cooking, electricity and smoking materials the lead

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has urged the public to make road safety a priority in 2026 following the release of provisional figures showing that 57 people lost their lives on Northern Ireland’s roads in 2025. The latest data, published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), highlights a decrease on the 69 fatalities recorded in 2024 and the 71 deaths in 2023. However, the figures also reveal deeply concerning trends involving vulnerable road users, particu

L-R: Jan McCrudden, her son Portrush RNLI lifeboat volunteer Roo McCrudden and Roo’s granny Pat Torbitt As the RNLI launches its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, volunteers across the UK and Ireland are preparing to spend the festive season on call — including Portrush RNLI crewmember Richard “Roo” McCrudden , for whom lifesaving is very much a family tradition. Roo will remain on standby throughout the Christmas period, while his mother Jan and 92-year-old grandmother

Counterfeit goods seized by police during Safer Business Action Week Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have issued a stark warning about the risks linked to buying counterfeit goods after more than £1.1 million worth of fake items were seized during coordinated searches. The operation, carried out as part of Safer Business Action Week —a national initiative aimed at cracking down on business crime—saw officers search four properties in Dungannon and one i

The Met Office has issued both yellow and amber weather warnings for Northern Ireland today (Tuesday 9 December) as Storm Bram sweeps across the region, bringing the potential for widespread disruption. The yellow and amber warnings, which span from 9:00am to 10:00pm on Tuesday, cover the province, with the most severe conditions expected in western and northern areas where the amber warning applies. According to forecasters, “Storm Bram is expected to pass close to western I

Multi-agency preparations are underway across Northern Ireland ahead of Storm Bram, with a Met Office yellow warning in place for strong winds on Tuesday 9 December from 9am to 9pm. Forecasters warn that gusts of 50–60mph are expected widely, with the potential to exceed 70mph in the most exposed western areas. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has activated emergency response measures, as teams continue clearing road gullies, checking drainage systems and placing addit

A vehicle checkpoint at Shaws Bridge in Belfast at the winter anti drink and drug campaign launch The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued a stark warning to motorists as it launches its winter anti–drink and drug driving campaign, urging drivers to “make good choices” amid rising concern about impaired driving across the region. The annual operation, announced in Belfast today (Tuesday 2 December), will see intensified roadside testing, coordinated cross-bor

Coca-Cola Ireland has launched its 2025 Designated Driver campaign, celebrating an impressive 17 years of encouraging responsible choices and supporting the hospitality sector during the festive period. The initiative, which launched yesterday on 1 December, once again offers two complimentary Coca-Cola soft drinks — including Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Original Taste — to anyone acting as the designated driver at participating venues across the island of Ireland. The

A large majority of UK motorists want to see alcohol interlocks – also known as ‘alcolocks’ – introduced to crack down on drink-driving, according to new figures from the RAC. The motoring organisation’s latest Report on Motoring found 82% of drivers support fitting alcohol interlocks to prevent repeat drink-driving. Only 7% of respondents opposed the idea, while 12% remained unsure. Alcohol interlocks are already widely used in countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, A

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched its annual Christmas policing operation, Operation Season’s Greetings, aimed at keeping people safe throughout the festive period and into the New Year. The initiative, unveiled on Monday 24th November, will see increased police visibility and patrols across towns and cities, with a strong focus on shopping districts, nightlife venues and public transport hubs. Both uniformed and plain-clothed officers will be deploye

Pictured at the launch of the new anti-drug driving campaign are (L to R) Judith Andrews, DfI and Chair of the Road Safety Strategic Forum, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, PSNI.  Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has unveiled a hard-hitting new advertising campaign after initial roadside testing data revealed that nearly 50% of drivers checked for drugs were positive for cannabis and/or cocaine. The stark figure comes from a 12-month

HEMS pilot, consultant and paramedic on their way to an emergency mission Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has issued an urgent Christmas appeal as the charity prepares for what could be one of its busiest festive seasons yet, expecting to be tasked over 60 times this December alone. While families across Northern Ireland decorate their homes and make festive plans, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) will continue operating every single day throughout the holidays