NEWS

Portrush RNLI on callout to the stricken fishing boat on the Antrim coast. (Image: John Morton) Monday 2 November 2026 Portrush RNLI volunteers were called into action on Sunday evening (1 November) after a 14-metre fishing vessel suffered engine failure just off Ballycastle Harbour. The all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by the Coastguard at 7.06pm, with the volunteer crew setting off from Portrush just 20 minutes later. The lifeboat arrived at the scene at 8.10pm,

Monday 26 October 2026 Northern Ireland is facing another spell of potentially disruptive weather, with the Met Office issuing two yellow wind warnings covering Monday evening and much of Tuesday, just days after Storm Boelo brought strong winds across the region. Gusts of up to 65mph are forecast along exposed coasts and over high ground during the first warning, with heavy rain also expected at times. County Antrim is included in both warnings, meaning Ballymena and surroun

Sunday 25 October 2026 Households across Northern Ireland are being urged to stay alert to bogus callers as darker evenings approach, with NI Water reminding residents never to allow anyone into their home without first checking their identity. The utility company has issued fresh advice on how to recognise genuine employees, safely check identification and use a police verification service if someone arrives unexpectedly claiming to be from NI Water, Water Service or the Wat

The People’s Park, Ballymena Sunday 25 October 2026 Residents across Mid and East Antrim are being urged to avoid parks with heavy tree cover as Storm Boelo brings strong winds, prompting closures, cancelled activities and disruption to council services throughout the borough. People’s Park, Sentry Hill and Memorial Parks in Ballymena are among the locations affected, while several facilities in Larne and Carrickfergus have also been closed or placed under monitoring. Mid and

Sunday 25 October 2026 Motorists are being warned of road closures across Northern Ireland after Storm Boelo brought down trees, blocking major routes and disrupting journeys to Belfast International Airport. Police have highlighted two particularly significant closures, including the Ballyrobin Road near the airport and the Glenshane Road, where fallen trees have made sections impassable. Drivers are being urged to exercise caution, allow additional travelling time and avoid

Saturday 24 October 2026 Northern Ireland is bracing for potentially damaging winds from Storm Boelo this weekend, with gusts reaching 80mph in exposed coastal areas, as the Met Office issues a further weather warning for Tuesday. An amber wind warning covering County Antrim and County Londonderry will be in force from 9pm on Saturday until 10am on Sunday, with widespread disruption possible as the strongest winds sweep across the region overnight. The latest forecast indicat

An Amber weather warning has been issued for parts of Northern Ireland as Storm Boelo approaches, with winds potentially reaching 80mph in exposed coastal areas and an increased risk of disruption over the weekend. The Met Office has escalated its warning for parts of Counties Antrim and Londonderry, while a separate Yellow wind warning has been extended to cover all six counties from Saturday morning. The latest forecasts indicate that strong winds will arrive earlier than p

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department Thursday 22 October 2026 Almost 2,500 patients spent more than 12 hours in the emergency departments at Antrim Area and Causeway hospitals during September, as new figures reveal worsening waiting times at both Northern Trust hospitals. The latest Department of Health statistics, published today (Thursday 22 October), show that 2,499 attendances exceeded the 12-hour threshold across the two hospitals, an increase of 351 (16.3%) compar

Thursday 22 October 2026 Households across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to prepare for up to three days of disruption to essential services, as the UK Government launches a new campaign to help families cope with emergencies including severe storms and power cuts. The advice focuses on simple, affordable steps people can take before an emergency, including keeping bottled water and non-perishable food at home, and ensuring vulnerable household members are registered

Northern Ireland is bracing for a weekend of severe weather after the Met Office named Storm Boelo, with winds potentially reaching 75mph in exposed areas and disruption possible across all six counties. A Yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for the entire region, taking effect at 6pm on Saturday 24 October and remaining in place until 3pm on Sunday 25 October. The clocks go back one hour overnight, meaning the warning begins in British Summer Time (BST) and ends

MPV leaf busting train Tuesday 20 October 2026 Fallen leaves might seem harmless, but on Northern Ireland’s railway lines they can create conditions similar to black ice, making it harder for trains to brake and accelerate safely. Translink has stepped up its annual autumn maintenance programme, deploying specialist equipment and engineering trains to tackle slippery tracks and reduce the risk of delays and disruption for passengers. The operation includes treating around 30,

Church Street in Ballymena town centre where one of the council’s 19 cameras is located. Tuesday 20 October 2026 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed there are 19 CCTV cameras in Ballymena but has refused to reveal how many are currently operational, following questions raised by court evidence that cameras covering part of Church Street were not working. The council disclosed the total number of cameras in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from

Monday 19 October 2026 Schools across Northern Ireland have been told they do not need to report threatening emails to police or the Education Authority, as Education Minister Paul Givan condemned the hoax that caused widespread concern and disruption on Monday morning. The guidance follows reports from up to 300 schools that received the same email containing a generalised threat, prompting some schools to close temporarily while the majority remained open. The Police Servic

Scrambler bike seized by police in Ballymena Monday 05 October 2026 Police have seized five e-scooters and a scrambler after following up on concerns over their use in Ballymena at the weekend. The riders were cautioned for several offences, including having no insurance, as Ballymena Neighbourhood Policing Team responded to concerns raised locally. Police issue warning over public use Police have reminded people that e-scooters cannot legally be used on public roads or footp

Thursday 01 October 2026 Parents and carers are being urged to stop using baby sleeping bags with hoods or without armholes for unsupervised sleep because they could cause overheating or suffocation. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a safety alert covering products marketed or intended for babies to sleep in while in a cot or crib. It warns that the risks can lead to serious injury or death. The alert follows nearly 50 recalls or product safety re

Thursday 01 October 2026 Learner drivers in Northern Ireland face a new route to passing their test from today, as a major licensing reform introduces a six-month minimum learning period, compulsory training records and new restrictions after qualifying. Graduated Driver Licensing, known as GDL, launches on Thursday, 1 October, with changes affecting how people learn, when they can sit their practical test and who younger drivers can carry at night. For people already learnin

Friday 25 September 2026 A major new study involving Emergency Departments in Northern Ireland has found that the risk of death was higher as overcrowding worsened — against a backdrop where the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) says 12-hour waits here have increased 43-fold since 2015 while attendances rose by just 6%. Researchers found that for every 10% increase in Emergency Department occupancy, the risk of death from any cause within 28 days was 1% higher. The r

Thursday 24 September 2026 A driver has been arrested near Ballymena on suspicion of being unfit through drink or drugs after police stopped a vehicle which they say was also being used in a dangerous condition. The stop was made in the Lettercreeve area on Wednesday afternoon, 23 September, after officers from Ballymena District Support Team spotted what police described as a moving road traffic offence while on mobile patrol. Tyre condition highlighted by police Following

Some of the e-scooters seized by police in a targeted operation over the weekend Police are continuing action against the illegal and dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters after 65 were seized during a major weekend operation in Belfast. Police said machines were taken from both adults and children, with the youngest rider aged just six years old. Those involved now face a range of criminal justice outcomes. 65 e-bikes and e-scooters seized The three-day ‘Weekend of Action’

Students heading into Freshers’ Week are being urged to look out for each other and know when to call for emergency help as universities welcome a new intake across Northern Ireland. Alcohol and drug charity ASCERT says the start of university life can bring new friendships, nights out and social events, but for some young people it may also be the first time they have consumed alcohol or faced pressure to drink more — or more quickly — than they normally would. The charity i