NEWS

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court A dog owner has been prosecuted after a serious incident in which a dog strayed and attacked a child, prompting enforcement action and a court ruling in Ballymena. Owner prosecuted after child attacked by dog Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council brought the case under the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (as amended) following an investigation into the attack. Council enforcement officers identified Ms Geraldine Millen, from the Toome area, a

Rail Cool Rules! Translink has joined forces with Rail Safe Friendly, an accredited UK-wide programme, to spread the vital message of rail safety in Northern Ireland. Pictured at the partnership launch are (L-R) Abigail, Luke and Izabel from Oakwood Integrated Primary School with Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive and Kathryn Ogdin, Director of Operations, Rail Safe Friendly. A new rail safety campaign aimed at Primary 7 pupils has been launched across Northern Ire

Farming families across Northern Ireland are being urged to take immediate, practical steps to protect children on farms this summer, as safety experts warn that preventable accidents continue to cause serious injuries and fatalities every year. The call comes from Bryan Monson, Deputy Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), who has drawn on his own upbringing on a family farm to highlight the hidden dangers children face in what can a

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and DAERA Minister Andrew Muir pictured with Firefighter Ray Glynn, Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Marcus Wright, Watch Commander Michaela Corr and Crew Commander Sheena McKieverigan from NIFRS. A major emergency response has been triggered across Northern Ireland after a series of wildfires tore through the Mourne Mountains and other areas, destroying vast stretches of land, threatening homes and placing intense pressure on frontline servi

PSNI Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, NW 200’s Mervyn White and PSNI Constable from Roads Policing. Police are urging road users travelling to and from this year’s North West 200 to prioritise safety, as tens of thousands of visitors prepare to descend on the North Coast for Northern Ireland’s largest sporting event. With race week scheduled to run from 4th to 9th May, officers have warned that increased traffic, changing road conditions, and heightened excitement around th

Emergency services remain under sustained pressure across the Mourne Mountains, with fresh fires breaking out and active operations now centred on Bloody Bridge and Head Road as police warn that anyone entering the area risks both their safety and the wider emergency response. Fire crews are continuing to tackle multiple incidents on Wednesday 29 April, with the situation evolving despite earlier progress at major wildfire sites earlier in the week. New fire locations draw re

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins at a press conference in Police Headquarters A devastating weekend on Northern Ireland’s roads has left five people dead in the space of just 24 hours, pushing this year’s total fatalities to 29—more than double the figure recorded at the same stage in 2025. The stark rise has prompted an urgent joint appeal from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who w

The scene on Saturday evening as firefighters battled multiple blazes across the Mourne Mountains in Co Down. (Photos: Patricia Williams, MeAndering Images) Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) crews are tackling multiple wildfire incidents across the Mourne Mountains, with operations continuing into Sunday as authorities warn of ongoing risk to life and property and urge the public to avoid affected areas. Firefighters remain on the ground at two key locations —

Antrim Area Hospital ED, and Ballee Cemetery, Ballymena More than 1,000 people in Northern Ireland are estimated to have died in 2025 after waiting 12 hours or more in Emergency Departments, according to a major new report warning the system is no longer functioning safely. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) said 1,032 excess deaths were associated with long waits last year — the equivalent of almost 20 lives lost every week — as pressure inside hospitals contin

Fibrus specialist with students in Mount St Michael’s Primary School, Randalstown. A new campaign to help children across Northern Ireland navigate the risks of the digital world has been launched, with a key rollout event taking place at Mount St Michael’s Primary School in Randalstown. Full fibre broadband provider Fibrus has begun delivering its “Surf Smart Stay Safe” initiative in primary schools, aiming to equip pupils with practical skills to stay safe online — from

A new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) campaign is urging the public to recognise the warning signs of stalking after nearly 1,000 arrests were made since the offence was criminalised, with officers warning that behaviours often dismissed as romantic can escalate into serious harm. Launched to coincide with National Stalking Awareness Week (20–26 April) , the campaign uses a two-minute “romantic comedy” style trailer to challenge misconceptions around stalking, highl

Hundreds of drivers were caught committing road traffic offences across Northern Ireland during the Easter holiday weekend, with police recording 667 speed detections, 43 drink or drug driving arrests, and dozens of motorists driving uninsured or distracted behind the wheel. The figures, released as provisional statistics by the PSNI as of 14 April, relate to offences detected between Friday morning, 3 April, and midnight on Monday, 6 April, during the force’s Easter road saf

An eight metre yacht with one person on board was safely brought to shore off the Causeway Coast on Wednesday morning, April 8, after suffering engine trouble near the Skerries, prompting a call-out for Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat. The volunteer crew was tasked by HM Coastguard at 11.29am following reports that the vessel was in difficulty off the Skerries, close to Portrush Harbour. In calm spring conditions, with clear skies, good visibility and only a light wind, the

A safety initiative already supported by around 300 hospitality venues across Northern Ireland is set to be extended to shops in Ballymena. Retail staff in the town are to receive training as part of the Ask for Angela scheme, which provides a discreet way for people to seek help if they feel unsafe, threatened or vulnerable. Speaking at an online recent meeting of the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership, PSNI Chief Inspector Siobhan Watt said the

Visitors travelling to the North Coast for the Easter holiday weekend are being met with an increased police presence, as the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed officers are out on patrol across the district today. With large numbers expected to travel to Portrush and surrounding coastal areas, police have issued a clear public safety message focused on responsible behaviour, road safety and respect for shared public spaces. In a statement issued today, officers sai

Holiday plans across Northern Ireland face possible significant disruption this Easter weekend as the Met Office warns of a rapidly deepening low-pressure system bringing "very strong winds" to the region. The yellow weather warning, which covers all of Northern Ireland including Ballymena and surrounding areas, is set to take effect from 18:00 on Saturday, 4 April , lasting through until midday on Easter Sunday . Meteorologists are tracking an intense weather front moving no

(Photo Credit: Nathan Williams) Lifeguards will return to the sands of the North Coast this Good Friday, marking a significant double milestone for the RNLI as the charity enters a new season of coastal protection. From 3 April to 12 April , six of the region’s most popular beaches will be patrolled daily between 10am and 6pm . The seasonal rollout coincides with the 25th anniversary of the RNLI’s lifeguarding service across the UK, and a special 15-year anniversary for the s

Drivers in Northern Ireland could soon be banned from overtaking stopped buses — and may even be required to slow dramatically or stop — under new proposals aimed at protecting children during one of the most dangerous moments of their school journey. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has launched a public consultation exploring sweeping changes to how motorists behave when passengers, particularly schoolchildren, are getting on or off buses. The proposals come in response

The zebra crossing following the completion of upgrade works. (Inset) Ballymena councillor Rodney Quigley Independent Ballymena councillor Rodney Quigley has welcomed the completion of long-awaited safety upgrades to a busy zebra crossing at Braidwater Retail Park, following a series of collisions that raised concerns within the local community. The improvements, carried out at the crossing near Sainsbury’s garage, were completed today (Wednesday 25 March) and are aimed at ma

A major new UK Government strategy published today (Wednesday 25 March 2026) has warned that another pandemic is inevitable — and outlines how the country, including Northern Ireland, must prepare for a potentially far more complex global health crisis. The Pandemic Preparedness Strategy: building our capabilities sets out a decade-long plan to strengthen resilience across all four nations, with a strong focus on cross-border coordination, faster response systems, and protect