NEWS

An alleyway in Killane Park, Ahoghill where residents have raised concerns over weeds and moss across the estate TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald has called for action over the condition of footpaths and alleyways at Killane Park in Ahoghill after residents raised concerns about overgrown weeds, vegetation and moss. The local representative said he was contacted by residents unhappy with the condition of the area and subsequently raised their concerns with North Antrim MP Jim Al

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister Ballymena GP practices face a wait until at least 2029 for the rollout of Multi-Disciplinary Teams designed to ease pressure on doctors and give patients greater access to physiotherapy, mental health and social work support. North Antrim MP Jim Allister has called for the timetable to be reconsidered after being contacted by local GPs concerned that Ballymena remains without the additional primary care support. Mr Allister subsequently rai

Inset: TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley has expressed disappointment over what he says is a lack of progress by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on exploring alternatives to traditional fireworks at its Halloween events. The councillor raised the issue again during September’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, almost a year after suggesting that options including silent fireworks and drone shows should be considered. Concerns ove

Ballymena Town Hall, and (inset) North Antrim MP Jim Allister Ballymena’s 400th anniversary has been marked at Westminster, with North Antrim MP Jim Allister tabling a House of Commons motion celebrating four centuries of the town and the generations of people who have helped shape it. The parliamentary recognition comes on a landmark day for Ballymena — exactly 400 years since King Charles I granted the charter on 25 August 1626 which established the foundations of the marke

A High Court ruling that the Parades Commission acted unlawfully in its handling of the Drumcree parade has triggered demands for the entire Commission to resign, with political pressure now expected to move to Westminster. Mr Justice McAlinden today quashed the Commission’s determination preventing Portadown District Orange Order from completing its traditional church parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The court outcome represents a significant d

General and colorectal surgeon Damian McKay, NI representative for the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) Monday 24 August 2026 A leading Northern Ireland surgeon has warned that prolonged delay over the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital would place already stretched clinical teams under increasing pressure — as he revealed that he and colleagues sought the intervention of three major surgical associations following even

William on parade with Kells Sons of William Flute Band. (Photo: Loyal Ulster Scottish Bands) Tributes have been paid to William ‘Booey’ Young, a well-known member of Kells Sons of William Flute Band, whose sudden death following Friday night’s parade in Rasharkin has brought shock and sadness to the Kells, Ballee and wider bands communities. Mr Young, from Lettercreeve in Ballee, Ballymena, had been taking part in the parade on Friday evening, 21 August, when he became ill.

The newly resurfaced Galgorm Road in Ballymena The resurfacing of a key route from Galgorm into Ballymena has been completed, bringing an improvement to a stretch of road which local representatives say had caused concern among residents for some time. TUV councillors Stewart McDonald and Matthew Armstrong have welcomed the completion of the works on the main road into the town, saying carrying out the scheme during the summer holidays helped avoid some of the worst potential

Changing facilities at the local Broughshane Community Centre Mould, leaking water, inadequate toilets and concerns about water close to electrical installations have prompted a renewed demand for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to take urgent action at Broughshane Playing Fields. UUP Councillor Alan Barr and TUV Councillor Chrissy Jamieson say local clubs, players and volunteers have endured “plainly substandard” changing facilities for long enough and now need a firm pl

The PSNI is facing calls to bring those responsible for burning poppy wreaths, Loyal Order regalia, flags and other material on bonfires in Londonderry before the courts. Police have confirmed that material placed on three bonfires in the city on Saturday night is being treated as part of a series of sectarian-motivated hate crimes, with investigations now under way. The bonfires were located at Bligh’s Lane in Creggan, Lecky Road in the Bogside and Corrody Road in the Top of

The forty-five new PSNI officers who formally attested on Friday at the Police College, Garnerville, accompanied by the pipes and drums of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána bands. TUV leader Jim Allister has accused the PSNI leadership of engaging in “all-Ireland symbolism” after members of An Garda Síochána’s band took part in a ceremony marking the attestation of 45 new police officers in Belfast. The North Antrim MP described the Garda band’s par

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir The Ulster Farmers’ Union has declared that Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir and DAERA’s two most senior officials have lost the confidence of farmers—and demanded all three resign immediately. In a major escalation of the fallout from the Fivemiletown cattle operation, Northern Ireland’s largest farming organisation extended its vote of no confidence beyond the Department to Mr Muir, Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Of

The aftermath of the Ballymena Bombing, an IRA firebombing attack that killed 27-year-old mother of three Yvonne Dunlop on 9 October 1976. The perpetrator, Thomas McElwee, subsequently starved himself to death on hunger strike. Pictured, Yvonne Dunlop. TUV representatives have strongly criticised First Minister Michelle O’Neill after she attended a commemoration for IRA hunger striker Thomas McElwee, who was imprisoned for his involvement in the 1976 Ballymena firebombing in

An investigation is under way after an altercation during an Apprentice Boys feeder parade in Rasharkin on Saturday evening, with police reviewing body-worn camera footage to establish exactly what happened. The incident occurred as members of the local Apprentice Boys club and their accompanying band returned to the village on Saturday, 8 August, following the annual Relief of Derry celebrations. Police said a “short altercation” involving some band members and two males too

Inset: North Antrim MP Jim Allister Northern Ireland should introduce its own university training programme for dental hygienists and therapists to help ease pressures on dental services, according to North Antrim MP Jim Allister. The Traditional Unionist Voice leader has written to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt calling for the creation of an undergraduate Dental Hygiene and Therapy degree, arguing that the absence of any local training route is contributing to workforce short

Alderman Stewart McDonald thanks council workers for responding to local residents concerns over an overgrown hedge Residents in the Mount Hilary area of Ballymena have seen an overgrown hedge cut back after concerns about its condition were raised with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. The work was carried out after local residents contacted TUV Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald, who then brought the issue to council officials. Residents’ concerns addressed Following com

Rasharkin Orange Hall was attacked with sectarian graffiti overnight. Rasharkin Orange Hall has again been targeted in what unionist representatives have described as a sectarian attack, after graffiti referencing the IRA was sprayed on the building overnight. The latest incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, July 14, has prompted calls for a police investigation and condemnation from political representatives, who say the attack is the latest in a se

The scene of the tragic incident in Ballymena on Monday. (Image: Steven McAuley, McAuley Multimedia) Political leaders have expressed their shock and sympathy following confirmation that the deaths of three members of the same family in Ballymena are being treated by police as a suspected double murder followed by a sudden death. Police confirmed on Tuesday that the victims were a 41-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and an eight-year-old girl who were found dead at a house i

(L-R) UUP party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows, TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry, and Alliance Party Braid councillor, Chelsea Harwood Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has condemned reported comments by DUP councillor Reuben Glover about girls’ clothing and an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, saying such views should have been “consigned to the 70’s”. Alliance councillor Chelsea Harwood has also called for an investigation and disciplinary action, descr

DUP Ballymena councillor Reuben Glover, and TUV Bannside councillor Anna Henry A TUV councillor has strongly condemned reported comments by DUP Ballymena representative Reuben Glover linking girls’ clothing with an alleged sexual assault, describing the remarks as “blatant victim blaming”. Bannside councillor Anna Henry said women and girls were never responsible for the actions of sexual predators and warned that comments from elected representatives could reinforce harmful