Northern Ireland News for May 2021

Northern Ireland News, May 28, 2021
Foster To Leave DUP When She Steps Down As First Minister Of NI
Arlene Foster is to leave the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) when she steps down as First Minister of Northern Ireland. She also said that if new party leader Edwin Poots appoints a new ministerial ...
Northern Ireland News, May 28, 2021
UUP Door Is 'Open' To Disaffected DUP Members
New Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said the door of his party was 'open' to any disaffected DUP councillors and members who may want to join. He said: "Our door is always open to people wh...
Northern Ireland News, May 28, 2021
Edwin Poots Officially Ratified As DUP Leader
Edwin Poots has been official ratified as the new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The Minister defeated MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson earlier this month. Speaking at a hotel in Belfast, he...
Northern Ireland News, May 28, 2021
Maghaberry Prisoners Build Lighthouse To Shine Light On Charity
Prisoners in Maghaberry have built a ten-foot-tall lighthouse which will help shine a spotlight on the convalescent work of a cancer charity near Larne. The wooden structure, which took several month...
Northern Ireland News, May 28, 2021
Call For Urgent Meeting To Address Waiting List Crisis
The SDLP is calling for an urgent meeting with the Finance and Health Ministers after further details of the extent of the waiting list crisis have been published. MLAs Cara Hunter and Matthew O'Tool...
Northern Ireland News, May 28, 2021
Doug Beattie Ratified As UUP Leader
Doug Beattie has been ratified as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Speaking to the Press Association he said his management style may be "rough around the edges". He said: “My CV is not a ...
Northern Ireland News, May 27, 2021
Cardiff Flights From Belfast City Airport Take Off
Flights to Cardiff from Belfast City Airport have taken off with Eastern Airways. The Belfast to Cardiff service, one of only two direct air links to Wales in Ireland, will give passengers additional...
Northern Ireland News, May 27, 2021
Covid-19 Vaccination Programme Opens For All Adults Aged Over 18
Adults aged 18 and over can now receive a Covid-19 vaccine. Bookings opened from 8am today, 27 May. Vaccine supplies remain limited and as a result there will be approximately 20,000 slots available...
Northern Ireland News, May 27, 2021
Dr Christian Jessen Ordered To Pay Arlene Foster £125,000 For False Tweet
Arlene Foster is to receive £125,000 from Dr Christian Jessen after he posted a defamatory tweet which made unfounded claims that she was having an extramarital affair. Mr Justice McAlinden accepted ...
Northern Ireland News, May 27, 2021
£900,000 Suspected Cannabis Seized During Major Operation
Suspected cannabis worth an estimated £900,000 has been seized during a major cross-border operation targeting organised crime. The seizure took place on Wednesday night, 26 May, along the main A1 ro...
Northern Ireland News, May 27, 2021
Over 70% Of Adults In NI Have Received First Dose Of Covid-19 Vaccine
More than 70% of adults in Northern Ireland have received the first dose of their Covid-19 vaccination. Health Minister Robin Swann said over 40% of the population are fully vaccinated. Mr Swann sai...
Northern Ireland News, May 27, 2021
Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a fatal house fire in Newry last Friday. The blaze, which killed 62-year-old Jimmy Thompson and another person was seriously injured,...
Northern Ireland News, May 26, 2021
NIHRC Starts Legal Challenge Over Lack Of Abortion Services
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) is at Belfast High Court on the first day of its hearing against the Secretary of State, NI Executive and Department of Health for Northern Ireland...
Northern Ireland News, May 26, 2021
Toddler Dies In Tragic Accident In Aghalee
An investigation has launched after a three-year-old boy died following an accident involving a car near his home in Co Armagh. The collision occurred on the Boghead Bridge Road, Aghalee, just outsid...
Northern Ireland News, May 26, 2021
Further Examinations Being Conducted At Scene Of Glenn Quinn Murder
Further examinations are being carried out by forensic scientists at the scene of Glenn Quinn’s murder in Carrickfergus last year. The 47-year-old was found dead at an apartment in the Ashleigh Park ...
Northern Ireland News, May 26, 2021
Police Increasingly Concerned For Missing Man Martin Corbett
Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the wellbeing of missing man Martin Corbett. The 41-year-old was last seen in the Colinview area of west Belfast on 20 May. He’s described as 5ft10, sl...
Northern Ireland News, May 26, 2021
Two Missing Brothers Found Safe And Well
Two missing brothers from north Belfast have been found safe and well. Patrick Horvath, aged 5, and his brother Fabricio Horvath, aged 8, were located in the Thurles area of Tipperary on Tuesday, 25 ...
Northern Ireland News, May 26, 2021
Investigation Begins Over PSNI Handling At 'Black Lives Matter' Protest
The Police Ombudsman has announced that she has started an investigation into a complaint she received from a member of the public who was involved in a 'Black Lives Matter' protest at Guildhall Squar...
Northern Ireland News, May 25, 2021
Newry House Fire Victim Named
A man who died in a house fire in Newry on Friday was 62-year-old Jimmy Thompson. Mr Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze which happened in the Parkview area. Detective Chief Inspe...
Northern Ireland News, May 25, 2021
NI's Healthcare System Has Worst Waiting Times In The UK - RCS
Northern Ireland's healthcare system has the worst waiting times in the UK, according to The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). RCS has proposed a 10-step action plan to kick-start the post-pandemic re...
Northern Ireland News, May 25, 2021
A New Green Deal Would Create 50,000 Green Jobs - Alliance
A Green New Deal for Northern Ireland would create 50,000 green jobs as well as bringing a range of changes addressing environmental, societal and economic changes, according to Alliance MLA Andrew Mu...
Northern Ireland News, May 25, 2021
Robbie Butler Appointed UUP Deputy Leader
Robbie Butler has been appointed the new deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). New party leader Doug Beattie made the change. Mr Butler will also continue in his role as the UUP's Chief ...
Northern Ireland News, May 25, 2021
£50,000 Worth Of Suspected Class A Drugs Seized In West Belfast
Police have seized £50,000 worth of suspected Class A drugs during a house raid in west Belfast. Equipment linked to drug dealing was also discovered. A man has been arrested and has been bailed pen...
Northern Ireland News, May 25, 2021
Three Arrested After Device Found In Enniskillen On St Patrick's Day
Three people have been arrested following the discovery of a viable device on St Patrick's Day in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. A 42-year-old man was arrested in Irvinestown and a 27-year-old man and 29...
Northern Ireland News, May 24, 2021
Indoor Hospitality Opens As NI Takes Further Steps Out Of Lockdown
Indoor hospitality will officially open today, 24 May, as Northern Ireland takes further steps out of lockdown. Six people from no more than two households will be able to meet in homes and stay over...
Northern Ireland News, May 24, 2021
Hovis Workers Agree Increased Pay Offer
A majority of Hovis workers have accepted an increased pay offer and strike action has now ended. Unite the union welcomed the offer and said it was as "decisive victory for workforce achieved throug...
Northern Ireland News, May 24, 2021
Overwatch Research To Develop Software Platform
Belfast based Overwatch Research has invested almost £500,000 in Research & Development (R&D) to develop a software platform, which tackles the global issue of experimental errors in preclinical resea...
Northern Ireland News, May 24, 2021
Investigation Launched After Shots Fired In L'Derry
Police have launched an investigation after shots were fired in L'Derry on Friday, 21 May. A total of 12 masked men gathered in the Ardfoyle area and video footage circulating on social media showed ...
Northern Ireland News, May 24, 2021
Teenager Assaulted In North Belfast
A teenager has been attacked in north Belfast. Police are treating the assault as a sectarian hate crime. An 18-year-old boy was approached by a number of males unknown to him as he walked along Ard...
Northern Ireland News, May 24, 2021
Man Charged After £350k Of Cocaine Seized In Belfast
A man has been charged with possession of a class A drug after cocaine worth a street value of £350,000 was seized in east Belfast on Saturday, 22 May. The 56-year-old is charged with possession of a...