Northern Ireland News for March 2022

Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Firmus Energy Announces Further 16.31% Price Increase
Firmus Energy has announced a further 16.31% price increase in its Ten Towns network. Due to come into effect from 03 May the price rise is expected to affect some 55,000 customers. The increase fol...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
PSNI Welcomes Sentencing Of Dermott McIlveen
The PSNI have welcomed a 12 year sentence handed down to a Dermott McIlveen at Laganside Court for a number of offences. McIlveen, aged 40, was sentenced to 12 years – nine years to be served in cust...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Health Minister Praises Leaders Of NI Vaccine Programme
Health Minister Robin Swann has praised the massive contribution of two of the leaders of Northern Ireland's COVID-19 vaccination programme as they step down from their roles. Patricia Donnelly was h...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Two Arrested In West Belfast Search Operation
Detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force have arrested a 42-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman following searches of properties in west Belfast. The man and the woman were arrested on susp...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
40-Year-Old Man Charged Over North Belfast Security Alert
A 40-year-old man has appeared before Laganside Magistrates Court charged in connection with a security alert at a peace-building event in north Belfast. The man was charged with "preparation of terr...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Belfast Joins City Initiative On Climate Action
Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl has hosted the Mayors of Manchester, Liverpool and Dublin, in the next step of the four cities commitment to working together to tackle climate change. The Dublin lord...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Govt Cuts To Blame For Shortage Of Educational Psychologists
A shortage of educational psychologists is a direct consequence of years of budget cuts by the Tory Government, Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has said. Mr Sheehan said that all parties needed to commit t...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Nearly 10,000 New Homes Needed Across Antrim And Newtownabbey
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council have said that they expect almost 10,000 new homes will be needed across the region by 2030. According to the council, Antrim and Ballyclare are expected to be...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
SF's Election Launch Shows Border Poll Priority
Sinn Féin's election launch demonstrates that their priority lies on holding a border poll rather than on helping families or rebuilding our economy, the DUP's Gordon Lyons has said. Following the el...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 31, 2022
Other News In Brief
UUP Will Not Be Intimidated - Doug Beattie Ulster Unionist leader, Doug Beattie, has said that his party would not be intimidated following an attack on his Portadown Constituency Office. M...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Child Seen Walking In Castlewellan Around 5am
Police are investigating reports of a child seen walking alone in Castlewellan in the hours of this morning. According to police, the young child, believed to be a girl, was seen walking on the town'...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Carrickfergus Reservoir Murder Victim Named
The victim at the centre of a major murder investigation launched following an incident in the Derrycoole Way area of Rathcoole in Newtownabbey in the early hours of Monday 28 March, has been named as...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
New Rural Policy Framework For Northern Ireland
A new Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland which aims to create a sustainable rural community where people want to live, work and be active, has been announced by Minister Edwin Poots. The amb...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Sports Stars Help McDonald's Launch Anti-Littering Initiative
International rugby star Jacob Stockdale and Antrim GAA hurler Neil McManus have joined McDonald's to help launch their new 'Keep it Clean' campaign, aimed at tackling litter in parks, on paths and al...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
SF Urged To 'Stop Obsessing About Divisive Border Poll'
Sinn Féin has been urged to "stop obsessing about a divisive border poll" and focus on what matters to people, such as training new GPs. Making the call, the DUP's Foyle NI Assembly candidate Gary Mi...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Drinks Giant Coca-Cola Commits To Net Zero By 2040
Lisburn-based drinks giant Coca-Cola HBC has announced its commitment to achieve net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. The announcement by the company, which employs over 450 peop...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Free Public Transport Scheme Announced For Ukrainian Refugees
A temporary travel scheme has been announced to provide free public transport for Ukrainian refugees from their port of entry to their final destination. Making the announcement Infrastructure Minist...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
HMS Caroline To Remain In Belfast Until At Least 2038
The long-term future of the HMS Caroline visitor attraction has been secured in Belfast, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has announced, following an agreement with key partners the National Museum of th...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Additional £7.6m To Support Children And Young People
An additional £7.6 million has been announced by Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen, for the Engage II programme to support children and young people's learning for the remainder of this academic y...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 30, 2022
Other News In Brief
SDLP Welcome Funding For Derry Airport The SDLP has welcomed £3million in funding from Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon for City of Derry Airport. Stating that the money would secure ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Security Alert Ongoing In Finaghy
Police and Army personnel are attending a security alert in Finaghy, south Belfast, with a number of homes evacuated. It is understood that a suspicious object was discovered near the train station a...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Man's Body Found In Carrickfergus
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with an incident in the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey. At around 6am on Monday 28 March, police responded to reports of suspicious act...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
One Million Vaccine Boosters And Third Doses Administered In NI
Head of Northern Ireland's vaccination programme, Patricia Donnelly, has welcomed the milestone of the number of COVID-19 vaccine boosters and third doses administered in NI passing the one million ma...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Proposed Residual Waste Treatment Facility Rejected
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has refused planning permission for a proposed large scale waste treatment facility on the site of the former Hightown Quarry, Boghill Road, Newtownabbey. The a...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Police Granted More Time To Question Man Over Belfast Security Alert
The PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit investigating the hijacking and security alert in north Belfast on Friday 25 March, were granted a 36 hour extension for the detention of a 40-year-old male at ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Civil Service Launches Recruit Campaign
The Civil Service has announced a campaign to recruit 400 middle managers at Staff Officer grade, offering an attractive benefits package and a starting salary of £32,328 per annum. Staff Officers pl...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Small Claims Court Upper Limit To Be Increased
The upper limit for claims which can be heard in the small claims court is to be increased, Justice Minister Naomi Long has announced. From 3 October 2022, the maximum value of a claims which can be ...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Career Guidance Reform Vital To Future Economy Of NI
Career guidance reforms are vital to the future economy of Northern Ireland, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has said as he welcomed the publication of an independent review into the careers guidance pr...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
£1.37m School Improvement Works Successfully Complete
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has welcomed the completion of a £1.37 million programme of improvement works in 15 schools across Belfast. The funding of £1.37m from the Department for Communiti...
Northern Ireland News, Mar 29, 2022
Other News In Brief
Appeal For Information On Brookeborough Burglaries The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following two recent burglaries in the Coalhill Road area of Brookeborough. It was reported...