Police Investigate Irvinestown Arson Attacks

An investigation has been launched following reports of two arson attacks in Irvinestown on Sunday, 05 January.

Making the appeal, Detective Inspector Michael Winters said: "It was reported shortly before 6.40pm on Sunday evening, that an unknown person had forced entry to a unoccupied flat in the Fairgreen Street area and started a fire in the kitchen of the property, causing smoke damage throughout the flat. This followed the report of an arson attack on an unoccupied caravan at Sally's Wood in Irvinestown shortly before 2am on Sunday morning. There were no reports of any injuries at either location and we are currently investigating a link between both incidents.

"I would ask anyone with any information about either incident or who may be able to help with the investigation, is asked to call detectives in Enniskillen or Omagh on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1020 05/01/25 or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/."

Executive Must Take Responsibility For Health Crisis – SDLP

The Executive must take responsibility for the ongoing crisis in the health service, SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said.

Speaking ahead of an emergency Stormont Health Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mr McGrath said the Executive and Health Minister had ignored repeated warnings from those within the health service.

South Down MLA Mr McGrath said: "The emergency meeting of the Health Committee is all well and good, but I would ask the Executive parties how this meeting will help those currently waiting hours in an emergency department. What we really need to see is Executive Ministers around the table to sort this mess out. We are in this position now because the Executive and the Health Minister did not heed warnings from those within our health service that we were facing the most difficult winter yet.

"The Health Minister's own winter preparedness plan didn't even arrive until November and was decried by many as ‘too little, too late'. Instead of reacting to that, the Executive sat on their hands and walked straight into the very situation they were warned about. Executive parties then spent the festive period point scoring from the sidelines, instead of working together to produce emergency interventions that may alleviate the current crisis.

"Ultimately, it is the Executive parties' failure to seriously implement the much-needed health service transformation that has left us in this position and unless they begin this process we will find ourselves in the same crisis again next year. Having seen their performance in 2024, it's hard to have confidence that the new year will bring the change we need within our health service and until that happens patients and staff will continue to be failed."

Appeal After Bag Snatch Robbery In South Belfast

PSNI detectives have issued an appeal for information following a report of robbery at the Ormeau Road area of south Belfast on Saturday 04 January.

Shortly after 3:10pm, it was reported that a woman in her 20s was walking and as she began crossing at the junction of Candahar Street, an unknown male snatched her black leather bag from her shoulder. The male off towards Burmah Street when the female gave chase and at the junction of Burmah Street and Ava Avenue, it was reported the male pointed a suspected handgun at the woman before making off in the direction of Parkmore Street.

The woman received a cut to her knee and was left bad shaken following the incident. The male is described as of thin build and wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a black zipped up coat and wearing grey, black and white trainers with a baby blue tick on them.

Detective Sergeant Faulkner said: "Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have any information which could assist with the investigation to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 740 04/01/25. Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/."