Four Men Charged Following Lisburn Road Altercation

Four men have been charged and are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court today, Friday 9th May, following an altercation involving a number of men armed with knives on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast yesterday, Thursday 8th May.

A 27-year-old man has been charged with affray.

A 30-year-old man faces charges of possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, affray, and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

A second man, also aged 30, has been charged with possessing an article with a blade or a point in a public place and affray.

A 33-year-old man has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, affray, and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

As is standard procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

SDLP Challenges Sinn Féin To Reject University Tuition Fee Increases

SDLP Young People's Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA has challenged Sinn Féin to provide a firm commitment that they will not increase university tuition fees in Northern Ireland.

Her comments came after universities jointly called for an increase in fees on Thursday.

The East Derry MLA expressed disappointment with the universities' proposal: "The SDLP appreciates the financial pressures facing our universities, but we are deeply disappointed by this call to shift the burden onto our young people. The costs of a university education are already prohibitive for many. Our students are living in damp and unfit housing, working one or even two jobs and having to survive on very little money just to give themselves the best education possible."

Ms Hunter highlighted the potential long-term impact on students: "Adding more debt serves to extend financial struggle. Whilst higher education has traditionally been seen as the gateway to a good job, what hope is there for our young people of being able to afford a home, to have a family and access childcare, when this proposal places more costs on them before they have earned a penny?"

She specifically called on Sinn Féin to honour previous commitments: "Sinn Féin has given clear commitments not to raise tuition fees for students in the North and the Economy Minister must live up to that promise. In the South Sinn Féin have repeatedly called for these fees to be abolished altogether and they must offer the same protections to students in the North. Previous Sinn Féin Ministers have lined up to voice their opposition to increased fees, they control the economy and finance ministries and they have the power to address this."

Ms Hunter also criticised the broader political approach to higher education funding: "It's clear that our higher education sector needs a long-term plan that puts universities on a stable financial footing. The failure to adequately fund them is due to political failure and the Executive's inability to make difficult decisions for the greater public good."

She concluded by urging a united front against the proposed fee hike: "I would urge Sinn Féin and the other Executive parties to make this a red line and reject this call from the universities."

Alliance Press Infrastructure Minister On Carryduff Public Transport Concerns

Alliance Party representatives from South Belfast have met with Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to voice the concerns of Carryduff residents regarding public transport provision in the area.

The meeting followed the Minister's announcement earlier this year that the proposed North-South Glider route will not extend to Carryduff. Alliance representatives stated they are continuing to seek solutions for improved public transport options for the area.

South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl expressed her disappointment: "It’s disappointing the Minister is currently unable to commit to an extension of the North-South Glider to Carryduff. However, what concerns me, and my Alliance colleagues is the real need for urgent improvements in public transport and active travel in the area now."

She added: "At a time of an ever-growing climate crisis, we need to ensure that traffic congestion and a lack of reliable and accessible services do not disincentivise people from making the switch to public transport."