Man Charged With Kidnapping And Sexual Offences

A 41-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences following a report of an assault in the Dunmurry area on Sunday, 24 August.

The man is charged with false imprisonment, common assault, kidnapping, administering a substance with sexual intent, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

He also faces charges of supplying a Class A controlled drug, possession of a Class B controlled drug, and possession of a Class C controlled drug.

He is expected to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court today, Tuesday, 26 August. As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

SF MLA Pays Tribute To Belfast City Council Following Security Alert

Sinn Féin MLA, Carál Ní Chuilín, has praised Belfast City Council for helping residents who were evacuated during a security alert in the New Lodge area. The alert in Victoria Parade began on Friday morning and concluded on Saturday afternoon. According to Ms Ní Chuilín, the incident caused significant stress and anxiety for residents who were unable to access their homes for over 24 hours. She paid tribute to council staff who opened a centre to provide a place to stay, as well as food and drink, for those affected.

The North Belfast MLA confirmed that the alert has now ended and residents have been able to return to their homes. She also thanked the emergency services and noted that she will meet with the Housing Executive to discuss repairs for any properties that were damaged.

British Heart Foundation opens new shop in Newtownards

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has opened a new 1,000 square-foot shop in the Ards Shopping Centre in Newtownards. This is the first time the charity has opened a store in a Northern Ireland shopping centre.

According to Fearghal McKinney, Head of BHF Northern Ireland, the charity has been looking to open a shop in Newtownards for a number of years. The new store is the second in County Down, joining the one in Bangor, and is a welcome addition to the seven other stores across Northern Ireland.

BHF is encouraging the public to shop and donate pre-loved items to the new store, with all proceeds helping to fund research into heart and circulatory diseases. The charity is also actively recruiting volunteers to join the team.