Police Appeal After Series of Burglaries in Gilford

Detectives are appealing for public assistance following a number of reported burglaries and break-ins in the Gilford area over the last few days.

The series of incidents began shortly before 9am on Monday, 13 October, when a van was broken into in the Clare Road area, resulting in the theft of tools worth approximately £1,500. Later that day, at 11am, two further reports were received of entry being gained to a garage and a shed in the nearby Ballymacanallen Road area, although nothing was taken.

The break-ins continued on Tuesday, 14 October, when a garage, again in the Ballymacanallen Road area, was broken into, and items of gardening equipment were stolen.

A final, more serious incident was reported at approximately 4.35pm on Wednesday, 14 October, concerning a property on the Banbridge Road. A window was smashed, and a number of items of significant value were taken from the house.

Detective Sergeant Stewart is appealing to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the Clare Road, Ballymacanallen Road, or Banbridge Road areas, or who may have CCTV or other relevant footage, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 433 14/10/25.

You can also report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

UUP Slams Windsor Framework as 'Unsatisfactory' and Overly Complex

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has issued a strong warning that the Windsor Framework remains "totally unsatisfactory," creating unnecessary complexity and regulatory divergence that leaves Northern Ireland businesses in an "impossible position."

The comments were made by Lord Empey, a Member of the House of Lords Committee, following the publication of the Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee report, ‘Northern Ireland after Brexit: Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework’. Lord Empey criticised the government for failing to list and constantly update the divergence created between regulations applying in Northern Ireland and those in Great Britain. He pointed to the report’s organogram, which illustrates a "hugely complicated" relationship with labyrinthine processes involving London, Brussels, Belfast, and Dublin.

The UUP peer argued that this entire arrangement is "totally unsatisfactory" and should be a top priority for the Prime Minister to address in forthcoming negotiations with the EU to reset the deal. He also directed criticism towards those who "led the charge into a badly negotiated Brexit" and now "complain the most about the Windsor Framework," stating they "have a lot to answer for."

The report itself concluded that the framework's democratic oversight arrangements are "overwhelmingly complex" and "impossible to navigate," calling for urgent simplification and a centralised register of applicable EU laws for businesses.

SF Welcomes Move To Legislate For Shared Property Management

Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan has welcomed the intentions of Finance Minister John O’Dowd to introduce reforms that will bring in legislation governing the management of shared property in Northern Ireland.

Currently, there is no specific legislation underpinning the legal management of public spaces within apartment blocks and other shared housing developments in the North. This gap means that the general maintenance and proper upkeep of these shared areas—such as corridors, communal gardens, and parking facilities—have not always been adequately addressed, leaving residents without clear legal recourse.

Ms Dolan, a member of the Assembly’s Finance Committee, stated that people in these developments "deserve the same legal protections as everyone else", and described the lack of law in this area as a "legal loophole".

The Finance Minister has instructed his department to commence work on developing proposals for legislative change in the next financial year. This reform is expected to draw on comparative analysis with other jurisdictions and stakeholder engagement to identify the best policy options, which could include introducing a registration scheme for managing agents or fundamental changes to land law. Ms Dolan concluded she looks forward to engaging with the Minister as the process develops.