The senior Protestant politician in Northern Ireland left the door open Sunday for stepping aside as part of a potential deal to revive the British territory’s unity government with Catholics. Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said she asserted no personal claim to be “first minister,” the top post that she held before January’s collapse of power-sharing.
Category: Down County, Northern Ireland
Growing Consensus that Time Has Come for Unity
There have been vocal and widespread calls for Irish reunification in the face of the British government’s determination to leave the European Union and a historic election result last week which has delivered unprecedented political strength for nationalism and Sinn Fein. Speaking on the Falls Road in west Belfast, flanked by senior party representatives, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams pointed to the significance of the fact that the unionist majority at Stormont has been ended by last week’s election.
Woman pleads guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to dogs
One of the dogs involved in the case. Jennifer Wilson of Churchill Park, Portadown was banned for life from keeping any animals, fined 350 and ordered to pay costs of 969 to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, following her guilty plea.
Sinn Fein cut talks with James Brokenshire short because of ‘waffle’
Sinn Fein have blasted Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire for delivering nothing but “waffle, waffle, waffle” to the Stormont crisis talks. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein leader Michelle O’Neill are pictured outside Stormont Castle in Belfast Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne Sinn Fein have blasted Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire for delivering nothing but “waffle, waffle, waffle” to the Stormont crisis talks.
Sinn Fein Makes Big Gains, Reshuffling Political Landscape In Northern Ireland
A cyclist rides past a mural on the Catholic Falls Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday after results were finalized in the province’s snap election. Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images hide caption A cyclist rides past a mural on the Catholic Falls Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday after results were finalized in the province’s snap election.
DUP figure ‘100%’ behind Arlene as party loses South Antrim seat
A DUP stalwart who has lost a seat he held for a decade has said he still fully backs the leadership of Arlene Foster for the party. Trevor Clarke’s position had looked somewhat tenuous prior to the counting of the ballots – he received the fewest first preference votes of all three DUP candidates last year.
Didn’t remember how she got in driver’s seat
When police found a 50-year-old woman sitting in a car in Lurgan they discovered she was very intoxicated, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard last Friday. For being drunk in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol in her breath she was fined 250 and given ten points.
Had to be taken to the ground and restrained
After he was arrested for disorderly behaviour a 24-year-old man struggled with police and had to be restrained with handcuffs. Mark James Devlin, whose address was given to the court as Moorefield, Banbridge, admitted using disorderly behaviour at Scarva Street, Loughbrickland, on November 5 last year.
Forecasting the 2017 Assembly Election
The snap Assembly election called for the 2nd of March 2017 will be the first to return 5 MLAs from each constituency, reducing the total number of MLAs from 108 to 90. This, combined with indications of a fall in support for the DUP and a rise in support for the Green Party and People Before Profit, makes this year’s election less predictable than is usually the case for Northern Ireland elections. I have built a forecast model in an attempt to predict who will be returned to the next Assembly.
Punched man after leaving Banbridge bar
After leaving a bar in Banbridge a 41-year-old man punched another man in the face and fractured his cheek bone. Simon McAtamney, Ashleigh Crescent, Lurgan, admitted unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man on September 2 last year.
Woman was on way to hospital
A 20-year-old Banbridge woman who broke a solid white line and drove on the wrong side of the road in Portadown was banned from driving for 12 months last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court. Ausra Krisiute, whose address was given as Moorefield, Banbridge, had denied dangerous driving on September 24 last year at Mahon Road, Portadown.
Got out of driver’s seat of car but told police he wasn’t driving
A 21-year-old man was banned from driving for 15 months last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court for an excess alcohol offence. A public prosecutor said that police received a report of suspected drink driving in the Scarva Road area of Banbridge on August 20 last year.
Penalty points following driver’s insurance mistake
Six penalty points were imposed on a 22-year-old man last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court for driving without insurance. Scott David Johnston, whose address was given as Corcrain Drive, Portadown, was also fined 200 and ordered to pay a 15 offender’s levy.
Manhunt launched after terrified woman grabbed in Bangor
North Wales Police are investigating after the 19-year-old was accosted by a man in the Pen y Bryn Road area of Bangor during the early hours of Sunday, February 5.
Manhunt launched after terrified woman grabbed in Bangor
North Wales Police are investigating after the 19-year-old was accosted by a man in the Pen y Bryn Road area of Bangor during the early hours of Sunday, February 5.
Insurance was cancelled
A 27-year-old man was fined 200 last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court for not having insurance on November 11 last year. Joshua William Matchett, Renmore Avenue, Portadown, was also given six points and ordered to pay a A 15 offender’s levy.
Took scooter for test run
While fixing his brother’s scooter a 24-year-old man took it for a test run and was detected by police for traffic offences. Aaron Whitla, Victoria Street, Lurgan, was fined 200 last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court for not having insurance on October 12 last year.
Daniel O’Donnell to pay a visit to Donard School
Daniel will arrive in town on Monday 6 February to perform to a packed audience at a charity concert in the Parish Centre, Scarva Road, Banbridge. In keeping with his very caring nature, Daniel has also arranged to make a private visit to the pupils of Donard Special School in Banbridge earlier that day.
Violent suspected drugs overdose patient sparks stern warning from PSNI
The PSNI has issued a stern warning on violence at Accident and Emergency after a suspected drugs overdose patient was reported to be attacking staff in Craigavon. Police said they were forced to drive at speed from Lurgan to Craigavon Area Hospital on Sunday night to help A&E staff.
Violent suspected drugs overdose patient sparks stern warning from PSNI
The PSNI has issued a stern warning on violence at Accident and Emergency after a suspected drugs overdose patient was reported to be attacking staff in Craigavon. Police said they were forced to drive at speed from Lurgan to Craigavon Area Hospital on Sunday night to help A&E staff.
Decision raises issues on devolution
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a bid from a cross-party group of Stormont politicians who argued that consent was needed from the NI Assembly to bring about Brexit. While the plaintiffs, including senior politicians from the Green Party, Alliance, SDLP and Sinn Fein, welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that Parliament must vote to trigger Article 50, disappointment was expressed that regional assemblies will not have a say on the process.
Decision raises issues on devolution
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a bid from a cross-party group of Stormont politicians who argued that consent was needed from the NI Assembly to bring about Brexit. While the plaintiffs, including senior politicians from the Green Party, Alliance, SDLP and Sinn Fein, welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that Parliament must vote to trigger Article 50, disappointment was expressed that regional assemblies will not have a say on the process.
.com | Sinn Fein hands reins to new generation
Michelle O’Neill is Sinn Fein’s Stormont Leader in the Long Room at Parliament Buildings, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. London – Sinn Fein signalled a shift to a new, post-conflict generation in Northern Ireland on Monday when the Irish republican party named a 40-year-old woman to replace a former IRA commander as its leader in Belfast.
“Sinn Fein’s northern operation risks becoming an…
Not least because he lays out some of the key assumptions of Sinn Fein’s plan to re-unite the island, some of which, like “cross-border bodies confirm the legitimacy of the border” demonstrate the party’s enduring disdain for a pragmatic to the matter. The party hopes that Stormont’s future style and content of governance will reflect an economically unified, post-Brexit Ireland.
Man is cleared of all charges
Two charges of making a threat to kill and two assault charges against a 24-year-old man were dismissed on Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court. Phelim Leathem, Boconnell Lane, Lurgan, was aquitted on all the charges alleged to have happened on May 2 last year.
Northern Ireland sets March 2 election after government collapse
Northern Ireland’s former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness leaves Assembly at Parliament Buildings in Stormont in Belfast, Northern Ireland, January 16, 2017. Britain’s Northern Ireland minister called an early election on Monday for March 2 following the collapse of the region’s power-sharing government that risks a lengthy period of political paralysis just as Britain prepares for talks to leave the EU.
Cummings: Other countries have their own flaggers
Orange Order members march past the mainly Catholic Ardyone area of North Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Martin McGuinness resigns as Deputy First Minister in protest at energy scheme
Martin McGuinness has announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest at the Democratic Unionist Party’s handling of a botched renewable energy scheme. The Sinn Fein veteran’s move, which will come into effect at 5pm on Monday, is likely to lead to a snap Assembly election in the region.
Belfast City Council reflect on A 50 million investment in past two years
Belfast City Council were given an outline of the 50 million worth of investment in the city over the past two years at a council meeting last night. The update on the progress made inthe council’s ‘capital programme’ was given to Members at the first council meeting of the New Year, on Tuesday, 3 January.
Did a coal fire sink the Titanic?
Did an intense fire on board R.M.S. Titanic lead to one of the worst disaster’s in maritime history? A new documentary by author and journalist Senan Molony suggests the emergence of pictures hidden in a forgotten album for a century prove that the supposedly unsinkable passenger ship was weakened by a smoldering coal fire even before it left on its catastrophic maiden voyage. Titanic, which at the time of its sinking in 1912 was the biggest ship afloat, hit an iceberg in the north Atlantic on the night of April 14 and went down with the loss of about 1,500 lives.
Former Union Flag protestor credited with aiding Trump election victory
Jim Dowson addressing loyalist flag protesters at a demonstration against the decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall A loyalist convicted over his role in the Belfast flag protests has been credited with helping Donald Trump win the US presidential election. According to the New York Times, Jim Dowson – a regular speaker at rallies protesting against the decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall in 2012 – bombarded millions of Americans with “fake news” demonising Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton.
Weak UK pound an early Christmas present for Irish shoppers
A border crossing south of Newry, Northern Ireland, is marked only by billboards for money-changing kiosks and cut-price fuel in this image taken Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The introduction of the European Union common market allowed the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom to remove all customs searches and import restrictions from the 310-mile Irish border a quarter-century ago.