The Press and Journal (Highlands & Islands)
Driver who killed boy, 5, spared jail
A HIGHLAND driver who caused a crash that claimed the life of a five-year-old boy was spared jail yesterday. David Geddes, 56, pictured left, of Culloden, previously admitted causing the death of Theo Crampsey, pictured right, by careless...
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North port ‘can cash in on £1.1bn for green energy’
PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer believes the Highlands will be a major beneficiary in a predicted £1.1 billion private sector cash injection in green energy. The Labour leader was in Scotland yesterday, just one day after the Pentland project off...
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SNP budget is ‘betrayal’ over pledge to dual A96
THE SNP was yesterday accused of “betraying” Moray voters on A96 upgrades as Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivered the Holyrood budget. Ms Robison committed to fully dualling the A9 between Inverness and Perth while also saying there was money set...
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Flooding fears as snow and ice replaced by rain
THE weather created a weekend of two halves in the north, with locals enjoying snow on Saturday and being hit by a deluge of snow, rain and high winds yesterday. Around 1,500 people took to the slopes at the Cairngorm Mountain Resort on Saturday,...
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Two arrests after man’s shock death in city street
TWO people have been arrested following the death of a man in a major incident in an Inverness street. Police and paramedics raced to Balloan Road at around 8.25am after receiving reports of three men being injured outside a property. Two of the trio...
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Highlands bin crews help tackle snow chaos
HIGHLAND Council staff have been playing their part to keep the region moving, despite the snow and freezing conditions. Teams have been drafted in to help gritters keep the roads clear, although the council’s chief officer for operations and...
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When the snowing gets tough...
North communities are working together as the region is gripped by the wintry start to 2026. Swathes of the Highlands, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles came out of an amber weather warning at 10am yesterday, straight into a yellow alert for...
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Winter shutdown hits north
Dozens of schools will be closed across the north today as the wintry start to 2026 showed no sign of letting up. Large parts of the Highlands, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides were hit with another amber weather warning, which kicked in...
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Shows you won’t want to miss in 2026
Last week we told how bosses at Eden Court expect to return to profit this year after posting hugely positive financial results for 2024/25. The Inverness theatre pulled in £7 million-plus in revenue for the first time since 2018 as ticket sales...
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Energy chief eyeing £500m turnover after a strong year Roy MacGregor says sale of the Port of Nigg has ‘energised’ Inverness firm as it looks to future
GLOBAL boss Roy MacGregor has outlined ambitious plans to reach turnover of £500 million at his Inverness firm, following a strong year of trading Global Energy Group, now known as Global, posted turnover of £330m in the year to March 31 2025, up from...
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Boss hails a ‘brilliant’ end to year for centre
THE interim manager of the Eastgate Centre in Inverness is celebrating the end of a fantastic year. Jackie Cuddy says she expects footfall in the shopping mall to be up year on year, with a new manager set to be appointed early in 2026. Jackie, who...
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SNP is urged to use bonds to accelerate A9 dualling
LONG-DELAYED work on the A9 and A96 could be kick-started by borrowing, a finance group has claimed. Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) says that the current SNP government’s plan to issue its own bonds could raise £1.5 billion of debt, which could...
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16,000 ferry trips called off due to technical issues
ISLANDERS have faced more than 16,000 ferry cancellations due to technical problems since 2023, new figures have revealed. That number, which covers January 1 2023 through to October 31 of this year, does not include any call-offs due to the...
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RAF Lossie Trump trip bill came to ... £442.68
DONALD Trump’s flying visit to Scotland cost a staggering £21 million to stage the major police security operation. And now the bill racked up by RAF Lossiemouth has been revealed for the US president’s stop-off – and it’s just £442.68. The Ministry...
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Elgin is pushing the boat out with revamp of park
THE £1.6 million revamp of Elgin’s Cooper Park pond could see rowing boats and other water activities make a comeback. Moray Council’s Levelling Up Fund construction manager James Ross told The Press and Journal he believes the public could be getting...
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Four ways fake Labubus could choke children
MORAY Council Trading Standards officers have issued a pre-festive warning over the deadly threat that fake Labubu toys pose to youngsters. A huge crackdown has been launched on the counterfeit dolls in the build-up to Christmas, with hundreds seized,...
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Santa trip magic is jet-set for a sequel
DAY trips to Lapland from Inverness are poised to return for Christmas 2026 after proving a huge hit with north families. The Press and Journal joined hundreds of delighted youngsters and their parents last weekend on the flying visit to see...
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‘Locals must have say on future of the River Spey’
A NORTH MSP has demanded the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) back off and give locals more control on the future of the River Spey. Douglas Ross raised the issue in Holyrood yesterday after the partial collapse of the Spey Viaduct at the...
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Football hub will be game-changer for all ages in city
A NEW £1.5 million football complex in Inverness expects to provide a lifeline for hundreds of city residents – from children to those over 80. The community hub, which will be run by Caley Thistle’s charitable community trust, is just weeks away from...
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Firm’s bold plan ‘can help deliver 600 north jobs’ Engineering company plots Highland expansion in energy revolution
A CIVIL engineering company says its investment in the Highlands can support around 600 jobs in the region. RJ Macleod has already expanded its number of employees from 80 to 140 in the past 12 months and is set to move into a larger office in...
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Businesses fear cash blow from bridge collapse
THE collapse of a historic Moray footbridge has led to concerns that local businesses could feel a devastating economic impact. Fears have been raised after the middle section of the Spey Viaduct gave way on Sunday. The bridge formed part of a...
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Locals warned after collapse of historic viaduct
RESIDENTS near the Spey Viaduct have been told to stay away from the structure after it collapsed yesterday morning. A section of the iconic landmark – which stretches across the River Spey and makes up part of the Moray coastal trail – fell into the...
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Dangerous A9 junction set for safety upgrade
NORTH motorists, businesses and politicians have welcomed plans to improve safety at an A9 accident blackspot. Highland Council has revealed proposals to turn the Tomich junction into a four-arm roundabout. The upgrades are to be made to facilitate...
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Disgraced Army veteran is caged for twisted child sex abuse videos
A PAEDOPHILE Army veteran was jailed yesterday after he was caught with a sickening hoard of child sex abuse videos. Disgraced Darren Reid, 53, pictured, of Inverness, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at the city’s sheriff court. He earlier...
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£8.4m summer fun bonanza for isles’ economies
TWO summer events brought in a bumper boost to island economies, new reports have revealed. The HebCelt music festival in Lewis and the International Island Games in Orkney generated a combined total of over £8.4 million. HebCelt – which featured...
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Fears over review into maternity provision
CAMPAIGNERS battling to keep maternity services in Caithness have admitted they fear the Scottish Government will do a U-turn on a promised review. Last month the government seemed to back a vote by the Liberal Democrats calling for an “independent...
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Man in dock accused of murdering city musician
A52-year-old man has appeared in court accused of murdering Inverness musician Iain Gordon Macfarlane. Waldemar Jaronski, from Inverness, is alleged to have killed the 32-year-old at a house in Strathspey Place in Inverness on Thursday. Police went...
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Monster guilty of raping girl, 13, in woodland
A NOTORIOUS Highland predator has been found guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl in woods near his Fort William home and targeting at least 15 youngsters online. Gareth Russell, 22, was convicted of the horrifying sexual assault as well as carrying...
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£27m drug bust man facing jail
A MORAY drug dealer is facing years in jail after he was caught in a £27 million cocaine bust. Ben Sandford, pictured, from Keith, was arrested along with three other men in Ireland following a major crime-fighting operation. The 39-year-old was...
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One arrest after man, 32, found dead in suburbs
POLICE arrested a 52-year-old after a man was found dead in a house in Inverness. Officers were called to Strathspey Place in the Wester Inshes suburb of the city at around 8.30am yesterday. They immediately locked down the scene following the...
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£176k plan to combat school sick days surge
MORAY Council will pay £176,000 to hire human resources (HR) specialists to tackle a potential £3 million bill to cover teacher sick days. The region is the worst in Scotland for absences among education staff, with an average of 10.8 days. At a full...
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Drumduan rated ‘weak’ in damning inspection
A MORAY independent school co-founded by Hollywood star Tilda Swinton has received a damning report from education watchdogs. Drumduan in Forres was found to be “weak” in three out of four key categories. Inspectors visited the Waldorf Steiner school...
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New energy hub brings 200 jobs to Inverness
A NEW office geared at helping deliver a major £22 billion-plus electricity upgrade project has opened in Inverness, bringing 200 jobs. Construction giant BAM and energy firm SSEN Transmission have launched the shared hub in the city’s Longman...
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‘Barracks plans made up on the back of envelope’
FIRST Minister John Swinney said the Home Office plans to house asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks had been “made up on the back of an envelope”. Plans to house 300 asylum seekers at the Inverness site have been delayed by the Home Office. Officials...
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Driver killed RAF dad in A96 crash
AN uninsured driver has admitted killing a Moray dad who served at RAF Lossiemouth in a crash on the A96. Amy Marcella, 33, did not spot father-of-three David Thorne, pictured, on his red Honda VFR800 motorcycle when she pulled out into his path near...
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ICT boss Kellacher is wary of underdogs in cup clash
Scott Kellacher says Caley Thistle become the prey rather than hunters when they tackle Tranent in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup third round. The 2015 Scottish Cup winners – and current League One leaders – head to Foresters Park in East Lothian to tackle...
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‘Taxed to death’
• Anger as windfall tax pleas snubbed in Budget • Miliband: Changes to levy ‘weren’t possible’ • But defiant industry boss vows ‘this isn’t over’
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Man admits killing boy, 5, in smash near airport
A 56-YEAR-OLD man has admitted causing the death of a young boy in a three-vehicle smash. David Geddes pleaded guilty to causing the death of Theo Crampsey, pictured, by careless driving at Inverness Sheriff Court. The charge states that Geddes drove...
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Tycoon is lining up ‘spectacular’ hotel in the city
A LEADING Highland businessman is ready to start work on building an “absolutely spectacular” hotel in Inverness – with plans to have it open for business by the summer of 2027. Tony Story, pictured right, told The Press and Journal the new luxury...
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Affordable home hope if golf plan is green-lit
A HIGHLAND landowner will build much-needed affordable homes – if plans to create a new golf course are approved by the Scottish Government. Edward Abel-Smith is proposing to construct at least 30 houses at Coul Links to stop Sutherland...
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‘Lives put at risk’ by cuts to Women’s Aid funding
THE lives of domestic abuse victims are being put “at risk” by Highland Council cuts. The local authority will be reducing the money it gives to Inverness Women’s Aid (IWA) for outreach services by £115,000 in the next financial year. And IWA...
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College could be at risk without Holyrood cash
THE principal of UHI Moray has said that without Scottish Government money, the future of the college is at risk. The institution is one of two across the whole country to have been given financial help in recent years, but national figures show that...
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Demand for tougher laws on ‘arrogant’ A9 speeders
AN A9 safety campaigner is today demanding a crackdown on speeders as a Press And Journal analysis highlights the scale of the problem on the deadly road. The worst offender caught by cameras so far this year was a Volvo driver clocked at 129mph on...
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‘Betrayal’ as bus driver’s killer is to be freed early
THE devastated widow of Elgin bus driver Keith Rollinson has blasted the justice system as it emerged his teenage killer could be released back into society as early as April. Dad-of-two Mr Rollinson, 58, pictured, died after being violently attacked...
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‘Skye needs more tourists to thrive’
A HOTEL owner says Skye doesn’t have a problem with over-tourism – and believes more visitors are key to the holiday hotspot’s future. Clare Winskill, pictured, who runs Coruisk House in Elgol, says huge investment in infrastructure for the isle could...
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Home Office ‘has shown disrespect on asylum plans’
HIGHLAND Council’s leader has accused the Home Office of being “disrespectful” to the local authority over plans to house around 300 asylum seekers in Inverness. Raymond Bremner blasted the UK Government department on the proposals for Cameron...
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Government set to U-turn over asylum cash for city
UK Government money will be given to reduce strain on services in Inverness when around 300 asylum seekers are housed in the city. The Press and Journal understands the Home Office is looking at providing extra funds to help with healthcare and...
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‘His warmth and humour touched so many lives’
TRIBUTES have poured in for a football fan who died during a Highland League match. Nairn County supporter Peter Gow, 65, passed away after falling ill during his side’s match at Brechin City on Saturday. Peter was also hugely respected in the shinty...
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Residents in shock after ‘urgent’ bill for sinkhole
HOMEOWNERS in Moray have been told they have a month to stump up hundreds of pounds to fix a large sinkhole. Residents living in the Southside Estate in Kinloss have been told they each need to pay £750 to repair the problem – after initially being...
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Backlash fear over asylum cash snub
THE UK Government’s decision not to commit extra cash for public services in Inverness amid plans to house asylum seekers in the city has sparked fears it could ignite anti-immigration protests. The Home Office is looking to house around 300 refugees...
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Full steam ahead with mystery £1m for tourist trains
THE future of a historic steam railway in the Highlands has been secured thanks to a £1 million donation from a mystery benefactor. Strathspey Railway chiefs were left stunned after the US tourist gifted them the surprise seven-figure sum. The man,...
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‘Home Office has let down communities in Inverness’
FIRST Minister John Swinney yesterday hit out at the Home Office for failing to engage with residents over its plans to house 300 asylum seekers in Inverness. The Scottish Government and Highland Council said there had been little or no consultation...
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City’s mixed reaction to new asylum seeker plan
CAMERON Barracks in Inverness is to be used to house hundreds of asylum seekers, as part of a UK Government push to end the use of hotels for migrant accommodation within a year. According to reports, 900 migrants will be sent to Army bases and it is...
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Backlash forces U-turn on castle invite to prince
PRINCE Andrew will not be coming to stay at Carbisdale Castle in the Highlands following a “hostile” reaction from locals. Lady Carbisdale, pictured left, invited the embattled royal to live in her home. But she has now withdrawn the offer after a...
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Two charged after £1m of drugs seized in Highlands
TWO men have been arrested and charged after police seized £1 million of drugs in the Highlands. Officers recovered huge quantities of cannabis and cocaine in the Black Isle over the course of this year in an “extensive” investigation. Now two...
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‘Estranged wife’ lied about killers
A WOMAN told brazen lies about knowing the men who murdered her estranged husband, it has been revealed. Samantha Jane MacGillivray denied ever meeting her husband Ross’s killers – but evidence found during the investigation proved she had been in...
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Construction of new prison hit by fresh delays
A NEW prison that has been hit by delays and has seen its budget skyrocket won’t open until 2027, documents have revealed. HMP Highland, which is currently being constructed in Inverness, was originally scheduled to open in 2020 at a cost of around...
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Pair admit guilt over murder of ‘doting dad’ Ross
Two men have admitted murdering a father in Inverness in a brutal attack. Craig Hayden, 30, and Leon Headey, 23, killed Ross MacGillivray at a property in St Ninian Drive on November 11 2023. The fatal assault included the 36-year-old being...
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Rival developer will steal wind, claims operator
A NEW wind farm near Keith has been approved despite a rival firm claiming its wind will be stolen. The operator of a wind farm 450 yards away claims breezes would be dispersed from its turbines. Koehler Renewable Energy says the new site would have...
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Firm fined £1.9m after great-gran dies in home
STAFF at an Inverness care home left an elderly woman unsupervised, resulting in her death. Margaret Campbell, known to loved ones as Peggy, died in June 2022 when she was left alone to eat a meal, despite a system of work that included an appropriate...
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‘Drop in exports’ leads to profit dip for whisky group
A “SIGNIFICANT” reduction in exports has seen the profits of a whisky producer drop. Whyte & Mackay, which has a number of distilleries in the north, has reported pre-tax profits of £88.3 million for last year – down by more than £8m on the previous...
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Church group in ‘witches’ storm
A ROW has erupted between a church group and a spiritualist after she staged a “witch” event. Witchy Women’s Institute founder Sophie Bonadea, pictured, hosted a gathering for women on Thursday evening at the Cocktail Joint in Elgin. But the event’s...
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Housing crisis as north waiting list soars past 8,500
THOUSANDS of families and residents are stuck in limbo as they desperately hunt for a home in the Highlands. Council waiting list numbers are growing, with one local politician saying the “housing crisis” does not come as a surprise due to the...
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Young woman who gave up everything for love... only to be murdered by monster
⬤ Boyfriend jailed for life after jury convicts him of killing Claire, 24 ⬤ Pearson, 41, granted UK citizenship four days after brutal stabbing ⬤ P&J reporter tells of chilling moment she looked fiend in the eyes
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Pub Potter event called off as staff given ‘grief’
A HIGHLAND pub – dubbed the “most remote on mainland Britain” – has cancelled a planned Harry Potter-themed event after a backlash over trans rights. Bosses at the Old Forge in Knoydart say that staff have been getting “grief” over the planned...
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‘He called himself the Chameleon’
She had had enough. Desperate to escape her abusive partner, Anna ran down the street terrified – but he was close behind. Charles Matt Fletcher launched his attack from behind, punching Anna in the head, before raining down blows as she lay...
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The P&J joins 3 SCOTS on key drills to counter Russian threat
As an Invernessbased reporter, I rarely get to drive outside the Highlands for a story. However, for this article, I travelled more than 1,500 miles after being given special access to join the Army’s 3 SCOTS, from Fort George, in a “large-scale”...
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Freeport in line for 1,500 jobs bonanza
A CHINESE firm last night announced plans to build the UK’s largest wind turbine manufacturing factory – with a Highland port the frontrunner to secure the £1.5 billion investment and up to 1,500 jobs. Ming Yang has identified Ardersier in the...
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Highland blitz on deadly trade in dodgy goods
A TRADING Standards boss has lifted the lid on tackling the counterfeit trade in alcohol, cigarettes and electrical equipment that is endangering the lives of Highland residents. David MacKenzie told The Press and Journal how he is cracking down on...
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Gun yob injured man in terrifying shooting frenzy
A MORAY teenager sparked an armed police response after terrorising residents in an Elgin street by shooting dozens of ball bearings at people and their homes. The thug used a gas-powered air rifle with a telescopic sight to pepper properties with...
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‘I’ve just stabbed my girlfriend 40 times in hot tub’
Aman accused of murdering his girlfriend told a 999 operator that he “definitely killed” her by stabbing her “about 40 times”, a court has heard. Aren Pearson, 41, made the admission during an emergency services phone call made by his mother, Hazel,...
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‘Better parking and leisure hub could boost city’
INVERNESS residents have had their say on how Highland Council should spend £20 million in UK Government cash – with improved parking facilities and a major retail and entertainment complex high on their wish list. The Press and Journal hit the...
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Football fans injured in a ‘brawl’ after County win
A BRAWL in the aftermath of Ross County’s win against Raith Rovers ended with two people getting medical treatment. Emergency services were called to the scene outside County’s stadium on Jubilee Park Road in Dingwall just before 5.30pm on...
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North patients hit by NHS data leaks
NORTH politicians have hit out after almost 300 NHS Highland patients and staff were hit by data breaches in less than 18 months. A total of seven alarming incidents – which included human error and a cyber attack – impacted 272 people, figures...
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Teacher is guilty of sexual offence against pupil, 16
A FORMER teacher at an Inverness school has admitted having a sexual relationship with a pupil while he still worked there. A court heard David Vincent, 57, pictured, targeted the girl at the city’s Charleston Academy after she turned 16. His victim...
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