Publication
Thousands of homes at greater risk of flooding as £100m plan fails
A damning report has revealed thousands of properties across Northern Ireland are at greater risk of flooding than ever — but Stormont is failing to do enough to protect them, despite spending almost £100m. The Audit Office review examined how the...
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‘My voice will tell sex abuse survivors they are not alone’
A Belfast woman who tried to take her own life after years of sexual abuse by a well-known Orangeman has waived her right to anonymity to encourage others to speak out. Nikki Mctaggart was abused from the age of 14 to 18 by Bill Patterson, a prominent...
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Anti-migrant protest chief Steven Baker charged over Belfast riot
Anti-immigration protester Steven Baker was among four men remanded in custody in connection with public disorder which followed the north Belfast stabbing. They were all brought before Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday, where the charges were...
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‘I cheated on my wife but I am not a child abuser’
Jeffrey Donaldson admitted having an affair with a divorcee as he took to the stand yesterday on day 13 of his trial for alleged sex offences. The former MP denies rape, and several counts of gross indecency and indecent assault between 1985 and 2008...
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Loyalist paramilitaries deny orchestrating riots but won’t help stop them
Loyalist paramilitaries have denied organising race hate riots that saw violence erupt across Northern Ireland in the wake of a horrific knife attack. However, they said they would not be helping stop any future violence. Yesterday, Sudanese refugee...
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Donaldson: ‘Only person I’d kiss on the mouth is my wife’
The court where Jeffrey Donaldson is being tried for 18 alleged sex offences has heard him say that the only person he would kiss on the mouth is his wife. The former Lagan Valley MP (63) denies rape and several counts of gross indecency and indecent...
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Sinn Féin’s ‘copy and paste’ opposing of centenary stone
Figures within Sinn Féin have opposed planning permission for a Stormont stone to commemorate Northern Ireland’s centenary — despite the party recently defending a statue of Bobby Sands that was erected without even a request for official...
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Donaldson: ‘I’m sorry, and can you please forgive me’
Jeffrey Donaldson apologised to a woman he is accused of abusing and asked for forgiveness, a court has heard. The founders of a Christian centre stated that the former DUP leader (right) had said “sorry” to the alleged victim in their home in the...
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Donaldson ‘sent a text to minister saying that he wanted to repent’, trial hears
Jeffrey Donaldson sent a Whatsapp message to a minister saying that he wanted to repent, a court has heard. The Presbyterian cleric had been supporting one of two women who allege they were sexually abused by the former DUP leader. The minister said...
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‘Eleanordonaldsondid nothing to stop abuse’
One of Jeffrey Donaldson’s alleged victims said Eleanor Donaldson saw her being sexually assaulted by the former DUP leader and “did nothing”, a court heard yesterday. Complainant B, one of the two alleged victims in the case, was back in the stand...
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Donaldson rape accuser: ‘That night will live with me forever’
A woman who claims she was raped as a child by Jeffrey Donaldson has told a jury the alleged assault will stay with her “forever”. Jurors heard from Witness B, the older of two women who claim they were sexually abused by the former DUP leader. The...
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Katie murder detective takes legal action over allegations
A former detective who helped put Katie Simpson’s killer in the dock is taking legal action over online allegations made by a volunteer who worked in a charity he founded. James Brannigan’s lawyer is threatening to issue defamation proceedings against...
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Beattie quit UUP before being suspended by party
Doug Beattie was due to be suspended from the UUP over “abusive language to Jon Burrows, the failure to remove grossly misogynistic tweets, and other issues”, senior sources have said. The disciplinary action against him was unanimously agreed at a...
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Donaldson’s wife ‘bugged his car after suspecting an affair’
Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife bugged his car after becoming suspicious about an affair with a constituent, a court has heard. A defence barrister referenced a breakdown in the marriage on the third day of evidence at the former MP’S trial at Newry Crown...
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Donaldson sent a letter to alleged victim admitting he was a ‘sinner’, court is told
Jeffrey Donaldson asked a woman he allegedly sexually abused as a child for her forgiveness “for the hurt and pain I have caused” in a letter, a court has heard. The woman told the court she had thought the letter, in which Donaldson referred to...
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Court hears of ‘apology Donaldson made to accuser’ at a church retreat
Jeffrey Donaldson apologised to one of his two alleged victims at a church retreat in the mid-1990s, his trial heard yesterday. The EX-DUP leader (63) has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged sex offences, including rape, between 1985 and 2008. Newry...
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Beattie aide resigns after rowover promoting ‘rival’
More turmoil inside the UUP has been exposed after it emerged that a staff member in Doug Beattie’s constituency office quit his job after a row with the MLA over a social media post. The news came after Mr Beattie’s personal assistant, Kate Evans,...
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First search for remains of Disappeared victim to begin
Investigators will today start the first search operation for one of the last four bodies of people who were ‘disappeared’ during the Troubles. Seamus Maguire (29), from Aghagallon near Lurgan, is believed to have been killed and secretly buried by...
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South Belfast is NI ‘house in multiple occupation’ hotspot
Parts of south Belfast exceed the threshold for multiple household homes by two or even three times, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. According to the latest figures from Belfast City Council, six housing management areas (HMAS) in the south of the...
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Leading local sports official is charged with serious sexual offence against a child
A former sports chief and PR guru has been charged with a sex offence against a child. Gerry Carson (right), ex-president of Athletics Northern Ireland, will appear in court next month accused of abusing a position of trust by causing or inciting a...
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Beattie given a stay of execution by the UUP
Doug Beattie is set to be reselected by his local Ulster Unionist association when it meets to choose its Stormont election candidates next month. The Belfast Telegraph previously reported that the Upper Bann association wanted to field only one...
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Scaleofcivilserviceproblem has got worse, admits boss
The head of the civil service has admitted that her organisation has got even worse in at least one key area since a damning Audit Office report in January. Appearing before the Assembly’s Finance Committee yesterday, Jayne Brady faced two and a half...
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Man murdered in Belfast flat was ex-heroin dealer
A man who died after a violent attack in east Belfast was previously convicted after a high-profile crackdown on heroin dealing in Northern Ireland. Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Gordon (51) died of injuries he sustained in an attack in an apartment block in the...
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Church of Ireland worker arrested after rape claim
A member of staff in the Church of Ireland is being investigated by police after an allegation of rape was made against the man last week. In a statement, a church spokesperson said a worker had been suspended following the allegation. “The Church of...
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Shock as PSNI officer’s body discovered in beach tragedy
A body found on a popular north coast beach yesterday is believed to be that of a police officer. The beach was sealed off after the man’s remains were found at Whiterocks Beach outside Portrush, Co Antrim. Richard Brown-stewart, the Deputy Mayor of...
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Liquidator’s probe into controversial brand builder could last for twomoreyears
A probe into a controversial Northern Ireland “brand-building” company could take another two years to conclude, financial documents have revealed. The FBA Brand Builder, run by Darren Campbell (right), previously charged clients thousands for...
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Anger after Irish signs get backing without the approval of residents
Unionists have expressed fury at a bid by Sinn Féin to ensure the Irish language appears on Belfast street signs in areas where fewer than one in 10 residents supported the move. The backing of 15pc of a street’s residents is all that is required for...
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NI passengers told they can leave norovirus cruise ship
Cheering erupted in the dining hall of Europe’s largest cruise liner last night as passengers — including many from Northern Ireland — were told their lockdown in France would be over by this morning. “We were all so relieved to hear that. There were...
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UUP leave Beattie fighting to save his political career
Former UUP leader Doug Beattie is fighting for his political life after reports that he would not be selected as a candidate in his home constituency for the next Assembly election. The army veteran said his name is still going forward to stand in...
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I am sorry you lost your beautiful child, driver tells family of girl (7)
The family of a seven-year-old girl who died after she was struck by a car in Belfast has received an apology in court from the driver. However, Deirdre Crawford, who was behind the wheel of the Renault Captur that struck young Kaitlin Rose...
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NI murder and suicide ‘house of horrors’ is up for sale
A Co Fermanagh house where a 43-year-old man shot his wife and two children dead before turning the gun on himself is up for sale. The Drummeer Road property is listed online with an asking price of £195,000. The bodies of Vanessa Whyte (45), James...
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Ex-election candidate is remanded over police station bomb
A former republican election candidate has been remanded in custody, accused of attempting to bomb a Northern Ireland police station. Barry Anthony Toman (right) previously stood in the 2007 Assembly election for Republican Sinn Fein in the Upper Bann...
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‘He was a different person when hehada child in a storeroom’
Two women who were abused as children by paedophile teacher William Lloyd-lavery have called for changes to the law to prevent sex offenders using character references in court. Nicola Bannon and Lynne D’arcy gave evidence against the former Richmond...
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Probe urged into death of the man who tried to warn police about Katie’s killer
Questions have been raised about the death of a man recorded as suicide after police ignored his pleas to look deeper into the Katie Simpson case. Paul Lusby was a friend of the 21-year-old showjumper, who died at the hands of horse trainer Jonathan...
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Killed by a serial abuser, failed by the PSNI
Almost 40 more potential abuse victims of killer jockey Jonathan Creswell (right) have been identified in a review which exposed shocking PSNI failings in the Katie Simpson murder investigation. The damning review highlighted “misogyny and...
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Ex-officers withdraw from Omagh inquiry over trauma concerns
Police officers called to the scene of the Omagh bomb have said they will withdraw from the public inquiry into the atrocity until proper “traumainformed” support is in place. The 1998 Real IRA car bomb attack killed 29 people, including the mother of...
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Ulster fans face being ripped off by flight and hotel hikes
Ulster Rugby fans travelling to Spain for their first European final in 14 years are being hit hard in the pocket. Supporters heading to Bilbao for the EPCR Challenge Cup Final on May 22 face rocketing hotel and flight prices. Ulster are taking on...
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Dissident charged with New IRA police base bomb
A dissident republican is due in court today charged with attempted murder after a car bomb attack on a PSNI station. Kieran ‘Zac’ Smyth (right ),a convicted robber originally from Short Strand but more recently living in west Belfast, was arrested...
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Campbell ‘has no regrets’ about backing sex fiend
A senior unionist has said he has no regrets after providing convicted child predator William Lloyd-lavery with a court character reference. David Campbell is a former chairman of the Ulster Unionists and was a senior adviser to David Trimble while he...
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Legal threat to IFA bosses over trans women players
The Irish Football Association has been warned that it faces legal action for not banning those born biologically male from their female categories. Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, now a Tory peer, and world-renowned sailor Tracy Edwards have...
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Jailed: serial sex abuser ‘who thought he’d got away with it’
Four women abused as teenagers by a former history teacher half a century ago yesterday said they had finally received “justice against a man who thought he had got away with it”. Lisburn man William Lloyd-lavery (77) was handed a two-year jail...
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Pallets now piling up at site of ‘asbestos bonfire’
The removal of a gate has seen bonfire material again piling up on a site in south Belfast contaminated with asbestos. Loyalists in the Village area are openly advertising for material to be left at the privately owned site, and in a defiant message...
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‘It’s a miracle that no one was hurt in this cowardly attack’
Sir Keir Starmer last night vowed to bring those behind a car bomb attack on Dunmurry police station to justice. The Prime Minister was speaking after a delivery driver’s car was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast, a gas cylinder device...
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NI council leader is suspended from his £160k role
A council boss paid more than £160,000 a year is understood to have been put on precautionary suspension. Multiple sources at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said chief executive Roger Wilson (right) has been...
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Department is spending more than £2.5mayear on‘skinnyjab’ medication
Northern Ireland’s health service is spending more than £2.5m a year on ‘skinny jabs’, it can be revealed. More than 100,000 prescriptions were dispensed for Mounjaro and Ozempic in 2024 and 2025. Although not licensed as a weight-loss treatment, the...
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‘Police treated me like I was the killerwhenmy best friend Natalie was murdered’
An ex-partner of Natalie Mcnally who Stephen Mccullagh tried to frame for her murder has spoken about how his life was upended as he was “treated like a killer”. The Lurgan woman was 15 weeks pregnant when Mccullagh stabbed, beat and strangled her in...
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Paisley backing Reform in GB council elections
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley has been knocking doors in London as he canvasses for one of Reform UK’S candidates in the Westminster local election. Nigel Farage’s Pimlico North candidate David Roche was photographed with his arm around the former North...
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Ex-police watchdog ‘appointed despite security concerns’
A “deep dive” into the appointment of Northern Ireland’s last Police Ombudsman will be included as part of a review of Government security vetting procedures to be carried out in the aftermath of the Lord Mandelson scandal. DUP leader Gavin Robinson...
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Three out of four voters don’t believe Adams’ IRA denials
Three quarters of voters in Northern Ireland don’t believe Gerry Adams when he says he wasn’t in the IRA, according to a new poll. And fewer than half (49%) of voters who back Sinn Fein — the party Mr Adams led for more than three decades — believe...
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Sinn Fein support at its lowest point for five years
Support for Sinn Fein has fallen to its lowest level in five years, down one point to 24% according to a new poll. First Minister Michelle O’neill’s personal rating has taken a hit too, with the SDLP’S Claire Hanna more popular with...
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Horror outside court as man is doused with boiling water
A man was doused in boiling water at the doors into a courtroom shortly before a committal hearing in a murder case. The extraordinary events unfolded at Strabane Magistrates Court yesterday morning, where the latest hearing into the killing of...
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‘I asked the mob to show some respect... and it all went downhill after that’
A man who was attacked alongside his search and rescue dog by a mob of teenagers in Bangor said he is still coming to terms with the trauma of the incident. Dog handler Ryan Gray was punched and kicked to the ground during the assault last month,...
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Kyle Paisley slams Trump’s blasphemy after ‘Jesus’ post
Rev Kyle Paisley has hit out at the “blasphemy of Donald Trump” after the US President posted an Ai-generated image depicting him as Jesus. Trump has since deleted the contentious Truth Social post, which showed him dressed in robes, appearing to heal...
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59 council staff now earning more than £100k each year
More council staff in Northern Ireland are earning £100,000-plus pay packets, according to a new report. Fifty-nine senior employees were on six-figure salaries across the 11 local councils in 2024/25. That is up from 51 a year earlier and from 46 in...
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Mcilroy isthe Master once again
Rory Mcilroy was thrilled to win his second Masters in front of his Mum and Dad and make his “outlandish” boyhood dreams come true. “Yeah, incredible,” he said in Butler Cabin after a closing 71 gave him a oneshot win over Scottie Scheffler on 12-under...
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Bodybuilder died after taking drug bought from dark web
A bodybuilder died after taking a drug bought on the dark web which was estimated to be 50 times stronger than morphine, an inquest has found. Joshua Mcgovern (21) had been preparing for a deadlifting competition and his death on April 13, 2023...
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Archibald U-turn on business forum after Chinese pressure
The Economy Minister U-turned on a decision not to attend an economic forum hosted by China following lobbying from the country’s consulate in Belfast, internal emails have revealed. After learning Caoimhe Archibald would be absent, consul general Li...
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Middleton to step down as an MLA ...with wife favourite to replace him
DUP MLA Gary Middleton is stepping down from Stormont as a result of mental health challenges that have “significantly limited” his ability to represent his constituents. Mr Middleton is resigning today, with the Foyle politician’s wife Julie — a...
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Notorious NI paedophile Billyadams will soon be back on the streets
A notorious sex offender from Co Down is set to be released from prison in England on parole, with concerns he may ask for a transfer to Northern Ireland. Billy Adams — regarded as one of the country’s worst paedophiles — has convictions for child sex...
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Girl (15) ‘dragged to Victoria Square car park to be raped’
A 15-year-old girl was taken to the boiler room of an underground car park in a central Belfast shopping centre to be raped, a court has been told. The “predatory” attack is alleged to have been carried out by Jamie Donald (28) at Victoria Square at...
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Adams WAS a member of IRA Army Council: government file
Gerry Adams was on the IRA Army Council in 1996 — and then was re-elected to that post, a high-level government file claims. Weeks after Mr Adams denied on oath that he was a member of the IRA, a declassified document discovered by the Belfast...
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Echoes of Massereene as dissidents target pizza delivery man New IRA claim responsibility for police station attack
Fears are growing for the safety of anyone providing services to the PSNI after a food delivery driver’s car was hijacked in a proxy bomb attack. The New IRA yesterday claimed responsibility for targeting Lurgan police station — saying they...
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Music tutor charged with drugging teen boy for sex
A music tutor who worked in Belfast schools has been charged with drugging a teenage boy for sexual purposes. Robert James Briscoe appeared for the first time at Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday accused of eight separate offences. The 48-year-old,...
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Shops may close for the day over protest disorder fears
Some businesses in Coleraine are planning to close this Easter Saturday due to fears over an anti-immigration protest set to hit the town. Others are considering changing opening hours, despite Saturday being a key trading day for businesses in the...
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Paisley working as director of US lobbying company
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley is now a lobbyist for a US firm that played a key role in Brexit and has former Prime Minister Liz Truss among its clients. The ex-north Antrim MP (right )isworking alongside Leave.eu spin doctor Andy Wigmore and Kwasi...
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Man jailed over plot to kill Adair charged with Donaldson murder
A man jailed for conspiracy to murder Johnny Adair has been charged with the murder of former MI5 spy Denis Donaldson. Antoin Duffy (49) appeared before the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday — just days before the 20th anniversary of...
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Mum (82) of man killed by UDA told she could be shot
The 82-year-old mother of a terminally ill man beaten to death by loyalists six years ago has been warned she could be shot. Glenn Quinn (47) was the innocent victim of a fatal attack in his groundfloor flat in Carrickfergus carried out by members of...
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‘Natalie’s murderer should never be released... he’ll always be a danger’
Killer Stephen Mccullagh should never be released from prison, as “he’ll always be a danger”, the father of murdered Natalie Mcnally has said. Speaking for the first time since Mccullagh was convicted of the murder of the pregnant 32-year-old Lurgan...
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The online world of Youtube killer
Content creator turned killer Stephen Mccullagh is likely to have made many thousands of pounds from his sideline career on Youtube. The Lisburn man tried to use a ‘live stream’ on Youtube as an alibi for why he couldn’t have killed his pregnant...
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Pure evil
Natalie Mcnally was the “greatest joy” her family will ever have, one of her brothers said after her killer was finally convicted of her murder. A jury took just over two hours to unanimously find Lisburn man Stephen Mccullagh (36) guilty of killing...
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Man arrested by police over mum of two’s murder had fallen from 100ft bridge
A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the murder of Amy Doherty in Londonderry is understood to have been detained by police after falling from the Foyle Bridge. The mother-of-two was described as “the essence of humanity — kind, compassionate...
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Ex-radio Ulster star convicted over water pollution
A former BBC Radio Ulster presenter has been convicted of a water pollution incident that led to more than 100 fish being killed. Karen Patterson (right) admitted the charge at Newtownards Magistrates Court yesterday. The 54-year-old left the BBC six...
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Official suspended from top sports body as police investigate sex offences claims
An official has been suspended from his role at a top Northern Irish sports body following an investigation into historical sexual allegations. The Belfast Telegraph understands the allegations made against the man date back to the early...
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NI public should not panic over outbreak of meningitis, says top GP
A leading doctor has urged people in Northern Ireland not to panic after a teenager was hospitalised with suspected meningitis. Dr Alan Stout is chair of the British Medical Association’s Northern Ireland Council and a GP based in east Belfast, where...
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