Latest news

Devine spat in the face of police, Court told

The North Belfast man who was stabbed along with murder victim Robert McCartney outside Magennis’s Bar in  2005 was made the subject of a suspended term of imprisonment at this Tuesday’s Court. The court heard that 39-year-old Brendan Liam Gerard Devine of Mayfield Village in Newtownabbey became aggressive to police after a complaint of assault  was made against him by his sister. The prosecutor said police had called to his home on August 6 last year after his sister alleged...

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Community’s show of strength against the dealers

The mother of a North Belfast teenager who took his own life after taking drugs said she hopes the show of community support at a vigil in his memory at the weekend will help bring an end to the  drugs scourge in the area. A vigil was held at the grotto in the New Lodge on Sunday in memory of local 16-year old Jimmy Joe Brown who died on December 23 - four days after hanging himself in the bedroom...

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Media on the naughty step at council

In a month where the eyes of the world have been on Castlereagh, there was only one subject this month’s council meeting could begin with…Adolf Hitler.  Let’s be honest, you weren’t expecting that, were you? To set some context, the minister was referring to the previous day’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations and how the Nazi Party was the inevitable conclusion of 19th Century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s ‘God is dead’ theory. That was all a bit heavy for a Thursday...

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Gaels blow away the competition

A South Belfast Irish language cultural centre has won a highly prestigious contest for its projects, beating off competition from a range of rival groups throughout Ireland. An Droichead was awarded first prize in the Glór na nGael competition, which rates Irish language projects of all abilities throughout the 32 counties. It marks the second time the Lower Ormeau organisation has won the prize, having first being awarded it in 2005. Pól Deeds, An Droichead’s co-ordinator, said they were delighted...

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Dairy Farm redevelopment is set to get the green light today

AMBITIOUS new plans for a £25 million redevelopment of the Dairy Farm Shopping Centre in West Belfast are set to get the green light from the Department of the Environment today. Plans were submitted by local development firm JP Properties in April last year to redevelop the shopping centre on the Stewartstown Road and create a brand-new, state-of-the-art multi-use centre. The redevelopment includes the creation of a superstore, shop units, offices, a petrol station, library and fitness centre. It is...

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A weekend of fun starts here

WEST BELFAST is gearing up to mark the arrival of spring with a jam-packed weekend of festivities at Féile an Earraigh. The Irish traditional music festival will kick off in style at the Waterfront Hall. Billed as the ‘Transatlantic Sessions’, a selection of the finest musical talent will take to the Waterfront Hall stage tonight (Thursday). Featuring Cara Dilllon, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien and Eddi Reader, it promises to showcase the best Irish traditional musicians and will certainly have people wanting...

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