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Dec 27 2024

Two women and a man arrested in Northern Ireland murder investigation | UK News

A murder investigation has been launched after a 50-year-old man died on Boxing Day in Northern Ireland, police have said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said they received a report of a man being unconscious at a residential property in the West Street area of Newtownards, a town in County Down, just before 1:50am on Thursday.

The man was taken to hospital where he later died.

Two women, aged 58 and 33, were arrested at the scene while a man, aged 36, was arrested at a nearby address, police said. They have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly said: “Our investigation is at a very early stage and we are working to establish the full circumstances around this deplorable incident.

“Cordons remain in place and local residents will see a visible police presence in the area.”

He added: “Of course, it’s particularly shocking that this should happen at Christmas and we know that the thoughts of our community will be with this man’s family and friends today.”

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The detective chief inspector appealed for anyone who may be able to assist with the inquiry to get in touch by calling 101 or by using the online reporting form.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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Oct 3 2024

Northern Lights could appear over parts of the UK this week | Science & Tech News

The Northern Lights may make an appearance over the UK over the next couple of nights, after a series of solar flares erupted from the sun.

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are caused by solar storms interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.

When solar storms react with atmospheric gases above our north and south magnetic poles, the result is beautiful displays of light in the sky, like the UK saw in May.

“Over the next couple of days, there’s a chance that we could be seeing the Northern Lights, particularly across northern parts of Scotland in the north of England and Northern Ireland,” Krista Hammond, a space weather expert at the Met Office, told Sky News.

“This is because there’s the potential to see the arrival of a geomagnetic storm.”

Earlier in the week, astronomers spotted two solar flares, which release plasma into space, coming from the sun – a process called a coronal mass ejection.

“Most of that will miss the Earth,” said Ms Hammond.

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“But there’s a chance in the coming nights that we will clip the edge of these two mass ejections, which means you’ve got the potential for the storm which causes the Northern Lights,” she added.

The UK has seen the Northern Lights more than usual in recent months because the sun is in a particularly active part of its cycle.

The cycle lasts around eleven years as its magnetic fields flip, according to Ms Hammond.

Read more: Stargazers share stunning images of aurora borealis

It is currently at the “solar maximum”, meaning there are many more solar flares and solar storms – and the Northern Lights are appearing much further south than usual.

It’s hard to tell when the solar maximum is ending, so make the most of opportunities to spot the Northern Lights.

“You can’t really tell that you’ve peaked until you’re in the descending phase,” said Ms Hammond.

“But it’s estimated that solar maximum is about now to the start of next year.”

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Sep 12 2024

‘Ideal’ conditions as Northern Lights return to the UK – but where can you see them best? | UK News

The Northern Lights may be visible across parts of the UK this evening, with the Met Office forecasting “ideal viewing conditions”.

The forecaster urged people to “look up at the sky tonight”, with sightings possible across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.

There is even a possibility the spectacular light display could be spotted from the north Norfolk coast, according to one Met Office meteorologist.

The lights, also known as aurora borealis, are expected to be observable late on Thursday evening and into the early hours of Friday morning.

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles. As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating the spectacular colour displays.

“We’ve had a coronal mass ejection from the Sun in the last few days that arrived to Earth this morning,” Jonathan Vautrey, Met Office meteorologist, said.

“The main likely area is Scotland, there’s chances with this particular one possibly from Northern Ireland and northern England as well.

“There’s also a chance from the north Norfolk coast, we might see faint images coming from there.

“Tonight is going to be pretty ideal conditions as there’s going to be very little cloud.”

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But, he advises that you wrap up warm, with the potential for some frost overnight.

And if you miss them this evening – not to worry. The Met Office says there will be another chance to see the lights on Friday night into Saturday – although they are currently forecast to be weaker.

UK stargazers were treated to a double-whammy of Northern Lights and the Perseids meteor shower last month, with people as far south as Cornwall seeing the display.

People were also treated to a spectacular display in May when large parts of the UK were bathed in shades of pink and green.

Tips for spotting the Northern Lights

• Those hoping to catch sight of the lights this evening should look to the northern horizon, the Met Office says. “If you’ve got a clear view of the horizon you’ve got a chance,” according to a Met Office meteorologist.
• Head to an area of low light pollution.
• Using a camera or a telescope will also increase your chances, with cameras better able to adapt to different wavelengths than the human eye.

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Aug 17 2024

David McCord: Manhunt for convicted murderer on the run in Northern Ireland | UK News

A manhunt has been launched for a convicted murderer who is on the run in Northern Ireland.

David McCord is currently “unlawfully at large”, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

The 54-year-old is serving a life sentence, reportedly for killing his girlfriend in 2003.

He was in the custody of prison staff at a property in the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast on Friday when he disappeared.

McCord was last seen on Castlereagh Road at around 4.30pm wearing a green jacket and black tracksuit bottoms, carrying a red carrier bag.

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Police have asked anyone with information to come forward but warned the public not to approach him.

Officers also appealed directly to McCord to hand himself in.

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Mar 24 2024

Northern Lights could be visible over parts of the UK tonight | UK News

The Northern Lights could be visible across northern parts of the UK tonight, the Met Office has said.

The phenomenon, also known as Aurora Borealis, often appears above Iceland and Norway but is only occasionally visible from the UK.

Generally, sightings are limited to Scotland.

According to the Met Office, a “combination of fast solar winds” and the “recent arrival of a Coronal Mass Ejection from the sun” could cause a display on Sunday evening into Monday morning.

The Northern Lights are the result of particles from the sun being carried on solar winds and then interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere after being channelled to the polar regions by the planet’s magnetic field.

According to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, different gases have different effects on the colour of the display.

Green indicates solar particles interacting with oxygen, while purple, blue or pink hues are caused by nitrogen.

Read more:
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A deep red can sometimes be seen as a result of solar particles interacting with oxygen at very high altitudes.

Only under “severe space weather conditions” can the lights be seen throughout the UK – even then, star-gazers need a clear sky and less light pollution.

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Feb 10 2024

Man charged with attempted murder of senior Northern Ireland police detective | UK News

A 44-year-old man has been charged with the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Co Tyrone last year.

The man was arrested in the Dungannon area on Thursday and charged on Friday evening.

He has been charged with attempted murder, directing terrorism and preparation of terrorist acts.

The man is due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

The senior officer was seriously injured after he was shot several times in front of his son at a sports complex in Omagh, Co Tyrone, on 22 February 2023.

The detective, who had investigated a number of high-profile murder cases, spent several weeks in intensive care.

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A typed message, purportedly from the New IRA, was posted on a wall in Londonderry and said the group was responsible for the shooting.

Police have said the New IRA is the main line of inquiry in the investigation.

A number of people have previously appeared in court charged in connection with Mr Caldwell’s shooting and on charges around the claim of responsibility.

Mr Caldwell suffered “life-changing” injuries in the attack.

He made his first public appearance since the shooting in May – when he attended a garden party in Co Down with the King and Queen.

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Feb 3 2024

Northern Ireland’s new first minister Michelle O’Neill ‘contests’ claim Irish unity is ‘decades’ away | UK News

Northern Ireland’s new first minister has told Sky News she “absolutely contests” the UK government’s claim that a referendum on Irish unity is decades away.

Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill, the first nationalist to occupy the office, described her elevation at Stormont as “a historic day, truly representing a new dawn”.

In a document, outlining the basis of the DUP’s return to power-sharing, the UK government said it saw “no realistic prospect of a border poll”.

But Ms O’Neill said: “I would absolutely contest what the British government have said in that document, in so far as my election to the post of first minister demonstrates the change that’s happening on this island.

“That’s a good thing. It’s a healthy thing because this change I think can benefit us all.

“I believe that we’re in the decade of opportunity and I believe, also equally, that we can do two things at once.

“We can have power-sharing, we can make it stable, we can work together every day in terms of public services, and whilst we also pursue our equally legitimate aspirations.

“There are so many things that are changing. All the old norms, the nature of this state, the fact that a nationalist republican was never supposed to be first minister. That all speaks to the change,” she added.

Ms O’Neill grew up in the “murder triangle” in County Tyrone. Her father was an IRA prisoner and her cousin was shot dead by the SAS.

But having pledged to be a “first minister for all”, she broke with republican tradition by using the term “Northern Ireland” in her acceptance speech.

“I’m somebody who wants to be a unifier. I’m somebody that wants to bring people together.

“We’ve had a difficult past, a turbulent past. A lot of harm was caused in the past and I think it’s so, so important that here in 2024, and we’ve just celebrated the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement last year, that we very much look towards the future.

“I hope I can represent the future. I believe I can represent the future, as somebody who wants to work with all communities.

“I obviously am a republican, a proud republican, but I think it’s really, really important that I can look towards those people who identify as Irish republicans, but also those of a British identity and unionist identity and tell them that I respect their values, I respect their culture.”

Asked if her pledge meant she would consider attending a Protestant Orange Order march, she said: “I will consider every invitation that comes my way.

“I’m hoping that I get invitations. I want to step into ground that republicanism hasn’t stepped into before,” she added.

Watch the full interview with Michelle O’Neill on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News from 8.30am.

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Feb 3 2024

Police in Northern Ireland arrest five males in murder investigation after boy, 17, stabbed to death in Limvady | UK News

A murder investigation has been launched after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Northern Ireland.

The boy was stabbed in the Woodland Walk area of Limavady, a town in County Londonderry/Derry, at around 9.30pm on Friday night.

He later died in hospital from his injuries.

Another man, in his 50s, was also taken to hospital. Police said he was in a stable condition.

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Five males have been arrested as part of a murder investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the force said.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gibson said the five are helping police with their inquiries.

Police also appealed for anyone with information about what happened to contact them.

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Feb 3 2024

Power-sharing to return to Northern Ireland as Michelle O’Neill becomes first nationalist first minister | Politics News

A power-sharing government will return to Northern Ireland today, as Michelle O’Neill makes history as the first nationalist first minister.

Politicians will gather at Stormont later for a sitting at which a series of ministers will be appointed to the executive, bringing an end to a two-year political quagmire.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the country’s largest unionist party, had signalled it was ready for the recall of the political institutions after forging a deal with the UK government on post-Brexit trade, which party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says has effectively removed the so-called Irish Sea trading border.

Two pieces of legislation contained in the agreement were fast-tracked through the House of Commons on Thursday, paving the way for the Assembly at Stormont to return.

MLAs (members of the legislative assembly) will elect a new Stormont speaker, followed by nominations for the offices of first and deputy first minister.

Sinn Fein’s Ms O’Neill will take the first minister role, but the DUP has not yet said who it will nominate for deputy first minister. Under the Good Friday Agreement, the deputy has an authority equal to that of the first minister.

The power-sharing arrangement brought in by the agreement played a key role in ending the sectarian violence of the Troubles.

A series of ministerial positions across Stormont will also be filled.

After a meeting of party leaders at Stormont Castle on Friday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey said: “It is important when the executive meets that we have a real sense of what those priorities are for everyone in Northern Ireland.

“We are looking forward to the Assembly meeting, going through the formalities, getting devolution restored.”

Read more:
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Budget crisis is key priority

A key priority will be dealing with the budget crisis affecting public services in Northern Ireland.

The UK government has offered a £3.3bn package to secure Northern Ireland’s finances when the Assembly returns, including £600m to settle public sector pay claims.

But Sir Jeffrey indicated the parties would work together to secure more money from the Treasury, adding: “The finance piece is unfinished business which we intend to finish.”

Ms O’Neill’s selection as first minister, made possible after she led Sinn Feinn to victory in the 2022 Assembly elections, will mark the first time the post has been held by a nationalist committed to seeing Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland united as one country.

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Jan 30 2024

Northern Ireland: Protests outside and leaks from inside but the deal to restore power-sharing is done | UK News

There were protestors outside the talks and someone was leaking secret talks from inside but it did not thwart breakthrough.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson emerged from a lengthy meeting of the DUP Executive with support for a deal to restore power-sharing.

He said his party would end its boycott of devolved government once the UK government honoured commitments it has made.

The government is now expected to table legislation to address Unionist concerns about the Brexit border in the Irish Sea.

The legislation is designed to strengthen Northern Ireland’s place in the UK and limit the impact of the trade border.

The agreement is set to end two years of stalemate at Stormont and comes after months and months of negotiation.

Unionists felt betrayed when Boris Johnson agreed to a trade border between GB and Northern Ireland to “get Brexit done”.

The previous year, he had told the DUP conference that no British prime minister could ever countenance such a move.

Frustrated by what they regarded as a threat to Northern Ireland’s position within the UK, Unionists pulled out of power-sharing.

Rishi Sunak’s new deal with the EU – the Windsor Framework – addressed some, but not all, of their concerns about sovereignty.

Read more: 150,000 public sector workers walk out in Northern Ireland’s biggest strike in recent history

But a crisis in public services in Northern Ireland has piled pressure on the Democratic Unionists to restore devolved government.

Earlier this month, the UK government pledged an eye-watering £3.3 billion to support the efforts of any new Stormont administration.

Rishi Sunak can take much credit but this complex deal represents a huge leap of faith by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Jamie Bryson, a loyalist activist and fierce opponent of compromise, was live tweeting from a DUP source inside the meeting.

But the party leader has faced down his critics to restore the power-sharing at the heart of the peace process.

“It’s all over bar the shouting,” one DUP source said, and there will be plenty of noise about this decision.

But Northern Ireland seems set to have a devolved government in place within days and that signals a historic moment.

Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill, who topped the poll in the election, is poised to become the first Nationalist First Minister.

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