Other News In Brief

22-Year-Old Sentenced For 'Behaviour Likely To Stir Up Hatred'

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service for the offence of 'behaviour likely to stir up hatred', after a video was posted online in June 2023, showing people singing an offensive song relating to Michaela McAreavey.

Dillon Kelly was sentenced at Laganside Magistrates Court, after being found guilty on Wednesday 13th March.

Related to the same incident, 26-year-old Steven Kane was sentenced to four months in prison which was suspended for 18 months, and 23-year-old Cian Jones was sentenced to 240 hours of community service last month.

Alliance Announces Michelle Guy To Contest Strangford Seat In Next General Election

The Alliance Party has announced Michelle Guy will contest the forthcoming General Election for the party in Strangford.

Having grown up in the area, Michelle said she was "absolutely delighted" to have been selected by local members to contest the area that she calls home.

In the most recent Westminster election, Alliance cut current MP Jim Shannon's majority by 11,000 votes, a pattern Michelle said could continue.

A former Assumption Grammar School student, Michelle added: "It is an absolute honour to represent Alliance in the upcoming election in my home constituency. I'm proud to join Kellie Armstrong MLA and Nick Mathison MLA in providing positive, progressive leadership for everyone in the area.

"Strangford is facing a number of key challenges. This election is a chance for everyone in Strangford to make their voices heard and send a message – history has shown people their votes will count more than ever before.

"I know what has to be done. The lough is our best natural asset and yet on a daily basis, we are witnessing first-hand the impact of climate change through ongoing coastal erosion. Beyond that, we need an MP prepared to challenge the criminality across communities locally, tackling paramilitarism and creating shared spaces that are open and welcoming to all, as well as recognising the rurality of our constituency and taking steps to ensure everyone is supported and has access to services.

"Strangford is an increasingly diverse constituency, made even more so by the forthcoming boundary changes. Alliance is the progressive and responsible voice here, while others were courting the attention of the Tories, and that has been reflected in increased support for the party across several elections."

UUP Leader Challenges Executive Over Health Commitments U-Turn

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, Doug Beattie has challenged the other Executive parties over what he described as a "u-turn" on health service commitments.

Mr Beattie MC MLA said: "We chose to take the Health brief because we recognised the challenges our NHS are facing. Minister Swann was able to hit the ground running to deal with immediate pressures.

"In advance of the return of the Assembly, every party committed to putting health as their number one priority. That recognition was given even though it was understood that any budget would be challenging – every party committed to putting health first.

"We fast forward to today's Executive meeting where every other party voted in support of a £184 million cut to the health service.

"Let me be clear, the Ulster Unionist Party do not support this budget as presented. We take this position because we refuse to accept the reduction of almost 150 acute hospital beds, the reduction of 1.1 million hours of domiciliary care or the reduction of 500 care home beds that such a cut will force on our health service this year.

"I have called for an urgent meeting of party leaders where I will ask for every consideration to be given to resolve these unmanageable cuts to our Health Service.

"The Ulster Unionist Party is committed to making our Health Service work, but we cannot sit idly by while it is dismantled by parties who consistently refuse to take ownership of the department.

"A solution must be urgently found or the results are beyond contemplation."