30/01/2025
Other News In Brief
Alliance Welcomes New 'Power to Change' Campaign
The Alliance Party has welcomed the launch of the 'Power to Change' campaign, a joint initiative by the PSNI, the Department of Justice, and the Executive Office aimed at tackling gender-based violence.
The campaign encourages men and boys to take an active role in changing societal attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women and girls.
Emphasising the need for a society-wide cultural shift to address the issue, Justice spokesperson, Connie Egan MLA, said: "Statistics have demonstrated that the vast majority of harassment, abuse, intimidation and violence perpetrated against women and girls in Northern Ireland is done so at the hands of men.
"Women and girls deserve no less than to feel safe going about their lives here and to be protected from abuse and harassment.
"To achieve that, we need a whole-society approach to tackling gender-based violence, and to empower men to reflect on their role in that process."
Egan praised the 'Power to Change' campaign for its focus on reaching out to men and boys to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors, and for providing guidance on safe intervention.
"This new campaign... couldn't come a moment too soon," she said. "I want to commend the Justice Minister and her department for their continued dedication to making Northern Ireland a safer place for women and girls."
Egan concluded by stressing the importance of everyone's role in ending gender-based violence, highlighting the particularly crucial role of men and boys in driving the necessary cultural shift.
Police Appeal Following Newtownards Arson Attack
Detectives are appealing for information following an arson attack in Newtownards on Wednesday, 29th January, which resulted in the destruction of two vehicles.
Police were alerted by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service just after 10:10 pm to reports of vehicles on fire in the Manse Close area. It was confirmed that an accelerant had been used to set two vehicles alight. The vehicles were parked close to a house with residents inside, and firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread to the property.
Enquiries have identified a red Peugeot 307, driven by two masked men dressed in blue overalls, as being involved in the incident. This vehicle was later recovered in the Millisle area. Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Manse Close area of Newtownards on Wednesday night and witnessed the attack to come forward. They are also keen to hear from anyone who saw a red Peugeot being driven suspiciously from Newtownards through Carrowdore towards Millisle.
"We'd be particularly keen to hear from anyone who has dashcam or other footage," a police spokesperson said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1720 of 29/01/25. A report can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Three Armed Robberies in Mid Ulster Under Investigation
Detectives in Mid Ulster are investigating three armed robberies that occurred at shops in Ballyronan, Coagh, and Clonoe this morning, Thursday, 30th January.
The first incident took place at a filling station on the Ballinderry Bridge Road in Coagh at around 6:50 am. Two masked men, armed with a handgun, entered the store and threatened staff, holding the weapon to one man's head and forcing him to open the till. The robbers escaped with a sum of cash in a vehicle driven by a third man.
Shortly before 7:00 am, a second robbery was reported at a supermarket on Shore Road in Ballyronan. Again, two men armed with a handgun threatened staff, holding the gun to the head of a staff member, before making off with cash and cigarettes.
A third armed robbery was reported a short time later at a shop on Moor Road in Clonoe. In this incident, the suspects also made off with cash after threatening staff at gunpoint.
Detective Inspector Handley said: "We believe the vehicle used by the robbers, a blue Audi A6, was stolen early this morning from outside an address in Portadown whilst the vehicle had been left running to warm up. It was subsequently found on fire at Drumcree Community Centre at around 8.40am. Thankfully no one was injured during any of these robberies however staff have been left understandably shocked by the ordeal they experienced."
Anyone with any information or who may have captured CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage that could assist investigators, is asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting reference 201 30/01/25. Information can also be submitted online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
The Alliance Party has welcomed the launch of the 'Power to Change' campaign, a joint initiative by the PSNI, the Department of Justice, and the Executive Office aimed at tackling gender-based violence.
The campaign encourages men and boys to take an active role in changing societal attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women and girls.
Emphasising the need for a society-wide cultural shift to address the issue, Justice spokesperson, Connie Egan MLA, said: "Statistics have demonstrated that the vast majority of harassment, abuse, intimidation and violence perpetrated against women and girls in Northern Ireland is done so at the hands of men.
"Women and girls deserve no less than to feel safe going about their lives here and to be protected from abuse and harassment.
"To achieve that, we need a whole-society approach to tackling gender-based violence, and to empower men to reflect on their role in that process."
Egan praised the 'Power to Change' campaign for its focus on reaching out to men and boys to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors, and for providing guidance on safe intervention.
"This new campaign... couldn't come a moment too soon," she said. "I want to commend the Justice Minister and her department for their continued dedication to making Northern Ireland a safer place for women and girls."
Egan concluded by stressing the importance of everyone's role in ending gender-based violence, highlighting the particularly crucial role of men and boys in driving the necessary cultural shift.
Police Appeal Following Newtownards Arson Attack
Detectives are appealing for information following an arson attack in Newtownards on Wednesday, 29th January, which resulted in the destruction of two vehicles.
Police were alerted by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service just after 10:10 pm to reports of vehicles on fire in the Manse Close area. It was confirmed that an accelerant had been used to set two vehicles alight. The vehicles were parked close to a house with residents inside, and firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread to the property.
Enquiries have identified a red Peugeot 307, driven by two masked men dressed in blue overalls, as being involved in the incident. This vehicle was later recovered in the Millisle area. Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Manse Close area of Newtownards on Wednesday night and witnessed the attack to come forward. They are also keen to hear from anyone who saw a red Peugeot being driven suspiciously from Newtownards through Carrowdore towards Millisle.
"We'd be particularly keen to hear from anyone who has dashcam or other footage," a police spokesperson said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1720 of 29/01/25. A report can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Three Armed Robberies in Mid Ulster Under Investigation
Detectives in Mid Ulster are investigating three armed robberies that occurred at shops in Ballyronan, Coagh, and Clonoe this morning, Thursday, 30th January.
The first incident took place at a filling station on the Ballinderry Bridge Road in Coagh at around 6:50 am. Two masked men, armed with a handgun, entered the store and threatened staff, holding the weapon to one man's head and forcing him to open the till. The robbers escaped with a sum of cash in a vehicle driven by a third man.
Shortly before 7:00 am, a second robbery was reported at a supermarket on Shore Road in Ballyronan. Again, two men armed with a handgun threatened staff, holding the gun to the head of a staff member, before making off with cash and cigarettes.
A third armed robbery was reported a short time later at a shop on Moor Road in Clonoe. In this incident, the suspects also made off with cash after threatening staff at gunpoint.
Detective Inspector Handley said: "We believe the vehicle used by the robbers, a blue Audi A6, was stolen early this morning from outside an address in Portadown whilst the vehicle had been left running to warm up. It was subsequently found on fire at Drumcree Community Centre at around 8.40am. Thankfully no one was injured during any of these robberies however staff have been left understandably shocked by the ordeal they experienced."
Anyone with any information or who may have captured CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage that could assist investigators, is asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting reference 201 30/01/25. Information can also be submitted online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
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29 July 2004
Police appeal after Co Antrim armed robberies
Police have appealed for information in relation to two armed robberies which occurred in Co Antrim yesterday. At around 4.45pm yesterday, two men, armed with a handgun and a knife, entered a shop on the Doagh Road, Ballyclare. They threatened staff but left short time later empty-handed.
Police appeal after Co Antrim armed robberies
Police have appealed for information in relation to two armed robberies which occurred in Co Antrim yesterday. At around 4.45pm yesterday, two men, armed with a handgun and a knife, entered a shop on the Doagh Road, Ballyclare. They threatened staff but left short time later empty-handed.
15 November 2017
Man Arrested Over Murder Of Brian McIlhagga
A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Brian McIlhagga. A gang of masked men dragged the 42-year-old victim from a house in the Riverview Park area in Ballymoney on 05 January 2015. He was beaten and shot in a paramilitary-style attack.
Man Arrested Over Murder Of Brian McIlhagga
A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Brian McIlhagga. A gang of masked men dragged the 42-year-old victim from a house in the Riverview Park area in Ballymoney on 05 January 2015. He was beaten and shot in a paramilitary-style attack.
17 November 2017
Two Men Attacked During Aggravated Burglary In Co Down
Two men have been injured after being attacked during an aggravated burglary in Newtownards, Co Down. A number of masked men, armed with weapons, attacked a house in the Shackleton Walk area at around 9.40pm on Thursday, 16 November. Two men, who were in the property at the time, were assaulted in what police described as a "savage attack".
Two Men Attacked During Aggravated Burglary In Co Down
Two men have been injured after being attacked during an aggravated burglary in Newtownards, Co Down. A number of masked men, armed with weapons, attacked a house in the Shackleton Walk area at around 9.40pm on Thursday, 16 November. Two men, who were in the property at the time, were assaulted in what police described as a "savage attack".
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
13 January 2015
Police Investigate Belfast Armed Robberies
Police are investigating two apparently separate armed robberies in east and west Belfast. The first occurred at a fast food outlet on the Falls Road in west Belfast on the evening of Monday 12 January. Two men, one armed with a knife, entered the premises at around 19:00 and threatened staff.
Police Investigate Belfast Armed Robberies
Police are investigating two apparently separate armed robberies in east and west Belfast. The first occurred at a fast food outlet on the Falls Road in west Belfast on the evening of Monday 12 January. Two men, one armed with a knife, entered the premises at around 19:00 and threatened staff.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Any patches of fog or low cloud burning off this morning. Then it will be dry day with with sunny spells although some high cloud spilling across this afternoon. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:This evening will be dry. Then thickening cloud will bring outbreaks of rain from the west during the early hours. Drier weather spreading into the the far northwest later. Minimum temperature 5 °C.