Other News In Brief

SDLP Calls For New School Bus Safety Laws

The SDLP is advocating for the introduction of new road safety laws concerning school buses, aiming to reduce the risk of injury to children when they are boarding or getting off.

The call comes in the wake of the death of 11-year-old schoolgirl Caitlin-Rose McMullan, who tragically died earlier this month in Castledawson.

SDLP councillor Malachy Quinn brought a motion before Mid Ulster District Council on Thursday evening, proposing that Northern Ireland adopt legislation similar to that in place in the United States, which prohibits drivers from overtaking a stopped school bus. The motion, seconded by SDLP councillor Denise Johnston, received support from other councillors who have agreed to write to both the Infrastructure and Education Ministers, urging them to bring about this legislative change.

ATM Stolen from Antrim Service Station

Detectives are investigating the theft of an ATM containing cash from a service station on the Ballymena Road area of Antrim. The incident is believed to have occurred around 2am on Friday, March 28th, and involved a white Ford Transit van. Police are appealing for anyone with information or dash-cam footage to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 223 of 28/03/25. Alliance Councillor Criticises Sinn Féin And DUP Over Renter Rights U-Turn

Alliance Lurgan Councillor Peter Lavery has expressed confusion and disappointment after Sinn Féin and the DUP collaborated to remove key legislative calls aimed at strengthening the rights of private renters, including a ban on "no fault" evictions.

The motion, presented by Alliance at the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, sought to enhance protections for private renters. Councillor Lavery highlighted the urgency of the issue, noting that over 38,000 people in the borough rely on the private rented sector, with average rents consuming a substantial portion of local incomes.

"Given these pressing difficulties, it was extremely disappointing that the DUP and Sinn Féin teamed up to dilute the motion," said Councillor Lavery. "We saw the removal of both a minimum requirement for social and affordable housing in new housing developments in the upcoming Local Development Plan, and a call for a ban on no fault evictions."

He specifically called out Sinn Féin's change in stance, stating, "This was particularly surprising with the latter being a policy that Sinn Féin's own Housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin TD, in the south has advocated for, and their Stormont team in the north voted in favour of when the Assembly debated Alliance’s New Deal for Renters last month."