Monthly Archives: April 2016

A number of amendments have been proposed to the law in Northern Ireland which, if passed, may allow women to access abortions in circumstances of a fatal foetal abnormality, or where the pregnancy was as a result of rape or incest. The amendments are due to be debated and voted on at the Northern Ireland Assembly on Wednesday 10 February as part of the legislative process for the Justice Bill. In December, Belfast’s High Court ruled that Northern Ireland’s abortion law is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by not allowing for terminations in such circumstances. The Court passed responsibility to the Assembly to change the law. We’re calling for Northern Irish law to follow international human rights standards, including full decriminalisation of abortion, and access to safe and legal abortions – at a minimum – on grounds of severe or fatal foetal abnormality, or in circumstances … Continue reading →

A Larne councillor hit out after the sitting MP did not attend a meeting in Scotland regarding the roads network in Scotland and Northern Ireland in April 2001. Bobby McKee said he was deeply saddened that local MP Roy Beggs did not attend the North Channel Partnership Group meeting. The meeting involved a number of local politicians and officials, but controversy arose over some SDLP and UUP politicians, including Mr Beggs deciding not to attend because of Foot and Mouth outbreaks in the area. The MP said he believed it was prudent for elected representatives living in a rural area to avoid unnecessary risk of spread of the disease. He added in a statement that he believed that communication with Dumfries and Galloway by using “alternative means” than the visit would be more beneficial due to the risk of spreading the disease. However, Cllr McKee said the meeting was not … Continue reading →

A number of amendments have been proposed to the law in Northern Ireland which, if passed, may allow women to access abortions in circumstances of a fatal foetal abnormality, or where the pregnancy was as a result of rape or incest. The amendments are due to be debated and voted on at the Northern Ireland Assembly on Wednesday 10 February as part of the legislative process for the Justice Bill. In December, Belfast’s High Court ruled that Northern Ireland’s abortion law is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by not allowing for terminations in such circumstances. The Court passed responsibility to the Assembly to change the law. We’re calling for Northern Irish law to follow international human rights standards, including full decriminalisation of abortion, and access to safe and legal abortions – at a minimum – on grounds of severe or fatal foetal abnormality, or in circumstances … Continue reading →

Residents of the seaside town of Larne were woken at 4:30 a.m. and greeted by a scene more common at a demolition derby. Cars were scattered like skittles and flipped on their roofs, and a wall was completely demolished as the fire engine came to rest in a front garden. Emergency services – the real ones – were quick on the scene. “We thought it was possibly an explosion, we rushed downstairs and immediately saw the carnage of a line of cars, think it was probably eight cars, one sitting on its roof, my own car was side swiped as well,” local resident Thomas Jobling told UTV. “The next thing we saw was the fire engine with the lights going and pulsing, and realised it was tight up against another couple of buildings in the terrace.” Nobody was seriously injured, but one of the two suspects, who fled the scene … Continue reading →

Expect to see the presence of Nigel Farage in some of the towns of East Antrim, such as Larne and Carrickfergus, during the Northern Ireland Assembly election campaign. Ukip believes it has a real chance of taking a seat here and some local canvassing by its leader might not do the party’s candidate Noel Jordan, a Carrickfergus councillor, any harm at all. And while there are many farmers in East Antrim who receive Brussels subsidies, it seems that Brexit sentiment is quite strong in the constituency. In the Westminster election last year, between them, the DUP, Ukip, and the Traditional Unionist Voice party (TUV), who all favour the UK quitting Europe, won 53 per cent of the vote. The last Northern Assembly election in East Antrim five years ago was a cliff-hanger where, in this predominantly unionist constituency, Sinn Féin’s Oliver McMullan made a breakthrough by taking a seat. Now … Continue reading →