Monthly Archives: June 2018

Changes: Richard Caldwell By Ryan McAleer June 30 2018 Danske Bank has closed nearly half of its branches around Northern Ireland over the past eight years, it’s emerged. The Danish-owned bank will have 42 branches left in October when it closes another two, in Larne and Ballynahinch. In comparison, the lender had 82 branches in 2010. It’s part of an overall trend, which has seen 43% of all bank branches close in eight years. Danske closed around three-dozen outlets between 2010 and 2014. None were closed during 2015 and 2016, but the bank shut another two last year. In January this year the bank said it had no plans to close any more branches during 2018. Yesterday the company’s managing director of personal banking and small business, Richard Caldwell, repeated that the way people use banks was changing. “Many are now choosing to use different ways to bank with us, … Continue reading →

UUP East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs By Staff Reporters June 18 2018 It is now long overdue for the UK to make a permanent and compassionate decision on the use of medicinal cannabis oil, the Ulster Unionists have said. Roy Beggs MLA is one of a number of politicians to support changing laws surrounding medical marijuana after a severely epileptic boy’s high-profile battle for treatment. Mr Beggs said: “It is frankly outrageous the Caldwells were forced to fly to Canada for a six-month supply of the prescribed medication, only for it to be later cruelly seized at the airport. “Charlotte Caldwell has not only been an enduring hero to her son Billy, but also to the thousands of other people across the UK campaigning for an evidence-based approach to the use of medicinal cannabis oil. “In 2018 it is simply not good enough that increasingly archaic legal restrictions were put … Continue reading →

The law governing abortion in Northern Ireland dates back to the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Criminal Justice Act (NI) 1945. They make abortion illegal in almost every circumstance. The 1967 Abortion Act in Britain, allowing for abortion up to 24 weeks, was never extended to the North. Access to abortion is only permitted if a woman’s life is at risk or if there is risk to her mental or physical health that is long term or permanent. Pregnancy involving rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality (FFA) are not circumstances in which abortions can be performed legally. Thirteen abortions, within the current law, took place in Northern Ireland hospitals in 2016/17. However, it is estimated that every day two or three women from Northern Ireland travel to Britain for an abortion, with many others risking prosecution for self-administering abortifacients or abortion pills. Prior to Stormont collapsing in … Continue reading →

East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs has renewed his call for additional measures to prevent railway bridge strikes in Carrickfergus. It follows a response from the Department of Infrastructure to correspondence over recent incidents at the North Road structure, which has resulted in the closure of the Larne railway line and blocked one of the Carrick’s busiest roads. The Ulster Unionist Party representative had asked the department for a significant upgrade in warning signage at the location so that visitors driving high-sided vehicles are less likely to get caught out. The DfI advised the MLA the department and Translink had carried out an audit of the signage on the approaches bridge in September 2016 and found it to be in accordance with current advice and best practice. It added: “There are warning signs on the two approaches to the bridge which clearly indicate the presence of a low bridge stating the … Continue reading →