Monthly Archives: April 2019

SYDNEY, N.S. — A Christmas card bound for Down Under will be a bit late after it made an unexpected stop in Cape Breton. The holiday letter was one of many sent by Doug and Jennifer Beggs, a retired couple from the Ottawa suburb of Manotick. It’s intended recipient was Jennifer’s 94-year-old sister, Pat Gillespie, who lives in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The card was affixed with the proper $2.50 stamp and was postmarked on Dec. 18. A legitimate Australian address was legibly scribbled on the front of the envelope and the destination country’s name was underlined twice. But the letter has yet to arrive. It didn’t stay in Ontario, either. Somehow it ended up in the mail box of a Sydney, Nova Scotia, couple who just happen to share the same street name and the same address as the intended recipient in the other Sydney, the one … Continue reading →

Mid-Ulster Ulster Unionist MLA, Sandra Overend, along with her Ulster Unionist Party colleagues, Doug Beattie MLA and Roy Beggs MLA, has brought a motion to the Assembly calling for a review of bail policy in cases of terrorism and murder. This followed the revelation that Damien Joseph McLaughlin, who had been on bail charged with offences linked to the murder of Cookstown Prison Officer David Black, had not been seen by police since November. Mrs Overend said: “Earlier this month I was shocked to learn, through media reports, that a man accused in connection with the murder of David Black has not been seen by the police since November, whilst on police bail. “It is absolutely disgraceful that this man – a man that has already made headlines, when the authorities previously allowed him to attend a spa break in Fermanagh – was allowed to disappear while on bail. Those responsible … Continue reading →

NI’s hospitals are under increasing pressure Lisa Smyth with her son Ethan Report author Professor Rafael Bengoa Arlene Foster previously talked about changing the health system Martin McGuinness previously talked about changing the health system By Lisa Smyth April 11 2019 The health service in Northern Ireland is at a crossroads. People can expect to wait up to four years for a first outpatient appointment and the outcomes for emergency care can vary depending on the time of the day, or week, or even which hospital, a patient goes to. It’s not the kind of NHS the public wants. And it’s certainly not the service that health professionals want to deliver. Successive expert reports and reviews have been clear: the NHS cannot continue to function in its current format. The most recent of these, the Bengoa report, made a series of recommendations for the future of the health service, including … Continue reading →

Peter Robinson’s decision to step aside and withdraw most of his party’s ministers from the Executive has been branded a “smokescreen” by Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt. He said: “Peter Robinson clearly cannot make a decision as to whether he wants be in or out of the Executive. On Wednesday he said the DUP ministers would leave the Executive en masse, yet only 24 hours later his position has shifted to only some of his ministers resigning. UUP leader Mike Nesbitt and party colleagues speak to the press at Parliament Buildings. ”Picture: Jonathan Porter/PressEye “In fact he has not even resigned himself, opting to use the idiosyncrasy of standing aside. Few people will see this as anything but a smokescreen.” Mr Nesbitt said his DUP counterpart was guily of “incredibly weak leadership,” and added: “Instead of the focus remaining firmly on Sinn Fein, people are now trying to determine exactly … Continue reading →

A Larne choir for people living with dementia has featured on the BBC’s John Toal Show. The ‘This Is Me’ choir was set up last year as part of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Dementia Friendly Communities programme and is funded by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. The choir is open to people living with dementia, carers, friends and family. It meets every Wednesday, in Larne Leisure Centre, from 3.00 pm until 4.00 pm. “Dementia champion” Ald. Gerardine Mulvenna said: “The choir offers a fantastic way to socialise, have fun and just help you feel better after a good old sing song. “Dementia can often mean people feel isolated and we wanted to offer a place where people can relax and talk to people who may be going through the same thing as them, or to offer carers an opportunity to meet people in the same situation … Continue reading →