Monthly Archives: July 2019

PLEAS to save the former St Comgall’s College buildings appear to have fallen on deaf ears, with the arrival of a demolition team at the site this week. With the Bankhead Lane site now lying vacant, a number of local people had called for the premises to be put to better use, with some suggesting that it could be a suitable site for the relocation of Corran Integrated Primary – which is currently operating out of mobile classrooms at Blackcave North. As previously reported in the Times, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) received permission from the Department of Education to demolish the former St Comgall’s site, but had decided to put this on hold pending further exploration of the matter. It now seems that all hope of preserving the 50-year-old school premises has evaporated, as contractors McCormack Demolition are now on site. East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs, who … Continue reading →

There has been an angry reaction to “mindless vandalism” of construction machinery at Blackhead Path in Whitehead. The visitor attraction is currently undergoing an extensive renovation programme. The first incident is believed to have occurred last Thursday night. The windscreen of a digger and the windows of two dumpers were smashed, exterior body work was damaged, oil caps and dipsticks removed, wires ripped out, water poured into oil tank, tanks broken off, radiator caps removed and an air filter broken. During a second incident on Monday night, both indicator switches and indicator lens were broken. Both incidents have been reported to the PSNI. A spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said: “We are seriously concerned and disappointed at the mindless vandalism to construction equipment at Blackhead Path. “The contractor is working hard to get this valued walk open as soon as possible so the local community can enjoy … Continue reading →

The principal of a Coleraine primary school has condemned a malicious phone call made to Ballysally Primary School school this morning. The 9.45am call was made to the East Londonderry school as six other schools in Northern Ireland also received sinister phone calls. Principal Geoff Dunn said he received the threatening phone call to his 250-pupil school from a male caller. He said after receiving the bomb warning the school was “immediately evacuated”. “The emergency services were called and thankfully the pupils are all safe and well,” he said. “It was a disgrace there was a threat put on the school – but the children and the staff were amazing.” Mr Dunn said: “We got them out of the school and the premises and into a play park and they were exceptional. “In fact the whole community in Ballysally came together. A local Presbyterian church opened their doors so the … Continue reading →

More people are having to wait longer for cancer treatment, government figures show. Secretary of State Karen Bradley has been urged to intervene in the management of the Northern Ireland health service as latest government figures show a further deterioration in waiting times for people getting their first treatment for cancer. The UUP said longer waiting times were “taken for granted” in Northern Ireland when it should be treated as a scandal. On Tuesday the Department of Health revealed that in September, 369 people begun treatment for cancer. For 61.8% or 228 of those that was within the 62-day target for treatment. That compared to 66.4% in August – or 267 people. And 62.4%, or 232 people in September 2017. The figures also show that in September last year 1,100 people were seen by a breast cancer specialist for a first assessment. Almost three quarters (74.5%) were seen within the … Continue reading →

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has responded to comments from a Mid and East Antrim Sinn Fein councillor and the subsequent vandalism of the “Ghost Tommy” silhouette in Cairncastle, outside Larne. In a statement, Mr. Beggs said: ““The Sinn Fein political representative has tried to politicise WW1 commemorations and the Ghost Tommy silhouettes which remember those who did not return. “By his reckless remarks, he has increased community tensions. This is in stark contrast to the increased recognition from the Irish government that huge losses were occurred from all sections of the community. “Many young men left Cairncastle never to return. Republicans need to learn to have tolerance and respect for others.” Sinn Fein councillor James McKeown said that he had been contacted by a number of residents who were unhappy with the Armistice centenary sculptures appearing in the Cairncastle area saying that it showed a “total disregard” for nationalists. … Continue reading →