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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Carrickfergus reporter leaves Sky Sports News after 16 years: ‘My highlight was when Kyle Lafferty soaked me in beer'
Gilmour is the latest high-profile figure to leave the station following the departures of Melissa Reddy, Rob Wotton, Teddy Draper and Jasper Taylor. The 39 year-old cut his teeth commentating on Irish League games on BBC Radio Ulster's flagship Sports Sound show. During that time he served as Sky Sports News' Northern Ireland correspondent, where one of his first assignments was reporting on the Steel and Sons Cup Final on Christmas Day. He joined the staff of the popular station in 2012, where he soon became a familiar face, interviewing the likes of Antonie Conte and Jose Mourinho. He also commentated on Premier League, international and Irish League football for Sky Sports. The Carrick Rangers supporter now intends to work as a freelance sports reporter and commentator. One of his career highlights was an infamous interview with Kyle Lafferty, after Northern Ireland qualified for Euro 2016. He said: 'After 16 unforgettable years at Sky Sports News, it's time to say goodbye and look ahead to a new challenge. 'I've been fortunate to cover major tournaments, Champions League finals, and Premier League heavyweight clashes as well as interview some of the biggest names in world football. 'A personal highlight was following Northern Ireland, reaching a peak when Kyle Lafferty soaked me in beer and mocked my shoes on air after they qualified for Euro 2016. 'In that same interview, he (jokingly) said he wanted Northern Ireland to be drawn against either Argentina or Brazil…in the European Championships. Never a dull moment. A special group of players and staff, and the current side is shaping up nicely too.' Other highlights for Gilmour including interviewing England captain Harry Kane and a parrot that sang football songs. 'There were plenty of other standouts: sitting down with England captain Harry Kane multiple times over the course of his career, a quickfire 1 minute 37 second interview with Erling Haaland, and stepping into the world of Premier League commentary, something I'm keen to continue. 'And then there were the lighter moments… a feature about a dog that went viral for balancing things on its head, and a parrot that sang football songs. We waited three hours in the owner's house before it finally delivered. 'Growing up watching Sky Sports News, I'm incredibly proud to have played a small part in our history. I'll be forever grateful to my SSN colleagues and friends for their guidance, passion and humour over the years. 'Now, I'm stepping into the freelance world to see what's next. I'm open to opportunities'
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
NI leaders condemn sectarian attacks branded by housing association as ‘mass attempt at cleansing'
The First and deputy First Ministers have condemned sectarian attacks in a housing development, described by a Northern Ireland housing association as a "mass attempt at cleansing of an area". Masonry was thrown at properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street in north Belfast last Wednesday and on Friday some residents said they planned to leave their homes. Northern Ireland's First and deputy First Ministers have jointly called for solidarity following the sectarian attacks in north Belfast. Meanwhile, Pol Callaghan, of Clanmil Housing Association, which operates the scheme, said the attacks are a "sectarian motivated hate crime" and that the victims "would be perceived of being from a Catholic nationalist background". "It would one thing if it was a single family being intimidated out but this is a mass attempt at cleansing of a group of people because of there community identity,' he told BBC Radio Ulster. A multi-agency meeting was held on Tuesday as efforts continue to ensure the safety of a number of families. Mr Callaghan told the Good Morning Ulster programme the attacks are 'reminiscent of what we had thought we had left behind" in NI. "We cannot accept that there's part of this city where anyone should not be able to live because of their perceived race, religion or anything else," he said. "Whatever happens in this one street, in Annalee Street, over the next few days and weeks, there are significant lessons that have to be learned, either in terms of the future of this street or elsewhere, because we can't afford to set a precedent here. "We have people who are sleeping in homes today who are literally in fear of their lives.' Mr Callaghan said that many of the victims are too scared to return to their homes. "We are going to have to reflect on how we are going to manage the scheme over the next while," he said. "We need to have a genuine inter-agency approach to dealing with this issue, because the situation as it currently stands cannot be allowed to stay." The PSNI has stepped up patrols in the area. Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly have now voiced their condemnation following the intimidation of some families in the north Belfast neighbourhood. Ms O'Neill said, as political leaders, their duty is to 'call out sectarianism', 'say no to sectarianism' and 'say no to those people who are involved in intimidation'. 'Trying to run people out of their homes is intolerable, we say to all those involved, they must stop, and I say the full force of the law must be applied to those people involved in intimidating families,' she told reporters during a visit in Co Tyrone on Wednesday. Ms Little-Pengelly added: 'The vast vast majority of people right throughout Northern Ireland are not sectarian, they're not involved in sectarianism, they're not involved in threatening or intimidatory behaviour. 'We need to stand politically shoulder by shoulder to make clear that all intimidation, all threats of violence, all violence as a result of sectarianism, racism or whatever that may look like is absolutely wrong. 'That's a message that we've sent very strongly and united from the Executive from the outset and we'll continue to do so.' Chair of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, Hazel Bell OBE, said everyone has the fundamental right to feel safe in their home and local community. "These recent attacks on homes and the intimidation of residents are completely unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue, here or in any community across Northern Ireland,' she added. 'Housing Associations work hard to ensure that new developments integrate with the wider community, and we will continue to do so. 'When faced with these horrible acts, we must see a united and urgent response—across communities, political representatives and all agencies —to ensure these incidents are not repeated. We cannot allow such mindless violence and intimidation to continue to scar our communities.' Earlier this week, Stormont's justice minister described the "sickening attacks' as 'a reminder of a dark past and are carried out by those who wish to continue controlling the communities they purport to serve.' "It is unthinkable that young mothers are being forced to leave their homes, and I call on those responsible to desist now," Naomi Long added. North Belfast MP John Finucane warned there was a "sinister and organised element" to the attacks. 'This threat needs to be withdrawn immediately,' the Sinn Fein representative added. Independent councillor Paul McCusker described Tuesday's meeting as very difficult for residents including some who 'are not able to sleep [and] are not eating". 'It is having a massive negative impact on their lives," he added. Mr McCusker said residents felt there has been poor communication with police amid a feeling that the force has not been "supportive enough". PSNI Chief Inspector Patrick Mullan insisted officers are "focused on keeping the residents safe, and are providing enhanced patrols in the area as we work towards a resolution in conjunction with our community partners" as he welcomed the meeting as an "opportunity to listen to residents' legitimate concerns".
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Decision to place UVF chief Winkie Irvine in Maghaberry's segregated loyalist wing is slammed
Irvine was sentenced last week for firearms offences. According to reports, the 49-year-old asked to be placed on the paramilitary wing despite not being convicted of any terrorism-related offences. Irvine, from Ballysillan Road in north Belfast, was handed a two-and-a-half year sentence after he admitted a range of firearm and ammunition offences – a sentence well below the minimum five years for the offences admitted. He will spend half in custody and the rest on licence. At Belfast Crown Court, his co-accused, Robin Workman (54), of Shore Road, Larne, was sentenced to five years – half of which will be served on licence. Both men had pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. While judges must take account of aggravating and mitigating factors when sentencing, questions have been raised over Judge Gordon Kerr's sentence. Ex-UUP leader Doug Beattie is among those who have raised concerns. 'It's going from the bizarre to the ludicrous in so many ways,' he told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show. 'The more you look at this, the more you just cannot understand what's going on. To the person on the street, it's unfathomable where we find ourselves now. 'I've said this before – take away the personality, take away the flag of convenience that these people use, look at this with the facts in front of you. 'They tell you this man was a serious danger. Those weapons were destined to go somewhere or were coming from somewhere. That needed the minimum sentence. Then you add the personality to it and you suddenly realise this person has been given so much privilege in what he's been doing. 'This should have been an aggravating factor. He should have got more than five years because of that. It's absolutely ludicrous.' Mr Beattie said ending segregation in prisons should have happened a long time ago. 'On the issue of separation in prison, I believe it should be gone,' he added, referring to the practice which allows prisoners convicted of paramilitary offences to be housed with fellow paramilitary prisoners. 'It might not be as privileged as people think. I did notice on one occasion where prisoners are locked in their cells to eat lunch, for example, whereas those on the separate regime are allowed to freely mingle together. They get more time out of their cells. 'But that's not the point here. The point is we in society are trying to get rid of those who class themselves as brigadiers in our society. We go through the law, put them in jail, and what do we do in jail? We put them on a wing that gives them that kudos of being a brigadier. When they come out, they go back to doing exactly what they were doing before with that extra kudos hanging over their shoulders. 'That's why I have always argued that the separated prison regime should go. It should have gone a long time ago. 'I will be meeting the Director of Public Prosecutions today for a long-standing appointment about sentencing in general, but I will be raising this particular issue. 'The confidence in our justice system is at an all-time low because of the way we look at issues of sentencing, and particularly at issues like this where somebody was caught with weapons, live ammunition and still hasn't said what they were for and where they were going. 'It's absolutely rubbing the noses of law-abiding citizens into the ground when we see something like this happening. There may be good reasons for all of this, but if that's the case then people need to come out and tell us what those good reasons are. We need that transparency and I haven't seen that. 'I cannot understand why Winston Irvine was not charged under terrorist legislation and why he was not sentenced under terrorist legislation. All of the evidence, as far as I'm concerned as a lay person, tells me there is absolutely a link here.' Watch: Winston 'Winkie' Irivine arrives at Laganside Courts The Northern Ireland Prison Service does not comment on individual prisoners. On the wider issue of separation - if a prisoner, whether sentenced or on remand, applies for and subsequently meets the criteria set by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for separation, then the Prison Service holds that individual in accommodation apart from the integrated population.'A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: '
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Attacks on homes 'mass attempt to cleanse area'
Sectarian attacks on homes in north Belfast are "a mass attempt at cleansing of an area", a housing association has said. Masonry was thrown at properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street last Wednesday and on Friday some residents said they planned to leave their homes. A multi-agency meeting was held on Tuesday as efforts continue to ensure the safety of a number of families. Pol Callaghan, of Clanmil Housing Association, which operates the mixed housing scheme, said the attacks are a "sectarian motivated hate crime" and those who have been targeted "would be perceived of being from a Catholic nationalist background". Mr Callaghan said the attacks is "behaviour en masse which is reminiscent of what we had thought we had left behind". "We cannot accept that there's part of this city where anyone should not be able to live because of their perceived race, religion or anything else," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster. "Whatever happens in this one street, in Annalee Street, over the next few days and weeks, there are significant lessons that have to be learned, either in terms of the future of this street or elsewhere, because we can't afford to set a precedent here. "We have people who are sleeping in homes today who are literally in fear of their lives." Mr Callaghan said Clanmil want everyone allocated a house in the scheme to stay long-term, but understood that some people are very fearful and have said they don't want to return to their homes. "We are going to have to reflect on how we are going to manage the scheme over the next while," he said. "We need to have a genuine inter-agency approach to dealing with this issue, because the situation as it currently stands cannot be allowed to stay." On Tuesday, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the "sickening attacks are a reminder of a dark past and are carried out by those who wish to continue controlling the communities they purport to serve. "It is unthinkable that young mothers are being forced to leave their homes, and I call on those responsible to desist now." The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have stepped up patrols in the area. Sinn Féin's North Belfast MP John Finucane said there was a "sinister and organised element" to the sectarian attacks on homes in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street areas. "This threat needs to be withdrawn immediately," Finucane said. Independent councillor Paul McCusker said Tuesday's meeting had been very difficult for residents. "The families who have been there since Wednesday are not able to sleep, are not eating, it is having a massive negative impact on their lives," he said. He said many residents felt "communication hasn't been great between police and residents" adding there was a feeling police had not been "supportive enough". Police said they are "focused on keeping the residents safe, and are providing enhanced patrols in the area as we work towards a resolution in conjunction with our community partners". Tuesday's meeting had given police "the opportunity to listen to residents' legitimate concerns," Ch Insp Patrick Mullan said. Residents 'shouldn't have to leave homes' after sectarian attacks Residents targeted in sectarian attack 'to leave' after further threats Sectarian attacks 'a reminder of a dark past', justice minister says
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
'Would not sound out of place in a Soviet ministry': TUV slams Stormont for using public money to transcribe critics on Nolan Show
The Executive Office has been accused of wasting public money by getting civil servants to transcribe what political rivals say on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, with one MLA describing the practice as "political surveillance".
