Latest news with #CountyArmagh
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Parade risks 'glorification of terrorism'
A controversial band parade that "risks stepping over the line into the glorification of terrorism" is due to take place this weekend in Portadown, County Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson was speaking as more than 400 people and 15 bands are expected to take part in the event billed as the Harris Boyle 50th Anniversary Memorial parade on Boyle was known as one of the attackers of the Miami Showband murders in July deputy leader Tennyson added: "Victims should be at the heart of any discussion we're having about celebrations, commemorations and speaking about our past." The parade route is listed on the Parades Commissions website as starting at Levaghery Orange Hall, however, the Orange Order has said it's not a parade it has on The Nolan Show, Tennyson said: "To commemorate and celebrate in this public way is entirely inappropriate and I think it is absolutely wrong."Tennyson said that should apply to both sections of loyalism and republicanism. DUP MP Sammy Wilson told Talkback that while he doesn't know what the "intentions" of the parade organisers are, "I don't believe that we should be, in any way, trying to glorify the terrorist acts of the past". 'Failed to deal with NI's past' Former DUP special advisor, David Graham said there is no doubt that this was an "incredibly tragic event and a needless act of violence".Mr Graham said: "We have failed to deal with the past in Northern Ireland, it is on all of us in a way."He said there are members of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) community who feel like their identity is "constantly under attack" and this was a way for those people to protect and defend their said the commemoration is "not something that I agree with".However, he said the first minister has said in unequivocal terms that there was no alternative in her view to the violence of the past, "there are many people not just in the PUL community, who will simply say, what's good for the goose is good for the gander". Former Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy said the first minister's previous comments about violence in the past should be taken "in context".Mr Molloy added: "We don't have a proper way for remembering the dead and everyone has a right to remember their dead."But, he said that the Miami Showband were some of the "most innocent" people, killed and the "UDR and UVF combined together to take out this band". Commenting on social media, UUP assembly member Doug Beatie, said the parade was "utterly appalling". What was the Miami Showband attack? The bomb and gun attack happened as the band, which toured across Ireland, travelled home to Dublin after a gig in minibus was stopped by a fake Army patrol involving Ulster Defence Regiment and Ulster Volunteer Force Boyle was killed when the bomb which was placed on the Miami Showband bus exploded gang then opened fire, murdering singer Fran O'Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty and trumpeter Brian Travers and another band member, Des McAlea, were injured but bomb also killed Wesley Somerville who was commemorated in April at a memorial parade in Moygashel in County Tyrone.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Portadown: Newspaper print site closure a severe blow, Unite says
The planned closure of a print site in County Armagh will deal a "severe blow to Northern Ireland's newspaper print capacity", a trade union has Associated Print site at Carn Industrial Estate in Portadown, which is operated by DMG Media, is set to close this Graham, Unite's regional secretary, said it "is totally unacceptable that a viable business and its workers face being thrown on the scrapheap"."This can and should be a fundamentally viable business," she said. The union says the closure would occur alongside the proposed shutdown of a printing plant in Cork and "further the centralisation of newspaper production to Britain".It said it is engaging with members on the next steps to try to keep the Portadown printworks a statement, DMG Media said: "After extensive review, we are proposing to consolidate our Irish print operations."This proposed change would unfortunately result in the closure of our print site in Carn in autumn 2025."We are absolutely committed to helping everyone who is affected and supporting them through the process." However, Unite regional officer Neil Moore said: "If Associated Print pushes ahead with closing this site, it will leave just one newspaper printworks operating in Northern Ireland. "That's not just a blow to jobs, it's a strategic risk to the print industry and a wider threat to skills."If the company won't invest in this workforce or this facility, it should be prepared to stand aside for someone who sees the long-term value in this facility. "We are pursuing every available option and will not allow these workers to be discarded without a fight."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cost of living: 'Forgotten about' Lurgan parents rely on £20 summer scheme
"Forgotten about" parents are calling for more financial support for children's activities during the summer comes as research by Ulster University suggests more parents are cutting back on children's sports due to the rising cost of living.A number of parents whose children attend Clann Éireann summer scheme in Lurgan, County Armagh, spoke to BBC News costs just £20 a week and is able to keep costs low as it is run mainly by volunteers. Seana McConville, who volunteers at smaller sessions in the club that are adapted for children with additional needs, like her son, said if her child was going into childcare over the summer she would have to pay for one-to-one support for said families like hers were "forgotten about"."I'm a full-time worker and every other year I would have to work term time, which is less money throughout the year in order to be able to take off the summer," she said."But that's not good for me or my son, because we are then tied to just being in the house. "I miss the social side of being at work and the rest of the year you can struggle because your wages are less." The Clann Éireann summer scheme runs for two weeks and this year 180 children are Coleman has worked at the club for 30 years and is a classroom assistant at the local said it was a lifeline for many parents."We know people are trying to cut corners on food, clothes, for basic toiletries, that's the way it's going, like back in your mummy's day nearly," she told BBC News NI. School uniforms and PE kits Ulster University surveyed 855 research suggested 37% of parents reduced spending on sports and 35% said their child had missed out because they could not afford also found 30% of parents were unable to afford clothing and equipment needed for Science lecturer at Ulster University, Maria O'Kane, said at this time of the year researchers heard a lot about the cost of school uniforms and PE kits as families were beginning to budget for them ahead of the new school year."Maybe it comes at the sacrifice of a family holiday or a family day out," she said."We heard in the interviews even going for an ice-cream is a luxury they just couldn't afford any more." Mum-of-six Natalie Geoghegan said the sharing of Gaelic kits at Clann Éireann helps keep costs down."With football, you need the latest kit, but with this gear, it's not the latest - one from four to five years ago is just the same, you've got the badge and you're part of the group," she her family, holidays are a luxury that do not happen every year."You like to try and get away because life is hard and you like to get away in the summer, but you have to cut back in general on things like clothes and [use] hand me-downs," she said."When they're in school all year, there's a routine. I'm lucky I'm at home - I'm not working - but for me to entertain them in the house and run the house, it's mundane for them for me to try and do everything." While Clann Éireann is proving to be an affordable option for these parents, Maria O'Kane said summer schemes do not always suit working families as the hours can be quite short and they can be expensive."That puts another pressure on families if their child is expected to attend," she added. Single mum Nicola Fagan said she felt many parents were "left in limbo" over the summer."Not everyone has grandparents or family who are going to cater to your needs," she works overtime to save for the summer months and her children's many activities."I try my best to make ends meet so they can get to everything they want to do and their friends are involved in," she said."It's a whole lot of pressure because you don't want them missing out on anything that everybody else is doing."I come last all the time and I wouldn't have it any other way, because you aren't going to have your kids for a very long time when they are small so as long as they are happy I can do without for another couple of years." Summer anxiety She said the summer scheme had given her children opportunities and day trips that they would otherwise not have had."It would have been an anxiety for me over how much it would be and what you are going to have to cut back on," she said."Or are you going to be caught out in a week's time thinking, 'I shouldn't have spent that money because I need diesel in the car or extra electric because Finnian hasn't turned off his PlayStation overnight?'"It's stuff like that you need to think about when it comes to money and cost of living." The survey also suggested that more limited disposable income would mean siblings had different is the case for Claire King who said: "From my older child to my younger child, he doesn't get as many days to soft play areas or trips to the zoo, things like that."Between camps, feeding them, childcare costs - they've all gone up in prices, so it is definitely more expensive than it has been in the past."
BBC News
19-07-2025
- BBC News
Lurgan: Windsor Avenue residents return home after arson attack
Residents in Lurgan, County Armagh, have returned to their homes after an arson attack on Saturday happened at a derelict property in Windsor Avenue at about 01:00 BST.A number of residents had to leave their properties while the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) tackled the injuries were reported, NIFRS said, but significant damage has been caused. DUP councillor Peter Haire told BBC News NI that "somebody could have been killed"."We are lucky there were no injuries," he said."There are businesses and houses right beside and we could be looking at a different story today."This is a listed building and it was once beautiful to look at. "The owners don't live in the country. It's devastating."I appeal to those behind this arson attack to stop."
BBC News
18-07-2025
- BBC News
Katie Simpson: New charity 'a legacy' to murdered young showjumper
The family of a young showjumper whose death led to a policing controversy say a new charitable trust in her name will help other Simpson, 21, died six days after being admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital in August Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) initially treated her death as suicide, but her family raised questions about the direction of the original police probe and the case was eventually upgraded to a murder investigation.A showjumping trainer, Jonathan Creswell, 36, died in 2024 while on trial for the murder of Ms Simpson, who was from the village of Tynan in County Armagh. On Friday, some members of her family attended the official launch of The Katie aunt, Paula Mullan, told BBC News NI that she hopes the charity will help other families."This charity is going to help so much and so many people, that they don't feel alone and that they're being answered, their questions to be answered."Another aunt, Colleen McConville said: "The very sad thing is it's happening too often. "This charity will help straight away from the onset, not down the line, which is harder to be investigated, so it will give families direct and quick answers." The Katie Trust has been founded by James Brannigan, a retired PSNI Detective Sergeant who led the murder investigation, with the support of Katie Simpson's relatives."This Trust is here to listen, when so many have not. It is here to ask the hard questions, when others will not," Mr Brannigan said. "And above all, it is here to stand beside families, not in opposition to law enforcement, but in service of justice and truth."In January 2025, the justice minister announced she was setting up an independent review into the case of Jonathan had been jailed for six months in 2010 after pleading guilty to assaulting a girlfriend. Katie Simpson never regained consciousness following the incident at a house in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, in August the first and only day of his trial for murder, it was alleged that Creswell strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged who had denied the murder and rape of Ms Simpson, was found dead at his home shortly before he was due to attend the second day of his trial in April previous day, during opening submissions in front of a jury, a prosecution lawyer outlined how Creswell allegedly raped, strangled and killed Ms prosecution had also outlined how Creswell had previous "illicit" sexual relations with Ms Simpson and attacked her after discovering she was in a relationship with another younger Simpson lived with Creswell and his partner Christina, who was her sister, at the time of her had been described as an abusive and controlling women avoided jail last year after admitting offences connected to her Robinson, Rose De Montmorency-Wright, and Hayley Robb were given suspended prison sentences.
