Latest news with #DeniseJohnston
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
Man arrested after Ballymena 'spread with slurry overnight' ahead of town's first Pride parade
LAST UPDATE | 34 mins ago A MAN HAS BEEN arrested after slurry was spread on streets in Ballymena and shopfronts have allegedly been vandalised with spray paint ahead of a Pride parade that is due to take place in the Co Antrim town this afternoon. Business owners this morning opened their shutters on Ballymoney Street and Greenvale Street, close to the Town Centre shopping centre, to find that slurry had been spread up and down the roads overnight. Family-owned businesses and their staff are currently cleaning up the mess ahead of the town's first ever Pride parade this afternoon , which was due to finish up on Greenvale Street. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have said that one man, aged 19, was arrested this morning in connection with their investigation. Police said that the incident, which happened just before 3am this morning, is being treated as a hate crime. The 19-year-old was arrested after being accused of criminal damage and possession of a blade, the PSNI said. Local SDLP councillor Denise Johnston wrote on X: 'I am hearing that the town centre in Ballymena has been spread with slurry overnight ahead of the town's first Pride rally. The local businesses are currently cleaning it up.' Advertisement 'I am disgusted by those bigots who would commit such an act and hope they will have been caught on CCTV,' she added. Tánaiste Simon Harris has described the incident as a 'vile act'. 'Love is love,' he wrote in a post to social media. 'It's awful,' one Greenvale shop owner told The Journal . 'It's all up the lampposts as well.' Alliance leader Naomi Long posted to X this morning: 'I despair the mentality of those who spread slurry on the streets of their town motivated by hate and bigotry. Disgusting in every sense of the word.' Shop owners reported the incident to the police, it is understood. Poster for the first Pride Parade in Ballymena, which will take place this afternoon. Mid & East Antrim Pride Mid & East Antrim Pride Nicole, a manager of the K&G McAtamney Butchery & Deli on Ballymoney Street, said that when workers arrived at the car park this morning there was slurry the whole way from there to the butchers. 'It's all around the town from Ballymoney street to here, and it's particularly bad on Greenvale Street,' she said. 'The vendors here have been out all morning getting involved in cleaning it, including our workers.' Related Reads From less than a dozen marchers to tens of thousands: A history of Dublin Pride Nicole told The Journal : 'We don't understand what would compel somebody to do this and for it to coincide with our first pride event, which is a positive thing bringing people into the town, is just vile.' 'We're halfway up the street cleaning it now, and it's been all hands on deck, but it's been deeply unpleasant for our staff, and of course our customers.' Ballymena made headlines around the world after three nights of rioting earlier this month in which over 40 PSNI officers were injured. PSNI said the rioting erupted after a vigil to protest the alleged sexual assault in the town was 'hijacked' by 'racist thuggery'. Curtis Lee, the organiser of the Pride parade in Ballymena which will take place this afternoon, told The Journal: 'The committee's opinion was that, no matter what, we're going ahead with this because to cancel would be to give into fear.' There will be protests today from four evangelical Christian groups. One of the four groups protesting is United Christian Witness, and the other three are local church groups. With reporting by Eimer McAuley & Diarmuid Pepper Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Independent
06-03-2025
- The Independent
Girl, 12, dies after being hit by car as she got off school bus
A 12-year-old girl has died after being struck by a car after getting off a school bus. The collision happened outside the village of Castledawson in Co Londonderry on Wednesday afternoon, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. The girl was hit by the car after exiting the bus on the Hillhead Road shortly after 4pm. A PSNI spokesperson said: 'There was a large number of people in the vicinity at the time who may have recorded video footage of the scene. 'I would ask anyone with footage not to share it on social media, but instead forward it to police through the Major Incident Public Portal. 'This footage will be of great assistance to officers investigating the collision.' The Hillhead Road was closed following the collision but it had reopened by Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Northern Ireland's Education Authority (EA) said: 'We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of a pupil following a road traffic incident which occurred on the Hillhead Road, outside Castledawson yesterday afternoon. 'Our sincere condolences are with the family, friends, fellow pupils and staff at the school, and all those affected by this tragic incident. 'The EA's Critical Incident Response Team are supporting the school during this difficult time and will provide emotional support to both students and staff. 'We would kindly ask that the family, school and wider community are afforded the time and space to grieve this unimaginable loss. 'A PSNI investigation into the serious collision is ongoing.' Local councillor for the area Denise Johnston said the community was heartbroken. 'We are so very saddened by the news that another young girl from Castledawson has died,' said the SDLP representative. 'The community is in absolute shock at this tragedy. 'Our children are so precious to us, there is no pain greater than losing them. 'This is every parent's worst nightmare and I cannot even imagine what they are going through at this time. 'My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this girl and everyone who knew her. I know the good people of Castledawson will rally around them in the days and weeks ahead to support them as they come to terms with this devastating loss.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Girl, 11, dies after being struck by car after exiting schoolbus
An 11-year-old girl has died following a crash in County Londonderry. The girl was struck by a car after exiting a schoolbus on the Hillhead Road, Castledawson, shortly after 16:00 GMT on Wednesday, police said. The road was closed for a following the collision, but has since reopened. Insp Adair, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: "There was a large number of people in the vicinity at the time who may have recorded video footage of the scene." Police have appealed for those with footage not to share it on social media, but instead forward it to them through the Major Incident Public Portal. SDLP councillor Denise Johnston said the community is in "absolute shock". "We are so very saddened by the news that another young girl from Castledawson has died," she said. There is "no pain greater" than losing a child, she added. "This is every parent's worst nightmare." "My thoughts and prayers are with the family and I know the good people of Castledawson will rally around them in the days and weeks ahead."
