Latest news with #Newtownards
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Newtownards: Man charged following security alert
A 42-year-old man has been charged following a security alert in Newtownards on man has been charged with a threatening communications offence and possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to is due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court on Monday 2 object, which is believed to be viable, was found during a search of residential premises in the Mill Street area shortly after 13:45 BST on Friday.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Newtownards: Suspicious object found during security alert
A suspicious object has been taken for forensic examination after a security alert in Newtownards, County object, which is believed to be viable, was found during a search of residential premises in the Mill Street area shortly after 13:45 BST on Friday. A man in his 40s was arrested during the search Street has now reopened and residents who were evacuated from an apartment block are able to return to their homes.
BreakingNews.ie
16-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Romance scam warning after woman sent €17,000 to fraudster she met on dating site
A woman has been swindled out of £15,000 (€17,700) after she transferred money to a fraudster she met on a dating site. The PSNI has warned the public to be vigilant over 'romance scams' following the fraud targeting the victim in Newtownards, Co Down. Advertisement Police said the woman is believed to have met the fraudster online on a dating site and the relationship developed over a couple of months, before the scammer convinced her to transfer money to him, which she did on three separate occasions. We are warning the public to be vigilant after a fraudster swindled a woman out of £15,000 in a romance scam reported this week. Ch/Insp Hutchinson said: 'If you're looking for love online it should never start with being asked for money.' Read more: — Police Ards and North Down (@PSNIArdsNDown) May 16, 2025 A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Sadly, this is another example of this type of crime happening right here, right now in Ards and North Down, where a real life victim has lost savings. 'Not only is there the stark realisation for the victim that she has been lied to by an individual she was building an online relationship with, but she is also having to deal with the financial fallout this incident has resulted in, which is truly heartbreaking. 'As a service, we warn the public of the dangers of romance scams frequently and that these crimes can happen at any time of the year on many dating apps used to meet others. Advertisement 'Fraudsters will seek to build a relationship quickly with the victim, to chat or text away from the dating site or app you first met them on. 'To do this the criminals use some common tactics, invent stories of deceased partners, single parents working away from family, pulling on the heart strings of the recipient. 'Soon enough they will present you with a great investment opportunity they have made money from or an emergency requiring a short term loan of money which they promise they will pay back. 'However, they do not intend to do so because they do not exist. All they wanted was your money and to get as much of it as possible.' Advertisement The spokesperson set out steps to protect against scammers for those who are pursuing online dating. The spokesperson said: 'Always keep communication on the dating website or app you're using. 'Many have in-built security and assistance. They also take steps to remove and ban fake accounts so you're kept safe. 'Conduct your own research on the person you're speaking to, checking their social media presence to see if it matches what's on the dating site. Advertisement 'Looking at key details such as name, location and family members can help identify inconsistencies in what you have been told. 'Profile pictures can be deceiving and be taken from anywhere on the internet. You can use various websites to check photos using a reverse image search to prove if the photo is legitimate. Ireland Man arrested at Dublin Airport as part of investig... Read More 'Never, ever send money to someone you haven't met in person. 'If you're looking for friendship, companionship or love online it should never start with being asked for money even to invest, and if it does, it's not a relationship worth having. Advertisement 'Always remember to stay on site, using reputable dating platforms. Be alert and keep yourself safe.'
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Woman faces jail after admitting she lied to police that she had been sexually assaulted
A woman who lied about being sexually assaulted has been warned she is facing a prison sentence over the fake claims. Elizabeth Bates admitted perverting the course of justice on August 26, 2022 with the particulars of the offence disclosing she did so by 'making false statements to police alleging sexual assault'. It came a year after she appeared on This Morning for a different reason, when she told how her six-year-old son had alerted an Amazon driver to help save her life. Bates, from Newtownards, Co Down, had at an earlier hearing admitted two further similar charges in that on August 24 and 30, 2022, she 'made a statement to police containing false allegations'. At Downpatrick Crown Court, defence KC Richard McConkey asked for the 26-year-old to be re-arraigned on the second count and accordingly, she admitted the perverting the course of justice charge. Mr McConkey told the court that in addition to a pre-sentence report from the Probation Board, he will also be directing a medical report. Adjourning the case to June 20 and freeing Bates on bail, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC told Bates: 'Offences of this nature are very serious because it impacts on the administration of justice.' He added that such fake accusations also 'impact on the livelihoods and wellbeing and reputation of a person against whom an allegation is made,' before warning her that 'the custody threshold is inevitably crossed'. The mother-of-three made headline news last July after her quick-thinking six-year-old son was captured on video asking an Amazon delivery driver for help after she collapsed Bates, from Newtownards, Co Down, had at an earlier hearing admitted two further similar charges in that on August 24 and 30, 2022, she 'made a statement to police containing false allegations' Judge Miller warned that the question of whether that jail term would be suspended or immediate, or whether there would be an alternative sentence, would hinge on the contents of the various reports, so it would be in her best interests to co-operate. The mother-of-three made headline news last July - going by the name Liz or Elizabeth Crooks at the time - after her quick-thinking six-year-old son was captured on video asking an Amazon delivery driver for help after she collapsed. Footage from her home's ring doorbell went viral with more than 20 million views worldwide after it captured the little boy accepting a parcel from a delivery driver and asking him 'to come and help his mummy'. The boy takes the parcel from the driver before asking him: 'Can you help my mummy? She's fainted.' And after asking if his mummy is unwell, the driver then follows the six-year-old into the home and calls for an ambulance. It led to her and her son featuring across the national media, including an appearance on This Morning where she was interviewed by Dermot O'Leary and Rochelle Humes.
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Rhys McClenaghan reveals ‘unfortunate' injury that impacts 2025 plans as Olympic hero vows ‘path to being GOAT is clear'
RHYS McCLENAGHAN will miss the European Championships through injury. The Newtownards man, 25, was due to make his competitive return in Leipzig at the end of this month. 1 Olympic gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan will miss the European Championships Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile He took a break from sport after winning a pommel horse gold medal at the Paris Olympics last summer. But he revealed on Instagram that an unspecified injury will delay his return and the Irishman will instead focus on the World Championships in Indonesia in October. The "I won't be competing at this year's European Championships. Read More on Rhys McClenaghan "I tried my best to push through preparation but an injury kept holding me back. "I chose to prioritise being healthy and recovering for future competitions this year and be sure that I can put out my best work yet. "I may not be retaining my European title but the path to being the GOAT is still very clear." While he took a step back from gymnastics in the wake of the Olympics, McClenaghan remained active in a different avenue. Most read in Other Sports He made a sensational debut on RTE's Dancing With The Stars earlier this year, In a nailbiting final, Rhys and Laura Rhys McClenaghan honoured with massive homecoming on return to Newtownards after Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal victory Although the final vote was determined by both judges' scores and the public vote, some viewers took to social media to express their disappointment that their favourites did not win. And The Olympian told RSVP: "That's always going to be the case with social media, isn't it? It is incredible what those guys did, and everyone should be very proud of themselves. I know if I didn't win the glitterball I would still be proud of myself. "The standard was so high, it was an incredible season, everyone raised the bar. It could have been anyone who lifted the glitterball trophy." The 25-year-old was frequently compared online to his fellow Olympian and series competitor, Jack Woolley; however, Rhys revealed there was no competition between the two. He explained: "We had a mutual respect for each other because we understood the journey we were going on. I said congratulations to him, of course, and all of the other finalists." Outside of The gold medal winner revealed that he and his girlfriend recently bought a house and are currently renovating it, adding: "We'll be moving into it soon. It's the first time we'll be living together so it's a really exciting time in both of our lives. "I'm really looking forward to spending as much time with her as possible and starting a new chapter of our lives together."
