Latest news with #TheNolanShow
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
'Girls shouldn't have to wear skirts to school'
Two school girls from County Fermanagh are campaigning for legislation to force schools to offer girls a choice between skirts and trousers. Rhea and Astrid successfully campaigned for Enniskillen Integrated Primary School to allow girls to wear trousers, and said it's "weird and unfair" that some schools still enforce skirts. They are taking their case to Stormont's education committee on Tuesday afternoon as part of a hearing into broad changes to school uniform law. Education Minister Paul Givan told BBC News NI the decision lies with individual schools and their boards of governors. Some schools in Northern Ireland already allow girls to have a choice between trousers and skirts. Enniskillen Integrated Primary were prompted to change their policy after Rhea and Astrid contacted Dr Mairead Ryan, whose research outlined a relation between school uniforms and physical activity. In a letter to the school, Dr Ryan said: "Gendered uniforms can limit girls' movement and engagement in physical activities." "Uniform items like dresses and skirts can restrict certain movements and inhibit young girls from climbing, jumping, and participating in other forms of active play that are crucial for their development," she added. Rhea said: "I didn't really like being made to wear a skirt, it just felt wrong. It's 2025. "It's quite hard to run around without your skirt blowing up in the wind," she added. "All schools have the power to change it so if you have the power, then I think you probably should." Astrid said: "I think its important to have the choice for our privacy and for our comfort. "It's weird that some schools don't give you the choice to wear trousers. It's a bit old school." Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Education Minister, Paul Givan, said: "Whenever it comes to decisions should I then give the legal right for a child to say I'm going to wear a school tie or not." When challenged, he said "I'm widening it out, because it can't be taken in isolation between a trouser and a skirt." The committee hearing on Tuesday will examine wide ranging changes proposed to the law around school uniforms. It includes proposals to make school uniforms more affordable, and limiting the amount of branded items which parents and retailers have said drives up the cost. Sports kits that 'don't last' push prices 'up and up and up' Should there be a school uniform price limit? Schools could be forced to explain uniform price under new law
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police defend arrests of Pro-Palestinian protestors
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has defended its actions after two women, one of whom is a pensioner, were arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest in Belfast. Sue Pentel, 72, a long-standing campaigner and member of Jews for Palestine Ireland, and another woman in her 50s were detained by police outside a Barclays Bank branch in Castle Place on Saturday. Both were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Stickers had been placed on an ATM. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said having looked at body-cam footage of the incident, determined that the officer's actions were "lawful and proportionate". "I am limited in what I can say about this incident as due process must be allowed to run its course," he said in a statement to BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show. "However, due to the degree of interest in this case, I want to reassure the public that, having reviewed footage of the incident (including from body worn camera,) I am satisfied that our officers acted with courtesy and professionalism." ACC Henderson said the officers were reacting to an emergency call from a city centre business. "Their actions were lawful and proportionate to the situation they discovered," he added. Both of the women were released later on Saturday, pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. ACC Henderson said the right to both freedom of speech and assembly are "fundamental human rights". "However, they must be balanced with the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime." Following the arrests, a number of pro-Palestinian protesters held a further demonstration outside Musgrave Street PSNI station. Branches of Barclays have been targeted around the UK by pro-Palestinian groups, who want the bank to stop investing in certain companies. There has been mass condemnation of the arrests, with Ms Pentel's solicitor Pádraig Ó Muirigh saying she was detained after "peacefully protesting". "She has committed no offence and should not be criminalised for exercising her right to peaceful protest against these ongoing atrocities," he said in a statement. "Our client will robustly contest any attempt to criminalise her if a decision is made to prosecute. "We will also be advising her in relation to the lawfulness of her arrest." Patrick Corrigan, the Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International UK, told The Nolan Show that the right to protest is "fundamental to our democracy". "That includes making the point with your body – standing in the street or even with placing a sticker - those symbolic acts," he added. "It's in the public interest that police protect those rights." Mr Corrigan said peaceful protest is protected by law "even when it disruptive or causes a minor nuisance to people but that is not a reason to criminalise people". "When you arrest people for a sticker you lose all sense of balance." Pensioner arrested during pro-Palestinian protest
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Number of animals euthanised after livestock lorry overturned on M1
Fire crews undertook a complex rescue operation after a lorry carrying 40 cows overturned on the M1. Most of the cows were transferred to another lorry, however a small number of the animals had to be euthanised. Some sections of the east-bound lane will remain closed while the vehicle is recovered, potentially taking a number of hours. Motorists travelling east-bound can come off at junction 13 and travel along the Derryhubbert Road, where traffic lights are in place, and back onto the M1 at junction 12. A section of the route, from junction 12 at the Birches in Portadown and junction 13 near the Black Island Road turn-off, had been closed for most of the day. NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) Area Commander David Doherty told BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show this morning that the driver of the vehicle is 'safe and well'. Dozens of cattle remained trapped following the incident on Friday morning. 'At the minute, we have firefighters on scene, we have appliances form Dungannon, Portadown and Armagh,' Mr Doherty previously said. 'We have two specialist animal rescue teams, and we have our specialist rescue team from Central fire station at the minute. 'We have an overturned lorry. The driver is safe and well. There are 40 cattle trapped in the lorry, we are carrying out an extraction of those animals. 'We have a rescue plan in place we are off loading those animals and we will transport them away safely. 'It is a challenging operation at the moment. Both ways of the motorway are currently closed, and may be for several hours.' He added: 'I cannot speculate (on how the lorry overturned), the Fire Service is concentrating on the rescue. 'We have vets on scene at the minute to do an assessment on the animals, the vets are for their welfare. 'It is a multi-agency programme, and we have DAERA here for the animal welfare. 'It will be a proactive operation. A large vehicle like this with two decks, which has obviously been affected by the impact of the crash. 'It is quite a comprehensive operation, that is why our specialist crew are here with our normal crews. It is quite a complex task for our fire fighters. 'We are rescuing them (cows) as quick as we can as with any vehicle accident. There will be issues there, there is entrapment. 'But we are working as fast as we can for their welfare. We have to do it as quickly and as safely as possible. 'We have to work to bring them out onto a safe environment, where we can put them onto another vehicle so they can't be exposed to any further harm. 'It is closed from exit 12 up until exit 13.' Mid Ulster MLA Linda Dillon has expressed relief that the driver was unharmed. 'This is major disruption and it is good to hear that the lorry driver is safe and well and vets are on the scene to assess the cattle,' the Sinn Féin representative said. 'Emergency services are at the scene and we hope the overturned lorry will be removed as quickly as possible and the M1 reopens soon but I would advise drivers to avoid the area for the time being. 'We have been contacted by students who were due to sit final exams in Belfast this morning and this has caused them a great deal of distress. 'I have been in contact with universities to see if anything can be done to facilitate these students.' Balmoral show returns for 2025 Lurgan councillor, Peter Haire, had called urged road users to allow for extra time on their journeys. 'It's going to cause chaos for people travelling to Belfast,' said the DUP representative. 'I would urge people to take alternative routes. It helps that it is a Friday and people may be working from home. 'However, a lot of people will be travelling to the Balmoral Show. So there is going to be a lot of delay. 'I would ask people to take more time for their journey, and take a different route.' Police said a closure remains in place this afternoon. Motorists travelling city-bound on the M1 are advised to leave the motorway at junction 15, the Moy Road roundabout, and travel through Armagh before joining the M12 at Portadown.
Sunday World
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Sunday World
Trapped cattle forced to be put down after livestock lorry crash shuts M1
The driver of the vehicle is 'safe and well' but dozens of cattle remained trapped following the incident on Friday morning Both lanes of M1 blocked between junction 13 and 12 due to a Livestock Transporter on its side. Photo: MP Doran Fire crews have almost completed a complex rescue operation after a lorry carrying 40 cows overturned on the M1. Most of the cows have been transferred to another lorry and are waiting to be moved from the site. However, a small number of the animals have had to be euthanised. A section of the route, from junction 12 at the Birches in Portadown and junction 13 near the Black Island Road turn-off, has been closed for most of the day. NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) Area Commander David Doherty told BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show this morning that the driver of the vehicle is 'safe and well'. Dozens of cattle remained trapped following the incident on Friday morning. The westbound junction 11 to junction 12 is likely to remain closed for some time. NIFRS area commander David Doherty Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire 'At the minute, we have firefighters on scene, we have appliances form Dungannon, Portadown and Armagh,' Mr Doherty previously said. 'We have two specialist animal rescue teams, and we have our specialist rescue team from Central fire station at the minute. 'We have an overturned lorry. The driver is safe and well. There are 40 cattle trapped in the lorry, we are carrying out an extraction of those animals. 'We have a rescue plan in place we are off loading those animals and we will transport them away safely. 'It is a challenging operation at the moment. Both ways of the motorway are currently closed, and may be for several hours.' He added: 'I cannot speculate (on how the lorry overturned), the Fire Service is concentrating on the rescue. 'We have vets on scene at the minute to do an assessment on the animals, the vets are for their welfare. Both lanes of M1 blocked between junction 13 and 12 due to a Livestock Transporter on its side. Photo: MP Doran News in 90 Seconds - May 16th 'It is a multi-agency programme, and we have DAERA here for the animal welfare. 'It will be a proactive operation. A large vehicle like this with two decks, which has obviously been affected by the impact of the crash. 'It is quite a comprehensive operation, that is why our specialist crew are here with our normal crews. It is quite a complex task for our fire fighters. 'We are rescuing them (cows) as quick as we can as with any vehicle accident. There will be issues there, there is entrapment. 'But we are working as fast as we can for their welfare. We have to do it as quickly and as safely as possible. 'We have to work to bring them out onto a safe environment, where we can put them onto another vehicle so they can't be exposed to any further harm. 'It is closed from exit 12 up until exit 13.' Linda Dillon (Pic: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker) Mid Ulster MLA Linda Dillon has expressed relief that the driver was unharmed. 'This is major disruption and it is good to hear that the lorry driver is safe and well and vets are on the scene to assess the cattle,' the Sinn Féin representative said. 'Emergency services are at the scene and we hope the overturned lorry will be removed as quickly as possible and the M1 reopens soon but I would advise drivers to avoid the area for the time being. 'We have been contacted by students who were due to sit final exams in Belfast this morning and this has caused them a great deal of distress. 'I have been in contact with universities to see if anything can be done to facilitate these students.' Lurgan councillor, Peter Haire, has called urged road users to allow for extra time on their journeys as traffic is being diverted through Moira. 'It's going to cause chaos for people travelling to Belfast,' said the DUP representative. 'I would urge people to take alternative routes. It helps that it is a Friday and people may be working from home. 'However, a lot of people will be travelling to the Balmoral Show. So there is going to be a lot of delay. 'I would ask people to take more time for their journey, and take a different route.' Police said a closure remains in place this afternoon. Motorists travelling city-bound on the M1 are advised to leave the motorway at junction 15, the Moy Road roundabout, and travel through Armagh before joining the M12 at Portadown. The opposite applies to those travelling countrywards.
Belfast Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Driver ‘safe and well' but number of cows put down after livestock lorry overturns on M1
Most of the cows have been transferred to another lorry and are waiting to be moved from the site. However, a small number of the animals have had to be euthanised. A section of the route, from junction 12 at the Birches in Portadown and junction 13 near the Black Island Road turn-off, has been closed for most of the day. NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) Area Commander David Doherty told BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show this morning that the driver of the vehicle is 'safe and well'. Dozens of cattle remained trapped following the incident on Friday morning. The westbound junction 11 to junction 12 is likely to remain closed for some time. 'At the minute, we have firefighters on scene, we have appliances form Dungannon, Portadown and Armagh,' Mr Doherty previously said. 'We have two specialist animal rescue teams, and we have our specialist rescue team from Central fire station at the minute. 'We have an overturned lorry. The driver is safe and well. There are 40 cattle trapped in the lorry, we are carrying out an extraction of those animals. 'We have a rescue plan in place we are off loading those animals and we will transport them away safely. 'It is a challenging operation at the moment. Both ways of the motorway are currently closed, and may be for several hours.' He added: 'I cannot speculate (on how the lorry overturned), the Fire Service is concentrating on the rescue. 'We have vets on scene at the minute to do an assessment on the animals, the vets are for their welfare. 'It is a multi-agency programme, and we have DAERA here for the animal welfare. 'It will be a proactive operation. A large vehicle like this with two decks, which has obviously been affected by the impact of the crash. 'It is quite a comprehensive operation, that is why our specialist crew are here with our normal crews. It is quite a complex task for our fire fighters. 'We are rescuing them (cows) as quick as we can as with any vehicle accident. There will be issues there, there is entrapment. 'But we are working as fast as we can for their welfare. We have to do it as quickly and as safely as possible. 'We have to work to bring them out onto a safe environment, where we can put them onto another vehicle so they can't be exposed to any further harm. 'It is closed from exit 12 up until exit 13.' Mid Ulster MLA Linda Dillon has expressed relief that the driver was unharmed. 'This is major disruption and it is good to hear that the lorry driver is safe and well and vets are on the scene to assess the cattle,' the Sinn Féin representative said. 'Emergency services are at the scene and we hope the overturned lorry will be removed as quickly as possible and the M1 reopens soon but I would advise drivers to avoid the area for the time being. 'We have been contacted by students who were due to sit final exams in Belfast this morning and this has caused them a great deal of distress. 'I have been in contact with universities to see if anything can be done to facilitate these students.' News Catch Up - Thursday 15 May Lurgan councillor, Peter Haire, has called urged road users to allow for extra time on their journeys as traffic is being diverted through Moira. 'It's going to cause chaos for people travelling to Belfast,' said the DUP representative. 'I would urge people to take alternative routes. It helps that it is a Friday and people may be working from home. 'However, a lot of people will be travelling to the Balmoral Show. So there is going to be a lot of delay. 'I would ask people to take more time for their journey, and take a different route.' Police said a closure remains in place this afternoon. Motorists travelling city-bound on the M1 are advised to leave the motorway at junction 15, the Moy Road roundabout, and travel through Armagh before joining the M12 at Portadown. The opposite applies to those travelling countrywards.
