Latest news with #WestBelfast
National Post
03-06-2025
- General
- National Post
Irish MMA fighter says 'Free Palestine' after defeating Israeli opponent
Irish mixed martial artist Paddy McCorry's victory over Israel's Shuki Farage on Saturday may not have been personal, but it was certainly political. Article content After securing a unanimous decision at Cage Warriors 189 in Rome, McCorry draped himself in a Palestinian flag and said 'Free Palestine' before screaming and flexing in celebration. Article content Article content 'Street justice,' followed by an Irish and Palestinian flag, he posted to social media after, along with a clip showing him appearing to yell into Farage's face as he pummeled the Israeli with the bout's finishing blows. Article content Article content Article content In the video, several people in the crowd can be heard chanting 'Free, free Palestine.' Article content Article content According to Cage Warriors, the 27-year-old from West Belfast in Northern Ireland, a more experienced fighter heavily favoured by pundits and bettors, was dominant 'from bell to bell.' It improved his pro record to 6-1, all since 2021. Article content Article content For Farage, it was his fifth professional bout since 2017, but his first since a 2022 win over Turkey's Bugra Alparslan, a more experienced fighter. Article content His only other win occurred in 2017 when he got Russian Sabit Nasive to tap out. His pro record is now 2-2. Article content
Belfast Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Kneecap star appears with tape over his mouth during surprise gig hours after terror charge as Met confirm ‘policing plan' at concert
Latest | West Belfast trio claim charge against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh 'political policing'Singer Paloma Faith 'moved and saddened' by statement from rap groupIrish deputy premier says Hezbollah and Hamas should not be conflated with the Palestinian people Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has appeared on stage during a surprise sold-out gig from the rap group with tape on his mouth, hours after he was charged with terror offences. O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday.
Belfast Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Kneecap star appears with tape over his mouth during sold-out surprise gig hours after terror charge as Met Police confirm ‘policing plan' at concert
Latest | West Belfast trio claim charge against Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh 'political policing'Singer Paloma Faith 'moved and saddened' by statement from rap groupIrish deputy premier says Hezbollah and Hamas should not be conflated with the Palestinian people Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has appeared on stage during a surprise sold-out gig from the rap group with tape on his mouth, hours after he was charged with terror offences. O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
No evidence of fall in Covid rules compliance after Bobby Storey funeral, Michelle O'Neill says
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said there is no evidence to suggest there was a fall in compliance with Covid restrictions after Bobby Storey's funeral. Former Northern Ireland first minister Arlene Foster told the Covid-19 inquiry in Belfast there was a fall in compliance after Sinn Féin ministers, including Ms O'Neill, attended the large-scale funeral for the senior republican in West Belfast in June 2020, when there were restrictions on social gatherings. The former DUP leader made the statement on Wednesday as it examined Stormont decisions made on test, trace and isolation. 'I don't think that we were slow to promote compliance because day after day at press conferences we were urging the public to comply,' Ms Foster said. READ MORE 'There was a breakdown in compliance after the attendance of senior members of Sinn Féin at a high-ranking republican funeral at the end of June, which caused severe difficulties in Northern Ireland with compliance and adherence.' She said that despite efforts made, including working with the PSNI and giving money to councils to employ Covid marshals, there was 'a difficulty which still hung over the Executive' around noncompliance because of the Storey funeral. Asked about Ms Foster's comments, Ms O'Neill told the inquiry: 'I think, unfortunately, I believe Arlene Foster raised that issue again today in the inquiry because the comments are politically motivated. 'I don't believe there is any evidence that suggests that actually is the case.' Ms O'Neill apologised for attending the funeral at the Covid inquiry in 2024. Earlier on Wednesday, Ms Foster said it was 'inhumane' that people had to die alone during the Covid-19 pandemic. The former DUP leader said if she could change one thing from that period, it would be that families should have been allowed to make their own informed decisions on being with their dying loved ones. Asked about whether black, Asian and minority ethnic groups suffered as a result of pre-existing inequalities, Ms Foster said this was true 'of a number of different groups'. Ms Foster and Ms O'Neill were also asked about the decision to end contact tracing on March 12th, 2020. Ms Foster said the decision was made after a Cobra meeting on March 12th, at which she, Ms O'Neill and health minister Robin Swann had little opportunity to engage and were 'in receive mode'. NI chief medical officer Michael McBride told the inquiry that capacity issues were behind the decision to stop community testing and that the ending of contact tracing was a 'second order' as a result of that. Ms O'Neill said she had raised concerns about ending contact tracing in March, as it went against the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Notes by Ms O'Neill, who was then the deputy first minister, were read out from a meeting on March 16th where she wrote 'GB approach nightmare compared to rest of world'. She told the inquiry it was 'absolutely' a decision by the department of health to stop contact tracing in mid-March. Ms O'Neill was asked by inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett whether she was not listened to because of deep political divides in Northern Ireland. 'The fact that we live on an island, the fact that we were one single epidemiological unit, that wasn't factored into decision-making. 'That's not a political point, that's just a logical point. I didn't feel like that was being taken on board. 'I think perhaps that, at times, could be seen as I wanted to follow everything in the south. I didn't. I wanted to follow everything that worked, and I didn't mind where it came from, as long as it worked for the people that we represented.'
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
Sean O'Reilly: CCTV released of suspects in taxi driver shooting
CCTV images released of suspects in taxi driver shooting Just now Share Save Share Save Police Service of Northern Ireland The release of the CCTV images is part of an appeal that includes a reward of up to £20,000 for information CCTV images of two suspects thought to be involved in the attempted murder of a taxi driver in west Belfast earlier this year have been released by the police. Sean O'Reilly, 49, was shot twice as he sat inside his taxi in the Bell Steel Manor area on 23 February. He was said to be a member of Republican Network for Unity, a small political group with links to the dissident organisation Óglaigh na hÉireann. A reward of £20,000 has been offered from the charity Crimestoppers as detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI's) major investigation team reiterated their appeal for information. In a statement, Det Insp Gina Quinn said detectives believe the two gunmen approached the vehicle on foot from a path that runs between the Glenwood and Laurelbank areas. "The first image shows the two gunmen, one of whom is wearing a high-vis yellow jacket," she said. She added that the image shows the men at about 09:50 GMT and that they're travelling to carry out the attack, which happened at about 10:25 GMT. "The second image was taken at around 10.35am and shows the two men just after the shooting. Here, the yellow jacket has been discarded. "Having fired a number of shots at the victim, the two made off, again on foot, heading back via the same path, crossing the Stewartstown Road, and entering the Glasvey area. "They then crossed the Twinbrook Road and entered the Gardenmore Road area." Det Insp Quinn added: "I am making a direct appeal to local people to share any footage, whether CCTV, dash cam or mobile phone footage. "I am appealing to you to do the right thing and speak up."
