‘Cop shops to close as crime increases’

NEW PLANS for the future of local police stations will leave South Belfast without adequate policing cover, it’s been claimed.

Underage club still on hold

DELAYS in granting an entertainment licence to a South Belfast underage nightclub are placing jobs at risk, it has been warned.

Belfast’s Got Talent: 40 Under 40 2012

Young people are stepping up to the mark to build tomorrow’s Belfast. That’s the message from this year’s Belfast 40 Under 40, which recognises 40 of our talented young people.

Recent News

Search for devil-dog that mauled family pet Shep

A POLEGLASS couple who witnessed their much-loved family pet being viciously mauled by a pit bull-type ‘devil dog’ said the crazed animal needs to be found and destroyed before it targets a child.

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Man bailed on burglary charge

AN 18-year-old has been released on continuing bail on charges of burglary with intent to steal after a home was broken into in Carrigart Avenue in upper Lenadoon.

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Catholics and those living in flats will die earlier

New Department of Health research that shows Catholics and tenants living in flats are more likely to die earlier than Protestants or those living in houses is proof that families should not be living in the New Lodge tower blocks, a local campaigner said this week.

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House prices continue to fall but sales increase

Continuing falling house prices are leading to an increase in sales in North Belfast according to a local estate agent. Laura McMillan, from McMillan Estate Agents in Glengormley, was speaking after the publication of the latest RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and Ulster Bank Housing Market Survey’s this week.

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Joby’s family won’t give up search

The family of Joby Murphy will continue to search the River Lagan for his remains despite the scaling back of the official search. The Glengormley man is presumed dead after falling into the river in the early hours of Thursday, January 26 after a night out at a concert in the Odyssey arena.

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Open invite to park life celebrations

Children from the Whitewell area were putting their artistic skills to good use this week designing a new welcome sign to their park which is due to be officially reopened tomorrow.

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It’s all academic for former Barney head

The former principal of a North Belfast school is to be honoured at the University of Ulster’s graduation ceremonies this summer. PJ O’Grady, who retired as principal of St Patrick’s Bearnageeha last year, will receive an honorary doctorate for his role in helping to transform the school and for his contribution to the local community.

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Uni move plans take a step closer

Plans to relocate the University Of Ulster’s Jordanstown campus to North Belfast have taken a step forward as the university began their consultation process last week. The proposal to move the campus to North Belfast has been in the pipeline for a number of years.

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Terms of justice should not be left to victims

Al Hutchinson, who is no longer officially our Ombudsman but is keeping the seat warm until his successor is installed, has stirred the pot of the past in recent days.

A time for great rejoicing?

GENERAL hilarity erupts in West Belfast, firstly at news that Rangers had applied to go into administration; secondly, at news that they had indeed gone into administration; and thirdly, that the inevitable 10-point docking had taken place.

Why snack lovers are getting that old sinking feeling on this 100th anniversary

AWAY from the Occupied Six-Counties fry, another staple food of Noel ’n’ Alan was in the spotlight this week. In the research and development wing of Tandragee Castle, Tayto have…

Chemical fly in the oinkment

A CORRESPONDENT – ‘Pig-Ignorant’ – texts the paper this week complaining about some bacon he bought for his Saturday morning fry-up. He’s unhappy first of all about the fact that the bacon had an irridiscent sheen when he removed it from the packaging

Resilience a recurring theme, from Conamara to Ground Zero

That great hero of Conamara, Seán Ó Coisdealbha, was in the Cultúrlann on Saturday to launch his new poetry anthology Stadhan. A veteran troublemaker – in the best sense of the word – and the dynamo behind some of the best community ventures in the Gaeltacht,

Bitsa ramblings on travel – both time and otherwise

In the mid-90s I briefly took a break from playing Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64 and worrying about who would win the musical face-off between Blur and Oasis to watch children’s television.