News

Northern Ireland teacher trainees threaten legal challenge over bursary scheme

More than 100 students have been left with “no realistic option” but to pursue a judicial review against a teacher training initiative they feel is exclusionary, their solicitor has said.

Phoenix Law said it had served “pre-action correspondence” to the Department for Education in relation to the eligibility criteria of the Initial Teacher Education Bursary Scheme.

Jimmy Cricket’s Catholic priest son jokes at funeral it’s ‘not the first time I’ve see him die’

Comedian Jimmy Cricket’s son has joked it “isn’t the first time I’ve seen him die” as he led his funeral service.

The joke came as his funeral requiem mass began at Salford Cathedral on Friday, following the Northern Irish comic, born James Mulgrew’s death on August 3 at the age of 80 following his battle with a short illness.

The ceremony was attended by comedy veterans such as Syd Little, Tommy Cannon and Roy Walker and led by Cricket’s youngest son Father Frankie Mulgrew, who once worked as his road manager but is now a Catholic priest.

Belfast based Phoenix Law holds jailhouse talks with alleged drugs cartel boss Daniel Kinahan

Belfast based Phoenix Law has held a behind bars talks with alleged international drugs cartel boss Daniel Kinahan.

It is understood high profile solicitor Darragh Mackin met with the suspected drugs baron in Portlaoise Prison, in Co Laois, on Wednesday, at the request of Kinahan.

Former Moldovan police officer to be deported after pleading guilty to ‘people smuggling’

A former Moldovan police officer is to be deported from Northern Ireland after pleading guilty on Friday to ‘people smuggling’ into the United Kingdom.

Ion Bilea (40), with an address at Belfast Road in Bangor, Co Down, had previously denied a single charge of assisting unlawful immigration to the UK of a non-UK national on May 18, 2025.

Petrol bomb attack at north Belfast home

Damage has been caused to a house in north Belfast following a petrol bomb attack on Thursday.

The incident was reported to police at around 10:30pm, that a home in the York Road area was on fire.

Co Antrim man who called 999 threatening to kill his girlfriend jailed – but could be released immediately

A county Antrim man who made a 999 call threatening to kill his girlfriend and claiming to be armed with a zombie knife has been jailed for nine months.

Glen Fenton, 29, also warned that any police sent to the couple’s home should wear stab vests.

He was detained after armed response officers were dispatched to the property earlier this year.

Sport

‘I certainly don’t feel I belong in there any more’: Former Dublin boss Pat Gilroy at Croke Park barricade

Former Dublin football manager Pat Gilroy has called on the GAA to let himself or other campaigners address its Ethics and Integrity Commission.

The man who helped the Dubs end their 16-year Sam Maguire Cup drought in 2011 was among many All-Ireland winners barricaded out of Croke Park on Thursday.

Michael Hegney named Director of Football for Cliftonville

Cliftonville have named Michael Hegney as Director of Football as they enter a period of transition at Solitude.

Hegney, who has served as a Director at the North Belfast club since August 2023, moves into the role to assist chairman Kevin Crossan after the Toronto Investment Group’s takeover of the club was approved.