Earlier this year there was outcry at the sentences handed out to four men in my East Belfast constituency who had been convicted of what was described as one of the worst cases of animal cruelty seen here. Correspondence between Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC and myself confirmed the sentences of six months, […]
Alliance Ballymena Councillor Jayne Dunlop has expressed her shock after it was announced that Gallaher’s cigarette factory in Ballymena will be closing with the loss of around 800 jobs. Gallaher’s owners JTI announced that it was closing its facilities in Northern Ireland and Belgium with production possibly moving to Poland and Romania. Cllr Jayne Dunlop […]
Alliance Ards Councillor Alan McDowell has welcomed the decision by the shadow North Down and Ards District Council to approve the Environment Department’s letter of offer for funding for both Exploris and the Seal Sanctuary. This will allow Ards Council to formally accept the Executive’s funding offer. Cllr McDowell seconded a motion calling on the […]
Alliance Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has described Wednesday’s special meeting of the Executive to consider the budget as ‘critical to the future of the Executive’, warning that if Ministers fail to tackle the financial crisis they will effectively forfeit the right to manage our own affairs. Stephen Farry MLA said: “Northern Ireland is […]
Alliance Leader David Ford MLA, has said that the Twaddell protest camp should close in order to allow the panel on parading in North Belfast to do its work. David Ford MLA said: “The Twaddell protest camp should close now, and all parties should tell the organisers to do so. “The panel needs space to […]
Alliance Justice spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has expressed his outrage after a pipe bomb was thrown at a Police vehicle on the Crumlin Road at 12:50am on Tuesday morning. It did not explode but the area was evacuated for a number of hours while the Police and Army dealt with the device. Eight families were […]
East Belfast MP Naomi Long has said she hopes the jail sentence handed to a man who admitted setting fire to a pet dog would result in less lenient sentences in future similar cases. Alliance Deputy Leader Mrs Long was speaking after Andrew Richard Stewart was sentenced to 10 months for the killing of Cody, […]
Alliance Justice spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has stated that the opposition of Sinn Fein and the SDLP to the National Crime Agency operating in Northern Ireland is putting extra strains on the PSNI. His comments were made during a debate in the Assembly on Monday. Stewart Dickson MLA said: “I have no doubt that the […]
Alliance Belfast Councillor, Michael Long, will propose a motion on Tuesday night at a meeting of the shadow Belfast Council which will call for the audio and potentially video recording of Committee meetings where possible, which would then be published on the Council’s website. The Assembly passed an Alliance amendment in March this year which […]
Alliance South Belfast Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown, has condemned a hate crime that occurred overnight on Ulsterville Avenue in which a car and house was damaged. A bottle was thrown at the living room window and then flammable liquid was poured over the car before it was set on fire. Cllr Emmet McDonough-Brown said: “This was […]