Alliance Councillor Tom Campbell has expressed his sadness at the shock death of Ruby Dench (11), a student at Whiteabbey Primary School. The Primary Seven pupil was on a school trip to the Scottish Highlands when she became ill. Councillor Tom Campbell said: “The shocking death of someone so young and in apparently good health […]
Alliance Down District Councillor Patrick Clarke has strongly criticised Danske Bank’s closure of both Castlewellan and Newcastle branches. Announced in February, the closures will take effect from tomorrow, May 10, leaving another two vacant buildings in the area. At the time Danske Bank announced the branches would merge, with all customers transformed to the Downpatrick […]
Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly has called for the DARD Minister to legislate making it illegal for circus acts to use wild animals. The Antrim Councillor was speaking ahead of Duffy’s Circus arrival in the town next week and said Minister O’Neill must bring Northern Ireland in line with other regions across the UK, a call […]
Alliance Justice spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has welcomed the drop in recorded crime. The statistics that have been released by the PSNI show that there were 100,389 recorded crimes in 2012/13, compared to 103,389 in the previous year, a drop of 2.9%. This is the fourth consecutive year that has seen a decrease in recorded […]
Alliance Lisburn Councillor Stephen Martin hailed the resilience of local residents and the response of all emergency services on hand following Tuesday evening’s gas leak at the corner of Longstone Street and Tonagh Avenue in Lisburn. Stephen Martin commended: “To see the damage caused in the daylight brings home just how dangerous a situation the […]
Alliance Group Leader on Ards Borough Council, Cllr Alan McDowell has expressed his sadness at the death of former Alliance Ards Councillor Jim McBriar. Cllr Alan McDowell said: “I was saddened by the death of a colleague and friend of over 30 years. “Jim was previously our group leader on Ards Council, and led us […]
Alliance OFMDFM spokesperson Chris Lyttle MLA has said that there must be an end to the tit for tat game over flags. His comments follow a proliferation of the flying of both the Union Flag and Irish Tri-colour, and the decision by Finance Minister Sammy Wilson to erect new flagpoles at five of his Departmental […]
Alliance Leader David Ford MLA has paid tribute to former Alliance Ards Councillor Jim McBriar who died on Monday. He was one of the longest serving public representatives with over 36 years of service on Ards Council up to 2011. David Ford said: “I was deeply saddened to learn of Jim’s passing. He was a […]
Alliance Leader David Ford MLA has welcomed the move by the Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter to issue a pardon to those Irish soldiers who fought for the Allies in World War Two, who were branded deserters and faced discrimination upon their return home. Legislation is due to be passed by the Oireachtas that would […]
Alliance Belfast Councillor Catherine Curran has expressed her shock after Northern Ireland’s largest pub chain Botanic Inns was put into administration. They run 14 outlets and employ 600 people. Cllr Catherine Curran said: “I am shocked that Botanic Inns have been put into administration. They run some of our most popular and well known pubs. […]