Politics

UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Burrows rejects PSNI claim that PIRA 'isn't seeking to bring harm to society'

This is an edited interview with Maurice Hayes, published as part of a collection of essays this week to mark 25 years of the PSNI.

Maurice Hayes on PSNI: 'Nationalists expected a massacre of the RUC'

MP Carla Lockhart, Jamie Bryson, and DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley outside Carleton Street Orange Hall in Portadown, back in September. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Jamie Bryson hints at Stormont election bid in fiercely contested constituency

Speaking later on behalf of the Marchant family, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson insisted their case remains focused on what is in the report.

PSNI entitled to review 'Glenanne Gang' High Court judge rules

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher greets Taoiseach Micheal Martin as he arrives for PSNI graduation ceremony at the PSNI Training College, Belfast. Picture date: Friday November 6, 2026.

Taoiseach attends PSNI passing out event in historic first for an Irish premier

RTE presenter Sarah McInerney speaking outside the RTE headquarters in Dublin after staff at Ireland's national broadcaster were evacuated following a bomb threat at its television and radio headquarters. Picture date: Friday November 6, 2026.

RTÉ staff return to offices as garda probe bomb threat

Cutting the costs of welfare will require the government to spend more in other areas, like education, Andy Burnham has suggested.

Andy Burnham: ‘Welfare cuts will result in spending in other areas’

Some Irish political parties have an “aggressive, adversarial, triumphalist” approach to dialogue around Irish unity, the country’s premier Micheal Martin said. Photo:PA

United Ireland Dail debates are ‘aggressive and triumphalist’, Taoiseach says

Asked if she would raise objections with her London counterparts, Minister Helen McEntee said there was continued engagement with the UK Government.

Legacy legislation must not amend balance agreed with Dublin, says McEntee

(left to right) Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Taoiseach Micheal Martin speak to media following the PSNI graduation ceremony at the PSNI Training College, Belfast. Picture date: Friday November 6, 2026. David Young/Press Association

Martin: Sinn Fein could do more to urge Catholics to join PSNI

Northern Ireland is in danger of becoming used to the “abnormality” of its political system, Sir Chris Bryant warned as he signalled a desire to reform Stormont’s governance structures.

Northern Ireland risks becoming used to abnormal politics, says Bryant

Peadar Toibin used to be a member of Sinn Fein but fell out with the party in 2018, largely over its abortion stance

TD says he's not being obstructive by demanding PSNI interview in Irish language

Emma Little Pengelly said she was 'inseperable' with her friend Naomh Conlon, Nee Lavery.

Emma pays tribute to barrister friend after untimely death

Roselawn crematorium. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker

Thousands of new burial plots for Roselawn Cemetery as expansion continues

The Remembrance Sunday service at Belfast City Hall on Sunday November 10, 2024.

Lord Mayor of Belfast to lead Remembrance Sunday at City Hall Cenotaph

The data centre is close to the River Bann, on the edge of Ulster University's Coleraine campus

Protest against AI data centre as MP accuses objectors of 'howling at the moon'
A protest is planned against the potential creation of an “AI campus” at a north coast business park.
Adam Kula

Caoimhe Archibald's economy department has published reports on the impact of the Windsor Framework. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Stormont report highlights Protocol burdens and risks for businesses

'Car shuffling' used to be a way of attempting to cheat time limits and overstay in roadside parking bays. According to council officials, it's made a comeback in Ards and North Down.

Plea to tackle parking space issue meant be extinct years ago

Morning View

Editorial: Iran war is just one of many reasons UK families are struggling

Antrim Crown Court has jailed 20-year-old Calum Bell for rioting in Ballymena last summer.

Antrim Crown Court jails 20-year-old man over Ballymena rioting

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (right) unveils the party's armed forces spokesperson Angus MacIntyre during a press conference at Old Billingsgate in east London. Picture date: Thursday November 5, 2026.

Reform’s armed forces spokesman pledges end to action against veterans

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher spoke about the operation as he appeared before the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday.

Officers working tirelessly to combat right-wing extremism threat, says Boutcher

(Left to right) Finance Minister John O’Dowd, First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald speaking to the media as they arrive at Hillsborough Castle ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to discuss the budget. Picture date: Thursday November 5, 2026. Liam McBurney/Press Association

Bryant ‘not amenable to reality’, says McDonald as budget deadlock drags on

Chris Patten commanded respect in both London and Dublin and was about as close as one could get to a chairman acceptable to both nationalists and unionists.

Bob Peirce: PSNI reforms were ‘an example for divided societies elsewhere’

A group of riot police from the Royal Ulster Constabulary RUC come under fire from petrol bombs during riots in the Protestant enclave of Sandy Row in East Belfast, Northern Ireland, 10th July 1998.

Barbara Stephenson: PSNI was 'best roadmap for reform I have ever seen’

“This is by far the most difficult job I have ever done,” Chris Patten remarked on publication of his report into policing reform in September 1999.

Chris Patten: PSNI report was 'most difficult job I have ever done’

A computer-generated image of the proposed new civic hub in Newry.

Green legal challenge to council over proposed new civic hub
Planning chiefs allegedly failed to properly consider any potentially more environmentally-friendly alternative sites for a new multi-million pound civic centre in Newry, the High Court has heard.
Alan Erwin

No complaints were made about the incident, but Police Ombudsman Chief Executive Hugh Hume decided an independent investigation was necessary because officers' actions could potentially amount to misconduct.

Ombudsman clears police after Palestine protest arrests in Belfast

Alliance Party deputy leader Eoin Tennyson wants to ban attempts to change someone's sexuality or 'gender identity'. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Stormont conversion bill is overwhelmingly rejected in public consultation

New death duties have plunged farming families across Northern Ireland into money stress, industry bodies have said, leaving them worried they won't be able to afford to inherit the family land. Photo: James Hardisty

MPs call on Westminster to scrap family farm inheritance tax

Health Minister Robbie Butler speaking to the media as he arrives at Hillsborough Castle ahead of a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to discuss the budget

Budget talks at ‘pinch point’ as strike threat looms, says minister

Independent unionist Carla Lockhart has urged unionists to 'hold their head high' in their professional lives.

Carla Lockhart questions manner of DUP's call for unionist unity

Morning View

Editorial: Remembering the sacrifice our brave police officers made for peace

The report contains a foreword by committee chairman and Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy which welcomes co-operation with legacy mechanisms and supporting information recovery but raises several concerns.

TDs: Irish Government should oppose aspects of UK Troubles Bill

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart quit the DUP this week to sit as an independent unionist. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Lockhart wants lawbreaking politicians turfed out of office under 12 month ban

The Police Service of Northern Ireland unveiling their new uniform in Belfast, 25 years ago.

Brian Dougherty: My PSNI journey took me to Ground Zero

Former special advisor to Lord Trimble, David Kerr.

David Kerr on PSNI: Why Trimble refused to abandon ‘police family’

A young boy plays on a scooter in front of the new sign at Police Headquarters in Belfast.

Lorraine Calvert: It has been a privilege to serve PSNI for 25 years

The first recruits of the Northern Ireland Police Service (PSNI), march onto the parade ground at Garnerville Poice station in Belfast.

PSNI at 25: Brian Rowan on the dawn of new policing era

Family members pictured outside the High Court In Belfast. Resolutions were announced in court on cases linked to separate gun attacks on Kevin and Jack McKearney, and Charles and Teresa Fox 34 years ago.

PSNI to pay damages over loyalist murder collusion claims

Screen grab from the NI Assembly of the Head of the NI Civil Service, Jayne Brady, giving evidence to the Education Committee at Stormont. Picture date: Wednesday November 4, 2026. PA Photo.

Brady unable to ‘override’ minister blocking officials giving committee evidence

The SDLP is proposing that Stormont be abandoned by politicians, and a new home found in the city (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Executive parties react to SDLP call to move Assembly out of Stormont

Jonathan Buckley MLA . Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

DUP to trigger Stormont Brake over proposed EU law changes

Inpatient maternity services will now be moved from Newry to Craigavon from 23 November due to a shortage of consultants.

Legal action begins to halt Daisy Hill maternity move

In 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU - but post-Brexit deals kept Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods.

Stormont bypassed as UK and EU agree new rules on AI, parcels and forced labour

Democrats win control of US Congress in landslide vote

Carla Lockhart has left open the possibility of running in May's Assembly election. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

Carla Lockhart doesn't rule out Assembly election run

Inpatient maternity services will now be moved from Newry to Craigavon due to a shortage of consultants.

Trust Board confirms date to move inpatient maternity from Newry to Craigavon

The hoax email threat was sent to 300 schools across Northern Ireland recently.

Lessons learned review ordered after school bomb threats

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaks to the media before a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin about a proposed public sector union strike. Picture date: Tuesday November 3, 2026.

Taoiseach expands on initiative to examine Irish unity options

Goods being sorted at a food bank. An emergency food parcel will be provided every 10 seconds across the UK this winter, the Trussell charity has predicted. The food bank organisation said rising costs of essentials such as food, electricity and rent are pushing more families "to the brink". Issue date: Wednesday December 3, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire

Almost 200,000 in NI at risk of needing to use food banks

Martin O'Hagan, a journalist with the Sunday World, was shot dead near his home in Lurgan, Co Armagh on September 28, 2001. Photo courtesy of Kevin Cooper.

Call to publish Martin O'Hagan murder report

Agriculture minister Andrew Muir said the powersharing executive would need to decide “in days” whether it was going to agree a spending plan for the current financial year.

Muir tells Executive it is ‘make your mind up time’ on NI budget

Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald comments on the draft UK-EU deal on food and agriculture goods at Stormont in Belfast. Picture date: Tuesday November 3, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: David Young/Press Association

Expected UK-EU deal on agri-goods prompts familiar divisions

DUP MP Carla Lockhart speaking during an Orange Order parade in Portadown, Co Armagh. Picture date: Saturday October 24, 2026.

Lockhart: Leaving DUP was a particularly painful and difficult decision

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