Student quits Derry after she’s dubbed ‘the English girl’
Mother tells of her disgust as teenager returns home after being told ‘we all hate the English’
PAUL AINSWORTH, Irish News, September 30th, 2025
A STUDENT withdrew from college in Derry after being told locals ‘hate the English’ and other slurs, her mother has said.
Julia Rattigan says her 18-yearold daughter quit the Derry campus of Ulster University after just a week following “racist” comments from other students.
Her daughter, who does not wish to be named, said her Englishness was raised on several occasions by fellow students, and when she was withdrawing from the course, a senior staff member described her as “the English girl”.
On a night out in Derry, the Lincolnshire woman says she was told by other students not to speak “too loudly” due to her accent.
Ms Rattigan has written to the university to complain about her daughter’s experience with the students, staff member and student support services.
In her correspondence, seen by The Irish News, she described how she “witnessed my confident happy young daughter be transformed to a very isolated and lonely person”.
‘There was no awareness from the university – if I’m honest the attitudes stank’
Describing the reference about Derry people “hating” the English, she wrote in her email to the university that it was a “very racist comment and shocking in the 21st century”.
She added she “witnessed the conversations with many staff who were very unhelpful and with an attitude towards my daughter”.
Speaking with The Irish News, Ms Rattigan – whose family roots are in Co Mayo and Dublin – said her daughter had been “excited” to move to Derry, with hopes for a future career as a drama teacher, but her feelings changed shortly after arriving earlier this month at what was previously known as the Magee Campus.
“It was sold to us as a campus with a real international and diverse feel, but it very soon became apparent that wasn’t the case,” she said.
“She met with other girls at the campus, and she was shocked to be told by them, on the very first day ‘you do realise we hate the English?’ She didn’t feel this was really a joke, and when she told them she wasn’t entirely English, due to her family background, they said that didn’t matter.”
Felt increasingly isolated
Ms Rattigan said her daughter felt increasingly isolated, and eventually decided to quit the course.
“She went on a night out with other students, and was told ‘don’t talk too loudly’ in regards to her accent.
“She just decided she had had enough, and called her father to come and take her home.
“It didn’t end there, as when she was speaking with a staff member about withdrawing, and she gave her name, they said ‘oh yeah, you’re the English one’.
“Other staff also didn’t seem too sympathetic when she was on the phone to them in tears, and were dismissive when she spoke about leaving.
“It was a terrible experience for her. It seemed like there was no awareness from anyone at the university – if I’m being honest the attitudes stank.
“My daughter is someone who is very accepting of anyone, and she had been told by some in the family that she’ll have a great time in Derry, but the opposite was true. We felt so helpless while she was there.
“As a result of the experience, we’re out over £2,500, but thankfully my daughter has now started a course at Lincoln University, and has been made to feel very welcome.
“We’re happy that she’s settling in and can now begin enjoying her student life.”
Expansion Plans
Ulster University plans to expand student numbers at its Derry campus by around 10,000 by 2032 – up from around 6,000 this academic year – and has purchased five sites in the city for the expansion.
Earlier this month it was revealed applications to study at the Derry campus have increased by more than 20%.
An Ulster University spokesperson said: “We take seriously our commitment to maintain a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all and we are looking into this.
“Our Student Charter sets out the shared expectations between Ulster students and staff, supporting a diverse community of local, national and international individuals and built on integrity, inclusion and collaboration, where students are empowered to achieve their goals and make a positive impact.
“Starting university can be a big change for students which is why we offer a range of events across our campuses, accommodation and courses during Welcome Week designed to introduce students to life at Ulster; foster friendships in accommodation and in specific course groups; and to provide a warm welcome.
“Our Student Wellbeing Team is always here to help whether in per-son, on the phone or online. They provide free and confidential advice, assistance and guidance. In addition, pastoral support is available to our students via their studies advisor, course director or research supervisor.
“New students meet their Advisor of Studies in Welcome Week to have the opportunity to discuss their individual circumstances.”
Narrowing margin on constitutional question adds pressure for Border Poll says QUB academic
JOHN MANLEY POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, Irish News, September 30th, 2025
A LEADING academic believes trends identified in a major survey will have implications for when a border poll is called.
Queen’s University’s Professor Katy Hayward made the remarks in relation to the 2024 Northern Ireland Life & Times (NILT) survey.
The research shows the margin between those who would vote for a united Ireland and those advocating the constitutional status quo halved in the space of 12 months.
The June study showed that support for Irish unity has increased by more than one-third since 2017, while the number favouring the union has fallen by 13 percentage points during the same period.
There is now just six percentage points separating those who’d vote ‘Yes’ (36%) to unity if a border poll were held tomorrow and those who’d vote ‘No’ (42%).
A year before there was a 12 percentage point difference between the two groups and just six years previously the margin stood at 33 points.
“A change in the views of 3% of respondents from ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ (thus making both 39%) could present cause for consideration by the secretary of state,” Professor Hayward said.
“To put this in perspective, findings from other questions help to provide the necessarily broader picture.”
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, who chairs the SDLP’s New Ireland Commission, said the latest data “adds to the growing body of evidence that more people are thinking about a different kind of future”.
“Trends like this are good news for those of us who believe in the power and potential of Irish unity – the big chance to set an economic, social and constitutional path that’s different from the quagmire of Britain,” he said.
“We’re entering an era of unprecedented opportunity to build a new Ireland together.”
Irish News columnist and Slugger O’Toole deputy editor David McCann said it was “significant” that the gap between the two constitutional options was now down to single digits for the first time in the history of the NILT survey.
“What is clear is yet another analysis of public opinion is showing the pro-union option below 50%, when not long ago they could consistently depend on majority support,” he said.
Professor Katy Hayward of Queen’s University Belfast made her remarks in relation to the 2024 Northern Ireland Life & Times (NILT) survey
He said falling support for the status quo would “give unionist leaders food for thought”.
“Those who are undecided who are consistently polling in the mid teens are going to be key in deciding who will win a referendum and the outcome of that is all to play for,” he said.
Kneecap urged to engage with Jewish groups after Hezbollah book picture
LIAM TUNNEY, Belfast Telegraph, September 30th, 2025
BAND DISCUSSED AT FRINGE EVENT AS CULTURE SECRETARY FAILS TO ATTEND
Irish rap trio Kneecap have been urged to engage with Jewish groups after a band member was photographed holding a book written by a former Hezbollah leader.
The comments came during a fringe discussion at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool aimed at discussing a rise in antisemitism within popular culture. Entitled 'From Cobra Kai to Kneecap: Antisemitism in Popular Culture and What We Do About It', the event was chaired by Daniel Stone MBE from the Antisemitism Policy Trust.
Kneecap have always said they do not support either Hezbollah or Hamas. And band manager Daniel Lambert described the event's title as “outrageous” and said Kneecap are “explicitly anti-sectarian in everything they do and say”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who campaigned to have the band removed from the Glastonbury bill in June, was invited to appear but did not attend.
It comes after Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (27) — also known by the stage name Mo Chara — had a charge of supporting a terrorist organisation thrown out at Woolwich Crown Court last week.
A judge ruled that the prosecution had exceeded a six-month time limit in bringing the charge, which related to the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag during a gig in London in November 2024.
Mr Stone said the band should engage with Jewish groups after one member was pictured in February with a copy of a book of speeches written by a former Hezbollah leader.
“You will see a post online showing a member of the band reading a book of speeches by a former leader of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who has denied the Holocaust.
“If they want to support Palestine, by all means, but putting up a picture reading speeches from Nasrallah is a problem. That should be a red line.
“Kneecap have sought to qualify their views, but the pictures have not been deleted and there has been no effort to engage with Jewish groups.
Positive engagement
“What can you do to positively engage?' should be the question.”
Also speaking at the event was Joani Reid MP, who has chaired a Parliamentary group on antisemitism, which she said was “deeply ingrained” in society.
“It erodes basic humanitarianism and decency,” she said. “I did not appreciate that before I came into this role. We have seen the rates here increase significantly since October 7.
“This is hugely frightening and emboldens people who are already of that way of thinking.
“I used to think education was the panacea, but I'm now of the view that we have to legislate. It's in every part of society and is overwhelming.”
Last week, Kneecap announced they would be taking legal action after a Canadian MP took to X to announce the band had been barred from the country. Rejecting accusations of antisemitism, the band said Vince Gasparro's comments were “wholly untrue and outrageous”.
“We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel,” they said.
A Kneecap spokesperson told Novara Media when asked whether they're considering taking legal action regarding the Labour event: “We'll assess what we need to do.”
Sinn Féin hit out at Martin’s border poll ‘disregard’
JOHN MANLEY, Irish News, September 30th, 2025
MARY Lou McDonald has accused the Taoiseach of a “complete disregard for the Good Friday Agreement” by dismissing the prospect of a border poll before the end of the decade.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s remarks coincided with a call by the Sinn Féin leader for the Irish and British governments to agree on a “timeframe” for Irish reunification.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Britain, Mrs McDonald said there was a requirement for the two governments to demonstrate a “systematic focus on the constitutional future of Britain and Ireland”.
The Sinn Féin leader said the British prime minister “needs to be true to the obligation and commitment to unity referendums in the Good Friday Agreement”.
“The referendums need to be held by the end of this decade,” she said.
‘Sir Keir Starmer has shown little interest in a referendum on Irish reunification, previously stating that it was “not even on the horizon”.
More to be done
Responding, the taoiseach said “there’s more to be done” before a border poll could be held.
Mr Martin hit back at criticism over failing to prepare for a border poll and unification.
“Where’s Sinn Féin’s blueprint? Why is Sinn Féin always saying somebody else has to write the blueprint?” he said.
Mr Martin also played down the role of the Irish president in advocating unity.
“The constitutional duty is on the taoiseach and a future president to champion Ireland’s future and to lead the preparation for referendums
“So it’s a false electoral narrative that Sinn Féin are peddling, but it’s about unity… what the presidency can do is it can facilitate reconciliation and kind of facilitate connecting people together on the island and so on in different communities,” he said.
Asked about the poll, the Taoiseach said “there won’t be a border poll before 2030” but said he believed it “makes logical sense, that we would have unity in the country”.
Responding to Mr Martin’s remarks, the Sinn Féin leader said the Taoiseach had twice in the past week shown “complete disregard for the Good Friday Agreement and its provisions for a border poll”.
“Firstly he falsely claimed that Sinn Féin had ‘invented’ the provision for a border poll after Brexit, when it is a core provision of the Good Friday Agreement which his government signed up to in 1998. Now he is attempting to cherry-pick the agreement,” she said.
“Nobody can have a veto on progress. The constitutional duty is on the Taoiseach and a future president to champion Ireland’s future and to lead the preparation for referendums.”
Mrs McDonald restated her belief that referendums on unity will happen “before the end of this decade”.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald was reacting to the taoiseach’s statement that “there won’t be a border poll before 2030”
Irish News: LETTERS:
Nationalists should know they have ally in the DUP
NEWTON Emerson’s recent article (September 23) raises questions that strike at the heart of current political debate. Let me be clear: the DUP is the only Executive party consistently standing for the ordinary individual, including the working-class Catholic nationalist who is too often ignored by those who claim to speak for them on major issues like uncontrolled and illegal immigration and the matter of common sense.
At the DUP conference, I said: “Many nationalists who feel betrayed by nationalist parties on illegal immigration, or abandoned on the matter of common sense, should be assured we will hold their feet to the fire and call out their dangerous dereliction of duty. We will call out their sneering attitudes towards those with heartfelt lived experience at each and every opportunity.”
These are not empty words – they reflect what I continually hear from constituents who feel they have been taken for granted.
On immigration, Sinn Féin have taken a Jekyll and Hyde approach. They avoid scrutiny, refuse open media engagement and attempt to play both sides of the argument. By contrast, the DUP has been clear and unambiguous: legal immigration must be carefully controlled. We believe that current levels are unsustainable and must be curtailed. This is not simply a matter for the United Kingdom, but also for the Republic of Ireland, where one-fifth of the population are now first-generation immigrants, a demographic shift of historic scale.
It should not be forgotten that the DUP was the only major party to oppose the proposal for “sanctuary city” status for Newry, a move designed to invite globalist entanglements into a town already under strain, and one represented primarily by Sinn Féin. Nationalists should know that in us they have an ally against the coalition of Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Alliance and the Greens, whose policies make daily life harder for ordinary people in Newry, west Belfast and beyond.
The DUP will continue to give a voice to those who feel unheard. We will speak plainly where others equivocate and we will not shrink from defending the interests of working people, regardless of background.
By contrast, Sinn Féin, the SDLP, and Alliance appear determined to side with the elite class, whatever the cost to their own electorate.
JONATHAN BUCKLEY MLA DUP Upper Bann
Letters
Former CBI boss engaged in laundering £7.2m as part of Nama deal, court is told
SAM MCBRIDE, Belfast Telegraph, September 30th, 2025
SOLICITOR AND BANKER SOUGHT TO SHARE IN £15M SUCCESS FEE, FIRST DAY OF TRIAL HEARS
A top solicitor engaged in laundering millions of pounds as part of a corrupt deal for more than £1bn which involved a key figure from Northern Ireland's business establishment, Belfast Crown Court was told yesterday.
A jury of nine men and three women heard a series of allegations against former solicitor Ian Coulter and ex-banker Frank Cushnahan as the long-delayed Nama trial finally got under way more than a decade after the criminal investigation began.
Francis Hugh Cushnahan (83), of Alexandra Gate in Holywood, is charged with fraud by failing to disclose information and fraud by false representation.
Ian George Coulter (54), of Templepatrick Road in Ballyclare, faces two charges of fraud by false representation, one of making or supplying articles for use in fraud, another of removing criminal property, and one of transferring criminal property.
Coulter had been the head of major Belfast law firm Tughans and was also head of the CBI in Northern Ireland.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Republic’s ‘bad bank’
The jury were taken through the background to how the National Assets Management Agency (Nama) became the Republic's 'bad bank' for troubled loans after the property crash, and Cushnahan had been appointed by the Stormont Executive to sit on its Northern Ireland advisory committee (NIAC).
Crown counsel Jonathan Kinnear KC told the jury that for this purely advisory role, Cushnahan was being paid a fee of €1,000 for each NIAC meeting he attended, subject to a maximum of €5,000 a year.
But he alleged that he wanted far more money, and that Coulter worked with him to try to secure millions of pounds, which the Crown alleges they were hoping to share.
Mr Kinnear said that both men were “heavily involved” in the brokering of the deal which saw the loans sold to US vulture fund Cerberus and that they both were “to be paid millions of pounds each, we say, from a success fee of about £15m”.
He told the jury that both men had “acted dishonestly… to ensure that they shared in the massive profits that were available”.
He said Coulter, then the managing partner of Tughans, bought a company called Morley Enterprises Ltd in the Isle of Man and used a “fraudulent invoice” in its name to bill for £9m and then move £7.2m to the Isle of Man.
He said this was to “launder his ill-gotten gains” with the intention of paying Cushnahan and himself from the sum.
The barrister said Cushnahan was “a well-known business figure in Northern Ireland” who had been chairman of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. He was “known and trusted by many prominent politicians”, he said.
Setting out some of the detail which the Crown says it will put before jurors during the 12-week trial, he said that Cushnahan was under a clear legal duty to inform Nama of his conflict of interest in acting for a fund seeking to buy Nama loans.
He said that Cushnahan had “secretly worked on a deal” to sell the whole loan book to PIMCO, another major US investment fund, but this had fallen apart when late in the day Nama realised he was involved and was in line for a huge fee.
“But that wasn't the end of it,” he told them, adding that Cerberus then entered the picture and ultimately bought the loans for the sum PIMCO had been prepared to pay.
Mr Kinnear said Cushnahan continued to help “from the shadows” and expected to get his success fee.
He said that Coulter had jointly with Tuvi Keenan, a lawyer with London firm Brown Rudnick, “worked to persuade the politicians in Dublin and Belfast that the sale of the Northern Ireland loan book would be a positive benefit to all”.
He stressed that there was “nothing intrinsically wrong” with a success fee, “but it was the way in which these two defendants went about it” which made it criminal.
He told jurors that Tughans did “no work” on the deal and it was “part of Mr Coulter's plan” to keep the money for himself and Cushnahan.
‘Completely made up’ bill
He said this involved an invoice from Morley to Tughans for work it had never done. The invoice, he said, was “completely made up and designed to ensure that £7.2m was transferred from Tughans with an account in Northern Ireland to Morley that held an account controlled by Mr Coulter in the Isle of Man”.
He said that Coulter was guilty of “money laundering”, moving the money around various accounts for a criminal purpose.
As the Crown case against him was set out, Coulter sat in the dock, writing regular notes. Cushnahan sat close to him, wearing headphones to hear what was being said and with an assistant, Roy Sloan, helping him with an iPad on which evidence was being shown.
Despite the length of the case and the number of documents, the barrister told jurors: “It's not particularly complicated, we say,” adding that a key element of their job was to decide if the defendants “acted dishonestly”.
The barrister told jurors that all members of NIAC were asked to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the beginning of each meeting, as well as in writing.
Using the analogy of a domestic property transaction, he told them that if they were selling a house, they would be unhappy if they discovered that the person acting for them as an estate agent was also being paid by the person buying the property.
That was essentially what happened here, he said, only on a vastly greater scale. He said there was no doubt that Cushnahan knew what a conflict of interest was, and his actions showed that “he fully appreciated his obligation to disclose any or any potential conflicts of interest”.
At the first meeting of NIAC, the minutes recorded that Cushnahan was briefed on the Nama legislation applying to him and told there was an expert he could consult for advice on conflicts of interest.
Mr Kinnear brought the jury to an email from Nama's compliance officer, who in June 2010 told Cushnahan and his fellow NIAC committee member Brian Rowntree — against whom there are no allegations — that he wanted to make them aware of legal requirements that they had.
He told them they had “an obligation” in law to provide an annual statement of registerable interests and disclose conflicts of interest “as they arise”.
Mr Kinnear told the jury: “This is standard stuff if you're involved in business.”
He then brought the jury to Cushnahan's declarations of interest where he set out multiple business interests, shareholdings, directorships, land, and other financial interests.
That, Mr Kinnear said, was entirely proper and it showed “Mr Cushnahan knew exactly what he was meant to be doing”, but later knowingly chose not to tell Nama of his links to firms trying to buy its loans.
Mr Kinnear said: “He knew what he had to do, but when it comes to the crunch later on, he doesn't do what he should.”
Mr Kinnear told them that as far back as 2011, Belfast accountant David Watters had come up with a plan which involved an “investment idea” for Nama's Northern Ireland loans.
He said that Cushnahan then effectively went about “stealing the idea” and cutting Watters out of any deal.
The prosecution opening, which only began yesterday afternoon due to a delayed start, is expected to continue for at least another day.
The trial continues.
'Absurdity' of customs form to send birthday present from Britain to North
By Adam Kula, Belfast News Letter, September 29th, 2025
A North Antrim constituent had to fill in a customs form to send a £20 birthday present from Great Britain in Northern Ireland, it has been revealed.
The TUV said this serves as further evidence of the "absurdity" of the "Union-dismantling Protocol" in action.
The customs form, a copy of which was seen by the News Letter, lists the parcel's contents as being one bar of soap, one chocolate bar, one birthday card, and a pack of six kitchen storage clips.
The CN22 form also asked for details of the sender, the recipient, the category of goods, the date, and the sender's signature.
“Anyone who doubts that the EU noose is tightening month on month, look at this customs declaration which was required for a daughter in GB to send her parents in NI a gift of bars of chocolate and soap!" said party leader Jim Allister.
"Who would have thought the EU single market was so fragile that [a bar] of soap would damage it?
“Of course, the Irish Sea border was never about protecting their single market, it was always about the EU exercising sovereignty and control over NI.
“So much for the promise of 'equal citizenship' that should be guaranteed by UK membership.
Mr Allister attacked it as an outworking of the 'Union-dismantling Protocol'
“Yet, some look the other way and day by day help sustain and implement the Union-dismantling Protocol.”
The DUP, under its previous leadership, had claimed that the Irish Sea border had been removed.
Asked its take on the customs form above, it issued a statement from Jonathan Buckley MLA saying: “The DUP has been clear with the government that these checks are unacceptable and place people and businesses in Northern Ireland at a fundamental disadvantage compared to the rest of the UK.
"We do not accept arrangements that leave Northern Ireland subject to separate treatment and will continue to press the government to deliver on its commitments to remove these internal borders within the UK.”
The Northern Ireland Office said: "The Windsor Framework addresses Northern Ireland’s unique and complex circumstances, which safeguards the Good Friday Agreement and restores the smooth flow of trade within the UK.
"We remain committed to implementing the Windsor Framework."
Former soldier changes plea and admits pipe bomb and firearm possession
ASHLEIGH MCDONALD, Belfast Telegraph and Irish News, September 30th, 2025
A former soldier appeared in court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to explosives and firearms charges.
Bryce Pounder, of Parker Street in east Belfast, was due to stand trial on three charges dating back to November 2022.
Before the trial commenced, Pounder's barrister asked that the defendant be re-arraigned on all three charges.
After confirming his identity to a court clerk at Belfast Crown Court, the 37-year-old was charged that on November 18, 2022, he had in his possession explosive substances, namely a pipe bomb, under suspicious circumstances.
When asked how he now pleaded to the charge, Pounder replied: “Guilty.”
He was also charged with possessing a blank calibre pistol designed to resemble a Beretta handgun, an 8mm blank calibre magazine, and nine blank cartridges, in circumstances which gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that the possession was for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism on November 18, 2022.
To this second charge, Pounder entered a guilty plea.
Pounder also pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition, namely a sound moderator for a 9mm gun and 98 cartridges of various calibres, in suspicious circumstances, on the same date.
Following the re-arraignment, Pounder's barrister said a pre-sentence report was being sought ahead of sentencing, as was a medical report regarding possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Mr Justice Fowler then set the date for the plea and sentence as November 24 and released Pounder on continuing bail.
5G mast attacks in west Belfast are down to ‘conspiracy theorists’ court told
Man (45) refused bail on two charges of arson as his brother (44) remains in custody charged with one count of arson at another installation
ALAN ERWIN, Irish News, September 30th, 2025
TWO brothers are allegedly linked to a wider “network of conspiracy theorists” setting fire to 5G masts in west Belfast, the High Court has heard.
Prosecutors also revealed the total cost of the damage from the attacks is now believed to be much higher than an initial estimate of £4m.
Details emerged as 45-year-old Michael Clarke was refused bail on two charges of arson related to the suspected campaign.
Clarke, of Monagh Road in the city, is accused of targeting 5G masts at the Park Centre and in the Owenvarragh area in June 2023.
He is allegedly connected by DNA evidence and CCTV footage of two men approaching the Owenvarragh site, with one of them carrying a sports bag. Forensic tests on the bag recovered from the scene obtained potential profiles for up to three individuals.
Clarke was arrested earlier this month amid searches at his home where police recovered petrol cans and literature about the alleged dangers posed by 5G masts.
His 44-year-old brother Darren Clarke, of no fixed abode, remains in custody charged with one count of arson at another installation in the
Prosecution counsel Gosia Hackiewicz told the court yesterday that material discovered on a seized phone indicates potential involvement in other incidents in the area.
“It is in relation to both (brothers), we believe they act together,” she said.
25 attacks on 5G masts
The court heard 23 attacks on 5G masts in west Belfast have been reported since 2023, with nine of them targeted over the past four months.
Ms Hackiewicz set out how those behind the wider campaign are believed to have used social media platforms and chat rooms to communicate.
“It remains the police assessment that these attacks are not the work of a single individual, but are Prosecution counsel being carried out by a number of individuals as part of a network or possibly acting independently but united by shared conspiracy-driven beliefs,” the barrister submitted.
“While we had initially placed a value of £4m on the potential cost of the damage, we have since been informed that this is a conservative figure.”
Opposing Michael Clarke’s application for bail, she argued that the financial impact of the attacks was compounded by the significant social and economic consequences for the west Belfast area.
“High levels of the local community are experiencing difficulties with access to provision of healthcare services, businesses that rely on phone signals are struggling to operate as normal, and those working from home are experiencing difficulties undertaking regular tasks,” Ms Hackiewicz added.
Turlough Madden, defending, disputed the strength of DNA evidence from a bag he described as a “movable object” and also featuring profiles for other individuals.
Highlighting the two-year gap between the June 2023 attacks and his client’s detention, Mr Madden argued: “It’s not illegal to have material on 5G masts… this is a considerably weak prosecution case.”
Mr Justice McLaughlin ruled Michael Clarke must remain in custody.
Lough Neagh recovery ‘could take decades’
Muir calls for support from fellow executive ministers to address pollution issues
REBECCA BLACK, Irish News, September 30th, 2025
THE recovery of Lough Neagh will take years, if not decades, the environment minister has said.
The lough has been blighted by noxious blooms of blue-green algae for the third summer in a row.
The condition of the lough saw the eel-fishing season cut short this summer.
It also recently saw advice against bathing at several north coast beaches because of the blue-green algae having been detected moving along Lower Bann River to the area.
Stormont Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir was asked about progress to implement the Lough Neagh Recovery Plan during questions for his department in the assembly.
He said of the 37 actions, 14 have been delivered, 22 are actively progressing and one is pending because it is contingent on another action being taken.
“I remain committed to driving forward delivery of the remaining actions at pace,” he told MLAs.
“Progress today reflects co-ordinated efforts across key themes including scientific research and innovation, enhanced monitoring and enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement, regulatory reform and strategic communications, while supporting strides have been made.
“It’s essential to recognise the recovery of the lough requires sustained, long-term action. Given the depth and complexity of the problem, substantial recovery will take many years, if not decades.”
Key interventions needed
Mr Muir said there remain key interventions that he will need support from other executive ministers on, particularly in relation to wastewater infrastructure.
“I’m going to be looking at strengthening regulation and enforcement in relation to sewage pollution,” he said.
“I have also been very clear and put it on the record that we need to be brave in terms of stepping forward and looking at investment that’s required in our wastewater infrastructure, and I’m happy to support the infrastructure minister in terms of any proposals that may be put forward in that regard.
“Also in recent climate change, we’ve had the warmest summer on record, and that is not unrelated to the scenes that we’ve witnessed in Lough Neagh.
“So we’re consulting on the Climate Action Plan, once we conclude that I’m going to get that finalised and bring it to the executive for agreement, and hopefully people can support me on this, because there’s opportunities from climate action, but there’s also a moral imperative and a legal imperative to take action in that regard.”
Mr Muir pointed out that Northern Ireland is the only part of Britain and Ireland which does not have an independent environmental protection agency.
Turning to the agriculture sector, he added that everyone has a part to play in improving water quality.
“I want to put it on record my thanks to the good work that’s been done in previous decades by farmers,” he said.
“There is good work being done, they’re fantastic custodians of the countryside and we need to help them in terms of the road ahead.
“I’m working with the finance minister. I need support in terms of a just transition fund for agriculture.
“We also need to get around the table, finalise an agreed scheme of measures in relation to the Nutrients Action Programme, further consult on that, and then get agreement to move forward.
“I believe we can. If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Ireland ‘failing to prepare’ for next big storm
CAROLINE O’DOHERTY, Climate and Science Correspondent, Irish Times, September 30th, 2025
Plans to scale up the response to extreme weather events such as Storm Éowyn have not been finalised even as a new storm season approaches.
The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has criticised the delay, saying last January’s storm and its immediate predecessor, Storm Darragh, exposed “significant shortcomings” in how State agencies and services managed the widespread impacts.
It expressed disappointment that an all-of-Government review of the Storm Éowyn response was overdue and said preparations were needed urgently before another storm of that magnitude hits Ireland.
The CCAC’s comments come in its annual review of Ireland’s climate adaptation capacity. It examines how prepared the country is to deal with the now-unpreventable impacts of climate change, such as increasingly severe storms, more intense flooding and loss of coastal land.
Prof Peter Thorne, chair of the CCAC’s adaptation committee, said not enough “tangible action” was being taken.
“With extreme weather events continuing to increase in both magnitude and frequency, communities throughout Ireland must be better protected from their devastating impacts,” he said.
“These storms have exposed our vulnerability and the critical shortcomings in our preparedness and response systems.”
No water, no power, no communications
Storm Éowyn’s record-breaking winds caused extensive damage that left 768,000 properties without electricity, 200,000 without water and a million without phone or broadband.
The CCAC urged immediate action to ensure readiness for a repeat event.
This included establishing emergency response hubs – regional facilities pre-stocked with essential equipment and humanitarian supplies to avoid a scramble to find items such as generators and bottled water after an event.
A permanent, well-funded extreme weather assistance scheme for households and small businesses is recommended instead of the ad hoc arrangements used to date.
The CCAC also said next week’s budget must increase the “grossly inadequate” climate funding for local authorities so they can create permanent positions for climate action teams and improve local adaptation planning.
Minister for Housing James Browne announced the review of the response to Storm Éowyn days after it passed, with initial indications that it would be completed by the summer.
Earlier this month, he said it was anticipated that the review findings would be available “shortly”.
The CCAC report also comments on the wider challenges of climate change adaptation and is critical of the “silo” approach of Government departments and agencies. Better localised early warning systems to protect lives and property at town and village level are also urged.
Broken infrastructure promises keep failing people of the north
Pro Fide Et Patria, Irish News, September 30th, 2025
“The department has often had three times as many projects in planning as could realistically be built. Without a sustained increase in investment, delivery will remain patchy and slow.”
THE collapse of the A5 Western Transport Corridor in the courts this summer has done more than halt the north’s biggest ever road scheme. It has raised fundamental questions about whether Stormont can ever deliver the kind of major infrastructure projects that communities have been promised for decades.
Justice McAlinden’s ruling was damning in its assessment of the Department for Infrastructure’s failure to comply with climate change legislation. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has lodged an appeal, but the truth is that after almost 20 years, billions of pounds of spiralling costs and more than 50 lives lost on Ireland’s most dangerous road, not a yard of new tarmac has been laid.
As we reported yesterday, the A5 is only the most high-profile example. The Enniskillen bypass, first proposed in 2006, remains a concept on paper. The Cookstown bypass has been discussed since the 1970s and now faces a £19m funding shortfall. The Ballynahinch bypass and York Street interchange have each been pushed further into the future, while costs continue to climb.
Politicians are fond of blaming the Department for Infrastructure, but as roads analyst Wesley Johnston points out, the real issue is resources. The executive has consistently failed to fund its own ambitions. The department has often had three times as many projects in planning as could realistically be built. Without a sustained increase in investment, delivery will remain patchy and slow.
Yet money is not the only problem.
The executive is now bound by its own climate obligations, which courts are increasingly willing to enforce. Friends of the Earth is right to highlight the contradiction between signing up to net-zero targets and continuing to push an ever-expanding roads programme.
New roads may bring temporary relief, but history shows they generate more traffic and more emissions.
This does not mean investment in transport should stop.
On the contrary, the case for better connections across rural communities is overwhelming, especially where road safety is at stake.
But the strategy cannot simply be to dust off schemes conceived in the last century and try to force them through now.
If Stormont is serious about tackling congestion, improving safety and supporting economic growth while also meeting climate targets, rail, bus and active travel must become priorities, with roads carefully targeted at genuine safety concerns rather than political expediency.
The executive must stop dithering, confront the hard choices, and finally deliver a transport system fit for the future.
