https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c674p7v91wx8o

An attempt to overturn the Northern Ireland secretary's decision to ban the Drumcree parade has failed.

The High Court in Belfast has ruled that Sir Chris Bryant's decision made on 9 October was lawful.

The judicial review was brought by a Portadown Orangeman against Sir Chris and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

The secretary of state's intervention to stop the parade came after he received security advice from Boutcher.

A lawyer for the Orangeman told the court that an appeal of the judgment is "likely".

The Drumcree dispute led to a stand-off between Orangemen and nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown lasting almost two weeks.

Dissidents may have mounted gun attacks on Garvaghy Road, court hears Published 19 October Orange Order add police chief to court challenge of Drumcree parade ban Published 12 October What is the Garvaghy Road dispute all about? Published 29 September Mr Justice Scoffield said: "The secretary of state's decision was lawful and within the margin of discretion properly afforded him, although it is highly regrettable that it was required in the circumstances which arose."

He said those who opposed the march should "take no particular joy in the outcome of this case".

The judge added that "the position which has now been reached has been brought about at very significant cost to the people of Northern Ireland - financially, through the diversion of police resources, and in terms of community relations".

"Depressingly, the threat of serious and widespread disorder has loomed large," he said.

He went on: "Significant concerns have now been expressed about respect for the rule of law in this jurisdiction.

"That includes among some elected representatives, by reason of their participation in the unnotified protest."

Before the parade was banned, the chief constable had written to Sir Chris stating: "The PSNI's current assessment is that all available, lawful and proportionate options to facilitate completion of the procession have been exhausted.

"Any remaining options would require a substantial public order intervention and this is not assessed to be proportionate, and which would carry an unacceptable risk of serious injury, disorder and a wider contagion affect across Northern Ireland."

Last week, the court heard PSNI intelligence information that dissidents may have mounted gun attacks on the police had officers cleared a path for the parade.

The Garvaghy Road residents' case is that the Northern Ireland secretary's decision was lawful.

Two police cars are parked on a rural road and officers are standing beside them facing a small crowd of men wearing orange sashes. The men have a banner that says Portadown District Lol No 1. A cemetery is in the background. Image source,PA Media Image caption, Orangemen made numerous attempts to begin their march but were blocked by police each time

What is the Drumcree dispute? A map of Drumcree The latest flare-up of the Drumcree dispute has featured a number of legal challenges, involving the Parades Commission, Orange Order and Garvaghy Road residents.

The dispute first came to prominence in the mid-1990s and almost derailed the Northern Ireland peace process at the time.

When the Orange Order was prevented by police from walking down the route in July 1995 there was a tense stand-off. It was the same for the next three years.

The Parades Commission began operating in 1998 to regulate parades and try to defuse tension around marches.

Its decision not to allow a march down the Garvaghy Road that summer has been challenged by the order for the past three decades.

The State of Us

Drumcree explained: Provisional IRA and police notes

Listen on Sounds Last month the Parades Commission decided that the march could go ahead on 27 September with restrictions in place after its original decision to stop the march was overturned in court.

That morning, up to 1,000 people - including politicians such as First Minister Michelle O'Neill - blocked the road, preventing Orangemen marching from Drumcree Church a mile to the west.

An almost two-week-long stand-off began between protesters on the Garvaghy Road and members of the Orange Order and their supporters.

Since Sir Chris's decision to ban the parade almost three weeks ago, the daily protests have dissipated with the action mostly moving to the courtroom.

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Donaldson ‘gifted’ himself a birthday rape at Westminster office, alleged victim claims

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Jeffrey Donaldson asks question in Parliament on day he is accused of Westminster rape 

Crime Correspondent

27 Oct 2026 6:30 AM

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Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson is alleged to have raped a woman in the DUP party offices at Westminster on his birthday — on the same evening a Brexit debate was taking place.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/jeffrey-donaldson-gifted-himself-a-birthday-rape-at-westminster-office-alleged-victim-claims/a/163642771.html

As an outsider watching from Scotland my opinion is formed by what I see and hear on the news and online but I can't help concluding is the culture war that Jamie Bryson and others are driving more a reaction to the gradual loss of historical cultural dominance than any genuine erosion of PUL culture?

Since the foundation of Northern Ireland, British and unionist enjoyed a privileged position, while Irish culture, language and the CNR community experienced decades of discrimination, marginalisation and suppression.

Now, as equality and parity of esteem slowly become a reality, we see opposition to Irish-language road signs, cultural recognition and the increased visibility of Irish identity, accompanied by claims that PUL culture is under threat.

The same argument arises around Orange Order marches. Opposition to particular parade routes, especially through predominantly nationalist communities, is frequently portrayed as an attack on Protestant culture. Yet the overwhelming majority of parades proceed without restrictions. Surely there's a distinction between protecting the right to celebrate your culture and insisting on the right to impose that celebration on communities that object to particular routes?

But what exactly is being taken away from the PUL community? Their language, traditions, identity and cultural rights remain intact. What's changing is that Irish identity is increasingly being afforded recognition in public spaces historically dominated by British identity.

Isn't this less about cultural erosion and more about the discomfort of losing a historically privileged position?

Could it be that, for some accustomed to cultural dominance, equality now feels like oppression, when in reality they're simply being asked to share the cultural space they once monopolised?

I'd be interested in hearing genuine opinions from you who have first hand knowledge.

Iain McDowell

BBC News NI

Published

27 October 2026

Updated 1 hour ago

A suspicious package delivered to a hotel in Londonderry contained a "viable" explosive device, police have said.

Army bomb experts were sent to the hotel at Ebrington Square in the city's Waterside after the package was discovered at about 15:20 GMT on Tuesday.

They carried out a controlled explosion on the device, which was later taken away for a forensic examination.

Det Supt Kearney of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "I condemn this reckless and targeted attack."

The detective said that "a number of people" were evacuated from the hotel, along with staff from neighbouring premises.

A Halloween funfair had been taking place a short distance away from the hotel.

It remained open during the security alert.

Image source,PA Media

Image caption,

Justice Minister Naomi Long called it 'an utterly shameful and dangerous act'

Justice Minister Naomi Long condemned the incident, calling it "abhorrent".

"The viable device was placed in the vicinity of families and young people celebrating Halloween, Long said.

"It was an utterly shameful and dangerous act and the people behind it have shown absolutely no regard to the community or businesses affected," she added.

She paid tribute to the police officers who responded to the incident, "once again putting themselves in harm's way to ensure the safety of the public".

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme police officers acted swiftly and that his thoughts were with them, the hotel staff and the hotel guests who were impacted.

"This is extremely traumatic for staff and those staying at the hotel," Durkan said.

"This should be a positive week for Derry, with all the events going on with Halloween in the city, there is a lot of buzz, but this has certainly painted a less positive picture of this city.

"This is not representative of Derry and the vast majority of people in this city, who would, like me, completely reject this."

Julie Middleton, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member for Foyle, told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme on Wednesday that she was "deeply disturbed and disgusted".

"There is no excuse to leave a viable device anywhere at all, but in the middle of Ebrington Square, where you have people at their work, families out enjoying some half-term fun and tourists visiting and unfortunately this was designed to cause disruption and with any viable device, it was obviously designed to cause harm."

Middleton said many children would also be in the vicinity enjoying the fun fair.

"To think anyone would place something like this near our children, or anyone for that matter, is just deeply wrong."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6lykg0nkll0o

Went into my usual Turkish barber today. Usual shite craic where they persistently try to up-sell a Turkish hair transplant to me... resulting in my self-esteem eroding away with every word of broken English spoken.

Anyways... he asks me if I want my nose waxed. I'm of an age now where my nose hair can meet my moustache, so I agreed (rather than him using the nose hair trimmer that has likely been up a thousand nostrils at this point). So, he puts the hot wax on these sticks and stuffs them up my nose, then pinches my nose. I feel immediate traction. I've never done this before, so didn't know what to expect. My barber knows I train in the Jiu-jitsu gym down the street... so I'm hard AF lol. I challenge myself to remain composed as he pulls the wax out, as I have seen gown men screaming on online clips.

A few minutes pass and he goes for it. He yanks one out, then the other. However... the sticks came out and the wax remained. He proceeded to load up 2 further sticks and repeats the process. Yet again... wax does not come out... only blood. I am pissing blood out of my right nostril. Somehow it is making it out past the wax barrier and is dripping EVERYWHERE. He panics... I panic. I end up just picking and yanking the wax out myself using tweezers. That was 3 hours ago and the bleeding has just stopped.

Has anyone else had a nightmare with nose wax? Even though I am used to nose trauma from sparring... this has scarred me for life!

*Drumcree (whoops!)

Sinn Féin 30% (+5)

DUP 18% (+1)

UUP 13% (nc)

TUV 11% (–1)

Alliance 9% (–2)

SDLP 9% (nc)

Ind / Others: 4% (-1)

Green 3% (-1)

People Before Profit 1% (-1)

Aontú 1% (nc)

(+/- changes since July)

Full article here: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/research/drumcree-what-northern-ireland-thinks/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm5yn4zd5jjjo

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has reversed a decision to ban the wearing of collarettes at its Remembrance Sunday service.

A document setting out arrangements for next month's wreath-laying ceremony, seen by BBC News NI, stated: "Please note that collarettes are not to be worn."

The move was criticised by the university's Young Unionists club, which said that banning collarettes - such as those worn by Orange Order members - "reinforces the perception among some unionist students that Queen's remains a cold house for their community".

In a statement, QUB said that "having listened to feedback" it had "agreed that they can continue to be worn".

The Remembrance service will be held at QUB's war memorial, which sits in front of the university's main Lanyon Building, on Sunday 8 November.

Several of the university's societies and clubs are expected to attend and lay wreaths at the memorial. People gather for a Remembrance ceremony in a paved square outside a large brown-brick building at Queen's University Belfast. Several rows of attendees stand, many wearing dark, formal clothing and holding red poppy wreaths. Three young men in the centre of the group wear Orange Order collarettes over their suits. The building in the background has a sign above the entrance, which reads: The Sir William Whitla Hall.Image source, UUP Image caption,

Orange Order members had worn their collarettes at previous Remembrance services at the university

Jay Basra, the chair of the Young Unionists club, described the original decision to ban collarettes as a "deeply disappointing step backwards" for inclusion and respect at the university.

Collarettes had been worn by some students representing the Orange Order at previous Remembrance events at the university.

QUB told BBC News NI that its original decision not to allow collarettes this year had been the result of an update to the "marching dress code" to reflect Royal British Legion guidance "at the request of some veterans and serving members of the armed forces".

But it added: "Having listened to further feedback from a wider range of stakeholders, the university recognises the importance of collarettes for some members of the procession and has therefore agreed that they can continue to be worn." The Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast, showing its distinctive red‑brick Gothic Revival facade with pointed windows, crenellated parapets and a central clock tower rising above the quadrangle lawn. A war memorial stands on a pedestal in front within a paved forecourt bordered by low, black chains, while trimmed grass and pathways extend across the campus.Image source, Getty Images Image caption,

Poppy wreaths are laid at the university's war memorial during the Remembrance Sunday service

Basra welcomed the lifting of the ban, saying: "Nobody taking part in that act of remembrance should be told that part of their identity is not welcome.

"Remembrance should be an occasion that brings people together, irrespective of their background or tradition.

"Looking ahead, I would encourage the university to engage directly with those affected before making changes of this kind.

"That would avoid unnecessary upset and help build confidence among unionist students that Queen's is a welcoming home for their community too." 'Lessons must be learned'

Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Phillip Brett said the reversal of the original decision was a sign that "common sense has prevailed".

"While I welcome the willingness of senior management to engage constructively with me and reverse this decision, serious questions remain about how it was taken in the first place," he said.

"Lessons must be learned to ensure that such an unnecessary situation does not arise again."

Hello! I am looking at maybe enrolling in the Introduction to Beekeeping course run by CAFRE. Wondering if anyone has had any experience with their courses or has indeed completed this course?

Thanks

No toilet rolls, come on.

Noticed this a lot from Burnham, lots of schemes that only seem to apply to England. The latest being the removal of standing charges for gas.

She was arrested today in Portadown.

Apparently she was going to do a one woman march down Drumcree before the police got her.

With the chancellor announcing 100quid to folks in the lower 4 council tax bands in the budget. And confirming the funding for NI. What’s the odds we get fuck all cos the assembly is a shambles?

Obvs the way to qualify is going to have to be different here for a start.

Can anyone work out how many units of gas I would get for £198.80 buying from Airtricity please.

I had my meter changed by Phoenix last week, at that time I had 215 units on it which were bought pre price increase and with normal monthly top ups if 50£ were intended to last me until the end of January. I'm trying to work out if I need to increase that 50£ amount. EDIT for clarity. The cheque for £198.80 that I received was a refund for the 215 units that were on the old meter. Those 215 units plus buying another 100/150 with careful usage would be enough gas to take me to almost the end of January pre price rise. I only use my gas for heating and hot water.

I’ve been in the Emergency Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital for over 14 hours and still to be seen. The place is like something you’d expect to see in the third world.

Carla and Jim? Why are you not down here being angry at the real world situations people are facing? Instead you’re stirring up hatred and division while this place is on its knees is sickening beyond words.

UPDATE
18 hours and I’m out. X-Rays done and scans booked for my kidneys tomorrow. Thank you for all the kind comments but this wasn’t about me, it was a rant about what I witnessed today. This is absolutely awful and the people making the decisions are not seeing this.

Found on Downshire Beach, Carrickfergus 27/10/26. Pretty unusual to see this far North, no less in the Lough. I've read that they sometimes get trapped here as the water cools and being such poor swimmers they get washed ashore during storms. One was washed up on Ballyholme beach a few years ago though in much better condition than this one

Hey. I’ve got a video with a few desktop screens in it, and I’m looking for someone who can edit software UI onto the 3 different screens so it looks like it belongs in the footage.

It’s a paid job. If you’ve done screen replacements or motion tracking before, send me a DM with an example of your work and a rough quote. I can share the clip and UI assets so you can see what’s involved. Cheers!

Plans for a bypass through one of Northern Ireland’s busiest towns have taken a step forward.
An outline business case for the A29 Cookstown bypass has been approved, moving the proposed road closer to fruition.
The Infrastructure Minister described the news as a “next welcome step to see this bypass become a reality.”
The road would aim to alleviate congestion in Cookstown town centre by building 4km of new road.
It involves a “carriageway extending from Loughry roundabout on the A29 Dungannon Road to the south of Cookstown, to a proposed new roundabout on the A29 Moneymore Road and includes an upgrade to the Sandholes Link Road.”
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: “The A29 Cookstown Bypass is a much-needed scheme and will help to relieve traffic congestion within Cookstown town centre, reduce journey travel times along the A29 link corridor, improve road safety and enhance the town centre environment.
“The decongestion benefits of the scheme will also provide significant opportunities for the enhancement and reshaping of Cookstown town centre to promote sustainable travel choices.
“The approval of the Outline Business Case is the next welcome step to see this bypass become a reality. “
Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan voiced his support for the news, saying it “marks an important step forward for the Cookstown Bypass”.
“This is a much-needed piece of work that will help ease traffic congestion in Cookstown town centre, reduce journey times along the A29 corridor and improve road safety.
“The development will also present significant opportunities to reshape and revitalise the town centre, supporting local businesses, strengthening the local economy, and improving the quality of life for residents. It will also help encourage more sustainable travel options.
“I will continue to work closely with the minister and the department to ensure this vital infrastructure project is delivered for the people of Cookstown and the wider Mid Ulster area.”
The UUP’s candidate for Mid Ulster Ian Irwin, who said: “Approval of the Outline Business Case is welcome news and represents a positive step towards delivering a bypass that Cookstown has needed for many years.
“However, local people and businesses will rightly want to see this progress translate into a clear timetable for delivery.
“Traffic congestion has a real impact on daily life in Cookstown. Residents face delays, businesses feel the effects of traffic moving through the town centre, and commuters and hauliers can lose valuable time travelling along the A29 corridor.
“A bypass could address these long-standing issues, improve road safety and make journeys more reliable.
“Just as importantly, reducing traffic through the town centre could create new opportunities for Cookstown’s regeneration, helping to make the town a more attractive place to shop, work, invest and spend time.
“This must be viewed as an investment in the future of Cookstown, its businesses and its wider community.
“While the £43 million secured through the Mid South West Growth Deal is a significant contribution towards the scheme, the approved cost estimate of £100.1 million underlines the scale of the funding challenge that remains.
It is essential that the Department for Infrastructure sets out how the remaining funding will be secured and provides clarity on the next stages of the project.
“Cookstown has waited long enough for meaningful progress. I want to see continued momentum, transparency around the process and a firm commitment to moving this scheme forward without unnecessary delay.
“As a UUP candidate for Mid Ulster, I will continue to press for the infrastructure investment our area needs. Cookstown deserves more than announcements and promises; it deserves a bypass that is delivered and brings lasting benefits to local people, businesses and the wider economy.”

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/plans-for-100m-bypass-through-one-of-nis-busiest-towns-take-step-forward-with-claims-it-could-slash-journey-times/a/163675791.html