Claire Dickson

A car and a property were set alight in the Hillhead Park area of Banbridge at around 10pm. Police and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended, and no injuries were reported. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating the incident as a reckless arson attack and has appealed for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage.

A family from Downpatrick is raising money after their five-year-old cockapoo, Lydia, was seriously injured in a hit-and-run. Lydia suffered broken hips, a shattered pelvis and eye damage, requiring specialist surgery in Belfast, with treatment costs expected to reach £8,000. Her insurance did not cover the operation because the policy had already been used for another condition. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than £2,500, while the family waits to learn whether further surgery will be needed and hopes Lydia can eventually return home.

A 37-year-old woman from Lurgan says she was treated for anxiety from age 15, including high-dose medication and counselling, before receiving a private diagnosis of severe ADHD in England. She reports significant improvements after starting ADHD medication but must pay about £200 a month because Northern Ireland has no commissioned NHS ADHD service. She is urging the Department of Health to improve GP awareness of ADHD symptoms. The department’s ADHD needs assessment is intended to inform future service planning, but Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said commissioning decisions will depend on affordability amid broader health and social-care funding pressures.

Twenty-four-year-old Katie Sweeney from Rostrevor has been selected as Ulster’s representative in Donegal’s Mary from Dungloe Festival. A laboratory assistant with a master’s degree in personalised medicine, Sweeney says her family connection to Dungloe and STEM background helped distinguish her among applicants. She values the festival’s emphasis on women and community relationships and hopes to win the overall title, which would bring a year of promotional opportunities and international appearances.

A new visitor experience at the Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library in Armagh is giving tourists the chance to learn about and try road bowling, a centuries-old sport strongly associated with County Armagh and also played in County Cork. Local player Chris Mallon hosts demonstrations and practical sessions every Friday, with bookings available through Visit Armagh. The initiative was created in response to community interest and aims to attract visitors, particularly those visiting the nearby cathedral.

The British Heart Foundation is urging communities in west Tyrone and the Cusher area of Armagh to apply for free defibrillators after identifying the regions as having the UK's longest retrieval times for the devices. With average waits reaching up to 20 minutes in some rural areas, the charity aims to address gaps through its community funding programme, highlighting that early CPR and defibrillation significantly improve survival rates. Local groups such as Keady’s Michael Dwyers GAA Club have already benefited, and the initiative prioritises areas with long retrieval times, high population density and high deprivation. Approved devices will be added to the national registry, The Circuit, which currently shows uneven distribution across the region.

Camlough Lake in County Armagh has been closed for a second consecutive summer following the confirmation of blue‑green algae, prompting calls from Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes for urgent investigation and long-term prevention measures. DAERA confirmed the bloom on July 13, leading to a minimum four‑week restriction period while water quality is monitored. Local representatives and campaign groups warn that recurring pollution threatens community use and could undermine investment in a £4.6m water sports facility planned for the area. A public meeting has been scheduled to address concerns over environmental conditions and future protections.

Jim Gracey, former Group Sports Editor of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, died at 68 following an illness. Colleagues, sports figures and friends praised his decades-long influence on Northern Ireland sports journalism, his leadership roles including chairing the Mary Peters Trust, and his support for young reporters. Tributes highlighted his dedication, storytelling skill, commitment to athletes and colleagues, and deep passion for sport.

A man named Warren Lyttle died after falling from a bonfire in east Belfast, prompting police and safety authorities to investigate. His daughter and local community groups issued tributes expressing grief and support for his family. Following discussions with relatives, bonfire organisers decided to proceed with the planned lighting while holding a minute’s silence in his memory. Friends and a local social club also shared condolences online.

Two men aged 31 and 22 have been charged in connection with an alleged assault in north Belfast and are due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court. The charges include wounding with intent, possession of an offensive weapon, assault on police and common assault. A third man, aged 27, was released on bail pending further enquiries, and all charges will undergo review by the Public Prosecution Service.

Campaigners seeking to restore the Armagh–Portadown rail link warn that progress risks stalling without additional funding to develop a business case. Feasibility studies estimate reopening costs of up to £245 million, with up to £15 million needed for the next stage alone. While the Infrastructure Minister cites strong support for the project, she emphasises that advancement depends on budget availability. The Department for Infrastructure says the line remains a priority within wider rail network plans aimed at improving regional balance and sustainable transport.

The family of Ian McCollum expressed ongoing devastation after his death in a 2022 workplace accident at McKinstry Biomass Ltd, where he was fatally struck by a telehandler driven by colleague Walter Manley. Manley received custodial sentences for manslaughter and a health and safety breach, while the company was fined £120,000 after pleading guilty to multiple safety violations. Prosecutors emphasized the preventable nature of the incident and the importance of employer compliance with safety laws.