Eimear Flanagan

Two families escaped injury after masked men attacked homes in Bristol Park and Weavers Grange in Newtownards, smashing windows and attempting to start fires, including with a petrol bomb. Between the attacks, a minibus, car and commercial property on Victoria Avenue were extensively damaged by a deliberately started fire. The Police Service of Northern Ireland believes the incidents are linked and is increasing patrols while pursuing several lines of inquiry.

Two families escaped injury after masked men carried out three linked arson attacks in Newtownards. Homes in Bristol Park and Weavers Grange were targeted, with windows smashed and attempts made to ignite a vehicle and a sofa using accelerants or a petrol bomb. A minibus and car were also burned on Victoria Avenue, and the fire spread to a business. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating, while a senior officer described the attacks as placing residents at grave risk.

A man identified as Warren Lyttle died after falling from an Eleventh Night bonfire in east Belfast. Local groups described the incident as a tragic accident and expressed condolences to his family. Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating. The bonfire is set to proceed following discussions with the family, with a minute’s silence planned before it is lit.

Irish ancestry has played a significant role in shaping US presidential history, with about half of American presidents tracing roots to Ireland, particularly Northern Ireland’s Ulster-Scots community. Researchers highlight ancestral links for figures including Andrew Jackson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, the Bush family, and especially John F Kennedy, whose engagement with his Irish heritage set a precedent for later leaders. Genealogist Fiona Fitzsimons and academic Liam Kennedy note that while Irish identity remains culturally meaningful for many Americans, its political influence has declined due to assimilation and the fragmentation of Irish-American communities, with heritage no longer a significant factor in presidential politics.

Roughly half of all US presidents have ancestry tracing back to Ireland, with both Catholic and Ulster-Scots roots represented among leaders from Andrew Jackson to Joe Biden. Genealogists highlight detailed records revealing varied Irish links across administrations, while historians note that Irish identity once played a significant symbolic role for American presidents. That influence is now diminishing as Irish‑American political cohesion declines, with the community becoming more diverse in views and less of a unified electoral force.