# Belfast
Last week
19th March 2023 - 25th March 2023
# Troubles
Family of man tortured by British military into murder confession awarded £350,000
Liam Holden’s conviction was quashed in 2012 and he received £1 million in damages for the miscarriage of justice.
# Ready to go
Michael Conlan set for world title fight against Luis Alberto Lopez in Belfast
Tickets go on sale on 31 March at 11am.
# census 2021
First Northern Ireland census to track sexual orientation finds 2.1% identify as LGB+
The latest census results focus on employment, marital status and sexual orientation.
Last month
March 2023
# good friday agrrement
Bill and Hillary Clinton to visit Belfast as part of packed GFA anniversary schedule
Hillary Clinton, the Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, will host the three-day conference.
# naomi long
Alliance leader willing to test legality of Stormont’s ‘discriminatory’ voting system
It is understood Alliance has sought legal advice on whether the existing arrangements are human rights compliant.
# windsor framework
Westminster to legislate to 'reassure' unionists of Northern Ireland's position in UK
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris most unionist concerns with the new post-Brexit deal relate to the Acts of Union.
This year
2023
# BMCA
Multicultural centre in Belfast put up for sale as members 'too scared' to return after attacks
‘We have slowly accepted that we will never return,’ said a spokesperson for the association.
# Belfast
Martin 'very anxious' that power sharing institutions are restored as quickly as possible
The Tánaiste says the meetings with the parties in Northern Ireland were ‘constructive’.
# Aidan McAnespie
Suspended sentence for ex-British soldier convicted of 1988 manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie
In November, David Jonathan Holden, 53, was convicted of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in February 1988.
Aidan McAnespie, 23, was killed in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, moments after walking through a border security checkpoint.
In November, David Jonathan Holden, 53, was convicted of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in February 1988.
Members of McAnespie’s family were in court for the sentencing hearing.
# Aidan McAnespie
'We didn't want a pound of flesh': Aidan McAnespie's brother critical of sentence for David Holden
David Jonathan Holden, 53, was sentenced to three years at Belfast Crown Court this afternoon.
# Margaret Gibson
Belfast woman who made plea to Tony Blair feels 'betrayed' 25 years after Good Friday Agreement
Margaret Gibney was a Belfast schoolgirl when she asked the then-prime minister to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Last year
2022
# Troubles
Progress at five peace wall sites in Northern Ireland
Work is ongoing to reduce or remove the walls which were built to separate communities during the Troubles.
# Courts
Woman who killed her son and attempted to kill infant sentenced to life imprisonment
Detectives said the case “brought to light an underlying element of domestic abuse”.
# Northern Ireland
Leo Varadkar urged to announce citizens’ assembly on Irish unity
Professor Colin Harvey also called on all armed groups to disband and to “get out of the way” of a united Ireland.
# Arlene Foster
Calls for civility after pro-IRA chant is directed at former DUP leader Arlene Foster
The footage involving Foster emerged from the Local Women Business Awards in Belfast at the weekend.
# Fly Atlantic
A new transatlantic airline will begin flying from Belfast next summer
Flights will start to go on sale from the beginning of 2024.
# Landmark
History as Republic of Ireland cap first Belfast-born player since 1946
Bristol City’s Mark Sykes came off the bench late on in the win over Malta.
# Upset
Northern Ireland pull off shock win over Italy
Kenny Shiels’ side earned a memorable win in front of a sold-out Belfast crowd.
# The Disappeared
Families of Disappeared brave rain for walk in memory of loved ones
Relatives gathered together under umbrellas to say prayers, led by priest Father Joe Gormley.
# Belfast
Man who claims he was abused by Lord Mountbatten launches legal proceedings
Arthur Smyth, who was a resident at the Kincora home in Belfast, has waived his anonymity to make the claim.
# Troubles
Belfast actor Ciarán Hinds calls on Truss to scrap UK Govt's controversial Troubles legacy plan
The Bill is set for consideration by the House of Lords.
# Belfast
PSNI make renewed appeal for information on man shot dead in Belfast football club
Sean Fox was murdered in the busy clubhouse as people watched a match on TV.
# Belfast
Move not to pursue corporate manslaughter charges in Noah Donohoe case to be reviewed
Police had investigated Stormont’s Department of Infrastructure in relation to the storm drain in which the schoolboy was found dead.
# Northern Ireland
Woman tells Kate Middleton ‘Ireland belongs to the Irish’ during visit to Belfast
The woman also told Kate: “Nice to meet you but it would be better if it was when you were in your own country.”
# sean fox
Police release CCTV images of suspects in ‘ruthless execution’ in Belfast
A reward of £20,000 has also been offered for information about the murder of Sean Fox.
# Belfast
Victim in fatal shooting at Belfast social club named
A group of people were watching football at the clubhouse at the time of the shooting.
# Belfast
Man charged with arson following fire at building in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter
The fire broke out at the Old Cathedral Buildings at arouind 5.40am.
# Belfast
Man shot dead in busy Belfast clubhouse as people watched football on TV
The incident happened at the clubhouse of Donegal Celtic Football Club on the Suffolk Road in west Belfast.
# Bloody Sunday
Resumption of Bloody Sunday prosecution delayed for 24 hours after court mix-up
Former paratrooper Soldier F is facing two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
# Belfast
PSNI arrest man and seize €34k of cannabis in UVF drug dealing investigation
A PSNI detective said buying drugs put money ‘straight into the hands of paramilitaries’.
# Hollie Thomson
Police charge 31-year-old man with murder of west Belfast woman
The PSNI’s major investigation team launched a murder investigation following a post-mortem of her body.
# Belfast
Coroner approves PSNI attempt to withhold material from Noah Donohoe inquest
Justice Michael Humphreys said disclosing the information would create a real risk of harm to the public interest.
# Crossbow
Three people arrested following crossbow incident in Belfast
It was reported yesterday that a crossbow bolt had been fired from an apartment, narrowly missing a passer-by.
# Belfast
Four men arrested by NI police in connection with investigation into New IRA
The men – aged 27, 30, 51 and 62 – were arrested in Belfast under the Terrorism Act.
# Festival
Colour fills Belfast streets as city marks largest cultural diversity festival
It is the first time the festival has taken place following a two-year break due to the pandemic.
# PSNI
Car explosion in Belfast was caused by gas canister, PSNI say, ruling out criminal activity
A man was hospitalised with facial injuries following the explosion.
# NOAH DONOHOE
Calls for justice at large protest in Belfast over Noah Donohoe investigation
Donning blue-and-white striped jerseys and carrying signs, people chanted ‘Justice for Noah’ and ‘tell the truth’ at Belfast City Hall.
# Penneys
Belfast Primark to reopen in November after refurbishment due to fire
The store will be 76% bigger than it was previously and a new fifth floor will open.
# Pride
Thousands line streets of Belfast as Pride parade returns
There was a carnival atmosphere in the city centre as the rain stayed away until the end of the parade.
# Belfast
White balloons released in Belfast to mark recent spate in drugs-related deaths
15 people have died in what have been termed as drugs-related deaths in Belfast since the start of June.
