Northern Ireland’s police service for law enforcement and crime prevention
Gary Anderson, 29, one of two brothers jailed for life over Karol Kelly’s 2018 Londonderry murder, has absconded after being granted compassionate temporary release to attend his father’s funeral. He failed to return to a court-approved chaperone, and police are appealing for information as he remains at large. The court had overturned an initial CTR refusal, prompting renewed scrutiny of the scheme and its oversight.
Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty on 18 counts of child sex offences, including rape and indecent assault, involving two victims who were children at the time. His wife, Eleanor, is deemed to have aided and abetted some offences but was found unfit for trial on mental health grounds. Sentencing will follow later this year.
Campaigners say Edwards’s Substack commentary shows a troubling return to public debate around his case, while he says he is trying to rebuild a meaningful life and discuss mental health after pleading guilty in 2024 to possessing indecent images of children.
Inquests into Maddy Cusack’s death have been adjourned for a third time as new documents are reviewed. The coroner will resume hearings in December after postponements this year, with evidence already heard from family, teammates and club staff.
Northern Ireland's bonfire season has again drawn condemnation after a replica mosque was placed on a Moygashel bonfire and lit early. Police are investigating incitement to hatred, amid broader debates over safety, immigration rhetoric, and community tensions surrounding the Twelfth of July celebrations.
Police have launched a murder investigation after three members of a single family were found dead at a house on the Cullybackey Road. Post-mortems will determine cause of death, and police say the public is not at risk. A vigil is planned for tonight as investigators work at the scene.
Gardaí have charged a woman in her 20s after a vehicle containing a suspected advanced explosive was intercepted near Carrickmacross. The device is described as highly significant, with investigations focusing on dissident republican activity. A separate man in his 40s remains in custody as more details surface from the operation taxied by the Garda Special Detective Unit.
Ciara Corvan has been given two years’ probation and 100 hours of community service after admitting seven charges of ill-treatment of patients at the Bluestone Unit in Craigavon. The case highlights safeguarding gaps and the need for better training and oversight of staff caring for vulnerable dementia patients.
Multiple fatal vehicle crashes have occurred recently across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Police have confirmed a series of investigations and are seeking dash-cam footage and witness information. Road closures have been in place and investigations are ongoing.
The BBC report says a child was injured after a collision with an e-scooter rider in Shantallow; the rider apologised and left the scene. Police say e-scooters are often driven illegally in public spaces, and enforcement will be carried out safely. In Accra, police say a minor driver was involved in a truck incident, with arrests continuing as investigations proceed. A separate operation in Armagh led to the seizure of 23 uninsured vehicles.
A three-part Channel 4 documentary on Lyra McKee’s 2019 murder follows Detective Jason Murphy as he investigates the crime amid a culture of silence and mistrust that hampers justice. The film uses CCTV evidence and interviews, revealing tensions between police and communities in Northern Ireland.
A woman in her 70s has been found dead in Stanley Park, Liverpool, inside a black bin bag in a walled garden. Police describe the death as a shockingly violent crime and are appealing for information as they pursue leads to identify the woman and find those responsible.
A 19-year-old man has been jailed for life for the murder of Mark Carroll in Camden in 2024, with the attack prompting family-led fundraising for a gravestone and raising concerns about how a supported-living facility handled prior arrests. The story also notes criticisms from the victim’s family and calls for systemic review of care housing policies.
The inquest into Noah Donohoe’s death has found 13 failings by investigators and possible, but not probable, links to Department for Infrastructure shortcomings. The jury concludes there was no evidence of police wrongdoing contributing to his death, while the case stretches over six years and involved extensive testimony.