Sláinte! The Pleasures of an Irish Pub

A DOCUMENTARY that has just premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival exposes alarming Traveller mental health issues and extremely high rates of suicide within the community.  Mind Your Head has taken three years to make and features 37-year-old Dublin born Andy Spoore’s battle against depression and rehabilitation from living on the streets of Chelmsford, Essex. A … [Read more...] about New documentary focuses on high suicide rate among young Traveller men

THERE were dramatic scenes at the Ireland Funds gala dinner in Washington DC last night, after members of the Burke family were removed from the event. They were in attendance to protest the prosecution of teacher-family member Enoch Burke for contempt of court. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin was at the gala, along with several key stakeholders from the US Congress, Northern … [Read more...] about Burke family thrown out of gala dinner in Washington

A MAN will serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars for the murder of his young son. Craig Rowland, of Millington Park in Portadown, appeared at Laganside Court today in connection with the murder of his son Lewis Oliver Rowland. Lewis was just three months old when he was admitted to hospital in November 2015 with “catastrophic injuries”. An investigation into the injuries … [Read more...] about Man who left young son with ‘catastrophic’ brain injuries jailed for murder

A MAN who committed multiple historic child sex offences has been jailed today. Herbert ‘Herbie’ Balmer, of Ballymena in Co. Antrim, was found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault and six counts of gross indecency with or towards a child. The 61-year-old was sentenced today to seven and a half years, of which he will serve six and a half years in custody and 12 months on … [Read more...] about Man jailed for child sex abuse offences after ‘brave’ victims come forward