Alliance Councillor Condemns "Reckless and Abhorrent" Security Alert At Cavehill

Alliance Castle Councillor Sam Nelson has strongly denounced those responsible for the recent security alert in the Cavehill area of North Belfast, labelling their actions as reckless and abhorrent.

Earlier today (Wednesday, 23rd April), it was reported that a number of viable pipe bomb type devices, along with a quantity of ammunition, were discovered in the Cavehill area. This discovery led to the closure of entrances to Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast Castle on the Antrim Road for a significant period.

Councillor Nelson expressed his outrage: "The sheer lack of regard for the safety of the public shown by those responsible for this is as shocking as it is utterly abhorrent."

He highlighted the popularity of the area with local residents and visitors alike. "This is a shared space that's hugely popular with local residents. Beyond the distress and disruption caused to them, however, the area's also highly frequented by visitors often experiencing Northern Ireland for the very first time. That this could be part of the impression we may leave on them is a disgrace."

Councillor Nelson expressed relief that no one was harmed and commended the police response. "We can only be glad nobody was hurt, and I want to extend my thanks to the PSNI for their calm and diligent efforts throughout the day to secure the area, keep people safe, and work to get Cave Hill Country Park reopened as soon as was possible."

He urged anyone with relevant information to assist the police investigation. "I would also encourage anyone that has any information that may be relevant to the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice to please get in contact with them, or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers."

Tesco NI Sponsors Schools Trail at 2025 Balmoral Show

Tesco Northern Ireland has announced its sponsorship of the Schools Trail at the 2025 Balmoral Show, promising a fun and educational experience for children attending the event.

The Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland’s largest agricultural and food event, will take place from May 14th to 17th at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn. This year, the Schools Trail is expected to welcome over 1,000 primary, secondary, and special needs school pupils, as well as youth groups and clubs, to participate in the interactive activity. The one-hour guided trail is designed to provide young participants with an engaging introduction to food, farming, and agriculture in Northern Ireland. Making this year's trail even more unique, Tesco NI’s own Community Champions will be on hand to guide the children through various interactive stations, offering support to both pupils and teachers throughout the experience.

Shannon McFarland, Local Marketing Manager at Tesco NI, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. "Tesco’s Community Champions are dedicated to making a difference both in-store and within the wider community. We are thrilled to have them leading the Schools Trail this year, helping inspire the next generation about local farming and food production."

As part of the trail, the children will also visit the Tesco Theatre Kitchen within the NI Food & Drink Pavilion. Here, local chefs, including Ian Morton from Andrews Flour and Bronagh Duffin from BakeHouse NI, will provide live demonstrations.

"Kids will enjoy learning with the various demos planned, and we’ll make sure they’re well-fuelled with snacks to keep their energy levels up for a fantastic day out!" added Shannon McFarland.

The Balmoral Show, now in its 156th year, will once again be held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre. Further details on booking and costs for the Schools Trail can be found at: fareharbor.com/embeds/book/belfastheritagetours/items/

Police Investigate ATM Theft From North Belfast Shop

Detectives are investigating the reported theft of an ATM machine from a shop in the Cavehill Road area of north Belfast, which occurred in the early hours of this morning, Thursday 24th April.

Detective Inspector Michael McDonnell confirmed that a report was received on Thursday morning regarding the removal of the ATM from the premises.

"Following initial enquiries, we believe that the ATM was taken shortly after 2am," Detective Inspector McDonnell stated.

He is appealing to the public for any information that could aid the investigation. "I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the Cavehill Road, North Circular Road and Ballysillan Road areas, and saw anything suspicious, or who may have captured dash-cam footage which could assist us, to contact officers on 101, quoting reference number 209 24/04/25."

Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/