Dame Brenda King re-appointed as Northern Ireland Attorney General

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have jointly agreed to re-appoint Dame Brenda King as the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. Her new five-year term will commence following the expiry of her current appointment and will run until 30 June 2030.

Ferguson Condemns 'Tit-For-Tat' Sectarian Violence In L'Derry

Alliance Foyle representative Rachael Ferguson has strongly condemned a series of reported sectarian attacks that occurred in the L'Derry area over the weekend.

The incidents are said to have involved the throwing of bricks, bottles, and fireworks between opposing groups and at police officers. Additionally, the windows of a bus carrying young people who had participated in a cross-community football tournament were smashed.

Ms Ferguson expressed her dismay at the violence. "There is absolutely no justification for the heinous incident this all stemmed from, the retaliatory attacks that followed, or any kind of violence targeted at police," she stated.

She conveyed her concern for those affected by the disturbances. "My thoughts are with everyone impacted by these attacks, and I hope that anyone who may be hurt makes a speedy recovery."

Ms Ferguson emphasised the ongoing harm caused by sectarianism. "Sectarianism continues to be a scourge on our society. If we want to live in peace and create a truly united community for the next generations, it's something we must continue to vigorously challenge at every level."

She also appealed directly to any young people involved and their parents. "I'd encourage any young person caught up in this senseless violence to seriously reconsider their actions, and any parents of those involved to have some robust conversations with their children about the possible consequences of their behaviour, which could impact them for the rest of their lives." BT Job Losses 'Devastating' – Eastwood

SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has expressed strong condemnation regarding the proposed loss of approximately 140 jobs at BT in Derry/Londonderry, describing it as "devastating" for the city.

The proposed plans suggest that some staff may be offered the opportunity to relocate their roles to Belfast.

Mr Eastwood stated: "This is devastating news for BT workers, their families and the broader local economy in Derry. At a time when we need to be investing more in jobs and opportunities in our city, the proposed loss of these jobs will have a serious impact."

He further revealed that he is in communication with BT's senior leadership regarding the plans, conveying the strong feelings of anger within the L'Derry community. "Relocating these roles to India and Belfast is a mistake, it makes regional economic imbalances worse and it’s a direct transfer of opportunity from our city to other places that do not need it," he asserted.

Mr Eastwood pledged to escalate the issue with government ministers in both London and Belfast. "I will be raising this matter directly with Ministers in London and Belfast. Both have indicated their commitment to addressing the opportunity gap and it’s time that they put their money where their mouth is."

SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA also voiced her concerns. "The announcement of BT’s Derry office closure is a real blow for our city and the workers who have built their lives there. My thoughts are with those now facing deep uncertainty, and urgent action is needed to ensure they receive full support and financial assistance," she said.

Ms McLaughlin added, "This move is part of a wider pattern of centralising jobs in Belfast while communities like Derry are left behind. This is a result of political choices that have failed our region for too long. We need a joined-up strategy for regional economic growth that delivers good jobs and fair investment across all of Northern Ireland, not just within the Belfast commuter belt."