Appeal Following Early Morning Collision In Lurgan

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses following a single-vehicle road traffic collision in Lurgan, in the early hours of this morning, Friday, 20 June.

Sergeant Murray reported that officers, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, responded to the incident in the Kiln Road area shortly after 05:30.

Three occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

The driver of the vehicle was cautioned by police for a number of motoring offences following the incident.

Kiln Road was closed for a period with diversions in place but has since reopened to road users.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision and who may have dash cam or mobile phone footage to come forward. Please contact police on 101, quoting reference number 200 of 20/06/25.

Alliance MLA Backs Campaign Highlighting Attacks on Police Officers

Alliance Justice spokesperson Connie Egan MLA yesterday (Thursday, 19 June) attended the launch of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland's 'Let them protect' campaign. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the frequent attacks faced by police officers on duty and the wider impact these incidents have on communities.

Speaking after the event, the North Down MLA strongly condemned the violence. "Any violence against someone providing a public service is simply unacceptable," she stated. "The Police Federation's campaign, 'Let them protect', is a much-needed wake-up call for those engaging in disorder, particularly in light of the recent riots throughout Northern Ireland, which have left over 60 officers injured."

Ms Egan described the statistics as "shocking," emphasising that police officers "should be able to perform their duties without the fear of being attacked and injured. It is unacceptable for them to end up in hospital for doing their jobs."

She welcomed the presence and support of Justice Minister Naomi Long at the event, noting the Minister's clear message that "every injury means one less officer keeping our communities safe." "Alliance is committed to supporting the police," Ms Egan affirmed, adding that the party welcomes the Justice Minister's commitment in her upcoming sentencing bill, which proposes "harsher penalties for anyone who attacks someone providing a public service in Northern Ireland."

UUP Raise Concerns Over Alleged Puppy Smuggling Loophole

The Chair of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, Robbie Butler MLA, has issued a stark warning that a serious loophole in the proposed Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill could inadvertently transform Northern Ireland into an "unpoliced corridor" for puppy smugglers. He fears this could facilitate the illicit trade targeting lucrative markets in southern England.

While generally welcoming the Bill's potential to outlaw cruel practices such as ear cropping, tail docking, and declawing, Mr Butler used today’s Committee session to press officials on the risk of creating an "unintended back door" through the Republic of Ireland.

"Smugglers are opportunists," Mr Butler stated. "What we risk doing here is creating an alternative route where animals are brought legally into the Republic, then re-registered, and quietly moved across the border into Northern Ireland and on to Great Britain without triggering enforcement. No law is technically broken, yet the cruelty and criminality remain."

Mr Butler also pointed to inherent weaknesses stemming from the application of the Windsor Framework, which permits divergence in animal welfare standards across the Irish Sea. He cited the example of heavily pregnant dogs, whose movement is to be banned from the EU to Great Britain under the new rules, but remains permitted via the Republic of Ireland and into Northern Ireland.

This inconsistency, he warned, "undermines the UK-wide intent of the Bill and exposes a failure of joined-up enforcement."

The MLA has urged authorities on both sides of the border to "urgently tighten enforcement measures and close off this route," stressing that failure to do so could undermine the very protections the Bill is designed to deliver.

"This Bill is a step forward for animal welfare, but if we leave a loophole open, we may only displace the problem, not solve it," Mr Butler concluded.