Latest news with #Strabane
BreakingNews.ie
15 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Young driver (25) caught doing doughnuts by gardaí before leading them on chase
A young driver caught doing doughnuts before "fishtailing" in front of gardaí and trying to outrun them by heading for the border to escape has been given a suspended jail sentence. Ben Murray (25) appeared before Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with dangerous driving. Advertisement The court heard that Murray was attending his first Donegal International Rally in June 2024. Gardaí had called to Drumbarnett, Manorcunningham, after complaints from the public that the road had been blocked and a number of cars were doing doughnuts just before midnight. When gardaí arrived, they observed a Lexus is200 performing doughnuts and activated their blue lights. The driver of the car then fishtailed in front of the patrol car forcing gardaí to reverse their patrol vehicle to avoid being hit. Advertisement The Lexus sped off but was apprehended in the early hours of the following morning heading for the border. The driver, Ben Murray, was arrested and was apologetic to gardaí. His solicitor, Patsy Gallagher, said Murray was attending his first rally and was "showing off for friends." He had made admissions and the car was lifted and his father and uncle had to come and collect the student, added the solicitor. Advertisement Judge Ciaran Liddy asked the court if Murray, of Carlton Drive, Strabane, Co Tyrone, had any previous convictions. Sergeant Jim Collins said he had one previous conviction for drug driving and had been disqualified for one year. Judge Liddy noted that Murray was only back on the road for five months when this incident occurred. "This man is looking at a jail sentence," said the judge. Advertisement Mr Gallagher said he was asking the court to take a more diplomatic approach adding it was "one stupid mistake." His client has now adopted a serious attitude to the incident and 'he should have acted more appropriately', he added. Mr Gallagher said that there was an impression given that Murray was 'aiming for the border', but told the court that it was not an evasive situation. 'There was no chase or otherwise,' he said, adding that the car has been moved on. Advertisement He said Murray is doing a traineeship for cranes and has his preliminary tests done and planned to go to Scandinavia to finish that process. Mr Gallagher asked the court to consider reducing the charge to one of careless driving and to consider Murray's early plea. 'The shock of being here has had a very awakening effect on him,' Mr Gallagher said. Judge Ciaran Liddy said the road was blocked deliberately to 'facilitate boy racer activity involving this man performing a fishtail manoeuvre on the public highway'. Judge Liddy noted that a Garda patrol car had to take evasive action to avoid being struck and that Murray proceeded to drive towards Derry. Ireland Learner drivers who had vehicles seized for drivin... Read More He said Murray was only just back on the road having concluded a driving ban for drink-driving only six months previously. Judge Liddy said: 'It is clear that he learned very little from his experience in court on the previous occasion.' Judge Liddy said that only for Murray having been 'well advised' to plead guilty he would be imposing an immediate custodial sentence. Murray was handed a six-month prison sentence that was suspended for two years. Murray was also disqualified from driving for two years and fined €300.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Temperatures set to soar above 30C across the UK
Temperatures are set to reach 30C (86F) in parts of the UK on Thursday, with the heat expected to build steadily as the week goes is likely to mean the first heatwave of 2025 being declared by the weekend. Temperatures will peak in different areas on different days, with some of the highest figures on Thursday expected in the south and east, the Midlands and South West nights will also be much warmer from Thursday, with many areas seeing temperatures in the high Friday, the north and west will be feeling the heat, with Aviemore, Strabane and Aberystwyth among the possible spots to hit 28C or higher. When is a heatwave really a heatwave?How do heat health alerts work?Increased chance of a hot summer and heatwavesSix ways to keep your home cool in hot weatherHow to sleep in the heat Northern Ireland, western Scotland and west Wales will see temperatures peak on Friday with highs of 24 to 28C east Wales, eastern Scotland and much of England the peak will be on Saturday, where many areas will see highs of 28 to 31C, while some places in south-east England and East Anglia may reach night could see the first "tropical night" of the year. This is where overnight temperatures do not drop below 20C, something that is increasingly likely for parts of south-east heat is down to a developing area of high pressure. This will help winds switch to a south-easterly direction and draw in hot weather from other parts of Western Europe. Parts of France and Spain could see temperatures close to 40C over the next few a heatwave to be declared by the Met Office we need to reach a threshold temperature for at least three consecutive days, and that threshold varies from 25C across the north and west of the UK, to 28C in parts of eastern we have seen temperatures exceeding these figures in recent weeks, the warm spells have not been long enough to qualify as a heatwave - but that looks like it is about to a Met Office study said the risk of 40C temperatures in the UK was rapidly last time temperatures exceeded 40C in the UK was 19 July, 2022Writing in the journal Weather meteorologists said there was a 50:50 risk of temperatures exceeding 40C in the UK in the next 12 years - four years earlier than the previous estimate, and that temperatures of 45C or more "may be possible". The risk is increasing as climate change continues to drive global temperatures upwards. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group have previously found such extremes would have been "almost impossible" without human-induced climate Kay, lead author of the Met Office study, said: "We find that temperatures several degrees above those recorded in July 2022 are plausible, with a simulated maximum of 46.6C. This is close to the theoretical range for London in today's climate – in the upper 40s or even higher – that has been proposed elsewhere." The UK's June temperature record stands at 35.6C, set in Southampton in 1976. Current forecasts suggest this is unlikely to be exceeded this infamous summer included the longest continuous heatwave on record, with 18 days above 28C. However, the Met Office's model found that today's climate could support a heatwave lasting up to 39 pressure and rising temperatures have prompted the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue yellow heat-health alerts for most of England from midday Wednesday to Sunday yellow is the lowest level (below amber and red), it warns of possible impacts on health and social services and recommends preparation for vulnerable groups, including the is worth noting that heatwave conditions do not always mean sunshine. As temperatures rise over the weekend, showers or thunderstorms could develop across parts of the UK. A quick check of the BBC Weather app will show when the risk of rain increases locally - useful for anyone planning to spend time UK forecasts are showing that winds will start to switch to less hot westerlies from Saturday onwards. However, it's likely to be still very hot in eastern areas on Sunday with temperatures above 30 Celsius for even next week with a greater chance of occasional rain, hotter weather will still not be far from the south-east corner of the country.
Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Bready defeat defending champions to go top of North West Premiership
The Irish international dominated a third wicket stand of 51 with Jodie Spence as Bready romped to their modest 82 target in the 12th over. Fox Lodge had struggled to get going as they limped to 81 for eight – helped by 31 extras - with Elle Moore and Mollie Devine both making 18. Jodie Spence and Sophie Hamilton each took two wickets in a fine effort by the bowling unit that never relinquished control of the game. Bonds Glen beat Strabane in a high scoring game that saw Jessica Cooke (40) and Stephanie Wilkinson (38 not out) in the runs for the home side as they made 167 for seven – Nicola Mullen taking three wickets. Strabane started the chase well as Kylie McGarrigle hit eight fours in a 31-ball 43, putting on 68 for the first wicket with skipper Chloe Deans, who hit an unbeaten 40. Two wickets apiece for Leah and Lucy Thompson clinched a 21-run win for the Bee Gees. Coleraine ran out comfortable 66-run winners at home to Eglinton thanks primarily to a third wicket partnership of 119 between Amy Caulfield and Kenya McCartney (37). Caulfield top-scored with 80 from 58 deliveries, including 12 fours and two maximums as the Bannsiders made 147 for five. Anna McGurk's three for five and two wickets for McCartney restricted Eglinton to just 81 for seven to keep Coleraine third in the table.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hugo Duncan: BBC presenter receives MBE from Prince William
Radio presenter and singer Hugo Duncan has described receiving his MBE from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle as "a real honour".The BBC Radio Ulster presenter was awarded the accolade as part of the New Year Honours list, for his contributions to entertainment and the community in Northern 75, is known to his legions of fans of his long-running afternoon show on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle as the "wee man from Strabane".Speaking after the ceremony at Windsor on Wednesday, Duncan said it had been a "great occasion". "Prince William was the man," he said, adding the pair had talked about Duncan's career as a broadcaster as well as a "bit of general chat"."It really was a special day, a great occasion. I even got dressed up, I had a tuxedo on, I was a dead ringer for the Penguin out of Batman".Duncan said there were three reasons he was thankful to receive the honour"Firstly for the community, then for the music and thirdly for my mum," he he was named among the New Year Honours list recipients in January, Duncan dedicated his award to his late mother Susie, who raised him as a single parent. At that time, he also acknowledged that in Northern Ireland some people do not support the honours on Wednesday, he reiterated that his decision to accept the award was not a political year, the BBC presenter was added to the Radio Awards Hall of Fame by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro).
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Strabane: Police officer may have been target of hoax bomb alert
A serving police officer may have been the target of a hoax bomb alert in Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said.A suspect device was found at Evish Square in Strabane, County Tyrone, shortly after 09:00 BST on bomb disposal experts examined the device and later declared it a Wednesday, the police said one line of enquiry was that the hoax device was directed at a property frequented by a serving officer. Police also said a 39-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday in Strabane and was being held on suspicion of terrorism offences, placing an article causing a bomb hoax and criminal also seized a vehicle and other items during a search in the town.A number of homes were evacuated and roads closed during Tuesday's alert which ended at around 21:30 BST on is the third serious incident in the area in the last three years.
