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Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Orange Order to meet SNP Government officials after accusing John Swinney of 'silence' over air gun attack
John Swinney described acts of violence against the Orange Order as "completely and utterly unacceptable". The Orange Order is to hold a meeting with SNP Government officials after an air rifle was fired at a procession, John Swinney has said. Thousands of OO held their annual "Big Walk" through Glasgow earlier this month as part of celebrations to commemorate the 1690 Battle of the Boyne. Police later reported that four people were struck with "air weapon pellets' while the march continued along Sauchiehall Street, near Kelvingrove Park, with no serious injuries reported. The organisation also claimed its halls have been vandalised and that female members have been abused online. A senior lodge leader later claimed "silence" from the First Minister was giving a "green light" to attacks on Protestant groups. Grand Master Andrew Murray laimed "the silence from the first minister itself almost gives a green light to attack our parades". Murray denied there was any sectarian aspect to the marches. He added: "We have a place in society, we're a law-abiding organisation and we work cross community." The First Minister today confirmed officials will speak to representatives of the Orange Order on Wednesday, with community safety minister Siobhian Brown due to do the same at a later date. "The Scottish Government is meeting with representatives of the Orange Order today,' he said. "Officials will take that forward and in due course, the community safety minister will meet with the Orange Order. "In recent days, members of the Orange Order have been subjected to acts of violence which are deplorable and they are unacceptable to whoever they affect within our society. These matters are currently being taken forward by Police Scotland.' David Walters, executive officer of the Orange Lodge of Scotland, claimed that if any other group had been attacked then the incident would have been taken more seriously. He cited an example of "abhorrent" vandalism at a Catholic school in East Renfrewshire, which Swinney subsequently visited to express solidarity. Walters said: "The first minister, in days, was over at that school for graffiti, yet when eight people are shot we don't see sight or sound of him." Asked why he though that was the case, he replied: "I think it's because we're a unionist group." Thousands of people marched in Glasgow on July 5. The biggest Orange Order walk in Scotland generally takes place the weekend before July 12 celebrations in Belfast. Police Scotland said the procession was passing along Sauchiehall Street, near Kelvingrove Street, when the the suspected air gun attack happened. The force said the following day that four people had been hit and that it was investigating the "dangerous" incident. Elsewhere, four people were arrested following Orange Order processions in Lanarkshire.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
John Swinney accused of 'silence' over Orange walk attack
The Orange Lodge of Scotland has claimed a suspected air gun attack on its members has been met with silence from the Scottish have launched an investigation after several marchers were hit by pellets during a procession though Glasgow city centre earlier this month. Following a meeting with government officials in Edinburgh, a senior lodge leader claimed "silence" from the first minister was giving a "green light" to attacks on Protestant groups. John Swinney described acts of violence against the Orange Order as "completely and utterly unacceptable". The Orange Lodge of Scotland said eight people were hit by suspected air gun pellets during a march through Glasgow on 5 July to commemorate the 1690 Battle of the Boyne. No-one was seriously injured. The organisation has also reported that its halls have been vandalised and that female members have been abused online. Parade attack Grand Master Andrew Murray told BBC Scotland News that he had written repeatedly to the first minister but had received no the meeting in Edinburgh, he said he was "severely disappointed" that no ministers attended. Mr Murray claimed "the silence from the first minister itself almost gives a green light to attack our parades".He denied there was any sectarian aspect to the marches, adding: "We have a place in society, we're a law-abiding organisation and we work cross community." David Walters, executive officer of the Orange Lodge of Scotland, claimed that if any other group had been attacked then the incident would have been taken more cited an example of "abhorrent" vandalism at a Catholic school in East Renfrewshire, which Swinney subsequently visited to express Walters said: "The first minister, in days, was over at that school for graffiti, yet when eight people are shot we don't see sight or sound of him."Asked why he though that was the case, he replied: "I think it's because we're a unionist group." 'Cohesive society' Swinney told BBC Scotland News that Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown would meet with the Orange said the incidents raised by the Orange Order should be "properly and fully" first minister added: "I take all forms of hate within our society deadly seriously and all my actions as first minister are designed to address the implications of hate within our society and to make sure that we live in a cohesive society that respects the rule of law." Thousands of people marched in Glasgow on 5 Scotland said the procession was passing along Sauchiehall Street, near Kelvingrove Street, when the the suspected air gun attack force said the following day that four people had been hit and that it was investigating the "dangerous" incident. Elsewhere, four people were arrested following Orange Order processions in sectarian incidents have been reported at Orange walks in recent years. In 2018, a priest was spat on and verbally abused as an Orange walk marched past his church in Glasgow. Bradley Wallace, from South Lanarkshire, was jailed for 10 months over the incident.
Irish Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Penneys O'Connell St revamped in €5 million ‘commitment to bricks and mortar'
Penneys has invested €5 million in a refurbishment of its O'Connell Street store as part of a 'commitment to bricks and mortar' which it hopes will boost sales. The 'key, anchor store' O'Connell Street location, which is one of the brand's 10 busiest stores, underwent a 16-week refurbishment. In addition to the aesthetic changes, 16 new self-service checkouts have been added while the store's Nails studio has undergone a revamp and has reclaimed an additional 1,217 sq ft of floor space to its home department. The store employs 250 people with around 90 working in the store on a given day. READ MORE The refurbishment is part of an ongoing €250 million investment programme into Ireland by Primark with further store redevelopments planned in the coming months at stores in Portlaoise, Limerick, and Ennis. Penneys operates 38 stores in the State, in 21 different counties, and recently invested €10 million in refurbishing its first store on Mary St. 'People are voting with their feet, we are really pleased with the performance of the store to date,' said Penneys area manager Andrew Murray, noting that footfall at the store had increased since the commencement of the works which have opened up the store to more natural light. The majority of the refurbishment work took place at night, by a team of 70 contractors from Bennett Construction, while the shop remained open for customers during the day. Sales in Ireland are 'improved', he said, 'but we could definitely do with a blast of good sunshine which is always the key determinant of our summer, but we are confident that sales are definitely on target'. Primark which trades as Penneys in Ireland, revised down its sales outlook for 2025 in January having reported a 6 per cent drop in like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland. Primark's parent company, Associated British Foods, reported a 10 per cent fall in first-half profit in April, expecting a 'challenging' period of trading in the rest of the year. While the company is trialing a click and collect model in the UK, Mr Murray said the brand is committed to 'bricks and mortar stores in all of the markets we trade in'. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, who cut the ribbon to reopen the store, said O'Connell Street is 'the beating heart of Dublin's cite centre' and said the 'iconic brand' of Penneys is at the centre of that heartbeat. She said the investment into the refurbishment of the store was a 'vote of confidence in O'Connell Street, in Dublin city and its people'. 'Penneys is more than just a shop to Dubliners, it is a beloved institution and a real success story for our city,' the Lord Mayor said.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Friarage Hospital's new surgical unit to double operation numbers
A new surgical unit is set to double the number of operations carried out at a North Yorkshire hospital. Six new operating theatres have been created at Friarage Hospital in Northallerton as part of a £35.5m unit also includes two minor theatres and a surgical admission and day hub. Consultant Craig White said it had been designed from the "bottom up" to be more efficient and give patients a better quality of service. "It's a very exciting time for all of us I think," he said. "These are all brand new state-of-the-art facilities for us to decrease the risk of complications and improve patient outcomes." One of the first patients set to receive an operation in the new unit is 54-year-old Jason Sykes. The former mechanic, from Catterick, previously underwent a hip operation and has waited nine months for his other hip to be operated on. "The pain took me out of work," he explained."I needed both of them doing. I got one done, I've waited nine months and then hopefully this one will go to plan, I can recover and then get a job again."Just having one done has got me moving like I should, but the second one will help me get my life back."After looking around the new facility he said he "couldn't ask for more". "I live in Catterick so when my partner comes to visit it's 20 minutes rather than going to James Cook, which is an hour," he added."It is a big difference." According to clinical operational lead Andrew Murray the Friarage Hospital was originally built in the late 1930s as an RAF Hospital."Some of these theatres have been here since the early 1940s, with later additions in the 1980s for the Falklands War," he said. "As much as we love these theatres and they've had several renovations, it's time to retire them and move on to our new ones."Previously, the unit had problems with leaking roofs, drains and faults with ventilation. Now the operating theatres have robotic technology and controls to adjust the local temperature, as different procedures require different climates. Sarah Baker, head of clinical services, said the unit currently carried out 5,000 operations each year but the new facility would hopefully double that over the next five said the Friarage would focus on elective care, including orthopaedics, urology, gynaecology, ENT and plastics."Up at the acute sites, patients could often be cancelled for emergencies," she said. "This facility is completely ringfenced so the staff can't be moved from here. "That means we won't cancel patients for those reasons, which is a great experience and a lovely environment for the staff to work in as well."The hospital received funding to build the new operating theatre block as part of government investment in 50 UK surgical first operations are due to take place on 12 June. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Orange Order chiefs blast ‘anti-Protestant hatred' after Glasgow's women-only march ‘targeted with online abuse'
Members have apparently been left 'traumatised' and 'emotionally distressed' OUT OF ORDER Orange Order chiefs blast 'anti-Protestant hatred' after Glasgow's women-only march 'targeted with online abuse' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Orange Order has demanded an 'immediate meeting' with the First Minister after female members were allegedly targeted by online trolls. The organisation's ladies are said to have suffered 'emotional distress' and 'trauma' over 'deeply offensive' comments which followed a recent march. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Around 500 ladies joined the march in Glasgow on April 27 4 They wore colourful frocks and fancy hats 4 But Orange Order bosses said online trolls later targeted ladies with vile abuse 4 Most Worthy Grand Master Andrew Murray has called for a meeting with John Swinney Hundreds of women in colourful frocks and fancy hats had filled the streets of Glasgow for the first large walk of the year on April 27. But the organisation said some of them were later targeted on the internet 'for expressing their faith and culture'. The developments have pushed Andrew Murray - the Most Worthy Grand Master - to write to the First Minister for help. In a statement, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland hit out at the 'rise of anti-Protestant hatred across our country' and called for action. It said: 'Members of our association have been subjected to deeply offensive online abuse—targeted solely for expressing their faith and culture. 'This level of abuse has caused serious emotional distress, with some members experiencing trauma and mental health issues as a result of the level abuse. 'No other denomination in Scotland would be expected to tolerate such hostility, and the Protestant community is no different. We will not accept this double standard in a modern Scotland. 'The level of sectarian abuse directed at the Protestant community cannot be allowed to continue unchecked.' Our spectacular pictures showed the Ladies Orange Association of Scotland's annual church parade last month. Around 500 members were escorted through the streets of Glasgow by Police Scotland officers, seemingly without incidents. But there are now calls for online trolls who targeted them in the aftermath to be identified and 'brought to justice'. Hundreds step out for women's Orange Walk through Glasgow The loyalist organisation said: 'We call upon the Scottish Government and law enforcement agencies to take urgent action. 'The Loyal Orange Institution demands that those responsible for this online hate are identified, investigated, and brought to justice.' The organisation said Andrew Murray had personally written to John Swinney to discuss the 'unacceptable and ongoing abuse toward our community'. It added: 'We urge the First Minister to respond swiftly and meaningfully.' The Scottish Government was approached for comment. Police Scotland was approached for comment.
