Latest news with #Maghera
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Antrim: Mother who forced son's head into cat litter tray jailed
A mother who subjected her young son to repeated abuse, including forcing his head into a cat litter tray, has been sentenced to six months in Anne Jennings, 53, of Oakvale Place in Maghera, was sentenced at Londonderry Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to three counts of assaulting her son, Jamie court was told that two of the assaults took place in 2012, with a third occurring in Anne Jennings' then-partner, Brian McMaster, 41, of Upper Princes Street, Ballymena- was also sentenced to six months in jail on Monday. Warning: This article contains references that some people may find upsettingThe court heard that in 2018, Jamie Jennings disclosed a pattern of historical psychological and physical abuse that occurred over the previous three to four years. On one occasion, his mother became angry and forced his head into a cat litter tray. In another incident, she used a blade to inflict a cut on his Anne Jennings' then-partner, Brian McMaster also pleaded guilty to assaulting Jamie Jennings in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or abuse took place between 1 December 2016, and 31 March 2018, when he was under the age of court was told that McMaster would grab Jamie's hand and squeeze it so tightly that he would be forced to the ground. He also struck him on the genitals and laughed when Jamie asked him to claimed he never used brute force and had not intended to harm Jamie, who was aged between nine and 13 during the period of abuse. 'Callous and cruel course of conduct' Judge Neil Rafferty KC said both defendants continued to minimise or deny the abuse, despite their guilty pleas. He said Jamie Jennings had written to the court describing the psychological and emotional trauma he his letter, Jamie stated that he no longer referred to Ruth Anne Jennings as his mother, saying she had failed to protect him and did not deserve the Rafferty praised the victim for his resilience and strength in coming forward."You did not deserve these crimes inflicted on you as a child," he said. "It was a callous and cruel course of conduct for you to grow up in. "I am glad that you managed to get away and that you've shown such significant resilience." Speaking to the BBC's State of Us podcast ahead of the sentencing, Jamie Jennings, now aged 21, said that although, on paper, the cat litter incident is not the worst thing his mother did to him, it's the one that sticks in his mind."She was angry at my brother and then that got diverted to me," he said."Every day she'd give you a list of things to do and the cat litter hadn't been changed."At that time we had five or six cats in this small utility room beside the kitchen."She dragged me in there and threw me onto the floor and started shoving cat litter and lifting bits with pee and poo on it and shoving it into my mouth."I was in shock and disbelief that this happened."Jamie said he was nine or ten when it happened, and the feeling of stone and grit in his mouth is still clear in his mind."You're trying to spit it out and it's dry and dusty."It's like getting sand in your food."As well as cats, the family also had four small dogs, plus a St Bernard and a said the house smelled of animal excrement—smells that lingered on his clothes, particularly his school uniform."I'm going into school and I'm smelling like dog piss and cat piss," he said."I had these bunk beds in my room and I didn't use the top bunk."He said the cat had been using the top bunk as a litter box and that mould was growing on the bed. Jamie Jennings said he was unable to wash himself because the bath "was actually full of black bags with dirty clothes.""When I was getting ready for school I would just go in and splash a bit of water on my hair and that was me for weeks," he left home at the age of 14 and has been estranged from his mother ever since:"She was uncaring and demanding and intimidating. She would just explode."She slashed him on the chest with a Stanley knife, and on another occasion threw a pair of scissors at him, cutting his said she did not apologise or try to treat the wounds, and never referred to the incidents again. When he moved out, Jamie went to live with his granny and one of his said that experience left an indelible mark."I felt I was spoiled. I felt like I was a rich kid in a way. I was getting food every day and they got me a brand new uniform."My granny was cooking for me and my brother was making meals. He was really like a dad to me then. Taking me to places like the cinema and go karting and bowling."But the most profound difference, for Jamie, was a clean school uniform."I remember going into school that first day," he said."There was this guy and he said: 'What the hell, sir. Who are you?' and I said: 'yes I am different'."I felt fresher and it sounds disgusting but I didn't feel that stickiness. I felt free."Jamie eventually reported his mother to the police, and it has taken seven years for the case to reach its Covid-19 pandemic and multiple adjournments added to the that time, he found employment, and just recently, his partner gave birth to their first child."I was quite worried about becoming a dad but I can't ever imagine doing any of these things to my daughter," Jamie said."It angers you and niggles at you that I didn't get the treatment I'm giving her."It makes you want to give her the best treatment you can."From having food on the table and to give her the chance to find things she likes."You can hear Jamie's interview on The State of Us podcast. Available shortly on BBC you have been affected by any of the content of this article, details of help and support is available on the BBC Action Line website.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Big yellow box junction in Maghera set to be reviewed
An extra-large yellow box junction which stunned people in Maghera could be reduced in size. A review of the scale of the yellow markings at a junction in the County Londonderry town is to take place. Maghera, with its population of fewer than 5,000 people, has been dubbed "the small town with the big yellow box", since the road paint appeared a week ago. It stretches more than 40m along a busy junction frequently used by buses and lorries as well as cars. In a statement to BBC News NI, the Department for Infrastructure confirmed that officials intend to look again at the size of the yellow box. A spokesperson said: "The department implemented the yellow box markings at this location to assist with the ease of Translink bus movements to and from the main bus stop, which has recently been relocated to the opposite side of St Lurach's Road. "The extent of the markings will be reviewed prior to full completion of the Maghera Public Realm Scheme." The scheme, which began last year, is expected to be completed next month. As well as installing new street furniture and widening footpaths, the project has tried to tackle traffic flow issues. Last week, Melissa Caskey, who works in an office which overlooks the new yellow box, called it "ridiculous" and appealed for it to be reduced in size. Barney Regan, who runs a bar nearby, said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction. While there has been criticism of the size of the yellow box, there is a general recognition in the town that traffic flow needs to be improved. Is this the biggest yellow box junction in the UK or Ireland?
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Big yellow box junction in Maghera set to be reviewed
An extra-large yellow box junction which stunned people in Maghera could be reduced in size.A review of the scale of the yellow markings at a junction in the County Londonderry town is to take with its population of fewer than 5,000 people, has been dubbed "the small town with the big yellow box", since the road paint appeared a week stretches more than 40m along a busy junction frequently used by buses and lorries as well as cars. Tackling traffic flow issues In a statement to BBC News NI, the Department for Infrastructure confirmed that officials intend to look again at the size of the yellow box.A spokesperson said: "The department implemented the yellow box markings at this location to assist with the ease of Translink bus movements to and from the main bus stop, which has recently been relocated to the opposite side of St Lurach's Road."The extent of the markings will be reviewed prior to full completion of the Maghera Public Realm Scheme."The scheme, which began last year, is expected to be completed next well as installing new street furniture and widening footpaths, the project has tried to tackle traffic flow issues. Last week, Melissa Caskey, who works in an office which overlooks the new yellow box, called it "ridiculous" and appealed for it to be reduced in Regan, who runs a bar nearby, said he hoped it might become a tourist there has been criticism of the size of the yellow box, there is a general recognition in the town that traffic flow needs to be improved.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- BBC News
Maghera: Drivers gobsmacked by 'massive' yellow box junction
Is this the biggest yellow box junction in the UK, Ireland or even the world?People in a County Londonderry town say they are gobsmacked by the size of a new set of road has been dubbed the "small town with the big yellow box" after the road markings were painted earlier in the box stretches more than 40m along a busy junction frequently used by buses and lorries as well as cars. It is aimed at improving traffic flow on the A29 Tobermore Road. Melissa Caskey, who works in an office which overlooks the box, said she was shocked when she first saw it."It's massive. It's ridiculous. Everybody who comes into our office says – 'have you seen the size of that box out there?" she said."It's really silly and very few people know how to use it. But I do think they had a good reason for it because that's a very busy junction."She said a smaller box would have been better. Some residents highlighted the need for safer driving and said they hoped the new box might Regan, who runs a bar nearby, said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction."The north coast has the Dark Hedges and the Giant's Causeway, we've got the largest box-junction in Ireland," he said. The Department for Infrastructure has been contacted for in the town centre, the yellow box is close to local businesses including a cinema, but is also used by through there is criticism of the size of the traffic flow measure, there is a general recognition that traffic flow in the town needs to be improved. Other claims to fame Many other towns and villages in Ireland claim to be home to abnormally large many years the peninsula of Doagh in Donegal was said to be home to Ireland's largest searchlight as part of the Donegal Lapland festival each ChristmasThe village of Ross Cross in County Meath is said to be home of the island's largest 99 ice creamDonegall Quay in the centre of Belfast is the domain of what is reputedly the largest statue of a fish in IrelandCork city is believed to have Ireland's largest roundabout - the Kinsale Road roundabout which has five separate arms.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Maghera: Man taken to hospital after baseball bat attack
A man has been treated in hospital after he was attacked with a baseball bat in a house in Maghera, County said the attacker entered a house in the Crew Road area of the town at about 01:00 BST on Monday and punched the man around the head, as well as striking him with a baseball victim was taken to hospital with injuries to his ear, head, chest and face.A woman was in the house at the time of the assault but she was not injured. 'Extremely distressing incident' The police have described it as "an extremely distressing incident" and they are trying to establish a motive. The have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
