Latest news with #StormontAssembly
ITV News
01-07-2025
- ITV News
Woman arrested in Sarah Montgomery murder investigation released unconditionally
A woman arrested in connection with the murder of pregnant mum of two Sarah Montgomery has been released. The 42-year-old woman arrested by detectives on suspicion of assisting an offender. She was released on Tuesday unconditionally. A 28-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder over the weekend remains in police mother-of-two Ms Montgomery died at her home in Donaghadee on Saturday. There was disbelief in Dondaghadee at the news of the killing. She was described as "being very nice" and someone who always had time for people. The horror unfolded on Saturday afternoon when police were called to her flat to reports she was unconscious inside. It has since emerged the alarm was raised by her grandfather. Paramedics battled to save her live, but she was later pronounced dead at the scene. Floral tributes have been placed outside of the flat. Many describing her as "beautiful, kind and wonderful mother".Police had said the two people arrested were known to the victim and no-one else is being sought in connection with the murder of Ms Montgomery has led to fresh concerns from politicians about the level of violence against women and girls in Northern tributes have been left outside Ms Montgomery's home in the Elmfield Walk said they were working 'at pace' and appealed for the public's help particularly in relation to a yellow Jeep Avenger car seen in Belfast Harbour area. Meanwhile the Stormont Assembly on Monday heard the epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is worsening. The Assembly was told Sarah Montgomery was the 27th woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: 'Another young mother, her life being taken. 'It's just such a tragedy and it just really underlines for us all once again that we have a huge problem in our society with violence against women and girls.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said the death of Ms Montgomery was an 'unspeakable act of violence which has robbed her children of their mother and shattered a family forever'. She added: 'There is no grief more profound than that of a child torn from the love, safety and care of their mother. 'Their lives undoubtedly changed forever.' Ms Hunter said: 'This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a worsening epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. 'We are failing women, we are failing children and we are failing to meet this crisis with sufficient urgency, co-ordination and political will that it so greatly requires. 'Too many women in our communities live in fear, fear in their homes, fear on the streets and fear in their relationships. 'This fear is not imagined. It is real and it is justified.' DUP North Down MLA Stephen Dunne described the death of Ms Montgomery as 'devastating'. He added: "Sarah is the 27th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. 'The majority of these woman have been killed in their own homes, which is a truly shocking and devastating figure. 'A home should be a place of refuge and safety, but sadly that is not always the case. 'Again, it highlights the need for tougher sentencing as well, when we see so many lives ended and totally devastated and shattered with this ongoing scourge of our society of violence against women and girls.' He added: 'Donaghadee is a very close-knit and caring community and I know the community there is already rallying around the family of Sarah Montgomery. 'There is a real sense of shock and sadness and alarm around the devastating events at the weekend.' Alliance Party MLA Connie Egan described the death of Ms Montgomery as an 'absolutely tragic loss'. She said: 'My thoughts first and foremost are with Sarah's loved ones, her family and, of course, her two little children who have to grow up without their mummy. 'Sarah was also pregnant at the time she was killed. 'This is an absolutely horrendous and tragic loss and I know the people in Donaghadee are shocked. 'Tributes left outside her home describe Sarah as a beautiful, kind and wonderful mother.' She added: 'Sarah was the 27th woman to have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. 'Our rates of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland are shockingly high and it is completely unacceptable.' In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips added: 'We are working at pace to determine the circumstances of Sarah's tragic murder and need help from people in the Donaghadee and Belfast areas." 'Did you see or hear anything unusual or suspicious in the Elmfield Walk area of Donaghadee between 1.20pm and 2.20pm on Friday 27th July? 'Did you see a yellow Jeep Avenger in the Airport Road area of the Belfast Harbour Estate, East Belfast between 3.30pm and 4.15pm on Friday 27th July? Do you have CCTV, dashcam or phone footage which could be useful in our investigation? 'Even if you think it may not be important, please come forward and speak with us as even very small pieces of information could prove invaluable to us. 'This is an incredibly tragic case which has devastated Sarah's family and friends, and leaves two small children without their beloved mum. 'Specially trained officers will continue to support Sarah's family and we are working to do everything in our power to bring anyone involved in this senseless murder to justice. 'If you know anything that will help with our investigation, please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 865 28/06/25.'
ITV News
30-06-2025
- ITV News
Police investigating Sarah Montgomery murder in Donaghaee make second arrest
Police investigating the murder of a pregnant mother of two in Co Down have made a second arrest. Sarah Montgomery, who was 27 years old, was pronounced dead at a house in the Elmfield Walk area of Donaghadee at the weekend. A 42-year-old woman has been arrested in Belfast on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender. It comes as a 28-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder over the weekend, remains in police custody. Police have said both suspects were known to the victim and no-one else is being sought in connection with the crime. They said they were working 'at pace' and appealed for the public's help particularly in relation to a yellow Jeep Avenger car seen in Belfast Harbour area. Meanwhile the Stormont Assembly has heard the epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is worsening. The Assembly was told Sarah Montgomery was the 27th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said the death of Ms Montgomery was an 'unspeakable act of violence which has robbed her children of their mother and shattered a family forever'. She added: 'There is no grief more profound than that of a child torn from the love, safety and care of their mother. 'Their lives undoubtedly changed forever.' Ms Hunter said: 'This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a worsening epidemic of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. 'We are failing women, we are failing children and we are failing to meet this crisis with sufficient urgency, co-ordination and political will that it so greatly requires. 'Too many women in our communities live in fear, fear in their homes, fear on the streets and fear in their relationships. 'This fear is not imagined. It is real and it is justified.' DUP North Down MLA Stephen Dunne described the death of Ms Montgomery as 'devastating'. He added: "Sarah is the 27th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. 'The majority of these woman have been killed in their own homes, which is a truly shocking and devastating figure. 'A home should be a place of refuge and safety, but sadly that is not always the case. 'Again, it highlights the need for tougher sentencing as well, when we see so many lives ended and totally devastated and shattered with this ongoing scourge of our society of violence against women and girls.' He added: 'Donaghadee is a very close-knit and caring community and I know the community there is already rallying around the family of Sarah Montgomery. 'There is a real sense of shock and sadness and alarm around the devastating events at the weekend.' Alliance Party MLA Connie Egan described the death of Ms Montgomery as an 'absolutely tragic loss'. She said: 'My thoughts first and foremost are with Sarah's loved ones, her family and, of course, her two little children who have to grow up without their mummy. 'Sarah was also pregnant at the time she was killed. 'This is an absolutely horrendous and tragic loss and I know the people in Donaghadee are shocked. 'Tributes left outside her home describe Sarah as a beautiful, kind and wonderful mother.' She added: 'Sarah was the 27th woman to have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. 'Our rates of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland are shockingly high and it is completely unacceptable.' In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips added: 'We are working at pace to determine the circumstances of Sarah's tragic murder and need help from people in the Donaghadee and Belfast areas." 'Did you see or hear anything unusual or suspicious in the Elmfield Walk area of Donaghadee between 1.20pm and 2.20pm on Friday 27th July? 'Did you see a yellow Jeep Avenger in the Airport Road area of the Belfast Harbour Estate, East Belfast between 3.30pm and 4.15pm on Friday 27th July? Do you have CCTV, dashcam or phone footage which could be useful in our investigation? 'Even if you think it may not be important, please come forward and speak with us as even very small pieces of information could prove invaluable to us. 'This is an incredibly tragic case which has devastated Sarah's family and friends, and leaves two small children without their beloved mum. 'Specially trained officers will continue to support Sarah's family and we are working to do everything in our power to bring anyone involved in this senseless murder to justice. 'If you know anything that will help with our investigation, please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 865 28/06/25.'
Irish Independent
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Danny Healy-Rae said people in Six Counties ‘fought to be free' as good as anyone
Speaking in the Dáil on a Sinn Féin motion to include northern citizens in the November election, Deputy Healy-Rae supported the claim citing that northern people should not be denied the opportunity. 'They were instrumental and did their part on every occasion. Therefore, we cannot deny them, if that is what they want. But we need to hear from their side that that is what they want,' he said. Deputy Healy-Rae said there is a democratic system 'up there in the Six Counties' as well as the south and more direction and involvement between governments is required. He urged the Irish and UK governments, and the Stormont Assembly, to look at a way forward. 'It would be nice to see that happening. It is a good idea (voting) but we need to get some idea of how long it is going to take. We need to get more transparency for our people down here because I have no doubt they will be asking us a lot of questions in the coming days. We need to have some kind of an answer for them and we are depending on the government to give us that answer,' he said. 'There is no denying that people of the North, in those Six Counties, fought to be free and to be under Irish control as well as any of those who came before us and fought here in the South of Ireland,' he said. He cited the cross-border connection with cataract patients in Kerry, who are bused to Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast for treatment. He also added that northern people are 'honourable' when it comes to buying livestock in Kerry. 'What I know from my dealings with people from the North of Ireland, whether it was in marts around Kerry – in Cahersiveen, Castleisland or Kenmare – is that they are very honourable people. They come down here to buy cattle and they pay for our cattle and our sheep,' Deputy Healy-Rae said.
Agriland
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Muir must ‘start again' on NAP issue
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA), Andrew Muir, has been told that he must go back to the drawing board in terms of developing a Nutrients Action Plan (NAP) for Northern Ireland. This is according to Declan McAleer, the deputy chair of Northern Ireland's AERA Committee. Speaking after a Stormont Assembly debate on the new NAP regulations, McAleer said that the agriculture minister has put the cart before the horse. McAleer added: 'There is talk of a stakeholder group being formed to review the outcome of the now ongoing NAP public consultation. 'Getting the fundamental view of these bodies before going public with any package of proposals should have been the course of action taken in the first place. 'And that's what should happen now. The farm minister should bring the current public consultation to an end with immediate effect and start again.' The Sinn Féin politician also believes that many of the current NAP proposals are not for purpose. He explained: 'They give little recognition to the steps that have been taken on farms across the north to prove water quality. 'All farmers want water of the highest quality – both for their own personal use while also meeting the needs of their stock. 'Looking ahead, the proposed NAP arrangements foresee the use of low emission slurry spreading equipment on all farms by 2029. 'But the reality is that small farm businesses in places like the Sperrins will not be able to fund an investment of this type from their own pockets.' According to McAleer, this 'brings up the issue of effective support being made available' to ensure the proper implementation of any NAP proposals that are eventually agreed upon. 'Farmers have a vital role to play in protecting our waterways and need to be properly supported to do that,' he said. McAleer indicated that the Stormont Assembly had sent a clear message by voting to reject the minister's plan and to call for meaningful engagement with the farming community. 'The current NAP proposals are not fit for purpose. The timelines currently set out are very difficult for many farmers to meet and the necessary supports are absent,' the AERA Committee deputy chair said. 'Sinn Féin has raised these concerns directly with department of agriculture officials and we will continue to make the case for a just transition whereby the department properly engages with farmers, carries out proper impact assessments and supports farmers to reduce pollution.'
Belfast Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish unity vote only route for Northern Ireland to rejoin EU – O'Toole
Mr O'Toole was speaking ahead of an opposition motion in the Stormont Assembly, nine years on from the 2016 Brexit referendum. The SDLP MLA will say there has been a 'structural shift' in British politics with the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. He will also tell Stormont any prospect of the UK rejoining the EU is 'miniscule', and a referendum under the terms set out in the Good Friday Agreement is the 'only route back to EU membership' for Northern Ireland. Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr O'Toole said: 'The SDLP welcomes the improved co-operation between the UK and the EU following the recent summit in London, along with progress in a number of areas that begin to ease some post-Brexit frictions. 'We always knew Brexit would be disastrous for the whole UK economy, for Northern Ireland and relationships across these islands. Sadly, so it has proven. 'Northern Ireland was dragged out of Europe against its will, and our politics has suffered the consequences.' He said British politics was continuing an 'irresistible drift towards 'Faragism'.' Mr O'Toole added: 'We have virtually no power to stop that happening. 'But we do have a viable pathway to a different future – a European future – and that is through a new Ireland. 'It is time all parties who claim to be pro-European and reject the 'Faragification' of UK politics to acknowledge our only route back into Europe is via an inclusive, hopeful new Ireland.'
