While most of us have been making the most of the sunny spell by lounging in parks, dusting off the BBQ and pretending that we don’t need a jacket, there has been plenty going on in Northern Ireland that might have slipped under your radar.
It has been one of those weeks where the good weather lures you outside, and suddenly the Belfast Live app notifications don’t seem quite as important as an ice cream or a nice cold pint in a beer garden.
But just because you have been soaking up the rays doesn't mean that the world has taken a break. We’ve pulled together the biggest and most interesting stories from the last few days that you might have missed.
So, whether you have been out enjoying the lighter evenings or just taking a well-earned break from the news cycle, we have got you covered with this quick catch up of what has been happening while you have been out enjoying the sun.
Teenage girl ‘punched in the face’ in racially motivated hate crime
A male in his late teens "directed racial abuse" towards a teenage girl and then "punched her in the face" during an assault in Belfast , police say.
The incident is reported to have happened in the Donegall Square East area on Saturday evening, April 5. It's also reported the male "then pushed a second teenage girl to the ground".
The PSNI say they are treating the incident as "a racially motivated hate crime".
Read the full story here .
EasyJet launches new summer route from Belfast
EasyJet has launched its first flights and package holidays on a new summer route from Belfast .
The new weekly service from Belfast International Airport to Reus in Spain took off for the first time over the weekend, Saturday April 5, and will operate every Tuesday and Saturday throughout the peak summer holidays.
Read the full story here .
NI woman convicted of wrongfully claiming thousands in benefits
A Co Antrim woman has been convicted in court after being found claiming thousands in benefits illegally.
Amanda Clements, of Moyle Parade, Larne, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Monday, April 7, where she was found guilty of benefit fraud after claiming £7,398 from Universal Credit whilst failing to declare that she was working.
She received a sentence of 120 hours of community service and has also been ordered to repay any outstanding money that she claimed.
The conviction comes following an investigation by the Department for Communities.
Read the full story here .
Heartache as vulnerable gran with dementia 'defrauded by own daughter'
A family has been "torn apart" after a woman allegedly defrauded her vulnerable mother with dementia out of more than £60,000.
Police launched an investigation into the allegations of fraud last year following reports that a woman had been fraudulently withdrawing thousands of pounds from her mother over the course of a number of months.
A person close to the family of the suspect and victim spoke to Belfast Live following the thefts, saying the family has been completely torn apart by the actions of the woman who was supposed to be caring for her own mother who is vulnerable with dementia.
Read the full story here .
NI cinema hits out at "ridiculous" behaviour in Minecraft Movie TikTok trend
Cinema goers are having to deal with people "shouting, swearing, kicking chairs, and throwing popcorn and drinks everywhere" as part of a "ridiculous" TikTok trend.
The Ritz Multiplex in Cookstown , Co Tyrone has spoken out about the trend "currently sweeping throughout cinemas" that's been associated with the smash hit children's film A Minecraft Movie.
The Co Tyrone business has published a video showing both the aftermath of the mess made by people taking part in the TikTok trend, with popcorn and confection strewn across the floor, along with a brief clip of people jumping up and down and shouting during a screening. Perhaps more concerning, however, is the cinema's warning that both staff and customers are facing a "ridiculous" level of verbal abuse.
Read the full story here .
Stormont departments spend more than £1000 a week on photographers
Stormont's departments spent on average £1,166.83 a week on photographers, it has been revealed.
The figures, which came from a number of questions posed to ministers by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston, showed that in the year since the restoration of the Executive in February 2024, Stormont's departments spent at least £60,675.40 on photographers.
These figures do not include money spent by The Executive Office, which includes the First and deputy First Ministers and junior ministers Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron, as the department did not respond to the question within the required timeframe.
Read the full story here .
Man settles case against NI hotel after saying he can't work on his Sabbath
A man has settled a religious discrimination case against a Belfast hotel for £10,000 after he allegedly had a job offer revoked due to not being able to work on the Sabbath.
Jonathan Kerr has settled the case with Pandox Belfast Limited, known as Hilton Belfast, after taking legal action against the company, with the support of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland over perceived religious discrimination.
Mr Kerr had applied for a night porter role within the hotel, however as a practising Judaeo-Christian he says that he told the hotel that he could not work from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and does not work for an hour before or after sundown.
Read the full story here .
‘GAA Catfish’ case struck out as school ends proceedings against NI woman
A school has stopped disciplinary proceedings against a teacher who claimed she was falsely identified as the so-called “GAA Catfish” in a popular Irish podcast series.
The High Court in Dublin heard on Wednesday that disciplinary proceedings have ended and a report that identified the secondary school teacher as the person the podcast relates to has been withdrawn.
Niamh Farrell, of The Spires, Portadown, Co Armagh , had been granted a temporary injunction against the board of management of the school at which she works in Rathfarnham, Dublin, preventing Colaiste Eanna CBS from progressing disciplinary proceedings against her which could have resulted in her dismissal.
Read the full story here .
NI man convicted after benefits fraud investigation
A man was convicted at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Wednesday April 9, for claiming over £16,000 in benefits he was not entitled to.
Walter Brolly, of Roeville Terrace, Limavady, claimed Housing Benefit totalling £16,313 while failing to declare capital. The 60-year-old was given four months imprisonment , suspended for 18 months.
The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities. All money wrongfully obtained has already been repaid to the Department.
Read the full story here .
The number of dogs killed by the PSNI in the past 10 years
The police have killed four dogs in the past ten years in Northern Ireland and tasered two others following reports of them attacking humans or other animals.
A Freedom of Information request to the PSNI has found out the number of dogs that have been killed or tasered by officers since 2025, and the reasons why they were put down.
It comes after an XL Bully dog in Newtownards was shot dead by armed officers after it attacked a man and a woman.
Read the full story here .
Man in 70s tasered during attempted murder incident
A man in his 70s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, after an alleged incident in Co Antrim on Wednesday.
Detectives are appealing for information following a report of an attempted stabbing, in Carrickfergus on Wednesday night.
They say that at around 7.40pm, they received a report that a man carrying a knife had tried to gain access to a property in the Scotch Quarter area.
Read the full story here .
'I became advertised escort overnight at the hands of vile pimp'
The victim of a pensioner who supplied young women with drugs and pimped them out for sexual services has spoken out of the devastating impact he had on her life.
Oliver James MacCormack was sentenced on Thursday, 10 April 2025, for offences in respect of nine female victims . The numerous offences include human trafficking, controlling prostitution for gain , paying for sexual services and being concerned in the supply of a Class A controlled drug.
The 71-year-old from Lisburn , appearing before Belfast Crown Court, was sentenced to seven years.
One of MacCormack’s victims, who wished to remain anonymous, released a statement on Thursday morning, following the sentencing.
Read the full story here .
Nazi stickers found outside Belfast nursery condemned
Nazi stickers found outside a nursery school in west Belfast have been condemned.
The stickers, which show the 'SS lightning bolts' alongside a white supremacist slogan, were found on a lamppost on Upper Dunmurry Lane at the junction with Cherry Road, beside a local nursery school and children's playpark.
The sticker appears to have been placed recently and has been placed above a number of other stickers that have been removed.
Read the full story here .
16-year-old battered with road sign in city centre sectarian attack
A 16-year-old boy was battered with a road sign in a city centre attack being linked to anti-social-behaviour in the north of the city.
And the teenager’s girlfriend suffered a “busted nose” as she “wrapped herself around” her boyfriend in an effort to protect him from the suspected sectarian attack that saw as many as 30 people swarm around the couple.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the victim’s mother says her son and his girlfriend were saved from more serious injuries when doormen at the Revolución de Cuba club came to their aid. The North Belfast mum, who wants to remain anonymous to protect her son from further attacks, says she was told the doormen “had to stand at the front” of the club as some of the gang “were all trying to charge in to get him”.
Read the full story here .
Lack of child protection guidelines for MLAs a "significant oversight"
The Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner has described the lack of child protection guidelines for MLA s as a "significant oversight."
This comes after the Assembly Commission confirmed that there are currently no specific guidelines in place for MLAs who offer work experience to children and young people under the age of 18,
Following inquiries from Belfast Live , the Assembly Commission stated that a document providing safeguarding guidance for MLAs is due to be published this month.
Read the full story here.
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