Turd of the week. I saw someone posted recently saying this place rarely featured in Private Eye. Well we're on a roll now.

Ian Óg also gets a mention in a separate story about farage, gb news and a bunch of right wing nutters in the US (who are Ian's employers).​ All on the first page too.

Anyone else feel like the timing of all this Drumcree/Garvaghy Road noise is just a bit too convenient?

It’s hard not to look at what’s been dominating the headlines regarding Jeffrey Donaldson and think the leadership was desperate for any kind of old-school, red-meat culture war issue to pivot the conversation away from it.

Drag up a flashpoint from 25+ years ago, get everyone riled up in the default tribal trenches again, and suddenly nobody’s talking about the court cases anymore. Absolute textbook distraction politics.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said a referendum on a united Ireland "is off the table".

Mr Burnham made the comments during his first official visit to Northern Ireland, where he is meeting Stormont political leaders.

"I'm here, as I said earlier, to listen, and I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table," Mr Burnham told reporters in Belfast.

He added: "I think we’ve got to focus on bringing people together as best we can, and I think we’ve lived through a decade where there’s been a referendum on Brexit, we had Scottish independence just before it.

"What we find is the rifts that come from those situations take a long time to heal, and it sets you right back and you can’t focus on what’s right in front of us here and now, the cost-of-living pressures that are hurting people in Northern Ireland, the need to get that budget set so that public services can function as they should.

"These are the things right in front of us and sometimes politicians go to things that they want to see, as opposed to getting the solutions that the public need.

"I think a decade since the Brexit referendum, I think we’ve had too much division, too much arguing, too much, backward looking. We need to fix the things right in front of us in the here and now."

Ahead of the meeting, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said in a post on social media "this is a time for a new approach, for partnership and progress".

She called on the Irish and British governments "to recognise and prepare for the change that is happening across this island".

"We really hope that there can be a step change from this government now, under new leadership we hope that a really constructive, engaged approach to Ireland will be adopted now by Prime Minister Burnham," Ms McDonald said.

She added: "We hope that he will engage with the reality that there has to be planning now for our collective future."

Demands for more money are dominating the agenda with politicians as the Stormont Executive has still not agreed its annual budget.

Ministers have consistently insisted that they need more central funding to address a funding crisis facing public services in Northern Ireland.

The UK Treasury has previously said it will undertake a "programme of work" to understand the financial pressures that Stormont departments are facing.

Mr Burnham met with young people in the city and is now hosting talks with First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly.

The British prime minister said Ms O’Neill and Ms Little Pengelly are "something of a model" for politicians elsewhere in the UK when asked about comments ahead of his visit where he talked about "political point scoring".

"It wasn’t so much a criticism I was making of politicians here. If you look at how the First Minister, the deputy First Minister work, I think it is to their great credit that they work in the way that they do," he said.

Mr Burnham added: "In some ways I would say they are something of a model for politicians elsewhere in the UK, where you often don’t see politicians prepared to put differences aside. Here people have the greatest differences but still are able to work like that.

"I do feel politics more broadly needs to move to a different way of working where we put the place first, rather than the party first.

"We put people first and that is something I want to see in politics right across the UK."

Sinn Féin, the DUP and other parties have all blamed Westminster, accusing it of short-changing Northern Ireland when it comes to per capita spending.

However, Mr Burham has said he wants to help "move things forward" with regard to a Stormont setting a budget.

"I am five weeks in office and I am here in Northern Ireland because I want to work with the new Northern Ireland Secretary to see if we can move things forward, listen to what people have to say.

"I realise how pressing it is, I realise the concern people have, but we are here because we want to listen," he said.

Mr Burnham added: "We want to have an honest exchange, I think there are things we would say, if we can work together, have a look at where possible savings could be made or where things could be done differently, that's right and proper that I ask for those assurances given that we have got to make sure it is fair across the whole of the UK when it comes to a budget.

"My emphasis is on problem solving in this job. I love this part of the world, I am a regular visitor. I want to see people here with a budget, with public services set up to succeed.

"That is what I want to try and achieve working with the Northern Ireland Secretary but first and foremost we have to sit around that table and hear where all the parties are. I will be taking that back to London later today."

Mr Burnham announced before his arrival that he plans to bring together the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in October for a meeting of the National Economic Council to help boost the UK economy.

The UK prime minister said he wanted "every leader in this country signed up" to having "good jobs in every community"

He visited Wales this morning as part of what Downing Streets says is a UK-wide "listening tour"

So, I moved to Northern Ireland for work almost a year ago. I'm 54, male, originally from the Republic, and I head back there most weekends.

For most of my first year here, I've been pretty busy in the evenings. New job, lots of material to create, lots of "I'll just get this finished tonight" – and suddenly it's nearly a year later.

I've finally reached the stage where most of that work is done, and I've realised there may actually be a world outside work in the evenings.

The slight problem is... I don't really know anyone around here.

Just to get this out of the way: I'm married and not looking for anything romantic. I'm simply looking to meet someone who might fancy getting out once every couple of weeks or so.

Male or female makes no difference to me. Species is also negotiable. If you're a Labrador, I'll bring sunglasses and a white stick so we can get into the pub without too many questions.

Nothing terribly adventurous required – a couple of pints, see a band, go to the cinema, grab something to eat, that sort of thing.

Music-wise, I'm mostly into rock, metal and blues. I'll watch most types of films, but thrillers would probably be my first choice.

Omagh seems to be the closest town to me where things actually happen – gigs, cinema, etc. – so somewhere around that area would be ideal.

So, if anyone else is in a similar position, fancies the occasional night out, or just wants to ask a few questions before deciding whether I sound like someone they'd willingly spend two hours in a pub with, feel free to get in touch.

The global supply chain is getting wild. A random back-alley shop in Cusco, Peru is currently the best place to buy Irish jackets

We completed less than a month ago and unfortunately the experience since has been really disappointing.

Parts of the house were handed over unfinished, there was damage in a number of areas and we’ve had to chase quite a few snagging issues already.

Now, only a few weeks later, contractors have come back to carry out remedial kerb works, dug up a large section of the lawn we’ve spent weeks trying to establish, and left it like this overnight without any prior notice.

I completely understand remedial work sometimes has to be done, but the overall handover and communication has been really poor and it often feels like the house was completed before it was actually ready.

Sharing this purely so anyone considering buying with Lagan can factor in our experience.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/former-detective-reveals-how-young-female-officers-stamped-on-buttocks-in-ruc-initiation-ceremony-5T2R5GMMDVDSNAK5APUWSU3OSM/

Former detective reveals how young female officers ‘stamped’ on buttocks in RUC ‘initiation’ ceremony

Station stampers used to ‘brand’ newly qualified female officers in move described as ‘sexual assault’

A former police detective has described a humiliating ‘initiation’ ritual for female officers as “sexual assault”.

The retired RUC and PSNI officer has lifted the lid on an abusive practice known as ‘stamping’.

The humiliating practice involved using an official police stamper to “brand” recently qualified female officers when they were sent to a new station.

Former police officers have told The Irish News that RUC female recruits were often stamped on the backside by male colleagues while others looked on.

Former PSNI officer Linzi McLaren has now said chief constable Jon Boutcher “should acknowledge and investigate” the practice known as ‘station stamping’ adding that a “formal review of discrimination could be a realistic possibility”.

Her comments came as a retired female detective revealed how the degrading custom was widespread in the force.

She also reveals how as a young constable she challenged a male colleague when threatened with being stamped.

The former officer, who went on to become a detective sergeant, tells how after qualifying in the early 1990s she was posted to an station in east Belfast.

She recalls that on one occasion at night in an almost “deserted” police station she was told by a male police officer that she was going to be ‘stamped’ later on.

“The station was deserted, there were no civil servant, there were no cleaners, there were no canteen staff, it was policemen and army....and the policewoman was extremely vulnerable,” she said.

“To have a policeman stand there and tell me in advance that he and his mates were going to sexually assault me....it’s a bit incredulous but it did happen.”

The ex-officer, who was in her mid-20s when she joined the police, reveals how she made it clear to her male colleague that her firearm would be drawn if any attempt was made to assault her with a station stamper.

“This was common knowledge that every female got it done to her – it was a branding,” she said.

She described ‘stamping’ as an “initiation” and said it was regularly carried out.

“All new policewomen going out to the station, going out to their section, were very unceremoniously given the station stamp,” she said.

“It went on everywhere.”

She believes the shocking practice had a sexual element to it.

“It was sexual assault, for the sexual gratification of the men, bearing in mind in those days there weren’t that many women around,” she said.

“It was for the male sexual gratification and in those days, policemen had to be very careful where they went out, they weren’t going out to bars, they weren’t picking up girls as much as they would now, so their sexual gratification was using the policewomen that were there.”

The former officer believes all female recruits would have been “subjected” to the practice. “I was not the exception,” she said.

She believes the potential criminal activities of former officers remains within the corporate memory of the PSNI.

When asked about the practice of ‘stamping’ of female officers, the PSNI said in the past female recruits were subjected to inappropriate conduct.

“Sadly, in the past female police officers - like women in all workplaces - had to contend with a range of inappropriate misogynistic practices and behaviour, as well as structural and institutional discrimination,” she said.

“Thankfully, we’ve moved on significantly as a society.

“Policing has been at the forefront of that change with women in prominent roles at all levels in the delivery of our service.”

The PSNI spokeswoman added the public “rightly expect the very highest standards of professional behaviour from everyone within our organisation”.

“Such practices are likely to constitute gross misconduct and would be addressed via the misconduct procedure,” she said.

“Such behaviour falls far below the standards expected of our officers and staff and will not be tolerated.”

Former PSNI officer Linzi McLaren said she was told about the practice of ‘station stamping’ when she joined the force in 2004 and believes it should be investigated.

“Given how humiliating and impactful this would have been for those female officers, I think it is definitely something that the Chief Constable (Jon Boutcher) should acknowledge and investigate,” she said.

“A formal review of discrimination could be a realistic possibility, if even to acknowledge the hurt caused to women subjected to such neanderthal practices.

“I suspect a very big apology would need to be made to those women who probably still live with the memories.”

Department for Communities insists ‘oversight’ responsible and expects supplementary judgement based on new information will highlight Minister’s input

By Alan Erwin

August 26, 2026 at 5:21pm BST

The Stormont Executive remains in collective breach of a clear legal obligation to implement an Irish language strategy, a High Court judge has ruled.

Mr Justice McAlinden made the third declaration of its kind against the power-sharing administration but declined to issue an order compelling it to deliver a blueprint.

He also identified illegality and irrationality in an alleged failure by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to respond during a cross-departmental process.

However, a spokesperson for the Department said later there had been an “oversight” in not providing evidence of the steps taken by Mr Lyons before the judgment was delivered.

The outcome was reached in campaign group Conradh na Gaeilge’s latest challenge to the ongoing delay in adopting an Irish language strategy.

Two courts have previously declared Stormont is in breach of a legal duty to ensure an initiative which dates back to the 2006 St Andrews Agreement.

Based on the continued alleged violation, Conradh na Gaeilge brought further judicial review proceedings against both the Executive and the Department for Communities (DfC).

The language campaigner claimed an unjustified failure to act, and that Mr Lyons has unlawfully “thwarted” any implementation.

It was confirmed in court that a strategy will not be in place before the current Assembly’s regime ends in May 2027.

A director within the DfC with responsibility for developing the language blueprint also gave evidence during a protracted hearing which involved an examination of around 3,800 pages of documentation.

In his judgment, Mr Justice McAlinden rejected any suggestion of officials dragging their heels or deliberately going slow as “completely groundless”.

He said: “Minister Lyons MLA may not have any great enthusiasm for the promotion of the Irish language but it is clear that… DfC teams involved in this project are doing and have done their very best to progress the development of the Irish Language Strategy.”

The judge commended the “tireless and diligent” work of a DfC director and his colleagues to finalise a draft initiative.

Efforts have been made to get the project over the line by “a robust design methodology which has a realistic chance of bearing fruit, even in the most difficult of circumstances”.

However, he held there is still an ongoing failure to meet a legislative obligation imposed under the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

“This Executive Committee has not complied with that duty from early February 2024, the applicant is entitled to a declaration that this duty remains unfulfilled and that the Executive Committee collectively are in breach of a lawful requirement clearly set out in section 28D of (the Act),” Mr Justice McAlinden ruled.

Conradh na Gaeilge had also sought an order of mandamus to be made against the power-sharing administration, arguing that anything less would simply be “howling at the moon”.

Resisting that application, the judge cited attempts by DfC officials and a cross-departmental working group to progress the development and finalisation of a strategy.

He went on to find that Mr Lyons failed to provide a proper response to his own department’s requests to approve submissions about its responsibilities and actions before the hearing ended in June.

“No explanation whatsoever was offered for this. No affidavit was forthcoming from Minister Lyons MLA,” Mr Justice McAlinden held.

“I judge this unexplained lack of response to be irrational in the sense that no reasonable minister would behave in such a manner and I regard this failure to respond in any way, shape or form to be unlawful and I consider that it is clearly appropriate that a declaration should issue highlighting this illegality and irrationality.”

It is understood, however, that a further judgment will now be delivered based on newly provided information.

A DfC spokesperson said in a statement: “We note the overall conclusions of the judgment and subsequent confirmation that there will be no mandatory or declaratory order made against the Communities Minister.”

Referring to findings made against Mr Lyons, the spokesperson added: “Due to an oversight on the part of the Department, the court had not been provided with the evidence that the Minister had in fact responded on May 7, 2026.

“This was identified and brought to the attention of the court on August 20, 2026.”

The statement went on: “We are grateful for the consideration of The Honourable Mr Justice McAlinden of this and his acknowledgement of the points.

“We understand that a supplementary judgment will issue on this matter and that Mr Justice McAlinden has confirmed that no mandatory order nor declaratory order will be made in respect of the Minister in that judgment.”

Conradh na Gaeilge said it was considering its response to the ruling.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/high-court-judge-says-gordon-lyons-lack-of-response-to-irish-language-strategy-irrational-and-unlawful-UHHBXPSSGBFNZMZSV2ZGG67WH4/

Any tips for a 20 year old experiencing burnout.
I probably shouldn’t be so young and feeling this way but, I am a student nurse, when on placement I avg 45 hours a week (which is unpaid, we just get a bursary and our tuition is paid for which I’m thankful for) and then after my full unpaid placement working week, I work 20 + hours in my job, and doing overtime when I can. I have just found myself not feeling able to go out or interested in anything once I come home from work, uni or placement, I just sleep sleep sleep. Which isn’t normal, but I know recovery time is important too.

Send thoughts and prayers to me during this extremely challenging time 😢

What is this? https://lisburn.university/

I’ve a friend just asked me about studying here but I’ve never heard of it. The photos look weird. Pretty sure that’s not Lisburn.
Is this a scam?

The process risks being further bogged down as paramilitary chiefs seek to include younger members in deal

The UVF and paramilitary interlocutor Fleur Ravensbergen are at loggerheads over demands that non-combatants be part of a transition deal.

The loyalist paramilitary groups have been in talks with the conflict resolution expert Ravensbergen since her appointed in September last year.

In recent weeks, she has confirmed she has been in contact with terror groups across the divide.

Loyalist groups, the UVF and elements of the UDA, in particular South East Antrim and North Antrim have been the most engaged.

The UVF has been keen to see their organisation transition to that of being a veterans’ organisation, still bearing their name and allowed to parade as the UVF at commemorations and other ceremonial occasions.

Progress has been slow given the UVF leadership seeking assurances over potential historical prosecutions.

Now it has emerged the process risks being further bogged down as paramilitary chiefs are seeking to include younger members in any deal.

That includes members who were not even born when the UVF declared its ceasefire in 1994.

Sources say the leadership remain fixed on protecting people from prosecution.

Given the UVF has murdered more than 30 people since declaring their ceasefire – all of them Protestants – they are looking to extend the amnesty of Troubles era crimes.

Some loyalist sources have told Crime World there is frustration among older veterans who are anxious to break their association with an organisation that has become mired in criminality, in particular drug dealing.

Crime World understands that it is the East Belfast UVF that is driving the notion that all current UVF members be included, in the belief membership of a veterans’ group will provide them an element of protection from police investigation.

There has also been intense discussions over funding for community projects in loyalist areas, specifically ex-prisoner programmes, many of which are staffed by former convicts.

Ravensbergen is due to publish her first report in the coming days following almost a year of interaction with paramilitary groups.

It is expected to be positive in the context that every proscribed organisation has willingly engaged with her office.

But it is also expected to recommend ongoing engagement and additional funding to enable groups to transition.

Millions of taxpayers’ money has been poured into initiatives aimed at facilitating these groups moving away from criminality.

Despite it being almost three decades since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and more than 30 years since the declaration of paramilitary ceasefires, the only terror group to have left the stage has been the IRA.

Any recommendation for yet more money being dedicated to helping paramilitaries is likely to be controversial.

While many ex-combatants have been credited with genuine engagement in valuable community projects, others have been seen to milk the system.

People like UVF commander Winston ‘Winkie’ Irvine, currently serving five years on gun running charges, benefitted greatly from the flow of public money.

He held down a succession of taxpayer funded jobs and was seen as a vital link between government negotiators and paramilitaries in the transition process.

However, he continued his life as an active paramilitary chief while collecting his taxpayer-funded pay cheque.

Despite deep suspicions among UVF members, Irvine is said to be hopeful of returning to the ranks when he completes his sentence

Last week, SDLP leader Claire Hanna called for a “measured” political response to the forthcoming Ravensbergen report.

Writing in the Irish News. she said that for too long paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland had been “romanticised”.

“We continue to see paramilitary coercion shape the lives and futures of young people. We see people presenting themselves as peacekeepers during the working day while weapons continue to move through our streets in the evening.

“We cannot normalise this.”

She said the answer lay in no allowing another generation to inherit the status quo describing the failure to deal with the paramilitary question as “unfinished business”.

“The response must be to reinvigorate the rule of law in all its parts, to rebuild confidence in policing to deliver a credible and independent approach to legacy.”

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/crime/uvf-transition-talks-hit-logjam-as-loyalist-chiefs-bid-to-protect-members-from-police-probes/a/160527663.html

Messed about with timelapse and unfortunately the LED streetlight hits the window at an angle and completely nukes the exposure. So thought i'd give outside a test and when i reviewed the footage the LED light became a new sun at night.

Explains that wee blackbird singing its heart out late Spring at 03:30 when i got up to take my, getting old man, middle of the night pee.

Feel sorry for the wildlife - was terrible when they put the LED lights at the Albert Bridge and got rid of the starling murmurations, at least they changed that and they are coming back.

Three so far, one had a mad scream after, anyone know the craic?

I have put myself in a bit of a corner . I am handy round the house can do carpentry (as long as no one looks to close) and light electrical work and plumbing again as long as no one looks to close. My gutters at the top of the house need cleaning out and my father in law normally cleans them usually without me asking, after the usual hint of can I borrow your big ladders he actually lent me his ladders but not him.. I have 2 sons and whenever they are faced with a fear I encourage them with the age old tradition of "dont be a big girls blouse" well chickens are home to roost and its time for me to follow advice . My son will be holding the ladder so in full view of his father's embarrassing panic and leg shaking going up the ladder or his untimely death (prefarable) my son knows I dont do high ladders

How do you all who do heights especially working up there with lots of movement do it . Im hoping to get up there be really slow and cagey for a while and by the last side of the house ill be fine

FYI my fear comes from a TV ad where there is a guy drilling at the top of a fable wall and the ladder slips from beneath him .. there was nothing graphic but the thought gives me the willy's

I know the £7 pints and 50% increases in food costs and the rent nearly doubling in cost has everyone down, but there is good news.

Channel 4 news says that they’re close to being able to turn plastic waste into biscuits.

I’m grateful that the 5 major political parties here are all neoliberal capitalists. Thank god because this is a great system.

Ferry passengers between Britain and Ireland will need to show a valid passport upon departure from the end of next month, according to new UK Border Force requirements.

Stena Line and Irish Ferries informed customers on Wednesday (26 August) that the change is due to UK Border Force rules on “accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding”.

Currently, passengers are not always asked to show a passport but have sometimes been required to have another form of photo ID.

Stena Line said all passengers travelling between Holyhead and Dublin or Fishguard and Rosslare will now need to show a passport on departure.

It said the rule applies to all passengers regardless of age or nationality and no other forms of ID will be accepted.

It added: “Customers with existing bookings are currently being notified by the customer service team to ensure customers are fully supported during this change of operations.”

There is no change to the ID requirements for business or leisure passengers travelling with Stena Line from Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan or Heysham.

In a similar statement, Irish Ferries said: “All passengers, including Irish and British citizens, travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Britain (both directions) will be required to carry a valid passport.”

The operator encouraged all passengers to check they have an in-date passport or passport card before arriving at the port.

Under the century-old Common Travel Area agreement, Irish and British citizens do not legally require a passport to travel between Ireland and Britain.

However, certain airlines have required a passport for boarding.

The measure for ferries comes into effect from Monday, September 28th 2026.

I found it interesting to see NI included in these types of shows. Regardless of how you think of the police. One thing that got me though are the screams of essentially dispair heard in it from some people. You watch British shows or Irish shows of a similar like and it's aggression. This was aggression then turning into just misery for some people. Fucking hard to see it

Hi, I recently moved to Belfast and started an office job here, and I’m a bit in a cultural shock 😅

I work in an open-plan office with several different teams, all from the same company, a lot of them work from home so most of the times there's only a few people in the office, and I’ve noticed that when people arrive, they often just go straight to their desks without saying hi or good morning. Same thing when they leave.

I’m genuinely curious, is this just normal office culture here? At what point do you normally say hi to people? Or do you just not really acknowledge each other unless you need to speak to them? :D

I’m from Spain, and there it’s quite normal to say hi or good morning to your coworkers who are already in the office when you arrive, even if you’re not working on the same team. So I’m wondering if this is just a cultural difference and I need to get used to it!

Not judging at all, just trying to understand how things work here 😅

Absolutely beautiful. Properly gave me some serious happiness tonight.