CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family.
Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.
Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, died at 41 on Thursday, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.
Sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection, causing the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Typically the immune system releases chemicals to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi, but with sepsis the response goes into overdrive. The results can cause widespread inflammation, form microscopic blood clots and make blood vessels leak.
Busch was thought to have had a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and radioed in to his team saying that he needed a “shot” from a doctor after the race. However, he bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.
Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
During the emergency call placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”
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The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.
NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said he knew Busch wasn’t feeling well recently.
“Yes, but I won’t go into any specifics,” Keselowski said. “But then when he ran the Trucks race last week, those (thoughts) were honestly kind of erased in my mind.”
Keselowski said running multiple races on the same weekend can be difficult on a driver’s health — but most don’t want to miss a race for fear of being replaced.
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“There’s no shortage of drivers that would love to take my seat or anybody else’s seat if we weren’t feeling well, and I think every driver feels that pressure,” Keselowski said. “All athletes do. It’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. We’re all thinking to ourselves, ‘I don’t wanna be replaced.’ … So you try to power through it the best you can.”
Keselowski said Busch’s unexpected death has forced him to pay attention to his own health moving forward.
Chase Briscoe said Busch’s health issues served as a “wake-up call” for him and other drivers, who often put aside dealing with potential issues because they are so busy traveling around the country and competing on a weekly basis.
He said if something feels off, “you need to get checked out.”
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Busch’s Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon was not made available for comment.
Austin Hill will replace Busch on Sunday and drive the No. 33 car. RCR is temporarily retiring Busch’s No. 8 until his 11-year-old son Brexton is old enough to race.
All 39 cars in the field for Sunday’s race will include a small black No. 8 decal to honor Busch.
Drivers spoke at length on Saturday about his accomplishments, praising his toughness, competitive spirit and penchant for speaking his mind — all of which led to him earning a reputation as NASCAR’s villain.
“He was a polarizing figure that no matter if you like him or disliked him as a racer, he was always talked about,” Ryan Blaney said. “Just this guy that was always there and won too much, which is why people didn’t like him. And he always spoke his mind. I think people came to respect that about him, that he was true to who he was and that never changed.”
Blaney added that Busch’s personality outside of the car and his competitiveness behind the wheel made him “a larger-than-life person in racing.”
President Donald Trump – in the White House at the time – thanked the US Secret Service for “swift and professional action” and said the suspect had a “violent history”.
Darlene Superville and Alanna Durkin Richer
08:51, 24 May 2026
A person who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing at officers has died after being shot, according to federal officials. The US Secret Service said in a statement late on Saturday that, according to a preliminary investigation, the person approached a checkpoint shortly after 6pm local time “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers”.
Officers returned fire and hit the suspect – named as Nasire Best, 21, by a law enforcement official – who was transported to an area hospital where he later died, according to the Secret Service. A bystander was struck and was in a critical condition, but a law enforcement official said it was not clear whether that person was struck by the suspects initial bullets or those fired subsequently by officers.
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Secret Service said none of its officers were injured and President Donald Trump – who was at the White House at the time – was not “impacted”. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement officers for their “swift and professional action” and said the suspect had a “violent history”.
Journalists working at the White House on Saturday reported hearing a series of gun shots and were told to seek shelter inside the press briefing room. In a post shared on X, the senior White House correspondent for ABC News Selina Wang shared dramatic video of the moment she said she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots” and ducked for cover.
Writing that she had been performing a task that reporters at the White House do day in and day out – filming themselves on a cellphone, for a social media post – the video shows her speaking for a few seconds about Mr Trump’s statements earlier on Saturday about a potential Iran deal. As the sounds of gunfire are heard in the background, her eyes grow wider, and she ducks down in the media tent, which is among those situated in a line along the White House driveway where broadcasters film their reports.
The Metropolitan Police Department said on X the Secret Service was working the scene and cautioned people to avoid the area. The scene is near where a gunman ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard last November.
US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her wounds. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, was critically wounded. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged in that incident. The gunfire on Saturday comes nearly a month after what law enforcement authorities said was an attempted assassination of the president on April 25 as he attended the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at a Washington hotel.
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Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill Mr Trump and remains in federal custody. Following that scare, Secret Service officers shot a suspect they said had fired at officers near the Washington Monument, also near the White House.
Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in a complaint filed in US District Court in connection with the May 4 shooting. A teenage bystander was wounded in that incident.
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The mood surrounding City is quite sombre for a club that lifted the FA Cup last weekend, which is in stark comparison to Aston Villa and their recent success.
Both sides have confirmed a spot in next year’s Champions League, meaning there is very little riding on this clash.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Manchester City vs Aston Villa is scheduled for a 4pm BST kick-off today, Sunday, May 24, 2026.
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The match will take place at the Etihad Stadium.
Where to watch Man City vs Aston Villa
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Action, with coverage starting at 2pm BST.
All the action from the 10 Premier League games played simultaneously will be shown live across Sky Sports’ various channels.
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Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Man City vs Aston Villa team news
Man City have no new injury concerns.
Recently, Rodri and Josko Gvardiol have returned from a groin issue and tibial fracture, respectively.
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Bernardo Silva and John Stones are expected to feature in their farewell appearances for the club, while Guardiola could hand starts to the likes of Phil Foden, Savinho and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez broke his finger in the warm-up of the Europa League final, going on to play the full 90 minutes. It is likely then that deputy Marco Bizot will instead start in between the sticks for the away side.
Boubacar Kamara was ruled out for the rest of the season back in January due to a knee injury, whilst Brazilian winger Alysson has been recovering from a groin issue.
Farewell: Bernardo Silva and John Stones
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Man City vs Aston Villa prediction
Aston Villa’s preparations for this game will have been hampered by their Europa League final in midweek. Aside from the extra strain an additional game and travel has on a squad, Villa’s deserved celebrations will also take their toll.
Man City’s hangover stems from their failure to win back their Premier League crown, having last lifted the top flight trophy in 2024.
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If reports are true and Guardiola is set to depart Manchester this summer, then there can be no better way to say farewell than with a victory in the sun at home, that should be plenty of motivation.
With both sides likely to rotate thanks to midweek games, we expect City’s strength in depth to be too much for Villa.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Neither side has completed a league double in this fixture since the 2021/22 campaign, where City beat Villa home and away.
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Aston Villa have the chance to claim the bragging rights this season, after their 1-0 victory over Guardiola’s charges at Villa Park back in October. Villa last beat City twice in a season back in the 1962/63 campaign.
Man City vs Aston Villa match odds
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Sir Chris Hoy has opened up on how he dealt with being diagnosed with incurable cancer
Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy has revealed how he would think about living with stage four cancer every morning in the aftermath of being diagnosed with the disease in 2023. The cycling legend’s cancer has since metastasised to his bones, and in 2024, he was warned by doctors that he had between two and four years to live.
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The 50-year-old won 37 medals across a stunning career as a track cyclist, including six Olympic gold medals. Speaking on the Breast Cancer Now podcast, Sir Chris touched upon how he dealt with the news that he had incurable cancer but how he refused to let it define him.
“No one knows what’s coming tomorrow, so enjoy today and make the most of it,” he said. “In terms of the terminology and what stage four means. Stage four, metastatic, is spread from a primary source. It’s spread around the body and it’s not something you can truly get rid of.
“You can get to a stage where the scans are clear, which is amazing if you can get to that point, but it doesn’t mean it won’t come back.
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“It will come back at some stage. But it’s about controlling that and finding ways to live with your cancer and try and not let it dictate who you are and not let it be the first thing you think about in the morning when you wake up, or the last thing you think about before you go to sleep at night. I feel that took me, probably about six months, maybe more?”
Elaborating on how little he knew about his condition upon his diagnosis, he said: “I was one of those people that didn’t know [about incurable cancer] it was explained to me in one sentence, ‘You have incurable cancer, it’s treatable, but it’s incurable,’ so in the space of one sentence my whole world had been turned upside down and all hope had been taken away.
“I guess it’s then up to you to rebuild, find that hope and that way forward. There’s no easy way of hearing that information and getting your head around it. It takes time as a kind of grieving process.
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“You’re grieving the life that you thought you had ahead of you and how it was going to pan out, but none of us knows what’s coming tomorrow. And that’s not a morbid thing. It should be a positive thing to remind us to enjoy today and to free ourselves from a lot of the things we worry about.”
Sir Chris, who is planning another Tour de 4 charity cycle race in September, after the inaugural event raised more than £3.1million last year, maintains a stunning resilience, adding that he prefers to stay in control in an ultimately uncontrollable situation.
He added: “It’s not a sudden day where it stops happening. Scan times, blood tests, and medical meetings, it comes back to the surface. When you walk into the oncologist’s office, it’s not a nice feeling waiting to get news about whatever the latest state of play is. Stage four, to me, is something that you will live with for the rest of your life.
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“We don’t get to choose what happens to us, nobody does, but we can choose how we respond to those situations and that’s something I repeat to myself when it’s difficult. You have to understand what you control. If you’re fighting against the things that are out of your control, then you’re never going to be happy, or you’re never going to be settled or make the most of whatever situation you’re in.
“You can still fight for yourself and fight for your situation. There are things you can’t change and you have to accept that and this has really brought that into focus.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Donald Macleod MBE, the owner of Glasgow’s legendary Garage and Cathouse night clubs, warned firms are being ‘pushed towards extinction’.
One of Scotland’s most successful hospitality bosses has warned thousands of jobs are being lost because firms being “pushed towards extinction” by government policy.
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Donald Macleod MBE, the owner of Glasgow’s legendary Garage and Cathouse night clubs, has spoken out as new figures show UK unemployment rising to 5per cent.
He accused Labour of “hammering” the high street with extra taxes resulting in young people being thrown on the dole queue.
He said: “Starmer and Reeves promised stability, competence, and a pro-growth agenda that would restore confidence in business and public services.
“Instead, they delivered betrayal, hammering the High Street with one of the most anti-hospitality budgets this country has ever seen.
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“The High Street and hospitality industry are not just dying—they’re being pushed towards extinction.
“Rising operating and supply costs, higher taxation, and persistent uncertainty over policy direction have left many firms teetering on the edge of the abyss, while pushing countless others over it.
“Footfall has declined, margins have eroded, employer National Insurance increases and minimum wage rises have tightened hiring conditions, opening hours and shifts are being reduced, and investment has flatlined.
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“In Scotland alone, an estimated 8,000 hospitality jobs have been lost, with more than 130,000 across the UK disappearing altogether.
“This week, we learned unemployment has risen to 5per cent, while unemployment among 16–24-year-olds has soared above 240,000.
“More than 100,000 of those jobs were lost in April alone, which is shocking. This is no short-term downturn, the figures are depressingly moving in only one direction.”
Writing on his Substack column The Glasgow Splash, the businessman called Labour’s leadership battle “amateur dramatics” rather than a psychodrama, and called for a general election.
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He said: “Sir Keir Starmer has undoubtedly become a liability to the Labour movement. Whole swathes of the working-class electorate—including many within his own party—have railed against what they see as an autocratic automaton – a man devoid of personality, conviction, and, more importantly, vision.
“It is not just Keir who should go. Senior figures such as Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Ed Miliband, and Yvette Cooper must also shoulder responsibility for Labour’s catastrophic fall from grace.
“They call it a psychodrama, but it feels more like an amateur dramatics society.
“That problem is trust. Once political trust begins to erode on a national scale, it becomes exceptionally difficult to restore.
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“Which is why the country now requires something beyond Westminster manoeuvring and internal party games. It requires a democratic reset. A General Election must be called.
“We have already had four unelected Prime Ministers in the past 10 years; let there not be a fifth.”
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Aldi in Fulford Road is closed with shoppers directed to the supermarket’s store in Water Lane during the closure.
The works, as reported by The Press, will see the store’s shopping area increase from 854sqm to 1,146sqm, with the overall footprint of the site expanding from 1,265sqm to 1,557sqm.
It will see the number of parking spaces falling from 107 to 92, but the supermarket said the expansion should bring the shop into line with typical Aldi stores – ranging from 1,200sqm to 1,400sqm.
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An Aldi spokesperson said: “Work to extend our Fulford Road store has been ongoing since January and is progressing well, with the store remaining open to customers as normal throughout the majority of the build.”
The supermarket’s Fulford Road store was last closed for a full renovation in 2021 which aimed to modernize the shopping experience.
Peking Garden in Stockton delivered an experience that felt as much about celebration as it did about food — and it struck exactly the right balance.
After months of her dropping hints, we finally visited as a group of seven to celebrate my sister’s birthday, going for the all-you-can-eat buffet, a choice that quickly proved to be the right one.
From the moment we arrived, there was a sense that this wouldn’t be your standard sit-down meal. Instead, it felt curated, personal, and quietly indulgent.
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One of the standout touches came immediately when we were shown into our own private dining room. For a family, including a very chatty four-year-old, this made a huge difference.
It created a relaxed, intimate setting where conversation flowed easily, and there was no worry about excited chatter disturbing other diners. Removing that stress meant it felt special without being overly formal, exactly what you want for a birthday gathering.
At the centre of the table was a large spinning tray, a detail that delighted our youngest guest more than anything else. My niece quickly dubbed it “Mr Robot”, and from that point on, the evening took on an added layer of excitement.
Watching dishes rotate around the table became part of the experience itself, adding a playful, interactive element that kept everyone engaged.
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The buffet format here is slightly different from the typical help-yourself style. Instead of queueing at a counter, you order from the menu, and dishes are freshly prepared and brought to the table.
It’s a system that combines the variety of a buffet with the quality and presentation of a traditional restaurant meal, and it works well.
We began, quite optimistically, by ordering every appetiser on the menu. It might sound excessive, but with seven people at the table, it felt like the perfect way to sample the full range on offer. Plates arrived steadily, filling the table with a wide spread of starters.
Each dish was distinct and well-executed. Crispy spring rolls were light and golden, with a satisfying crunch that gave way to a flavourful filling. The salt and pepper dishes carried just the right amount of heat, balanced with aromatic spices that didn’t overpower.
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Prawn toast was rich without being greasy, while the spare ribs were tender and coated in a sticky, moreish glaze.
There wasn’t a single dish that felt like an afterthought. Even with such a large selection, everything arrived hot, fresh, and carefully prepared.
For the main courses, each of us chose two dishes, allowing for even more variety across the table.
Classic favourites were done particularly well. Honey-chilli dishes were perfectly balanced, with a subtle blend of spice and sweetness.
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Black bean and Oyster sauce dishes were rich and savoury, with depth of umami flavour. The noodle and rice dishes were cooked perfectly, providing a comforting base to the more boldly flavoured mains.
Portion sizes were generous, especially considering the all-you-can-eat format, and there was never any sense of being rushed.
Staff were attentive without being intrusive, checking in at just the right moments and ensuring that drinks were topped up and dishes arrived smoothly.
Service throughout the evening was, quite simply, impeccable. For a group of seven, including a young child, it would have been easy for things to become disjointed, but everything ran seamlessly.
Orders were taken efficiently, and dishes arrived in good time. And by good time, I mean before we were full from the previous dish!
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The private room also meant that the evening could unfold at our own pace. There was no pressure to hurry through courses, and plenty of time to enjoy both the food and each other’s company.
It’s a detail that elevates the overall experience and makes Peking Garden an especially strong choice for birthdays, family gatherings, or small celebrations.
By the end of the meal, there was a shared sense that we had experienced something a little different from the usual dining outing. The combination of freshly prepared buffet dishes, attentive service, and that added touch of privacy created a memorable evening from start to finish.
And while the food itself was consistently impressive, it was the smaller moments, “Mr Robot”, shared plates circulating between laughter, and the ease of being in a space of our own, that made the visit stand out.
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When asked, my sister said it was worth the wait, although she conceded that her Chinese palate was a little boring and she probably wouldn’t be in a rush to deviate from her usual.
For seven people, the total cost came to just shy of £200, though this included several drinks and buffet prices of £25.90 each. Under 5s eat free. For a family meal, this seemed perfectly reasonable for the amount of food we ended up eating.
For those looking for a Chinese restaurant in Stockton that offers both quality and atmosphere, Peking Garden is well worth considering.
It combines the abundance of a buffet with the care and presentation of a more traditional dining experience.
Margaret Haney styled herself as a defender of the community and became a familiar face on TV during the 1990s but behind the headlines she ruled over troubled housing estate.
04:30, 24 May 2026
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Margaret “Big Mags” Haney cast a long shadow over Stirling’s troubled Raploch estate.
The chain-smoking grandmother-of-dozens first hit the headlines in the 1990s when she fronted a self-styled anti-paedophile campaign.
Appearing on daytime television and portraying herself as a protector of the community, Haney cultivated the image of a fearless local crusader.
But behind the public persona was a very different reality.
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Residents of Raploch knew the Haney clan as a family linked to violence, intimidation and criminality which had blighted the estate for years.
And at the centre of it all was Big Mags herself — the matriarch of a heroin-dealing operation that spread misery through the streets of Stirling while raking in vast sums of cash.
Her eventual downfall came only after fed-up locals took a stand.
First, residents forced the Haneys out of Raploch following months of unrest and growing anger over the family’s behaviour.
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Then members of the community began passing information to the Daily Record, helping undercover reporters expose the extent of Haney’s drug empire.
When police finally moved in, crowds gathered to watch the notorious crime boss being led away in handcuffs.
Dressed in a pink sweatshirt, leggings and slippers, Haney defiantly raised a clenched fist and shouted: “Get it up you!” as officers bundled her into a police van.
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Born in 1942 into a poor crofting family near Stirling, Haney experienced hardship from an early age.
Her father worked as a miner and, after her parents separated, seven-year-old Margaret and two of her siblings were placed in an Edinburgh convent, where she spent six years.
She later settled in Raploch, an estate ravaged during the 1980s and 1990s by unemployment, poverty and drug abuse.
It was there the Haney family became infamous.
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Margaret Haney’s criminal convictions dated back to 1975 and included assault, breach of the peace, contempt of court and fraud.
In 1995, Sheriff Norrie Stein famously branded the Haneys “the family from hell”, saying they had terrorised the local community.
Two years later, Haney openly admitted her children had amassed hundreds of court appearances between them.
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“My kids have been brought up in the jungle,” she once said.
Despite the family’s reputation, Haney attempted to reinvent herself as a campaigner against child abusers.
She led angry demonstrations after a convicted paedophile was housed on the estate and appeared on the Kilroy television show to discuss protecting youngsters from sex offenders.
But while Haney enjoyed the spotlight, many locals were growing increasingly fearful of the clan’s influence.
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Residents accused the family of violence, theft and intimidation, and tensions eventually exploded.
A crowd of around 400 people laid siege to the Haneys’ home, demanding they leave the estate.
When the family were eventually driven out of Raploch, neighbours celebrated in the streets and waved banners marking their departure.
Haney, however, insisted she was the victim of a vendetta.
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Stirling Council later rehoused her in a flat on Lower Bridge Street, where several other properties in the block were occupied by members of her extended family.
Locals dubbed the building “Hotel Haney”, while police officers privately referred to it as “Fortress Haney”.
Behind closed doors, Haney was building what prosecutors would later describe as a major heroin supply operation.
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In 2000, the Daily Record launched its Shop-A-Dealer hotline, asking readers to report suspected drug dealers in their communities.
Call after call identified Haney as Stirling’s most notorious heroin supplier.
Undercover reporters began investigating and uncovered evidence that the grandmother was selling hundreds of £10 wraps of heroin every week while claiming more than £1,200 a month in benefits.
Her council flat operated as the hub of the business, with drugs allegedly sold openly in front of young grandchildren.
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Visitors described Haney sitting in a large chair inside the flat — a seat referred to as her “throne” — while relatives and runners carried out deliveries on her behalf.
Cash generated by the operation was hidden in bags and stashed beneath beds in homes linked to the family.
The Record’s investigation resulted in undercover purchases of heroin directly from Haney before a dossier of evidence was handed to police.
At the High Court in Glasgow in 2003, prosecutors outlined the scale of the operation.
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Haney admitted running a heroin network worth around £250,000 a year over an 18-month period.
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Prosecutor Drew Mackenzie described her as the undisputed controller of the business.
“Haney sat in her house like a queen and she was money-motivated,” he told the court.
At the time, Haney was 60 years old and walked with the aid of a stick.
Also in the dock were three relatives — daughter Diane, son Hugh and niece Rose-ann — all of whom pleaded guilty alongside her midway through the trial.
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Haney was jailed for 12 years and served half of the sentence at Cornton Vale before being released in 2009.
She never returned to Stirling, instead being rehoused in Alva, Clackmannanshire.
In later life, Haney suffered a series of serious health problems and spent her final years in poor health.
She died from cancer in 2013 at the age of 70.
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Even towards the end of her life, controversy continued to follow the Haney name.
While confined to a wheelchair, she was once asked about a relative who had been jailed for contempt of court during a murder trial.
Big Mags replied: “She’s brought total shame on the whole of the family.”
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TV presenter Dermot O’Leary has been talking about his favourite spots in Northern Ireland, and one of them is a restaurant with “nose to tail seafood” that he called “my idea of heaven”
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
06:00, 24 May 2026
Popular television host Dermot O’Leary has been reminiscing about his childhood trips to Ireland as he promotes his Taste of Ireland show, now streaming on ITVX.
Although Dermot, who turns 53 today (Sunday, May 24), was born in Essex, his parents emigrated to England from County Wexford. He returned there spend many of his summer holidays as a child and retains a great affection for the country.
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Unsurprisingly considering the whole show is about food, Dermot indulged in the culinary delights that the country has to offer.
And it is a restaurant just over an hour’s drive from Belfast that really tickled his taste buds, calling it “one of my favourite dinners”.
Speaking on Holly Rubenstein’s Travel Diaries podcast, he sung the praises of the fish restaurant Lir, in Coleraine. He described it as a “nose to tail” seafood restaurant which is his “idea of heaven”.
The This Morning presenter said: “They’re nose to tail seafood which is pretty much my idea of heaven. So everything in there, the dips for the mayo and aioli at the start, they’re like pollock skin or cod skin or something. It’s just like crispy, deep crispy, really salty, really good.
“That was in Coleraine. It’s not necessarily a big foodie place, but they’ve got this restaurant there. And like a lot of these success stories, they started in lockdown. I think they started delivering lobster.”
Dermot spoke very highly of the trip in general, although he admitted it was sometimes difficult to persuade their local fixer Conall to slow down so they could take in the breathtaking scenery.
He urged people who make the trip to drive the Causeway Coastal Route not to rush it. As well as praising his favourite food locations, Dermot spoke highly of a specific town that touched him during the adventure.
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Dermot told Holly: “I think my favourite town was a little town called Ballycastle, which is this gorgeous little beach town, almost straight out of New England.
“You know, it’s a real, not clapboard. It was very Irish, but full of lovely independent bakeries and shops.
“You get past Portrush and Portstewart, pretty much towards Derry, and it’s this gorgeous, long, long, long beaches. And then you’re pretty much in Donegal.”
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He added that Ballycastle, which lies at roughly the midpoint of the Causeway Coastal Route and sits an hour north of Belfast, would be the kind of town that would be great to grow up in.
Dermot is not the first person to enjoy everything the town has to offer. Ballycastle has been featured by The Sunday Times on their “Best Places To Live” list, and has been previously crowned the overall regional winner for Northern Ireland.
The second series of Dermot’s Taste of Ireland began airing this month, catch the episodes on ITVX.
There were stalls, singalongs, drag shows, and drinks for the public to enjoy as they celebrated the event, as well as plenty of glitter.
Organiser Kev Wright (left) with volunteer Phillip Jones (Image: Dan Dougherty)
But it wasn’t all just for fun, as the organisers wanted to ensure they emphasised the important role Pride events play in supporting marginalised local communities.
Organiser Kev Wright said: “It’s been a good day so far – the sun’s with us!
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“I think events like this are very important for the community, especially with the rise of certain brands of politics.
“It’s more and more important that we have events like this to maintain our voices in the area, because there is a dark side of things where people are afraid they can’t be who they want to be.”
Sophie (left) and Anna (Image: Dan Dougherty)
After five years as Bolton Pride‘s main organiser, Kev will be stepping down at the end of this event, due to mounting struggles with funding.
But there are other people in the wings ready to take over, who share his enthusiasm for what they all believe is the event’s vitally important function.
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“It’s been a great five years,” said Kev, “a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I’ve really enjoyed being a part of it.”
Chris Garvey (left) and Peter Gallagher (Image: Dan Dougherty)
Elsewhere, revellers young and old were eating and watching the shows, while basking in the Spring sunshine.
For partners Chris Garvey and Peter Gallagher, the Bolton Festival was only the start of their ‘yearly pride tour’.
“Yes, we’re having a good time,” said Chris, “we’ve only just got here,” when they spoke to the Bolton News at around midday.
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The pair had set up two folding chairs next to a stall so they could bask in the heat while watching the action.
Representatives from the Bolton Octagon (Image: Dan Dougherty)
“We go to all the pride events in the North West – we’ve got Bury next week, then Wigan.
“The local pride events are our favourites, because they’re all about showing support for a particular local community.
“This is only the start of our annual pride tour!”
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As well as food and drinks, there were a number of stalls dotted around the event offering support and advice.
Reverend Michaila Roberts (Image: Dan Dougherty)
One such was the group from Eucharist for Bolton Pride, a set of local churches offering safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people who might feel unwelcome in a regular church.
Reverend Michaila Roberts from Bolton Parish Church said: “We ran a service at 7pm at Bolton Parish Church.
“It’s a safe space to welcome people who aren’t often welcome at churches.
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“We are here to support them, to celebrate God’s incredible creativity, and to tell people that they are loved just the way they are.”
(Image: Dan Dougherty)
Members of The Village Church were also there, an LGBTQ+ church organisation that holds bi-weekly worship meetings at the LGBT Foundation in Fairburn House, Manchester.
There were several groups that were vital in funding the event, including Bolton School, Seddon, Cardwell’s Estate Agents, University of Greater Manchester, and many others.
The team also wanted to thank all the stallholders, and all the volunteers, without whom the event would not have been possible.
An ABC News reporter ducked for cover as gunshots rang out near the White House on Saturday (23 May), when a gunman opened fire at a security checkpoint.
A person approached the checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, pulled a weapon out of his bag, and began firing, according to a Secret Service statement posted on social media. Officers returned fire and shot the suspect, who was later taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, the agency said.
Footage shows senior White House correspondent Selina Wang mid-way through a report before gunfire rings out. She and her colleagues then duck for cover.
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