Long before we had modern antibiotics to rely on, people often turned to traditional medicines from plants to treat infections.

The root of tormentil (Potentilla erecta), a small yellow wildflower that grows across Ireland, the UK and Europe, was used for centuries in Irish and European traditional medicine. It was used to treat wounds, sore throats, diarrhoea and gum disease. These traditional uses suggested that tormentil could contain compounds powerful enough to kill microbes.

Our latest research has now shown that not only does tormentil have antimicrobial activity, it may also be powerful enough to fight microbes that are resistant to modern antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global threat. This occurs when bacteria evolve to survive the drugs used to treat common infections. This makes some infections very difficult and sometimes impossible to treat. Antimicrobial resistance could be pushing us back to a time when once treatable infections could again become deadly.

Researchers are therefore searching for new antimicrobial compounds. Plants are a promising source, having evolved over millennia to produce a wide range of bioactive chemicals to defend themselves against microbes.

In our recent study, we investigated whether various Irish bogland plants contain compounds that could help fight multi-drug resistant bacteria.

To do this, we prepared extracts from over 70 different plant species collected from bogs across Ireland. We then tested them against clinically relevant bacterial pathogens in the laboratory – including bacteria which cause severe pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

We used antimicrobial susceptibility testing to see whether the extracts inhibited bacterial growth. This involved exposing the bacteria to the various plant extracts to see which extract inhibited the growth of the bacteria.

We then tested these extracts on biofilms to determine whether the plant compounds could prevent bacteria from forming biofilms. Biofilms are bacterial communities surrounded by a slimy carbohydrate shield that protects them from antibiotics, disinfectants and the immune system.

Excitingly, our initial screening showed that tormentil extracts were antimicrobial and limited the formation of biofilms. This suggested these extracts contained compounds with antimicrobial activity, which may explain their historical use to treat infection.

We also explored whether these plant extracts could work in combination with existing antibiotics, as some plant compounds don’t kill bacteria directly but instead can make antibiotics work better. So we combined low levels of the antibiotic colistin – an antibiotic that is only used as a last-resort against severe infections due to its potential toxicity to patients – with the tormentil extract. The low-level antibiotic dosage wasn’t enough to kill the bacteria when used on its own. But when combined with the tormentil extract, the plant compound enhanced the antibiotic’s efficacy.

Part of our team then performed an analysis to identify the compounds present in the tormentil extracts. Potentilla plants are known to contain naturally occurring compounds, such as ellagic acid and agrimoniin, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

We tested ellagic acid and agrimoniin compounds which were present in our bogland tormentil. We showed that these specific compounds could inhibit bacterial growth. This indicates they may be responsible for tormentil’s antimicrobial activity.

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We subsequently found these compounds were doing this by scavenging iron – a nutrient that’s essential for bacterial growth. This effectively starved the bacterial cells, preventing them from growing. We are now focused on optimising this antimicrobial activity and developing formulations to test its potential as a treatment in experimental models.

Nature has always been a rich source of medicine. Many antibiotics that we use today originally came from natural sources. For instance, the potent, last-resort antibiotics vancomycin – which is used to treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and C difficile infections – came from soil microbes.

With antimicrobial resistance continuing to rise globally, we urgently need new approaches and treatments. Plants may be an underexplored source of both new antimicrobial compounds and of compounds that make existing drugs more effective.

The story of tormentil shows how nature and traditional medicine can work hand in hand with modern science to address today’s challenges. It also highlights that solutions can be found in unexplored places – even in a small yellow wildflower growing in a bogland.

Temperatures across York and North Yorkshire have continued to soar after much of the UK experienced a weather shift yesterday (Tuesday, April 7) – a welcome change after Storm Dave, which as The Press reported, wreaked havoc on some areas in the region.

The region was said to be “unusually warm” for this time of year, with meteorologists at the Met Office adding that the UK is set for “record-breaking” early April heat.

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But this high is not set to last, with cooler and windier weather anticipated going forward.

Those visiting the North Yorkshire coast can expect clear skies throughout today, with temperatures reaching above 20C this afternoon (Wednesday, April 8).

Coastal hotspots – such as Robin Hood’s Bay, Runswick Bay, and Staithes –  are expected to buck the trend and enjoy clear and bright weather for the majority of this weekend.

Among those enjoying the sun in York today were John and Liz Walker, who were visiting from Scotland, and sitting by the river outside Museum Gardens to enjoy their lunch.

A hot day by the River Ouse (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Liz said: “It’s a bit busy down here today compared to other days. It’s really lovely, such great weather though.”

John added: “We’ve been down in York for a few days now and it’s nice to be here when it’s the hottest day in the past six months. We’re not looking forward to heading back to Scotland this evening.”

As well as holiday makers, families travelled from across the region with Donna and Mike bringing their daughters – Tilly and Trixie – to York from Malton to enjoy the half-term heat in Dean’s Park.

Donna and Mike with their daughters (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Donna said: “We’ve just come over from Malton – we used to live in York and we both work here, so it’s nice to come back. There’s a nice mix of shade and sun here and it’s been a lovely day.”

Mike added: “We just wanted to have a nice day out – we’ve been out walking on the walls, then we’re heading off to Rowntree Park later.”

Ice cream trucks and shops across the city also experienced long queues, although York’s much-loved ice cream boat remained absent from the riverfront, and revellers made the most of the riverfront beer gardens.

Queues outside the ice cream van in King’s Staith on a hot day (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

A representative for The Lowther, which has riverside seating on King’s Staith, added that the day was ‘shaping up to be very busy’.

They said: “We have 28 tables outside, which are quickly filling. Seats are granted on a first come first serve basis, but customers can book a table with us inside.”

William Jamieson, 27, was driving under the influence of cocaine when he was pulled over by police.

A drug dealer from Wales was found in possession of more than £2,000 worth of heroin after he was pulled over by the police on the motorway. He was also found in possession of cocaine, cannabis and a flick knife.

William Jamieson, 27, was driving a Ford Fiesta on October 10, 2023, near junction 10 of the M3 near Basingstoke, Hampshire, when police noted the vehicle was in a “dangerous position”. When they approached the defendant, who was in the car with his partner, appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard Jamieson provided a saliva sample and tested positive for cocaine. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter

Underneath the driver’s seat officers located a black flick knife and a police issued stab vest. On the front passenger seat was a clear plastic container concealed in a hoody.

The container was found to contain multiple cling-film wraps including 18 wraps of heroin weighing 6.25g and two wraps containing 0.13g of cocaine. There was also a rucksack containing scales and cling film.

A search was carried out at Jamieson’s partner’s home which resulted in the discovery 36.23g of heroin in a plastic container. The total amount of heroin seized was weighed at 42.84g and was valued between £1,680 and £2,410. A total of 5.11g of cannabis was also recovered.

Mobile phones were also seized which revealed the defendant was involved in an active supply operation, and there were videos of him sitting with a large supply of drugs and holding two knives.

Jamieson, of Bron y Wawr, North Cornelly, Bridgend, later pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug, possession of class A and B drugs, and possession of a bladed article.

The court heard he has six previous convictions for offences including possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of bladed articles and drug driving.

In mitigation defence barrister James Evans said his client had “potential” having been to university to study computer science and is using his time in custody “constructively”. Reference was also made to the defendant suffering “extensive trauma” in his life”.

Judge Christopher Felstead sentenced Jamieson to a total of 38 months imprisonment.

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The UK government has prevented Kanye West, legally known as Ye, from entering the UK on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good. The rapper has become notorious for a sustained range of antisemitic comments, expressing admiration for Hitler and releasing a song titled Heil Hitler.

The prospect of his performing in front of 150,000 people at London’s Wireless music festival drew condemnation from government ministers, festival sponsors, Keir Starmer and the Campaign Against Antisemitism. Following the government’s confirmation that West would not be allowed to enter the UK, the festival was cancelled.

Any foreign national wanting to visit the UK needs permission to do so, either in the form of a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Both can be refused for several reasons. The UK’s immigration rules require that people who have previously breached immigration law, or been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas, are barred from entry.

They rules also include wide discretionary powers for the home secretary to exclude individuals from the UK on the basis that their presence is “not conducive to the public good because of their conduct, character, associations or other reasons”. These are the powers that have been applied to West.

According to the Home Office, these powers are usually invoked in relation to “national security, unacceptable behaviour (such as extremism), international relations or foreign policy, and serious and organised crime”. In 2024, 15 people were excluded from the UK under these powers.

The home secretary only needs to be satisfied that the underlying behaviour has occurred on the balance of probabilities, and will follow guidance in making the decision.

This guidance was first introduced in 2005 in the context of the “war on terror”. However, the guidance also points to a wider application to disrupt a range of criminal behaviour including organised crime, football hooliganism, breaking immigration rules and corruption.

We only know that the government has excluded West on the broad basis that his “presence would not be conducive to the public good”. It is likely that the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, relied on his “producing, publishing and distributing material … to express views which … foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK”.

Immigration law in the UK is based on the use of wide discretionary powers and the guidance is “indicative rather than exhaustive”. This means that the home secretary can go beyond the guidance to justify exclusion and is not bound to its precise wording.

The guidance does not require that someone has incited violence to be banned, only that they have fostered hatred. Given the extremity of West’s previous public comments, it is arguable that being given a stage at a high profile music festival would contribute to the normalisation of antisemitism. In recent years, the UK has seen a rise in antisemitic violence.

Who else has been banned from entering the UK?

West is not the first high profile artist to be barred under these rules. In 2015, Tyler, the Creator was barred from entering the UK. Then home secretary Theresa May said that he had made “statements that may foster hatred, which might lead to intercommunity violence in the UK”. This related to songs which May argued “describes violent physical abuse, rape and murder in graphic terms which appears to glamourise this behaviour”.

In response, the artist said: “The paper saying I am denied entry to the UK clearly states that these songs were written from [the perspective of] an alter ego – which means they obviously did some research on these songs that they’re detaining me for … You could watch any interview and see my personality, see the guy I am. I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

The government does not routinely name those whom it has excluded from the UK. Popular lists of celebrities barred from the UK are mostly populated by people with past criminal convictions, including American businesswoman Martha Stewart. They would likely have been barred on criminality grounds, rather than on the “not conducive to the public good” test.

Exclusions based on the “not conducive to the public good” test are generally related to reprehensible statements and behaviours, often of a political or religious nature. These have included people from across the political and ideological spectrum, including far-right campaigners, Israeli politicians and head of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, whose 15-year ban was overturned after a high court appeal.

Exclusions on the basis of corruption and criminality are often less newsworthy, but are invoked in most cases.

The idea that someone’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good is present in other immigration powers. The power to strip someone of British citizenship, such as Shamima Begum, arises where “the deprivation is conducive to the public good”. However, to justify citizenship stripping, the misconduct must be “seriously prejudicial to the vital interests” of the UK. Denying a foreign national entry can occur for less serious misconduct.

In general, giving such broadly worded powers to the home secretary is controversial. What views and conduct are sufficiently contrary to the public good and justify exclusion from the UK is an inherently political decision. Any broadly worded executive power has the potential to be abused.

For West to challenge his exclusion in the courts would require it to be found that the home secretary has misunderstood the scope of her very broad legal powers, or else made a decision so irrational that no reasonable decision maker could have come to it. This is an extremely high legal bar to surmount, and courts would be likely to give a great deal of deference to the home secretary’s decision.

It’s not enough just to be a world champion now, most of these stars have conquered their sport multiple times. One has won the world title a staggering six times in a row!

We are getting towards the business end and single figures now in the list of Northern Ireland’s top 25 sport stars of all time.

It’s not enough just to be a world champion now, most of these stars have conquered their sport multiple times.

On day one, we had international hockey star Katie Mullan, gymnast trailblazer Rhys McClenaghan, rugby legend Mike Gibson, GAA colossus Kieran McGeeney and Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Dan Wiffen.

At number 20, on day two, was soccer legend Pat Jennings. Former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody was in 19th, while Norman Whiteside, ex of Manchester United was in 18th. Three-time All-Ireland winner hero Sean Cavanagh was next in 17th, with boxing legend Wayne McCullough in 16th.

15. BETHANY FIRTH

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Bethany Firth MBE is a multiple world record holder and Paralympic champion across three separate Games – including a haul of two golds and two silvers at Tokyo 2020.

In all, Seaforde woman Firth has won six Paralympic golds and three silvers for Team GB, making her one of the most successful British Paralympians ever – winning gold medals at the London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020 Games.

The Ards Swimming Club athlete also has two silver European medals and a Commonwealth Games gold to her name.

14. SEAN O’NEILL

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The Down Gaelic football legend is one of the most celebrated figures in the game. In 1960, Down became the first team from north of the border to win the All-Ireland senior title. O’Neill and Down retained that title in 1961 and climbed the mountain again in 1968 to inspire a generation.

O’Neill won three All-Ireland titles in all, eight Ulster medals with Down, a record eight Railway Cups with Ulster and was named on the GAA Team of the Century and Team of the Millennium.

He was Footballer of the Year in 1968 and was also named as the Ulster Footballer of the Millennium in 2000. He was also honoured on the first two All-Star football teams in 1971 and 1972. O’Neill also won two Sigerson Cup medals with Queen’s in 1958 and 1964.

13. WILLIE JOHN McBRIDE

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‘Willie John’ is a legendary Irish rugby lock, regarded as one of European rugby’s greatest leaders.

His legacy was secured after captaining the unbeaten 1974 British & Irish Lions in South Africa. He held the records for 17 Lions Test caps over five tours (1962–1974) and made 63 appearances for Ireland, leading them to a 1974 Five Nations title.

In total, the legendary no-nonsense Toomebridge second-row went on five Lions tours and managed the side in New Zealand in 1983.

Incredibly, McBride only missed one of Ireland’s matches played during his 13-year international career. Fittingly, he scored his only try for Ireland in his last international at Lansdowne Road against France.

12. CARL FRAMPTON

The only Northern Ireland man to become a two-weight world boxing champion. He turned pro in June 2009, shortly after winning his second Irish amateur title.

He claimed his first world title against Kiko Martinez, who had won the IBF crown with an upset sixth round beating of previously undefeated Jonathan Romero.

The Jackal added the WBA title by beating Scott Quigg in Manchester in April and then moved up to featherweight and captured the WBA title with a unanimous decision win over Leo Santa Cruz at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn.

Those efforts against two previously unbeaten opponents earned him a unique distinction – the first and still only Irishman to win the Ring magazine Fighter of the Year award.

His unbeaten record ended at 23-0 when, in January 2017, when he lost a majority decision to Santa Cruz in Las Vegas and he never regained quite the success thereafter.

11. JONATHAN REA

Six-time world champion Jonathan Rea is widely considered the most successful Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) rider in history. After dominating for over a decade with Kawasaki and concluding his career with Yamaha, he is set to return to Honda as a test rider this year.

The Larne-born rider won six consecutive WorldSBK titles (2015–2020), a record for most championships and most consecutive championships.

He holds the all-time record for race victories, more than double that of the next closest rival (as of late 2025) and also holds the record for the highest number of podium finishes.

He was awrded an MBA dnd later an OBE, and was runner up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2017 – a recognition of his impact on UK sport.

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Tomorrow we unveil numbers 6-10 in our top 25 Northern Ireland sport stars of all time.

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