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Former Dragons’ Den investor claims contestants are ‘bullied on unfair show’

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Former Dragons' Den investor claims contestants are 'bullied on unfair show'
Richard Farleigh, right, joined BBC investment show Dragons’ Den in 2006 (Picture: BBC)

A former Dragons’ Den investor has claimed that contestants were sometimes ‘bullied’ and subjected to unfair treatment on the show.

Richard Farleigh, who appeared as a Dragon during the BBC show’s third and fourth series, opened up about his time on the programme.

The Australian-born investor joined the show in 2006 alongside Deborah Meaden, replacing Doug Richard and Rachel Elnaugh, before leaving the series in 2007.

Reflecting on his time in the Den nearly 20 years later, Farleigh said in a LinkedIn post that the experience contestants went through left him ‘uncomfortable’.

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‘For the contestants, it was a terrifying experience,’ he wrote.

‘And for many, it was the most important day of their business lives.’

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock (3008049y) Richard Farleigh 'Daybreak' TV Programme, London, Britain - 09 Sep 2013
Farleigh claims that some contestants on the show were ‘bullied’ (Picture: Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)

Farleigh explained how entrepreneurs were not allowed to see the set before filming and would walk in to find themselves facing five Dragons and around 20 production crew members.

‘The dragons had all the advantages,’ he said.

‘Only about 10% of the footage made it to the final edit, and I suspect the BBC wasn’t keen on letting the dragons look too silly. In contrast, the same couldn’t be said for the contestants.

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‘I was shocked by how nasty some of the other dragons were. The producers said the show needed a bit of nastiness – otherwise, contestants would have nothing to lose. There would be no sense of jeopardy.’

He claimed the Dragons would sometimes ‘over-criticise’ a presentation or contestant ‘to the point of ridicule’.

‘It was an unfair game – the dragons didn’t have much at stake, sitting comfortably in their chairs and sounding clever, while contestants had everything to lose,’ he said.

‘Occasionally, it even felt like bullying, which made me uncomfortable.’

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TELEVISION PROGRAMME. 'DRAGONS' DEN' Picture shows L-R; Richard Farleigh, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meadon & Peter Jones. (c) BBC TX, BBC 2 TBC WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to Terms of Use of BBC Digital Picture Service. In particular, this image may only be used during the publicity period for the purpose of publicising DRAGONS' DEN and provided BBC is credited. Any use of this image on the internet or for any other purpose whatsoever, including advertising or other commercial uses, requires the prior written approval of BBC.
The Australian-born investor sat alongside Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meadon and Peter Jones (Picture: BBC)

Farleigh then recalled one incident where he was asked to speak to a contestant after filming because the man was extremely upset.

The contestant allegedly said that he had been told: ‘You’re either stupid or dishonest, or probably both. I was shocked.

‘He confided in me that he, too, had come through the care system and had hoped I would be the dragon to invest.

‘I told the director, politely, that if that footage ever made it on air, I would quit the show and publicly condemn it. Fortunately, the moment stayed off screen.’

Farleigh’s comments come nearly two decades after his time on Dragons’ Den, which sees business owners pitch their ideas to a panel of investors in the hope of securing funding in exchange for a stake in their company.

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The investor stressed that his criticism did not apply to every appearance on the show, saying the programme was fair to contestants ‘in the vast majority of cases’ and that he enjoyed working with the BBC.

The BBC has declined to comment on Farleigh’s claims.

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Walkden incident LIVE: Armed police storm street with cordon in place after ‘stabbing’ – updates

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Manchester Evening News

Contrary to an earlier eyewitness report, someone who works at the Sim-Son Convenience Store has told our reporter Charlotte that he believes the incident took place at another address nearby or outside.

He said that the incident did not take place inside the shop and that they are waiting to reopen.

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‘We expect our sons to be killed,’ father of teen shot dead in West Bank tells BBC

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Split image of funeral procession and father of killed teen speaking to the BBC

Funerals have taken place for two Palestinian teenagers who were shot dead this week when settlers and soldiers entered a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank.

The killing of Omar al-Naasan and Khalil Abu Alia comes amid near-daily attacks by Jewish settlers in the village of al-Mughayyir, south of Nablus.

“We expect that when our sons walk in the street, they are likely to return to you injured or killed,” Mohammed Al-Naasan, Omar’s father, told the BBC.

Israel’s military says it fired on “instigators of a violent riot” and that the incident is under review.

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The United Nations says more than 80 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the territory since the beginning of the year.

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Rioter cries in the dock as he’s jailed for thuggish behaviour

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Belfast Live

Footage showed the defendant helping a crowd to push over a black Vauxhall Astra car before it was set alight

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A rioter cried in the dock today as he was handed a 27-month sentence for what a judge said was his “full and active part in burning two cars” during public disorder.

Reece Dunnett, 25, of Vorlich Way, Dunfermline in Scotland, had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of rioting and two counts of criminal damage by destroying two cars.

Belfast Crown Court heard rioting erupted across Belfast in August 2024 in reaction to the events in Southport, Liverpool, when three young children were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance-themed workshop.

Prosecution barrister Mark O’Hara played CCTV footage to the court of public disorder which broke out in the Sandy Row/Donegall Road area in south Belfast on August 3, 2024.

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He told Judge Gordon Kerr KC that Dunnett was identified from the footage dressed in black shorts and a blue hoodie top with his face concealed.

The footage showed the defendant helping a crowd to push over a black Vauxhall Astra car before it was set alight. Mr O’Hara said Dunnett played a similar role in an attack on a white Suzuki Alto car which was destroyed by fire.

The prosecutor said that during an interview with a probation officer, Dunnett tried to minimise his role, saying he was not involved in causing damage to the cars

Defence barrister Michael Boyd described the rioting as “outrageous”.

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“We all saw the footage at the time on the news. What he has pleaded guilty to has clearly crossed the custody threshold,” said Mr Boyd.

“He has accepted his guilt and has accepted his responsibility notwithstanding the silly comments he made to the probation officer.”

He added that Dunnett was working in Northern Ireland at the time of the rioting and got “caught up” in events.

“He has expressed genuine remorse and shame for his offending which has been reflected in the pre-sentence report,” added Mr Boyd.

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He described Dunnett’s behaviour on the evening of August 3 as “opportunistic, impulsive and reactive”.

Judge Kerr said Dunnett had been at the scene of public disorder for around two-and-half-hours and played a “full and active part in burning two cars”.

He added: “We have seen on the video some of the activity involved in this case.

“This behaviour took place in August 2024 and there were multiple incidents throughout Belfast in response to events in Southport, Liverpool and Belfast was not the only place affected by this type of behaviour.”’

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Judge Kerr said that the prosecution had outlined the expense in terms of police time, resources and damage that was caused throughout the city and that must be considered in the course of sentencing in these types of cases.

“The upshot is that deterrent sentencing is absolutely necessary to make it clear to people that widespread public disorder causing disruption to society, causing damage and injury to police officers, members of the security forces and fire service personnel will not be tolerated,” said Judge Kerr.

“The only way to deal with such persons is by immediate custodial sentences.”

Handing down the 27-month sentence, divided equally between custody and supervised licence, Judge Kerr said it would be up to Dunnett to decide if he wanted to apply to the prison authorities to serve part of his sentence in Scotland “in ease of his family”.

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Dunnett started crying in the dock as the sentence was imposed before he was led away in handcuffs by prison staff.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Put three foods in your garden now and have robins visiting by Christmas

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Wales Online

Start now and you could have red-breasted visitors right through winter

If you’re dreaming of a robin popping into your garden like a living Christmas card, the key is to start before winter comes. By putting out the right food and water through early autumn and keeping it up every day, you can teach these red-breasted birds that your garden is a reliable destination.

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Wildlife advice says consistency matters most because robins return to places that keep meeting their needs when natural pickings drop. Begin in September and keep going through October and November, and you’ve got a better chance of seeing the same bird come back to eat, drink and maybe even settle nearby, when Christmas arrives.

What should you offer?

The three strongest crowd-pleasers are mealworms (live or dried), suet pellets or balls, and sunflower hearts. Extras like crushed unsalted peanuts and soft fruit (berries, raisins or chopped apple) are also proving popular.

How you present the food is just as important as robins prefer to feed close to the ground rather than from hanging feeders, according to the RSPB. A low or sheltered bird feeder suits them far better, ideally positioned somewhere that predators like cats cannot easily approach undetected, reports the Mirror.

A garden that offers ‘real’ foraging opportunities can be even more tempting than a feeder alone. Leaving a couple of wilder corners encourages worms and beetles, giving robins the kind of hunting they’re built for.

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Don’t pile food out like a buffet. Put down only what will be eaten within a day, then reduce the amount if leftovers remain and clear anything that could attract pests.

Water is just as important as snacks once the cold sets in. A clean birdbath topped up regularly helps with drinking and bathing, and some people use a heated option to stop it from freezing solid.

A crucial cleaning component for this task is white vinegar, which most households already stock in their cupboards. The white vinegar approach works perfectly for monthly or seasonal thorough cleans, particularly when dealing with stubborn algae or high bird activity.

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If you want more than a quick flying visit, add a nesting option so they’ll consider making your garden their home as well. An open-fronted bird box near ivy or climbing plants can provide cover and a safer place to settle.

One warning before you roll out the welcome mat: robins may look cute, but they can be fiercely territorial. That means a confident newcomer might chase off other birds once it decides the garden is “theirs”.

Don’t expect instant trust on day one. Keep the routine steady, give them space, and over time, you may find a robin following you around while you garden, hoovering up insects you turn up from the soil.

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Marshalls Aerospace shares major update about Cambridge business

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Cambridgeshire Live

The company’s plans to relocate last year ‘fell through’ as it was ‘no longer affordable’ for them

A landmark Cambridge business has been sold more than a year after its plans to relocate “fell through”. Marshalls Aerospace, based at Cambridge Airport, had announced plans to relocate to Cranfield University’s base in Bedford.

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However, the company announced last year that these plans “fell through” as it was “no longer affordable”. Marshalls has now confirmed the company has been sold to the Aurelius Group.

A Marshalls Aerospace spokesperson said: “Marshalls has been going through a wider, deliberate transition as a group, with a longstanding plan that Marshall Aerospace would relocate from the Cambridge Airport site.

“We’ve been exploring options to secure the best possible long-term future for the Aerospace business, with a focus on ensuring a stable and sustainable future for its people and operations.

“The group has now entered into an agreement to sell Marshall Aerospace, in its entirety, to Aurelius Group. Aurelius is well positioned to support the aerospace business through its next stage of development.

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“The acquisition is now subject to UK government review under the terms of the National Security and Investment Act, which is currently underway. Final Marshall Group shareholder approval and Austrian antitrust approval are also necessary.”

Marshalls expects the transaction to be completed by late September.

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Enzo Maresca confirms his four Man City captains for 2026/27 season as Enzo Fernandez decision made

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Manchester Evening News

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has spoken about the four-man leadership team for the squad this season

Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma will be part of the four-man leadership team at Manchester City this season. January arrival Guehi and goalkeeper Donnarumma will both step up to take extra responsibility.

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Ruben Dias will be the club’s main skipper for the year, taking over from Bernardo Silva after the Portugal international left on a free transfer in the summer. Erling Haaland also remains part of the group, despite Maresca joking that the No.9 could not be the main captain because the manager needs his skippers to pass on instructions to the rest of the team when they score rather than celebrate and the Norwegian scores too many goals for that.

With Rodri having also departed, there were two vacancies in the squad for captains. Maresca made the decision that he would pick the skippers rather than have a dressing-room vote, and also wanted to have an English player as part of his team.

Phil Foden had put his name forward but Maresca has opted for former Palace skipper Guehi who has already become an important part of the first team. The 26-year-old also stepped up into midfield in the opening game as Maresca sees more uses for him.

Enzo Fernandez, the club’s record signing after they paid Chelsea £125m for him on deadline day, has not been instantly added to the leadership team. The Argentine international was a key enforcer for Maresca at Chelsea and the manager was keen to reunite when he arrived at City this summer, but has refrained from naming him as one of the captains.

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Katseye at the O2: Gonzo-pop girl group triumph over troubles

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Katseye at the O2: Gonzo-pop girl group triumph over troubles

“London, make some fucking noise!” they yell, unnecessarily, given the screaming going on. Internet Girl and That Way, both from this year, are followed by an early single (from 2024), Touch, and it quickly becomes apparent that this level of arena show is not going to be a stretch, material-wise. Rather, as the show moves forward, the gripping part is watching Gabriela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae getting to grips with the entity of Katseye and their own places in it.

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Israel releases more Lebanese civilians and other developments

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Israel releases more Lebanese civilians and other developments

Israel has released four more Lebanese civilians who had been detained by its forces in southern Lebanon. Ship traffic remains low on the Strait of Hormuz days after the U.S. and Iran exchanged attacks for the first time in a month. And fighting has intensified in Yemen between Iran-backed rebels and government forces.

Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.

Israel releases 4 more Lebanese civilians

Israel released four Lebanese civilians to Lebanese authorities on Friday as part of a deal between the countries, a day after the first was freed. All had been detained by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, where troops now occupy a large swath in the wake of new fighting with Hezbollah began two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

Israel on Thursday said it had agreed to release them after Lebanon provided assistance in searching for the bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders who went missing in the 1980s during Lebanon’s civil war.

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Officials said the release comes as a result of U.S. mediation and negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Another round of talks is expected in Rome later this month.

Ship traffic remains low after latest attacks

Ship traffic on the Strait of Hormuz remained low after the renewed U.S. attacks on targets in Iran earlier this week and Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the region, including firing at U.S. Gulf ally Kuwait on Thursday.

Fuel prices are again affected. Diesel hit a new record price in the U.S. on Friday, soaring to an average of $5.85 a gallon for the first time ever.

The benchmark U.S. crude price rose above $91 a barrel with the new wave of uncertainty around traffic on the strait, which Iran continues to use as leverage after six months of war with the U.S.

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Fighting in Yemen has casualties on both sides

Fighting intensified overnight between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces along Yemen’s west coast near an important supply route.

ِAn official with the internationally recognized government’s health ministry told The Associated Press there were an unspecified number of casualties on both sides in the fighting in mountainous Taiz province. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak with the media. A military official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief the media, confirmed casualties on both sides.

Jabal Nu’man overlooks a major supply route for Yemeni government forces between Taiz province and Mokha, a port city heavily targeted by the Houthis in recent weeks.

The Houthis’ expansion of attacks in these areas appears to indicate an effort to gain full control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, according to Moahmed Abdelrahman, a Taiz province spokesperson.

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Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst on Yemen at the International Crisis Group, told the AP that the Houthis want to take control of the mountains overlooking the coast.

— Ahmed al-Haj in Aden, Yemen, and Fatma Khaled in Cairo

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This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

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Falkland Islands: UK support ‘unwavering’ after Argentina restates claims

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Argentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech

It is not yet clear how or to what extent the sanctions will be imposed or tightened. In Argentina, a current law already allows for restrictions of activities of oil companies participating in projects considered unauthorised on the islands.

Two oil companies – Britain’s Rockhopper Exploration and Israel’s Navitas Petroleum – are due to begin extracting oil in the Sea Lion oilfield off the Falklands coast within two years, something Milei said Argentina could not allow.

A joint statement from the two firms on Friday said it had the valid licences granted by the government of the Falkland Islands, “and with the full support of the UK government.”

The project is due to deliver its first oil in 2028, Rockhopper and Navitas said the partnerships’ timetable would not be affected.

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The Sea Lion oilfield, around 130 miles from the islands, contains an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil – described by Rockhopper as a field containing “highly marketable crude”.

Milei also announced plans for a naval base in Tierra del Fuego in the south of Argentina, saying Trump and the US were “assessing their historical position in regard to the Falklands”, which Argentina refers to as Las Malvinas.

“That is not empty words as they understand that Argentina is a reliable partner and a valuable ally for decades to come,” he said, describing the UK as a nation “in decline”.

On Thursday, President Trump hinted the US would not help the UK in any future Falklands conflict because Britain “had not been there to help me” during his war with Iran.

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Trump’s latest remarks on the islands come after he previously said the US position on the Falklands is one of many under review.

On Friday, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK would “resolutely uphold” the self-determination of the islands.

Writing on X on Friday, Miliband said the Islands would remain British as that is the “overwhelming position of the islanders.”

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also said Britain’s commitment to the Falkland Islands was “absolute and unshakeable”.

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“Milei’s statement overnight tells us more about domestic politics in Argentina than it does about the Falkland Islands,” he wrote in his own post on X.

In an earlier statement, Downing Street said it was “not the first time” the Argentine government had made economic threats against the Falkland Islands.

“We are clear that the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination extends to the right to exploit their own natural resources,” it said.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said “Britain does not surrender to bullies”.

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“If (Milei) wants a stronger Argentina, he should build its economy, not threaten others.”

Although the US is formally neutral, Washington provided support for Britain’s campaign to retake the islands after the Argentinian invasion in 1982.

Argentine forces landed on the Falklands to stake a territorial claim in 1982, sparking a 74-day war over the territory as a British military task force ejected them.

The conflict led to the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders and 649 Argentine military personnel.

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In a sign of the ongoing tensions between the two countries over the issue, Argentina players celebrated their victory over England in the World Cup by waving a banner in support of their country’s territorial claim.

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Pictured: Man, 33, jailed over ‘shameful’ summer riots in Portadown

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Belfast Live

He was sentenced to 59 months after being convicted of common law riot.

A 33 -year-old man has been jailed for his role in disorder in Portadown last summer.

At Craigavon Crown Court on Thursday, September 3, Ryan Pepper was sentenced to 59 months, with half to be spent in custody, and half to be spent on licence after he was convicted of common law riot.

Pepper, from the Portadown area, was arrested on June 16 2025, after he was identified as having participated in serious disorder in the town days earlier, specifically in the West Street area.

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In what police say were shameful scenes last year, there was large-scale disorder by people intent on causing harm. Damage was caused to roads, homes, cars and local business premises with people left fearing for their lives.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector O’Loan said: “Our officers came under attack and many left injured after petrol bombs, heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown at them.

“At the time, we assured the public that we will work tirelessly to restore calm and ensure that anyone who chooses to take part in this criminality is brought to justice. Our dedicated investigation team has worked tirelessly to ensure that those involved are prosecuted – today’s sentencing is one of many over this disorder.

“We would also repeat our appeal to anyone who has been the victim of, or has any information on, any crime to contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. We can assure you that we will always act on concerns and information we receive.”

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Alternatively, a report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals Should you wish to make a report anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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