The family of a man who died from meningitis last month are speaking out to raise awareness of the importance of ‘listening to your body’.

The man in his 50s, from Co Antrim, passed away at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital just over four days after collapsing in his home after complaining of an upset stomach.

After seeing the increased media coverage surrounding meningitis after the outbreak in England, his family, who wish to remain anonymous, reached out to Belfast Live to bravely share their story.

READ MORE: Suspected meningitis case being investigated at Belfast schoolREAD MORE: Public Health Agency highlight meningitis symptoms to look out for after outbreak in England

They wish to make the public aware that deaths have occurred in Northern Ireland as a result of illness and to keep a vigilant eye on those reporting to be sick – even if they aren’t showing all of the symptoms being shared in the news.

His sister said: “I had got a phone call from my sister-in-law to say that my brother had collapsed and she didn’t know what was wrong with him – paramedics were there, Air Ambulance was on its way and when I got there, what I had witnessed was just absolutely awful.

“My brother was just lying on the floor and he was unresponsive. He had no power down one side of his body and he was rushed to the Royal Hospital.

“My sister-in-law said the only thing that she knew he had felt unwell with was the day before, he said he had a bit of an upset stomach and was tired.”

He was rushed to A&E, where it was believed at first that he was suffering from a stroke due to the weakness on one side of his body.

“They put him into the stroke ward but he detoriated and they told us at that time that there was a chance he would have to go into the ICU. He had got another CT scan and discovered early the next day that it was Meningitis,” his sister explained.

His niece added that doctors were aware that he had inflammation on the brain after the two CT scans came back inconclusive for a stroke.

She said: “They were able to tell us he had a serious infection and suspected it might be Encephalitis or Sepsis so they were going to run more blood cultures and submit him for another scan.

“The following day, he had another MRI scan and they were able to tell us at that point it was meningitis and his brain was severely damaged by that point with inflammation.”

Doctors informed the family that he had both bacterial and viral meningitis and was put on a ventilator, where they were told he was in “an extremely serious condition”.

Getting emotional, his sister said: “Nothing prepares you for being told that about your brother and to be told he very likely would not be making it and had to make the decision two days later to let him go.”

His niece said that the family decided they wanted to speak out to help others, as her uncle did not have the major symptoms being shared in the news in the wake of the meningitis outbreak.

They want other families to hopefully avoid the heartbreak and devastation they have faced since his death in February by listening to their bodies and getting themselves checked when something just doesn’t feel right.

“As a family, we are finding it even more distressing because meningitis has been in the news so much recently and we know what we have been through. It is not always obvious symptoms,” his sister added.

It was over 24-hours after he was admitted to the Royal before he was formally diagnosed with meningitis.

“It was so distressing watching him and not knowing what was wrong.”

His niece continued: “He was still conscious until a point because we knew he could hear us because he would squeeze my hand when I would ask him something and when we first went in, I had grabbed his hand and said ‘it’s ok we are here’ and a wee tear fell down the side of his cheek.

“It was just so awful to see him like that and him being aware we were there and there was just nothing we could do.

“To the most stoic of persons who would go ‘oh I’m just a bit run down’, if its the most usual of symptoms that seem to appear that goes beyond the usual cold or flu feeling, go get it checked out.”

The family are encouraging the public to get behind the campaign to get the meningitis vaccine as it reduces the chances of anyone having to go through what they have and having to say goodbye to a loved one so suddenly.

They hope that in sharing the circumstances of his death, people will be more aware that it is not just an illness that affects children and young people.

“For him to get this so out of the blue was really quite hard for us all to wrap our heads around,” his sister added.

The family have also highlighted the struggle to find information and figures on others who have died in Northern Ireland from meningitis and that data on recent deaths, such as their brother, or recent cases detected are not readily published.

His sister stressed: “This is happening in Northern Ireland and not just across the water so please be aware.”

Despite the heartbreak his family have been experiencing since his death last month, they also wanted to take time to thank the staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance and the paramedics.

They said: “The RICU were utterly amazing, they were so so good to him. Even the aftercare they’ve provided – they’ve been in touch with my brother’s wife.

“In spite of what we’ve been through, we feel passionately geared to raise meningitis awareness and do anything to make the vaccine more readily available to the public.”

Information on meningitis can be found at www.pha.site/meningitis-nidirect

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A long-serving Waitrose employee has spoken of feeling “demoralised” and “frustrated” after being dismissed for confronting a shoplifter attempting to steal Easter eggs.

Walker Smith, 54, a 17-year employee at the Clapham Junction branch, described Waitrose as “like my family”. He claims his dismissal followed an attempt to stop a shoplifter with a bag full of Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs.

Mr Smith grabbed the bag, leading to a brief struggle before it snapped and its contents fell. The shoplifter fled, and Mr Smith, “out of frustration”, threw a piece of a broken chocolate bunny towards some shopping trollies.

“When I got home, I was punching myself and thinking: ‘Why did I do that?’” Mr Smith told The Guardian, having been dismissed two days later in a meeting with store managers. Waitrose stated current reports do not present the “full facts of the situation”, emphasising that “nothing we sell is worth risking lives for”.

Recalling his dismissal, Mr Smith said: “I tried to stay strong and I didn’t say a word, but inside I was crying. They led me out the back door by the bins. I just felt demoralised.”

He added: “Waitrose is like my family. My friends are there. I was there for 17 years, I must have been doing something right. I’m not a bad or violent or aggressive person. I just got frustrated seeing this day in and day out and not seeing Waitrose do much about it.”

Mr Smith, diagnosed with anxiety, claims managers were aware. Despite regretting his actions, he told The Guardian he was driven to intervene after witnessing thefts “every hour of every day for the last five years” without permission.

The incident comes amid a rise in shoplifting offences across England and Wales.

ONS figures show 519,381 offences to September 2025, a 5% increase from the previous year, slightly below the record 530,439 offences recorded to March 2025.

The Conservatives recently reiterated their commitment to “Good Samaritan” protections for retail staff. Shadow Justice Minister Kieran Mullan said “punishing people who step in to stop crime is wrong” and that people doing the “right thing” were being penalised.

Waitrose told the Press Association that the “safety and security” of its workers and customers underpins policies against staff intervening in thefts, explaining: “We’ve had incidents where our Partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters. Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case. There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed. As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for. The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation.”

While not discussing Mr Smith’s case, Waitrose confirmed the “correct process” was followed, including an appeals procedure.

Police were called to Middridge Road at 8.20pm on Saturday (April 4) after a two-car crash between a Skoda Octavia and Peugeot 3008.

Five people were taken to hospital in total, including a 54-year-old woman who remains at Darlington Memorial Hospital in a life-threatening condition.

The driver of the Skoda, a 31-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while under the influence of drugs, and possession of a controlled drug.

He remains in police custody. Three passengers who were travelling in the Skoda were uninjured.

Durham Police say the cars are believed to have been travelling in opposite directions when they were involved in the head-on collision.

The force are now appealing to drivers and other witnesses of the crash to come forward.

A spokesperson said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have dashcam footage that could assist their enquiries.

“Anyone who can help is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 453 of April 4.

“Information can also be submitted by email to sciu@durham.police.uk.”

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service added: “We were called to a road traffic incident on Middridge Road, Newton Aycliffe, shortly before 8.30pm on April 4.

“We dispatched five double-crewed ambulances and a clinical team leader. Five patients were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”

The Falcon Inn in Arncliffe doubled as The Woolpack in the ITV series in the 1970s when it was known as Emmerdale Farm and featured in the show’s title sequence for many years.

The village green it overlooks continues to be used as a filming location for Channel Five’s All Creatures Great and Small.

Now, the leasehold of the pub has been brought to the market by leisure property specialists Fleurets.

The grade two listed, family-owned Dales pub has changed little since the 1870s.

Described by Fleurets as “one of the most individual and storied inns in the Yorkshire Dales” it is being marketed at a guide rent of £25,000 per year.

The ivy-clad property looks out over a “quintessential Dales village scene”, says Fleurets, complete with free-roaming chickens and ducks and rolling hills beyond.

Inside, the inn is a step back in time with fireplaces, mullion windows, simple tap room furnishings, and beer served by the jug from barrels behind the bar.

The property also includes six letting bedrooms, a two-bedroom private cottage, and four miles of fly-fishing rights on the River Skirfare.

Simon Hall, Director and Head of Agency North at Fleurets, said: “The Falcon Inn is a truly unique Dales pub, with period features, coal fireplaces, and one of the country’s best-known village greens. It is a step back in time to the way pubs used to be, with character in every corner.

“These authentic features are what visitors love and remember, making the Falcon Inn both distinctive and a successful business. It represents a rare opportunity to run a traditional Yorkshire pub steeped in history.”

Emmerdale was first filmed in Arncliffe in 1972 before moving to Esholt in 1976, where it was filmed until 1997.

Arncliffe village green (Image: Fleurets)

It is now filmed at a specially built set in the grounds of Harewood Estate, where fans of the soap can visit on open days.

In January this year, a Bradford Council owned building in Main Street, Esholt, which was used as the post office in Emmerdale, was put up for auction, but failed to reach its £200,000 guide price.

Viewings of The Falcon Inn are strictly by appointment only through Fleurets North Office. For further information or to arrange a viewing, contact Fleurets at 0113 234 0304 or email northwest@fleurets.com.

Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-themed dining chain, is shutting down after almost three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants — which operates restaurants including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris — is shuttering 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and converting another 14 to different brands.

The company made the announcement in February, with many of the remaining Bahama Breeze locations closing for good Sunday, April 5. The closures and rebranding will mark the end of the chain.

Last May, Darden closed approximately a third of its Bahama Breeze locations and in June said it was searching for new opportunities for the brand.

The stores that will be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The stores that are closing are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as five Florida locations, Restaurant Dive reports.

“The conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected workers as possible in other roles across its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said that it doesn’t expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have “a material impact on its financial results.”

The company did not reveal what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will become.

It’s a tough time for casual dining locations like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the affordability crisis have made eating out more of a luxury than in past years. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also eaten into the primary customer base for chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company has seen growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, with both posting strong same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Bravo Brio, an Italian chain, went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse closed several locations ahead of a planned 2026 brand overhaul. Other chains — including Hooters, Bar Louie, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe — shut down stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.

Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-themed dining chain, is shutting down after almost three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants — which operates restaurants including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris — is shuttering 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and converting another 14 to different brands.

The company made the announcement in February, with many of the remaining Bahama Breeze locations closing for good Sunday, April 5. The closures and rebranding will mark the end of the chain.

Last May, Darden closed approximately a third of its Bahama Breeze locations and in June said it was searching for new opportunities for the brand.

The stores that will be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The stores that are closing are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as five Florida locations, Restaurant Dive reports.

“The conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected workers as possible in other roles across its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said that it doesn’t expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have “a material impact on its financial results.”

The company did not reveal what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will become.

It’s a tough time for casual dining locations like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the affordability crisis have made eating out more of a luxury than in past years. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also eaten into the primary customer base for chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company has seen growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, with both posting strong same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Bravo Brio, an Italian chain, went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse closed several locations ahead of a planned 2026 brand overhaul. Other chains — including Hooters, Bar Louie, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe — shut down stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.

Police are at the scene of a collision on A4118, Gower. A section of the route is closed.

A South Wales Police spokesperson said: “There is a build-up of traffic in the area near the old Oxwich castle prior to the turning into Oxwich.

“Please avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible. Thank you for your patience.”

We have asked for further updates and will post them in the live blog below when they come in.

Raval Indian Brasserie & Bar, located near the Tyne Bridge in Gateshead, has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading fine-dining destinations.

Sir Ian McKellen (Image: RAVAL)

In recent years, that reputation has travelled far beyond the North East, attracting a steady stream of A-list visitors.

Among the most notable names to dine at Raval is legendary actor Sir Ian McKellen.

The star of The Lord of the Rings and X-Men chose the restaurant during a visit to the region, a moment manager Nas Islam described as a particular honour.

Claire King from Emmerdale (Image: RAVAL)

“It was a real privilege to welcome Sir Ian McKellen,” he said.

“For someone of his stature to choose to dine with us speaks volumes about the standards we aim to maintain every single day.”

The glittering guest list does not stop there.

Tony Hadley (Image: RAVAL)

Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has been spotted enjoying the restaurant’s refined dishes, while acclaimed classical pianist Martin James Bartlett visited ahead of a performance at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, just a short distance away.

Raval has also struck a chord with pop royalty.

Brendan Cole (Image: RAVAL)

Boyzlife duo Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden praised the food during a recent visit, and 1980s music icon Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet fame described his experience as “first-class”.

Television favourites have likewise been drawn through its doors.

Toadie from Neighbours (Image: RAVAL)

Emmerdale star Claire King, a long-standing fan favourite, and Ryan Moloney, known to millions as Jarrod “Toadie” Rebecchi in Neighbours, have both sampled the restaurant’s signature blend of authentic Indian flavours and contemporary presentation.

Raval’s rise as a celebrity hotspot comes as little surprise given its growing list of accolades.

The restaurant was named Best Indian Fine Dining Restaurant outside London at the 2024 Asian Curry Awards and currently sits at the top of the British Indian Good Food Guide’s national rankings.

Known for its elegant setting and carefully curated menu, Raval has carved out a distinctive niche in the UK’s competitive fine-dining scene.

For those looking to maximise their annual leave!

It is hard to believe that Easter is behind us and we are a third of the way through 2026.

If you are the type to keep on top of your Bank Holidays to maximise your annual leave, you may be wondering when our next day off falls.

It is hard to beat a nice little long weekend so we have rounded up the remaining Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland for the rest of the year.

Whether you are looking to get a holiday booked or like to organise your nights out around a Bank Holiday weekend, there are six Bank Holidays left this year to work with.

Here is the list of the remaining Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland for 2026:

• 4 May – Early May bank holiday
• 25 May – Spring bank holiday
• 13 July – Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)
• 31 August – Summer bank holiday
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 28 December – Boxing Day (substitute day)

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter

The C2K school system, provided by Capita, is used as a curriculum support and the Education Authority had apologised to those preparing for exams over the Easter break

The Education Authority is making “good progress” to restore access to a school IT system following a cyberattack.

The C2K school system, provided by Capita, is used as a curriculum support and the Education Authority had apologised to those preparing for exams over the Easter break.

In a statement on Sunday, the Education Authority (EA) said: “We are continuing to make good progress to restore access to the C2K system following the recent cyber attack.

“Our teams have been working hard through the weekend to restore access to the system safely and securely, starting with post primary schools.”

It added: “This work will continue over the coming days, as we move to stand the system back up in all schools as soon as possible.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The EA said the investigation is at an early stage and it “cannot yet be confirmed if any personal data has been affected”.

It said it would continue to provide updates on its social media channels and website.

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