These are some of the biggest stories from 2025
There have been a lot of big stories in the news in Northern Ireland this year with everything from sporting successes, political disagreements and heartbreaking tragedies to viral debates, strange occurances and feel good moments.
Belfast Live has aimed to keep our readers informed of everything that has been going on throughout 2025 and below we have listed a few of our most read articles this year.
At the beginning of the year a strange viral video of a ‘suspicious yellow man’ on a rural road in Co Derry led to police increasing patrols in the area and some local children to become quite scared.
The video was taken by Gerard McFerran after he spotted the man on the Vow Road, Kilrea, at around 12.30am on December 27, as he questioned the man about why he was dressed in a long yellow coat, with yellow trousers and boots.
The man was also wearing a white mask and a black wig at the time.
Despite causing a lot of excitement and worries, the suspicious yellow man is yet to reveal himself to the public.
Vanessa Whyte and her children James and Sara Rutledge were killed in their Maguiresbridge home on July 23, with their deaths deaths causing a wave of heartbreak and sadness across the entire island of Ireland.
Those in attendance at the funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Barefield, Co Clare, included a representative for the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and GAA president Jarlath Burns.
Delivering the eulogy, Ms Whyte’s sister Regina said they have been robbed of their loved ones.
“Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner – there are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends,” she said.
There were several nights of disorder in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland with officers being attacked alongside the homes of immigrants.
The violence took place following an allegation of a sexual assault on a teenage girl in the Clonavon Terrace area of the Co Antrim town.
The police and Public Prosecution Service have since said they are no longer investigating the suspects in this allegation, two of whom had been charged with sexual offences, after they received new evidence.
Following the violent disorder, over 100 people have been arrested and more than 90 have been charged with offences.
Belfast man Robert Kincaid was reported missing in the French capital of Paris after he missed his connecting flight at Charles de Gaulle Airport on 17 July. He had been travelling from Benin, West Africa.
The oil-rig worker from Tullycarnet in East Belfast was missing for over two weeks before he was found and received emergency medical treatment.
Rory McIlroy continued to do Northern Ireland proud this year as he completed his Grand Slam dream with a win at The Masters.
The competition had caused problems for Rory in the past and was the only golfing major he had yet to get his hands on, but in April this year he finally did it and earned his place as one of the greatest golfers to ever play the sport.
Recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and RTE Sportsperson of the Year, Rory also helped the European team retain the Ryder Cup while putting up with a barrage of abusive chants from the US fans.
In October an electrician called out Belfast City Centre bar, The Dirty Onion, for refusing to allow him in for a pint in his work clothes, leading to widespread debate on dress codes and what is appropriate to wear when going for a drink.
The popular bar defended its actions saying that it has had a smark casual dress code since it opened 12 years ago, however many still felt they were a bit harsh on the man.
In response other bars in the city were keen to highlight their worker friendly dress codes, but others supported The Dirty Onion for sticking to its policy and its doorstaff saying they would do similar.
A young family in Co Down suffered a terrible loss when mother of seven Zipporah Branagan passed away suddenly on April 29.
Leaving behind her grieving husband Bernard and seven sons, Zipporah was described as a devoted mother who’s passing has broken the hearts of all who knew her.
In the months following her death, Bernard held a special event in Newcastle in order to bring people together who have experienced similar painful losses so they could support one another while acknowledge their grief.
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