Earlier this year, an investigation and recall of patients connected to Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who worked for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust between 2001 and 2023, was launched.

Dozens of patients have come forward over recent weeks who have previously undergone surgery from Mr Irwin, 63, often on multiple occasions over several years.

Leslie Irwin (Image: SUPPLIED)

Spire Washington Hospital, where Mr Irwin also practiced, confirmed earlier this year that his work had been identified as being of “concern” and it had recalled a number of his former patients following an internal investigation into their care.

Mr Irwin retired from Sunderland Royal Hospital in May 2022, and despite Spire’s action against Irwin becoming public in January this year, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said only that it was “considering any implications, the Trust is not currently recalling any patients”.

However, the NHS Trust has now significantly changed its stance, following widespread media reporting and a significant number of patients coming forward, and has confirmed it has sought the support of the Royal College of Surgeons in investigating the care Mr Irwin gave to patients.

Spire Hospital in Washington (Image: Stuart Boulton)

On Tuesday (March 3), the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that it had brought in the Royal College of Surgeons to review work carried out by its orthopaedic surgery department.

A statement from the Trust said: “We are liaising with Spire in relation to concerns over Mr Leslie Irwin and are currently working through the details of which patients the Trust will need to review.

“We have also asked the Royal College of Surgeons to support us in this process. As part of this review, we will be in touch with any former patients directly and as a matter of priority.”

Separately, the Royal College of Surgeons has also revealed that it was instructed by the Trust to help with its review.

A spokesperson for the RCS said: “At the invitation of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal College of Surgeons of England has been commissioned to carry out an invited review of a series of episodes of patient care relating to orthopaedic surgery at the Trust.

Sunderland Royal Hospital (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“Our invited reviews, which are advisory, enable expert teams to determine whether there is cause for concern about surgical practice or a surgical service, and/or individual episodes of care, and to make recommendations for improvement.

“Our unwavering commitment to patient care is why we offer healthcare organisations an invited review service.”

Mr Irwin who worked for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust between 2001 and 2023, retired in 2022, but a selection of his patients have been contacted directly by Spire over potential issues with his work. 

Mr Irwin relinquished his role with the General Medical Council (GMC) in May 2025, which now means that no GMC investigation into his work is now possible.

Spire Healthcare suspended Mr Irwin in August 2023 and withdrew his practising privileges in September 2024.

The private practice started recalling patients who were operated on by Mr Irwin during his time at Spire Washington Hospital in the summer of 2025.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) confirmed that it inspected Spire Washington Hospital in October last year after concerns were raised with it, and would be publishing its findings in due course.

Sunderland Royal Hospital (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Law firm Slater and Gordon has reported significant numbers of patients coming forward with concerns over the surgery they had with Mr Irwin.

John Lowther, specialist clinical negligence solicitor at Slater and Gordon in the North East, is leading the firm’s investigations into the work of Mr Irwin at both Sunderland Royal Hospital and Spire Washington Hospital.

“We have been investigating cases against Leslie Irwin for some time, but have seen very significant numbers of new people coming forward since Spire announced its investigation.

“We know from patients who were with Mr Irwin at Sunderland Royal Hospital, how upsetting and frustrating they found the initial stance of the NHS Trust,” he says.

South Tyneside and Sunderlans NHS Trust (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“It was very concerning how one place where Mr Irwin worked was concerned enough to investigate him, ban him from practicing and contact former patients proactively to highlight issues in their care, while the other took no action at all.

“We, of course, welcome the overdue announcement that the Trust has sought the support of a specialist from the Royal College of Surgeons, and hope this can help answer some of the many questions that exist around the practice of Mr Irwin over the course of many years.

“We will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of our clients in pursuit of this.”

Spire Washington says they have been in touch with patients and are reviewing specific procedures undertaken by Mr Irwin. 

A Spire Healthcare spokesperson: “We sincerely apologise to those patients who did not receive an appropriate standard of care from Mr Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has not practised at Spire Washington Hospital since 2023.

“We are currently reviewing specific procedures that were provided to a select cohort of patients of Mr Irwin and are in direct contact with these patients to offer support at what we recognise is a concerning time.

“The review is being run in accordance with NHS England’s National Quality Board: Recall Framework, which Spire Healthcare helped to develop.

“If any Spire Washington patients have questions about the care provided by Mr Irwin, they can call 0191 720 3031 or email spirepne@spirehealthcare.com and a member of the dedicated review team will call them back.”

Mr Irwin has not responded to requests for comment by The Northern Echo.

The NHS published guidance for families with young children on its official website

According to the latest guidance on the NHS website, parents are being advised to follow a specific ‘rule’ at certain times of the day. The health service’s website offers advice on sunscreen and sun safety for people across the UK, including recommendations for families starting from March.

The advice comes as spring begins, with the Met Office noting that meteorological spring starts on March 1, while astronomical spring begins around March 20 in the UK, bringing longer days and warmer temperatures.

As a result, NHS guidance to “spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest” comes into effect. The NHS states: “In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October. Make sure you spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm.”

Parents are also urged to “take extra care with children”. Highlighting the importance of sun protection for the young, the NHS provides specific advice for families with babies and children, the Mirror reports.

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What does the NHS say about sun protection for children?

The official NHS website states: “Take extra care to protect babies and children. Their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin, and damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight could lead to skin cancer developing in later life. Children aged under six months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.”

The advice continues: “From March to October in the UK, children should:

• cover up with suitable clothing
• spend time in the shade, particularly from 11am to 3pm
• wear at least SPF30 sunscreen

“Apply sunscreen to areas not protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of hands.” The NHS also advises that if children go swimming, parents should use water-resistant sunscreen and reapply it immediately after they leave the water, since swimming can wash it off.

Ways parents can protect children’s skin

Cancer Research UK says parents can support the sun safety of children and teenagers in a number of ways. The charity’s website explains: “Sun safety is important at all ages. The best way to protect adult or children’s skin is to use a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen.

“Remember, sunscreen doesn’t give complete protection from the sun. It always needs to be used together with shade, clothing, a hat and UV protection sunglasses. Apply sunscreen regularly and generously, using a minimum of SPF 30 and a 4 or 5 star rating.”

The guidance continues: “Sunscreen should not be used on babies under 6 months old, so think about shade and covering them up with clothing. The NHS recommends that babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight.

“Children and teenagers might need a reminder or a helping hand when it comes to sun safety. But setting a good example yourself is a great way to help them learn how to be safe in the sun.”

Hundreds of people have been killed in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which is entering its fifth day on Wednesday

The United States has named of four of the six service members who died in a drone strike in Kuwait during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

All four Army Reserve soldiers died on Sunday, March 1 in a drone strike on a command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

Israel and the US carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on Saturday, February 28. During the strikes over the weekend, Iran’s supreme leader at the time, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed. Iran has responded with strikes across the Middle East, causing widespread panic across the region.

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The Associated Press reported that all were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, lowa.

Four of the six service members have been named as:

• Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
• Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
• Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa

Reuters news agency reported the following death tolls according to information by the involved countries as of March 3, but had not independently verified these deaths:

• Iran: 787 people killed, according to the non-profit humanitarian group Iranian Red Crescent Society. It was unclear if the death toll included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military casualties
• Israel: 10 civilians killed, according to Israel’s ambulance service Magen David ‌Adom. ⁠The Israel Defense Forces has reported no military casualties
• Lebanon: 50 people killed, according to Lebanon’s health ministry
• Bahrain: One person killed, according to the interior ministry
• Kuwait: Three ⁠people killed, according to Kuwait’s health and foreign ministries
• Oman: One person killed, Reuters reported
• United Arab Emirates: Three people killed, according to UAE’s defense ministry
• US military: Six US service members, according to U.S. Central Command

After a dry 2025 with the UK’s warmest summer on record, winter 2026 delivered something very different: rain for 50 days in a row in parts of Devon and Cornwall, one of the rainiest seasons on record and only 80% of average sunshine.

Scientists have given this a name: climate whiplash.

Climate whiplash describes rapid swings from one type of weather extreme to another, most commonly from really persistent drought to really persistent wet weather. Globally, such swings have increased in recent decades. Shorter-term whiplashes over a few months have become roughly a third to two-thirds more frequent, while year-to-year swings have increased by up to a third.

In Europe and the UK these swings tend to be driven by the jet stream, a fast-moving body of air higher up in the atmosphere. This winter, it was sat across the south of the UK and moved fast, blowing wet and windy weather from the northern Atlantic.

Weather often moves in “systems” – large rotating masses of similar air – and these systems effectively bump into one another like billiard balls. This winter, however, a large block of settled weather stayed in place across Europe. This acted like a barrier, causing the wet weather carried by the jet stream to slow down across the UK.

Will the UK whiplash back into drought?

Predicting what the UK’s summer will look like months in advance is challenging. Seasonal forecasting does exist, but it can’t tell us if it will rain on a particular day in July. What it can do is estimate the likelihood of certain weather trends – such as hotter or drier conditions – developing over the course of a season.

These forecasts are getting better. Under certain conditions, by May, scientists can now anticipate an increased risk of heat extremes in Europe that summer. Other research suggests that combined heat and drought extremes can sometimes be forecast one to two months ahead.

Early indications for summer 2026 suggest that the UK will probably experience slightly drier than average conditions in early summer, with an added risk of extreme heat. That does not make a hot, dry summer inevitable. But it would be consistent with climate whiplash.

More broadly, climate projections suggest that the UK and much of Europe are likely to experience more of these “flipflop” weather patterns – persistent dry spells followed by months of downpours, or vice versa – as the world warms. Although a wet winter does not automatically lead to a dry summer, the jet stream is a key driver in all of our weather throughout the year.

Why this matters

Policy is still largely designed around averages, yet the weather is behaving less and less like an average year. If the UK is heading for an era of sharper swings between flood and drought, policymaking and adaptation systems will need to catch up.

Take housing and insurance, for example. Flood Re, the government’s reinsurance scheme that keeps flood cover affordable, is only eligible for houses built before January 2009. Since then, more than 100,000 new homes have been built-in high-risk flood areas – homes that may face rising premiums just as extreme rainfall increases.

À lire aussi :
How the UK is keeping flood insurance affordable – until 2039

In addition, we know that 80% of houses in the UK overheat in the summer. Many properties will be doubly vulnerable: too wet in winter, too hot in summer.

Climate whiplash also threatens food security. Fields can be waterlogged when planting yet too dry and dusty as crops approach harvest, lowering the yields that are produced. Transport networks are similarly exposed: some rail lines were submerged during winter floods, only a few months after a summer drought caused lines nearby to buckle as the underlying soil dried up.

These events are signs of systems – from insurance to infrastructure – being tested by weather swinging between extremes harder and faster than ever.

The UK prepares for these risks through a process set out by the 2008 Climate Change Act, which requires regular assessments of how climate change will affect the country. Every five years the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee produces a risk assessment which the government must respond to.

The next assessment, due later in 2026, will land after a year of extremes. If the UK is indeed entering its whiplash era, the question is whether adaptation plans will keep up.

An elderly woman spent her final moments alone in a hospital corridor, shielded from view only by a blanket placed over her face. That is the distressing scene Nadia Wainwright says she witnessed inside the A&E department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire on Monday evening.

Nadia, from Henllan, near Denbigh, had rushed to the hospital after her partner fell ill. She found herself caught in what she describes as an “extremely overcrowded” department, with patients lining corridors in chairs and beds as families kept anxious watch wherever there was space to stand.

Opposite where Nadia and her mother-in-law were sitting, an “elderly, frail woman” lay on a trolley, reports North Wales Live.

Nadia recounted that the woman passed away in full view of other patients, until a paramedic stepped in to place a blanket over the woman’s face to maintain her dignity.

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board stated it could not comment on individual patient circumstances due to confidentiality, but acknowledged that such an incident would be “deeply upsetting for families, other patients, and members of the public”.

Nadia described the moment she and her mother-in-law realised the woman was unresponsive, and their attempts to alert staff.

“My mother-in-law and I noticed that the patient did not seem to be moving,” Nadia said. “We’d had no sleep, and we couldn’t think (straight) as there were so many people, and my partner was seriously ill. Then we saw the paramedic walk past, and we were trying to get his attention about the lady.

“She appeared to be in distress and was making grunting noises. Staff were walking past, and she did not appear to be receiving attention. She had passed away alone in the corridor with no privacy and no one holding her hand. I know NHS staff are under huge pressure. No patient – especially an elderly and vulnerable person – should be left alone in a corridor in such circumstances.

“The paramedic then realised that she had passed away and began shouting for staff assistance, and it then took approximately five minutes for staff to respond and attend to the patient. During this time, the paramedic pulled the blanket over her face.

“This was extremely upsetting for us to witness, especially as I have never seen a deceased person before. The situation was handled in a way that felt distressing and lacked sensitivity, and it has had a significant emotional impact on us.

“I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m so angry. I couldn’t leave my partner by himself, as I was feeling unsettled by how long it took staff to respond to the deceased lady. It was absolutely chaotic there. There were no beds, no blankets.”

Nadia explained that her mother had to assist another elderly woman in her eighties in the A&E department to empty her catheter, fetch a drink, and contact her family. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

She added: “Some of the managers and directors of the health board should spend some time on these corridors. Perhaps they could sit with these patients. No one should be left to die unattended like that.”

Tremeirchion councillor Chris Evans commented: “There is no way that anybody should be dying in a corridor whilst staff are walking past. We can put as much money into Betsi, which we want. We can build a hospital in Rhyl with a measly 14 beds. That will do nothing when we’ve lost all the beds we have in the whole of Betsi. The problem isn’t getting sorted. People are dying without any dignity.”

Rhyl councillor Brian Jones said: “This is another horrific example of the flaws in A&E in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. When will the senior management get out of their denial (insisting) that everything is all right?”

Angela Wood, the board’s executive director of nursing and midwifery, responded: “We are aware of a post being shared on social media describing a distressing experience within the Emergency Department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. We cannot comment on individual patient circumstances for reasons of confidentiality; however, we recognise that witnessing a medical emergency or a patient who is critically unwell can be deeply upsetting for families, other patients, and members of the public.

“We want to be clear that providing care with dignity, compassion, and respect is fundamentally important to us. Corridor care is not something we want for our patients, and we fully understand the concern and anxiety it can cause when people see this happening.

“We recognise that too many patients within our Emergency Departments are waiting longer than they should, and that this can have a real and distressing impact on individuals and their families. We know that at times some patients are not receiving the standard of environment or experience we would want for them, and we are absolutely committed to addressing this.

“In common with NHS providers across the United Kingdom, our Emergency Departments are under significant and sustained pressure, necessitating the temporary use of corridor care for some patients. Additional clinical oversight is provided in these areas to ensure patient safety is maintained.

“A significant programme of improvement is underway across the health and social care system to address the causes and consequences of long waits in our Emergency Departments. This includes placing experienced clinicians at the front door to assess and stream patients more quickly, improving early access to specialist teams, strengthening senior clinical decision-making, and expanding care closer to home so that only those who need emergency hospital treatment attend our departments.

“We are also working closely with local authority and health and care partners to address delays in discharging patients who are medically fit to leave hospital, as this has a direct impact on patient flow and crowding.”

She further stated: “We have now been contacted directly by the author of the social media post and will be speaking with them to understand the circumstances in more detail.”

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Government said: “We are aware of the social media post and are seeking assurance from the health board on the circumstances.

“More broadly, delivery of care in undesignated or non-clinical environments is not acceptable. It compromises patient dignity, safety, and staff wellbeing.

“We aim to end this practice with system-wide reform and have clearly outlined our expectations for health boards to ensure patients move efficiently through hospitals and return to their communities, reducing avoidable harm.

“We have also targeted an additional £200 million to better manage staffing needs, same day emergency care, and community services.”

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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor was just days away from returning home to her husband and two children when a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait killed her and five other U.S. service members.

“She was almost home,” her husband, Joey Amor, said from their Minnesota home on Tuesday. “You don’t go to Kuwait thinking something’s going to happen, and for her to be one of the first – it hurts.”

Amor was one of four U.S. soldiers killed in the Iran war on Sunday and identified Tuesday by the Pentagon; two soldiers haven’t yet been publicly identified. The members of the Army Reserve worked in logistics and kept troops supplied with food and equipment.

They died just one day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

Those killed also included Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa, who was posthumously promoted from specialist. No other names were released.

“These men and women all bravely volunteered to defend our country, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said.

All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of deaths.

A week before the drone attack, Amor, 39, was moved off-base to a shipping container-style building that had no defenses, Joey Amor said.

“They were dispersing because they were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separate places,” he said.

He last spoke to her about two hours before she was killed. He said she was working long shifts and they had been messaging about her tripping and falling the night before.

“She just never responded in the morning,” he said.

The couple’s children are a senior in high school and a fourth-grader.

Coady’s LinkedIn page said he was a student at Drake University and an information technology specialist with the Army Reserve.

He said he had learned how to “interact with countless different kinds of people from all different backgrounds” through his service.

Coady became an Eagle Scout in 2020, according to a Facebook post from his West Des Moines troop. An Iowa organization that helps homeless children said he made 12 Adirondack chairs for the group.

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said he and his wife are mourning Tietjens’ death and praying for his family.

“May we always remember and honor the sacrifices made by Noah Tietjens and the Tietjens family,” Ricketts said.

Tietjens was married with a son, according to a Facebook page. A photo online shows the couple with their son wearing a martial arts uniform.

There are several family photos on Facebook pages belonging to Amor and her husband, Joey Amor, including some images with a teen son.

Last November, Joey wrote a post expressing his love for Nicole.

“Even while you are on the other side of the world you found a way to make my birthday special,” he said. “I love you!”

___

Boone contributed from Boise, Idaho and Toropin from Washington. Associated Press reporters Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Ed White in Detroit; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; David Fischer in Miami; Hallie Golden in Seattle, contributed.

The Travel Alliance believes widening pavements, introducing cycle parking, and improving pedestrian crossings will help the city centre

A coalition of groups have called for improvements to be made to roads and pavements in Cambridge city centre after funds were left unspent. The Cambridgeshire Sustainable Travel Alliance has said there is “no evidence of any progress” made by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) to better travel around the city.

After proposals for road charging in Cambridge were abandoned in 2023, the GCP said it wanted to take some of its work towards improving the city centre and deliver “quick wins” for the area. Local campaigning groups sent suggestions in 2024 to the GCP for the upgrades including better pavements and pedestrian crossings as well as additional cycle parking.

The Travel Alliance has said over £12.25 million remains unspent by the GCP with the city being an often “hostile” environment for those trying to travel around, which makes the area “far less pleasant and safe than it should be”. The group has said the GCP’s Interim Director Peter Blake revealed work is on hold, as it is waiting for the outcome of the Combined Authority’s Greater Cambridge Transport Strategy.

Cambridgeshire Sustainable Travel Alliance Campaign Officer Sarah Hughes said: “Other UK cities, such as Leicester and Bradford, have recently taken bold action to transform public spaces, greatly improve the pedestrian experience and ensure access to central areas by cycling and public transport is easy and safe. The GCP should not pass up this opportunity to improve Cambridge’s central streets to the benefit of everyone who spends time there.”

The Travel Alliance has argued many improvements in the city “would be local in nature and independent of longer term strategic decision”. The group believes a few improvements such as widening pavements and providing more space for passengers waiting at bus stops are “all measures that can and should progress now”.

The Travel Alliance is “urging” the GCP to “ensure that the £12.25 million set aside for this work is not diverted to other GCP programmes”, ahead of its meeting on Thursday, March 5. The group believes funding should be allocated for the Civic Quarter design team to create a plan on how to improve the city centre.

Isobel Wade, Greater Cambridge Partnership Programme Director, said: “The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority are currently developing the Greater Cambridge Transport Strategy, with support from us at the Greater Cambridge Partnership and our colleagues at the County, City and District councils, to improve our transport network.

“We’re keen that any work we do in the city centre is aligned with the transport strategy, to ensure we make the most impact with the funding we have.

“We’re actively working with our colleagues in the City Council on the Civic Quarter Project on proposals for transport interventions that will help how the city centre functions.”

Community group rep tells City Hall that there is “confusion and distress among volunteers and local residents”

A petition to stop Botanic Gardens meadow and community garden being dug up for a GAA pitch has received 350 signatures in two days, as locals continue to criticise what they consider to be underhand decision making by Belfast Council.

The campaign to stop the Botanic Field being dug up and fenced off from local residents and the wider public reached a new stage this week, as a new petition and leafleting campaign was launched in the area, as local community groups went to City Hall to air their concerns.

Local opposition is mounting against a council decision, made in highly unusual circumstances, which would get rid of community gardens, a wildflower meadow, and Queens University environmental research plots for a fenced-off GAA pitch, potentially for an astroturf or 3G pitch. Locals believe an open space of rich biodiversity, cherished by locals and open around the clock, will be dug up and closed off to the wider public for exclusive use for sports groups based over a mile away.

READ MORE: Alliance questions DUP proposal for “fair” access to funding for faith-based groups in Belfast

READ MORE: South Belfast residents claim they haven’t been consulted about planned GAA pitch in South Belfast

Locals also complain the council decision came out of the blue, with no trailing or local consultation, and the whole question of the Botanic Fields use appears shrouded in secrecy in council meetings and minutes of committees.

While Sinn Féin and the SDLP say there is room for both a pitch and the community gardens in the meadow, some locals have described the offer as “disingenuous,” because at the same time council officials have asked the Friends of the Field community group if it would consider relocating. No site plans or illustrations have been provided to the community group to prove how the meadow could house the community garden as well as a new GAA pitch.

GAA pitches are significantly larger than soccer pitches, and regularly have double the surface area. Calculations made by some locals indicate that there would not be room for a standard GAA pitch and the community garden.

Belfast Council erected GAA goalposts and sanded some holes in the field for temporary use just before the coronavirus>Covid pandemic, and these were taken down after a few months. No consultation has been made with the local community on the field’s use as a permanent GAA pitch.

The decision for the pitch was made on February 13th at a special meeting of the full Belfast Council, during an exchange between the Sinn Féin Party Group Leader Ciaran Beattie and the DUP Party Group Leader Sarah Bunting about the general council pitches strategy. No mention was made about the Botanic field in the exchange, or during the whole meeting.

The move appears to have blindsided the rest of the chamber, and caused confusion to onlookers who were unsure what had actually happened in terms of decision making. At least one official has described the decision making as “unusual.”

The “Save Botanic Meadow” petition on Change.org and leaflet campaign was started on Sunday March 1. The petition amassed 350 signatures in its first two days.

The campaign organisers say the meadow is “a cherished place of beauty, respite and relaxation.” They add: “Each day hundreds of us enjoy it as an unspoilt green space to walk, cycle, meet friends and exercise. Belfast City Council has approved plans to develop Botanic Meadow into a permanent sports pitch.

“The decision was taken without public consultation and conducted under a sub-committee’s “restricted business,” that is, avoiding transparency or accountability. This petition is to call on the council to reverse this decision as a matter of urgency.

“The development would destroy the natural habitat of countless species of grasses, wildflowers, insects, birds and wild animals, including protected species. The associated light pollution would threaten nocturnal wildlife, including bats. And replacing the newly-restored ponds and grasslands with fenced pitches and spectator areas would increase flooding risk, including further down the River Lagan.”

They add: “The riches of Botanic Meadow are not just for the local community. Since 2022, it has been part of an international project (“Upsurge”) on nature-based urban solutions to managing rapid climate change. This has funded community and research gardens on the site in order to inform sustainable urban planning for the benefit not just of Belfast but cities around the world.”

At the full Belfast Council meeting on Monday, local community groups were in the chamber as representatives from Friends of the Field and the Stranmillis Neighbourhood Association were allowed time for deputations.

Alicia Mulholland from Friends of the Field told the chamber: “We are a vibrant cross-community group committed to caring for our shared green space, supporting biodiversity, promoting health and wellbeing, and strengthening community connections in our area. For us, and for many, the open and accessible field at Lower Botanic Gardens is like having a small piece of the countryside in the lively heart of South Belfast, with room to roam and play and connect with nature.

“It provides peaceful respite from the surrounding hustle and bustle, and even opportunity to stargaze on a clear night. Consequently, from 2020, Friends of the Field have set out to protect and enhance the area for all who benefit from it.

“This has been achieved to date through the development of a wildflower meadow, biodiversity recording, a wetlands restoration project, litter picking, habitat monitoring, and of course the community garden.”

She added: “We are here today because our experience thus far has highlighted serious issues with communication and engagement. First, there has been a lack of coherent and targeted stakeholder engagement. We have learned about key developments through social media and the press, rather than through direct communication as a clearly identifiable community stakeholder.

“Announcements about site selection appeared publicly, without prior participation with our group, despite the direct implication for our space and our work.”

She added: “Speaking as a neighbour of Botanic Gardens, and as a member of both friends of the Field and Stranmillis Neighbourhood Association, I can tell you that nobody knocked our door prior to decisions being made about the Botanic site.”

She said: “We were told by elected representatives that the community garden would not be affected by pitch development, yet subsequently, a Belfast City Council agent asked whether we would consider relocation. Such conflicting narratives have caused confusion and distress among volunteers and local residents.”

A proposal by Alliance Councillor Tara Brooks, to defer the council decision specifically on the Botanic site for further information, was deemed “incompetent” by Chief Executive John Walsh at the meeting, after Sinn Féin raised a standing order.

Councillor Brooks said: “I can’t see how it is possible to have both functions on the site, and we can’t jazz-hands our way out of this by making vague promises to everyone who has worked on or used the wildflower meadow, the research garden or the Friends of the Fields gardens.

“We owe residents more than wishful thinking. If both can genuinely exist on the site, let’s see the plan. If they can’t, let’s say so, plainly. Until then, we just should pause, consult properly and treat this project with the time and consideration it deserves.”

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All four Army Reserve soldiers died on Sunday, March 1 in a drone strike on a command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, amid escalating Middle East conflict

The United States has identified four of the six service members who died in a drone attack in Kuwait amid the escalating confrontation with Iran.

All four Army Reserve personnel were killed on Sunday, March 1, when a drone struck a command facility at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.

Israel and the US launched coordinated attacks on multiple strategic Iranian locations on Saturday, 28th February. During the weekend offensive, Iran’s then supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed.

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Iran has retaliated with strikes throughout the Middle East, triggering widespread alarm across the region.

The Associated Press confirmed that all were attached to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa.

Four of the six service members have been identified as:

• Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
• Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
• Spc. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa

Reuters news agency published the following casualty figures based on data from the respective nations as of 3rd March, though had not independently confirmed these fatalities:

Iran: 787 people killed, according to the non-profit humanitarian organisation Iranian Red Crescent Society. It remained unclear whether the figure encompassed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military losses.

Israel: 10 civilians killed, according to Israel’s ambulance service Magen David Adom. The Israel Defense Forces has reported no military casualties.

Lebanon: 50 people killed, according to Lebanon’s health ministry Bahrain: The interior ministry reported one fatality.

Kuwait: According to Kuwait’s health and foreign ministries, three individuals lost their lives.

Oman: Reuters reported one death.

United Arab Emirates: The UAE’s defence ministry confirmed three fatalities.

US military: U.S. Central Command reported six US service members’ deaths.