Stacey Williams appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court charged with a hate crime.

A woman has appeared in court charged with a hate crime after a protest outside a hotel in Greenock that has been used to house asylum seekers.

Stacey Williams, 32, appeared at a private hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday accused of an offence under the Hate Crime and Public Order Act.

She was committed for further examination and was granted bail, and will appear again at a later date. She did not submit a plea.

Police previously said two other people were arrested and issued with fixed-penalty notices for anti-social behaviour during the protest, which took place in the Inverclyde town on Wednesday. The force said three officers sustained minor injuries after items were thrown at them and two police vehicles were damaged.

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Anti-immigration demonstrations have been held in several places across Scotland this week after Monday’s stabbing in north Belfast. The protest in Greenock is understood to have taken place outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel, which has been used to house asylum seekers.

Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Rhona Fraser said on Thursday: “We understand the concerns people have about their communities and will always balance the right to freedom of expression with the need to tackle crime without fear or favour.

“Officers were attacked and police vehicles were damaged. I strongly condemn that violence and there is no place for it in Scotland.”

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Police Scotland said officers continue to be in local areas and are engaged with communities to show support and listen to concerns.

The incident comes following this week’s protests in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayr, after a stabbing attack on Monday night in North Belfast.

Stephen Ogilvie, who has links to Scotland, is currently in hospital with serious injuries following a horrific knife attack on Belfast’s Kinnaird Avenue. The 44-year-old remains in a serious condition in hospital and is being treated for severe injuries, including the loss of one of his eyes.

Hadi Alodid, 30, has since appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with attempted murder. Alodid, a Sudanese national, was also charged over threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife.

He has been remanded in custody after making no reply to charges put to him. Angry protests have spawned across the UK following the horror ordeal.

On Tuesday, police disclosed further details regarding Alodid’s immigration status and his journey to the UK. He crossed into Northern Ireland via the Irish border in February 2023, having flown into Dublin from Paris.

Upon arrival, the suspect lodged an asylum claim and was subsequently granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028 in September 2023. Three men, aged 31, 18 and 18 were arrested and charged in connection with various offences in Glasgow during the recent action.

Two officers were injured and three members of the public were injured, all in Glasgow.

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Merthyr Tydfil is currently on track with its target of bringing 7% of empty properties back into use each year

A Welsh council is on track to meet its target for bringing empty properties back into use.

Merthyr Tydfil council has a target in its Empty Property Strategy 2022–2026 to bring 7% of empty properties back into use each year with a specific target being to bring 200 back into use by the end of the period covered by the strategy.

Figures in a report to the council’s Thriving scrutiny committee show that in 2022-23 there were 582 long-term empty properties in Merthyr Tydfil of which 41 (7.04%) were brought back into use.

In 2023-24 there were 529 long-term empty properties in Merthyr Tydfil of which 39 (7.37%) were brought back into use.

In 2024-25 there were 539 long-term empty properties in Merthyr Tydfil of which 43 (8%) were brought back into use.

And in 2025-26 there were 479 long-term empty properties in Merthyr Tydfil of which 47 (9.8%) were brought back into use.

The report says performance has met or exceeded the 7% annual aim in each year of the strategy to date and that overall delivery remains consistent with achieving the 200 property target by the end of the strategy period.

In 2025-26 the council used 46 interventions which helped bring properties back into use including 25 related to financial assistance (grants), 15 interventions involving advice and guidance, two involving enforcement action, two related to leasing schemes, and two direct interventions through council tax.

The National Empty Property Grant Scheme is administered by Rhondda Cynon Taf on behalf of participating local authorities including Merthyr Tydfil.

The scheme launched in 2023–24 with a maximum grant value of £25,000.

Under the original design of the scheme the council contributed a 10% match-funding element.

But the Welsh Government has confirmed that, for applications approved after April 1, 2026, local authorities will no longer be required to provide the 10% match-funding element (except for applications approved before that date). Stay informed on everything Merthyr Tydfil by signing up to our newsletter here.

The Welsh Government has also confirmed an extension of the National Empty Homes Grants scheme until September 2026.

In Merthyr Tydfil 10 grants were approved in 2025-26 and 12 grants were completed.

So far, since 2023-24, Merthyr has paid out ££522,863.60 in grant funding on 22 completed applications.

The total amount of 10% match funding paid into the scheme by the council so far is £52,286.36

The current number of applications approved before April 1, 2026, which are awaiting completion is 13.

The maximum match funding contribution for Merthyr Tydfil council is £32,500.

When it comes to enforcement activity around complaints in 2025-26 there were 27 complaints received about empty properties.

There were 17 site visits, 11 notices served, the number of works in default was six, and the number of complaints referred from environmental health to planning was three.

More than 13 million people rely on the State Pension Triple Lock to boost payments each year, but growing calls for triple lock reform and rising costs are putting UK pension policy under scrutiny

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More than 13 million people across Great Britain depend on the State Pension Triple Lock to increase their payments annually, but concerns are mounting about whether it can remain in its present form. The Triple Lock mechanism ensures the State Pension rises each April by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5 per cent.

This means payments invariably increase by at least 2.5 per cent, even when both wages and inflation grow more modestly. The policy was launched in 2010 to shield State Pensioners from escalating living costs and to ensure their income remained in step with the broader economy.

Since its introduction, it has helped increase the value of the State Pension, especially during periods when wage growth has been sluggish. Nevertheless, some financial experts caution the system is becoming progressively costly as the population ages and more people enter retirement.

The Resolution Foundation is amongst those expressing concerns and has urged for the Triple Lock to be replaced with a less generous earnings-based system, contending pensioners have experienced substantially stronger income growth than the rest of the population over the past two decades.

In a fresh report published on Wednesday, the independent think tank stated pensioners have enjoyed three times as much living standards growth as non-pensioners over the last 20 years and are now less likely to be living in poverty than the wider population. Researchers also indicated that a typical pensioner household now enjoys a comparable income level to a typical working-age household, raising fresh questions about whether the Triple Lock remains justified, reports the Daily Record.

Each year, the UK Government compares three measures: inflation, based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) figure from the year to September; average annual earnings growth from May to July; a minimum increase of 2.5%. Whichever of these is highest is used to uprate State Pension payments the following April.

For the 2026/27 financial year, earnings growth stood at 4.8 per cent and CPI inflation was 3.8 per cent. This meant the New and Basic State Pension rose by 4.8 per cent on April 6 while additional elements of the contributory benefit – such as deferred payment rates – rose by the CPI inflation figure of 3.8 per cent.

The primary concern is escalating costs. As the pensioner population grows, the total sum spent on the State Pension increases substantially. Simultaneously, the Triple Lock can drive payments upwards more rapidly than the broader economy expands, particularly during periods of elevated inflation or wage growth.

This could result in challenging decisions ahead, including higher taxation or reductions to other areas of public spending. There are also worries about intergenerational fairness, as the system is funded by taxpayers.

No amendments to the Triple Lock have been confirmed and it remains UK Government policy. However, some proposals suggest tying future increases to earnings alone, which would make costs more foreseeable.

Any changes would probably prove politically contentious, as the Triple Lock is broadly regarded as a crucial safeguard for pensioners.

For the time being, it stays in effect, but discussion surrounding its long-term sustainability is anticipated to persist as strain on public finances intensifies.

“I think these are good things, but would people watching and listening honestly say that if you’ve got a defence secretary who’s telling you there is insufficient funding to keep our country safe, would you, the very next day, as a matter of style, let alone substance, have an announcement for four and a half billion for walking and cycling?” he said.

“We are overwhelmed by the kindness being shown for Kayden.”

The family of murdered teenager Kayden Moy will gather near to where he was stabbed for an emotional memorial organised by complete strangers.

The tribute event has been arranged by local residents in the Ayrshire town of Irvine where the tragic attack took place and comes after Kayden’s loved ones were approached by well-wishers wanting to show their support.

Kayden’s dad Paul, 38, said the family had been left “overwhelmed” by the kindness shown towards his son and revealed he had been contacted by a group of women from Ayrshire who wanted to organise a memorial event.

The gathering is due to take place at Irvine Boating Pond on Saturday, July 11. A Facebook post encouraging people to attend urged supporters to wear green and bring a green balloon in tribute to the 16-year-old.

Paul wrote on social media: “We are overwhelmed by the kindness being shown for Kayden. I’ve been contacted by some lovely women from Ayrshire who told me that the people of Irvine would like to organise a balloon release in his memory. Get yourself down Saturday 11th July for Kayden.”

The moving event comes more than a year after Kayden, from East Kilbride, was fatally stabbed on Irvine Beach on May 17 last year.

The apprentice painter and decorator had been involved in a confrontation between rival groups from his hometown. The court heard he had stepped in as a peacemaker before he was attacked.

Last week, three youths were convicted in connection with the killing following a harrowing trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Cole Turley, 18, admitted murder, while Jay Stewart, also 18, and a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of acting alongside him in the fatal attack.

Jurors heard how the trio fled the busy beach after the stabbing. The court was told they later boasted about what they had done and even created a sick rap mocking the dying teenager.

Judge Lord Scott deferred sentence on Turley, Stewart and the 15-year-old pending the preparation of background reports. The three are due to return to court for sentencing next month.

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Boulter spent a total of almost four hours on court on Friday, but her efficient 67-minute 6-1 6-3 victory over Romania’s Cristian earlier in the day undoubtedly helped her maintain an excellent level throughout her enthralling tussle with top seed Rybakina.

Rybakina, meanwhile, had to battle back from a set down to defeat defending champion Tatjana Maria 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-0 in a lengthy first match of the day.

Boulter appeared the fresher of the two players as she rose to the occasion in front of home support, saving nine break points across the first set – including six in the sixth game alone.

The 29-year-old earned reward for her tenacity when she capitalised on a first opening on Rybakina’s serve to break for a 6-5 lead, before serving out the set.

Boulter applied further pressure at the start of set two, creating break points in Rybakina’s first two service games – but it was the Kazakh who struck first for a 3-1 lead, before securing a decider on her opponent’s serve.

That did not appear to affect Boulter’s confidence as she held to love with a stunning sliced drop shot early in the final set, and saved a break point in her next two service games to follow Rybakina to 4-4.

It was then that Boulter seized her moment, clinching a second break opportunity in the ninth game before holding her nerve to serve out a memorable win.

“I’m standing here a winner because I trusted my game, I trusted my team. I’m so proud of today,” Boulter added.

“My first semi-final here, it’s a really special one. I’m wanting more so I’m going to keep pushing and get myself ready for tomorrow.”

It kicks off this weekend with Lush! Classical

A brand new festival kicks off in Belfast City Centre this weekend.

Belfast is preparing for its biggest ever summer of music as Belsonic and new event The Summer Series kicks off at Custom House Square for the first time.

The Summer Series brings a brand-new run of open-air concerts to Belfast’s legendary open-air space in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter.

Announcing the new gig last year, Alan Simms, from organisers Belsonic Ltd/Shine, said: “I am pleased to unveil an exciting new concert series taking place this June and July at the iconic Custom House Square.

“Building on the already thriving summer concert scene in Belfast, we are proud to welcome more world-class artists to Belfast for our newest addition, The Summer Series.”

We have rounded up some handy information ahead of the fesitval kicking off this Saturday:

Where is The Summer Series being held?

Expanding on the annual success of CHSq music festival, which takes place every August in the city, The Summer Series is also set to bring a host of amazing artists to Custom House Square in the heart of Belfast.

Who is performing at The Summer Series Belfast?

Here is who is performing at the inaugural festival:

• Lush! Classical Saturday, June 13
• Chris Stussy Friday, June 19
• The 30+ Club Festival Saturday, June 20
• The Beach Boys Sunday, June 21
• Paul Weller Wednesday, June 24
• Ashley McBryde Thursday, June 25
• The Met Arena Saturday, June 27
• Cian Ducrot Thursday, July 2
• Ewan McVicar Friday, July 3
• The Kooks Saturday, July 4
• Dylan Gossett Sunday, July 5

Gate and stage times for The Summer Series Belfast

Gates open at Custom House Sqaure at 6pm.

Last entry into the venue during show is at 9:45pm sharp. No re-entry is permitted.

Curfew typically falls between 10:30pm-11pm. For stage times, check The Summer Series social media pages for any updates on the day.

How do I get to Custom House Square?

Organisers are advising that concert-goers use public transport when possible.

Custom House Square is in the heart of Belfast city centre and within walking distance from the main transport hubs.

Public transport could be the easiest way to get there, by bus or by train. Translink has a range of bus and train options to get you to Custom House Square this summer.

There is no designated parking on-site and organisers advise that concert-goers avail of public transport where possible.

Age restrictions for The Summer Series Belfast

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• Lush! Classical Strictly 17+ (ID Required)
• Chris Stussy Strictly 17+ (ID Required)
• The 30+ Club Festival Strictly 30+ (ID Required)
• The Beach Boys Under 16s accompanied by an adult
• Paul Weller Under 16s accompanied by an adult
• Ashley McBryde Under 16s accompanied by an adult
• The Met Arena Strictly 17+ (ID Required)
• Cian Ducrot Under 16s accompanied by an adult
• Ewan McVicar Strictly 17+ (ID Required)
• The Kooks Under 16s accompanied by an adult
• Dylan Gossett Under 16s accompanied by an adult

Banned items from Custom House Sqaure

The following items are prohibited:– Illegal drugs– Football tops– Umbrellas– Chairs– Large bags (exceeding A4 size)– Professional camera equipment– Flags– Pyrotechnics

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