In a holdall was £580 worth of cigarettes and vapes along with cash and coins totalling just over £60

A West Belfast man caught red-handed breaking into a convenience store was today jailed for nine months.

Judge Mark Reel told Conor Martin Gallagher that he will spend a further nine months on supervised licence on his release from custody.

The 38-year-old, formerly of Cherry Park in Dunmurry, had previously pleaded guilty to a single charge of burglary of a non-dwelling with intent to steal.

Belfast Crown Court heard police received a report of a break-in at Jack’s Convenience Store at Broom Park in Dunmurry at around 1.30am on Monday, June 9, 2025.

The report said a man was seen scaling the wall of the shop and climbing on to the roof. Prosecution barrister Gareth Purvis said police attended the scene and noticed the shop’s silent alarm had been activated.

He said a hole had been made in the roof after a number tiles had been removed, thrown to the ground and smashed. He was arrested for the offence of burglary and later told police in an unsolicited comment: ‘I did it. You caught me bang to rights

Mr Purvis said: “Shortly afterwards a male was observed exiting through the hole in the roof carrying a black and pink holdall. He attempted to evade arrest by jumping on to the roof of another building. After a short stand-off, he surrendered.

“He was noted to be wearing black trousers, a white hoodie, a black body warmer and a single glove.”

In the holdall was £580 worth of cigarettes and vapes along with cash and coins totalling just over £60. The court heard it cost the shopkeeper £150 to replace the drawer on the till.

Asked by Judge Reel how much damage was caused during the break-in, Mr Purvis said he didn’t have an exact figure but it was “significant”, the place was in “disarray”, the main roof required re-plastering and the electrics on the shutters had been destroyed.

It was the second time in the space of two months that the shop had been targeted for burglary, the court was told.

During police interviews, Gallagher said he didn’t want legal representation and made full admissions to the burglary.

The court heard Gallagher has 34 convictions on his criminal record, including three for burglary. He is currently serving a sentence in Magilligan Prison for a previous burglary offence.

Judge Reel said: “For the defendant, this may have looked like a simple offence of modest enough value, but his actions caused great difficulty and expense for the victim.

“He clearly thought nothing of those whose livelihoods and businesses he was damaging. And this is the reason why significant custodial sentences are appropriate for this offence.”

Imposing an 18-month determinate custodial sentence, the judge told Gallagher: “Your offending is so serious that neither a fine nor a community sentence could be justified and only immediate custody is appropriate.”

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Three men aged 21, 23 and 28 were arrested following the incident after being stopped in a vehicle.

Three men suffered serious injuries following an assault on Helen’s Bay beach which police are treating as a racially-motivated hate crime.

The incident took place on Monday May 25 at around 9pm on the popular North Down beach and allegedly involved three men in their 30s being assaulted by three men in their 20s following a verbal altercation. The victims suffered serious injuries in the attack.

Three men aged 21, 23 and 28 were arrested following the incident after being stopped in a vehicle. They remain in police custody, with police saying the assaults are being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.

Ards & North Down District Chief Inspector Hutchinson said: “At 9pm, we received a report that three men aged in their thirties had been assaulted on the beach by three other men, following an earlier verbal altercation. They sustained a number of serious, but non-life threatening, injuries.

“A short time later, three men aged 28, 23 and 21 were stopped in their vehicle and arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

“A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a quantity of suspected class A and class B drugs, and the 23 year old was subsequently further arrested on suspicion of possession of class A and class B drugs. The three remain in custody at this time.”

Chief Inspector Hutchinson continued: “This matter is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime. We know that this was shocking for those enjoying the evening sunshine on the beach and want to reassure the local community that our investigation is progressing at pace.

“We had an increased police presence in the area to ensure that everyone left the beach safely, and were on the scene quickly – but want to commend members of the public who helped to prevent the altercation escalating further.

“As our enquiries continue, we would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed this assault, or the events leading up to it, to contact police on 101, quoting reference 1721 25/05/26.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident.”

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Police forces in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Devon and Cornwall were all called out to separate fatal incidents involving four teenagers and one man in his 60s.

The National Fire Chiefs Council is urging families to speak to children about the risks of unsupervised swimming in rivers, lakes, quarries, canals and reservoirs.

This can particularly be a problem during warm weather due to cold water shock.

Gavin Ellis, NFCC Drowning Prevention lead, said: “No family should have to experience the devastation of losing a loved one in the water.

“We know that warm weather encourages people to visit rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but these places can be extremely dangerous.

“Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how confident they feel in the water.

“Jumping into open water can cause an involuntary gasp response, panic and loss of swimming ability almost immediately, which is why we urge people not to swim in unsupervised locations during this hot weather.

“We’re asking parents and carers to have open conversations with children and teenagers about the risks, and for young people to look after each other and make safe decisions around water. 

“These incidents can happen very quickly, but many are preventable.”

RNLI wild/open water swimming safety tips

The RNLI has shared the following summary for wild/open water swimming safety tips:

• Be prepared. Check the weather and tides, choose your spot, go with a buddy, have the right equipment
• If in doubt, don’t go out. No matter how much preparation you do, or how experienced you are, if a swim doesn’t feel right there is no shame in getting out of the water straight away, or not entering
• Make sure you acclimatise to avoid cold water shock

Recommended reading:

• Be seen. Wear a bright coloured swim hat and take a tow float
• Stay within your depths
• Float to live. If you get into difficulty in the water and are in shock, turn onto your back and tilt your head back in the water, submerging your ears. Relax and try to breathe normally, using your hands to helps you stay afloat. Wait until the shock passes then call for help or swim to safety
• Call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard in an emergency

Visit the RNLI website for more information before you get into the water.

Have you tried open water swimming before? Let us know in the comments.

Michael Carrick has signed a two-year contract to remain as Manchester United head coach and his four-word summary about adapting to the role is telling

Michael Carrick appears undaunted by the enormous challenge of reviving a club of Manchester United‘s stature. Indeed, the manager’s reaction to being given control of his former side may well reassure a huge number of United supporters.

Carrick, 44, will continue as United head coach after being confirmed on a two-year contract on Friday. Supporters are eager to witness the club’s first British appointment in more than a decade flourish following a succession of failures during that period.

It represents considerable pressure for Carrick, who became a beloved figure at Old Trafford throughout his 12-year playing career. Yet he offered former team-mate Wayne Rooney a calm and composed response when questioned about his feelings regarding his new role during an interview for United’s official YouTube channel.

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“It feels pretty natural,” said the former England midfielder, who lifted the FA Cup alongside Rooney after defeating Crystal Palace in 2016. Those four words alone and the relaxed manner in which they’re delivered should ease fans’ concerns after numerous predecessors buckled under the strain.

Carrick’s remark is appropriately made on the trophy-laden spiral staircase at United’s Carrington training ground. As though the role itself wasn’t sufficient reminder of the demands that accompany managing such a storied club, though it clearly doesn’t intimidate him.

Before taking charge of United, Carrick’s only previous senior coaching experience was a two-and-a-half-year spell at Middlesbrough. The Teessiders secured three successive top-half finishes under his stewardship but never returned to the Championship play-offs after his opening campaign.

Compare that with a United icon such as Sir Alex Ferguson, who accumulated 12 years of senior management experience in Scotland before heading south. Yet despite his limited background prior to assuming control of one of football’s giants, Carrick’s characteristically calm demeanour comes to the fore.

He added: “It feels big on the outside but when you’re in it, it just feels [shrugs shoulders]…Even though it’s different, the building’s different, some of the people are different, it’s kind of what you get used to from 20 years ago since I signed.

“So it’s all I’ve kind of known, really. So it’s a bigger role than what I’ve had before but actually it just feels like a natural step, to be fair. It’s nice to be here. A lot of responsibility but it’s good. I’m really enjoying it.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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Little wonder why after steering United to third place and Champions League qualification. The Red Devils concluded their campaign with an emphatic 3-0 triumph at Brighton, opponents they’ve historically found difficult in recent seasons.

That result in itself highlighted how fortunes are evolving under Carrick. To underscore that progression even more, Bruno Fernandes shattered the Premier League assist record at the Amex Stadium and has been crowned Player of the Season.

Greater challenges undoubtedly await, though Carrick’s seamless transition at United is already yielding remarkable results as he seeks to return the club to its former glory.

Memories of those qualifiers – which both ended 1-1 – are still fresh, but a score will be settled on neutral ground this evening as one team has to emerge victorious. The winners will progress to Saturday’s final to face the winners of the second semi-final between India and Jamaica, while the losing side has to settle for a place in the third-place play-off. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog!

Members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet spend a noticeable amount of time flattering the president with praise, admiration or validation for his feelings toward his opponents, according to a new analysis by the New York Times.

In a review of Cabinet meetings, the New York Times found that, on average, one in every six sentences spoken by current members offers Trump some sort of flattery. It ranges from direct compliments and giving Trump credit to bashing his enemies.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke the most often during Cabinet meetings, was found to have flattered the president the most, according to the analysis. Rubio credited Trump with helping bring an end to multiple world conflicts – a claim the president also consistently makes.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance criticized Trump’s opponents most often, with one of every six sentences being an insult towards them, the analysis determined.

White House Spokesperson Allison Schuster said in a statement that Trump “has opened nearly all of his Cabinet meetings to the press, allowing his talented team to highlight the exhaustive list of accomplishments they have delivered on behalf of the American people to Make America Great Again.”

White House officials have often highlighted how the president has made his administration more transparent to the public by televising Cabinet meetings.

Cabinet meetings are historically closed-door to allow the president and his inner circle to discuss sensitive issues. But Trump has chosen to allow TV cameras and the press in the room to give Cabinet members an opportunity to explain what they’re doing and take questions from reporters.

However, the hours-long roundtable is generally filled with positive remarks about the administration and negative comments about Trump’s opponents.

Cabinet members seemingly use the meetings to flex their loyalty to Trump, who has high allegiance standards.

During a January 29, 2026, Cabinet meeting, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler credited Trump with helping Americans affected by natural disasters, criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Joe Biden, parroted Trump’s claim that he ended eight wars and insisted Americans had lined up to thank Trump.

At a December 2025 Cabinet meeting, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin told the president his team was “crushing it,” said he was grateful for Trump during the holiday season and insisted the president was “willing to take a bullet for this country.”

Many Cabinet members credit Trump’s leadership with accomplishments in their respective departments or agencies, often using the phrase “under your leadership” during sentences.

On April 30 last year, now departed Attorney General Pam Bondi raised eyebrows by claiming Trump had saved the lives of 258 million Americans – about 75 percent of the population of the United States – through the seizure by law enforcement agents of 22 million fentanyl pills.

Another former Cabinet member, ex-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, told the president in December: “Sir, you made it through hurricane season without a hurricane. You kept the hurricanes away.”

The New York Times analysis found that Rubio often asserted Trump deserved more credit for his foreign policy agenda and that no other leader would have been able to intervene in conflicts to make peace.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted Trump’s decision to bomb Iran would have a positive long-term outcome for the U.S. economy and criticized Democrats for underestimating the president during a March 26, 2026, Cabinet meeting.

Vance bashed Democrats during a December 2, 2025, Cabinet meeting, repeating various claims Trump had made about his predecessor, including that Biden had created an affordability problem.

Trump’s messaging often includes vilifying his predecessor. Despite winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump continues to compare his administration to Biden’s during Cabinet meetings, press conferences or rallies.

Members of the Cabinet often do the same.

During an April 30, 2025, Cabinet meeting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blamed Biden for the disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Biden for adding overhead costs to infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Director Scott Turner blamed Biden for prioritizing migrants over Americans, and Director of the Office and Management and Budget Russell Vought blamed Biden for raising prices for families and more.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL, allowing the case to proceed toward trial.

The justices rebuffed an appeal from the league, which wanted the case handled through its arbitration process rather than open court in New York. Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented from the decision not to hear the case.

Flores, who was fired by the Dolphins shortly before the suit was filed, is now the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator.

Wilks, who was fired as the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator in December, joined the lawsuit by claiming the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 hired him as a “bridge coach” — promoting him to interim coach after they fired another coach but then passing over him for the full-time role. He said the Cardinals didn’t provide him with a realistic chance to succeed.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court and the NFL at https://apnews.com/hub/nfl.

Barnard Castle – known locally as “Barney” – sits on the north bank of the River Tees in south‑west County Durham, about 21 miles from Durham city and an easy run up from Darlington.

It’s the main town in Teesdale, acting as a gateway to the dales, waterfalls and moorland that make this part of the North Pennines an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A Norman fortress town

The town grew up around the Norman stronghold that still dominates the skyline on a rocky outcrop above the Tees.

Barnard Castle was begun in the 12th century by Bernard de Balliol and later passed through powerful families, including the Beauchamps and Richard III, who used it as one of his northern bases.

Today the ruined walls, towers and views over the river are managed as a visitor attraction, with the site typically taking a couple of hours to explore.

Cobbled streets and markets

Step away from the castle and you’re in a tight maze of cobbled streets, ginnels and squares lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings.

The main route, Galgate, runs into Horse Market and the cobbled Market Place, where a traditional Wednesday market and monthly farmers’ markets still bring stalls and producers into the town centre.

At the top of the cobbles stands the octagonal Market Cross, an 18th‑century landmark that anchors the high street.

Independent shops are one of Barney’s big draws: antiques and collectables, butchers, bookshops, galleries and cafés sit alongside everyday services and a supermarket.

For visitors, it’s the kind of place where you can park once and spend the day wandering between castle, museum, river and shops without needing the car again.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Bowes Museum

On the eastern side of town, set in parkland, the Bowes Museum is Barnard Castle’s other flagship attraction.

Purpose‑built in the 19th century in the style of a French château, it houses an important collection of European fine and decorative arts, including well‑known works and the famous Silver Swan automaton.

Alongside the permanent collection, it runs a programme of exhibitions, family activities and events throughout the year.

(Image: STUART BOULTON)

Walks and the River Tees

Part of Barnard Castle’s appeal is how close town and countryside sit together. Riverside paths drop down from the centre to the Tees, where you can follow waymarked routes to the medieval bridge, through Flatts Wood or out towards Egglestone Abbey.

The town is also a natural base for exploring further up Teesdale to High Force, Low Force, Bowlees and the high moors, all within an easy drive.

Practical details for a visit

Most of Barnard Castle’s centre offers short‑stay free parking, backed up by car parks close to the shops, castle, riverside and Bowes Museum.

Buses connect the town with Bishop Auckland and Darlington, and there is a visitor information point in the town centre with maps, leaflets and local advice.

Between the history, the Bowes Museum and the simple pleasure of a wander around the cobbles, it works just as well for a quick stop off the A66 as it does for a full weekend in Teesdale.