Cool FM News
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📻📷The top news and sports stories from Northern Ireland. Brought to you by our NI/UK award-winning journalists.
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⁉️🗣NEW: Carla Lockhart - 'The DUP share a bench with Reform. I'm more than willing to work with them going forward.' 🎥🎤DUP MP Carla Lockhart MP tells Chief Reporter James that she is more than happy to work with Reform UK. She says she wants to see relationships built with people who want to secure Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. She was also asked whether she trusts Reform and Nigel Farage. It comes after Reform's Danny Kruger spoke at an event during the DUP party conference. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News78,462 views • 13 hours ago
💥❗️NEW: Former UUP councillor on why she wants to run for the SDLP: 'I’ve been on a journey. No one crosses that divide. I’m interested in a new Ireland.' 🎤🎥 Chief Reporter James speaking to Linzi McLaren former UUP councillor. 🗣She’s at the The SDLP conference today and says the party’s 'energy and vision' are encouraging, as she considers what she could bring to the SDLP if she were to run for election. Linzi McLaren comes from a policing background and says her knowledge of justice, as well as her journey away from unionism, resonates with more people than some might expect. She quit the UUP after taking issue with what she described as a number of “failures”. It’s understood further candidate selection announcements could begin today and continue over the coming days. McLaren has previously said former UUP leader Doug Beattie sold her his vision for Northern Ireland, but that things later changed. MP Colum Eastwood opened the conference, while leader Claire Hanna is due to address delegates shortly. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News195,789 views • 7 days ago
🗣💥NEW Michelle O'Neill: 'I welcome Jon Burrows to the united Ireland debate.' Also says Andy Burnham 'doesn't get to take a border poll off the table.' ❓️First Minister Michelle O’Neill was responding after UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA said he would debate staying in the UK versus a united Ireland with her on any platform. 🎤She told Chief Reporter James she welcomes Mr Burrows to the debate on the future of Ireland. Michelle O'Neill was in Cardiff, where leaders from Plaid Cymru 🏴, The SNP and Sinn Féin met to strengthen "the co-operation of Wales, Scotland and Ireland and build towards constitutional change". She made clear that meetings between the parties will continue. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News88,326 views • 4 days ago
💥🗣UPDATE: Proposed MLA pay rise branded ‘grotesque, crazy and wrong’. 🎤🎥Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and First Minister Michelle O’Neill have hit out at proposals to give MLAs a pay rise of more than £2,000. 📈The basic MLA salary is set to rise from £67,200 to £69,216 from the first sitting day of the next Assembly mandate. ✅️It would be another increase, following a corrective pay rise of around £14,000 earlier this year. 🎤Chief Reporter James is at Stormont for us. The Independent Remuneration Board, which is responsible for setting the salaries and pensions of MLAs, has published its draft determination on pay for the 2027–32 Assembly mandate. Future annual increases would be linked to earnings growth in Northern Ireland, but capped at 3%.
Cool FM News50,279 views • 2 days ago
⁉️💥BREAKING: Michelle O’Neill says the United Kingdom is in its 'final days' and welcomes comments from US President Donald Trump on united Ireland 🎥🎤Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O’Neill tells Chief Reporter James that the UK is in its final days and says Prime Minister Andy Burnham will hear that message “loud and clear”. 👥She is speaking from Cardiff, where leaders from Plaid Cymru 🏴, The SNP and Sinn Féin will meet later to strengthen “the co-operation of Wales, Scotland and Ireland and build towards constitutional change”. Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald will be there. Michelle O’Neill made clear she is attending in a party capacity to further those relationships. She also detailed how Sinn Féin has had, and continues to have, major issues with the US administration over Gaza, but says Donald Trump’s comments on the future of Ireland reflect what she believes is the growing momentum for constitutional change. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News109,949 views • 5 days ago
💥🗣NEW: Emma Little-Pengelly: 'It should be a wake-up call for unionism. The UK is stronger together. Donald Trump wanted to bully the UK on Iran... I’m not worried about his comments.' 🎥🎤Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly BL tells Chief Reporter James that she believes the UK is “stronger together” and says recent election results in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should serve as a wake-up call for unionism. 👥It comes as First Minister Michelle O’Neill is in Cardiff, where leaders from Plaid Cymru, the SNP and Sinn Féin will meet later to strengthen “the co-operation of Wales, Scotland and Ireland and build towards constitutional change”. Michelle O’Neill has made clear she is attending in a party capacity to further those relationships. On Donald Trump’s comments on Irish unity, Emma Little-Pengelly said she is not worried by what he said, pointing out that he had also been mischievous with his language during the St Patrick’s Day events in Washington. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News82,049 views • 5 days ago
💥🗣NEW: Emma Little-Pengelly hits out at the ‘dehumanisation’ and ‘outright rejection’ of Orange Order as ‘budget fight’ continues 🎤🎥Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly BL has hit out at what she described as a 'lack of respect and the dehumanisation' of members of the Orange Order, following comments made in the Assembly Chamber and elsewhere. She told Chief Reporter James that she does not agree with First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s ‘summer of contrast’ comments and responded to questions about relationships within the Executive. On the budget, we understand the Government’s financial proposal to the Stormont Executive on Monday was around £350 million and those talks will continue. The Executive says it cannot agree a budget for this financial year without additional support from Westminster. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News59,259 views • 10 days ago
🚨🗣JUST IN: Gavin Robinson speaks after DUP MP Jim Shannon faces court proceedings relating to a charge of assaulting a woman The single offence is alleged to have occurred on October 1, 2023. The case was mentioned at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court today and was adjourned until September 1. Jim Shannon was not in court. DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the party has been aware of the matter for the past two years and that it relates to “a private dispute within a family”. He added: “From a party perspective, whilst we commenced internal proceedings we suspended them once we were aware the courts were now involved." Chief Reporter James was there for us.
Cool FM News185,191 views • 1 month ago
🚨💥BREAKING: Andrew Muir will NOT be resigning and reveals he has been assaulted. 'The days of the Ulster Farmers’ Union dictating policy are over' 🎤🎥Minister Andrew Muir MLA tells Chief Reporter James that he will not be resigning, revealing he has received numerous threats to his life and has also been assaulted. It comes as the Ulster Farmers' Union calls for the Minister to resign over how a cull of 51 cattle near Fivemiletown was carried out. They were killed back in June following a court order after the cattle owner’s conviction on animal welfare grounds. It led to widespread complaints about the manner in which the cull was carried out. The UFU has also called for DAERA Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher to resign. Responding to that, the Minister says the union should apologise for naming officials and questions where its leadership is. Minister Muir says the PSNI is now investigating an alleged assault. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News182,524 views • 1 month ago
⁉️💥NEW: Michelle O'Neill says DUP is 'anti-Irish' and is 'delaying and frustrating progress' but insists power-sharing efforts are not 'pointless' 🎥🎤First Minister Michelle O’Neill details her 'frustrations' with Stormont to Chief Reporter James. It comes after Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy said the wheels could come off Stormont without reform of the institutions. Michelle O'Neill says the Executive is complex, but she will continue trying to make it work, insisting those efforts are not pointless. The Executive is meeting this afternoon. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News163,501 views • 1 month ago
⁉️💥WATCH: Ban on conversion practices in Northern Ireland to be debated at Stormont 🎥🎤Chief Reporter James with this report as a demonstration takes place ahead of the debate on legislation aimed at banning conversion practices. 👥Sometimes referred to as “gay cure therapy”, the practices aim to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Alliance Party deputy leader Eóin Tennyson MLA brought forward the Bill, which could see those carrying out the practices jailed for up to two years. DUP Leader Gavin Robinson has described it as “dangerous legislation”. We hear from Alexa Moore from The Rainbow Project.
Cool FM News19,223 views • 4 days ago
🚨BREAKING: 30-year-old Sudanese man charged with attempted murder as protests begin across Northern Ireland tonight 🎤Chief Reporter James is in north Belfast. Police say the man has also been charged with possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill. The victim remains in a serious condition in hospital. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has outlined the route the man took to enter Northern Ireland in 2023, where he claimed asylum upon arrival. He was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028. The PSNI has declared a "critical incident" in response to the attack, which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim's head and neck while he was lying on the ground. The footage shows members of the public, including one person carrying a hurling stick, intervening to stop the attack in the Kinnaird Avenue residential area, close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast. A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene. Police said the suspect lived close to where the attack took place. There have been calls for calm as protests begin across Northern Ireland tonight.
Cool FM News344,478 views • 3 months ago
⁉️🗣NEW: 'I don’t think a lot of MPs realise that Northern Ireland is part of the UK. It’s offensive and hurtful.' 🎤🎥Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood MP speaking to Chief Reporter James. It comes as Northern Ireland gets a new Secretary of State, Sir Chris Bryant. Appointed by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The Lagan Valley MP believes many MPs at Westminster do not fully understand Northern Ireland’s place within the UK and says they must take the time to 'get to know us.' She also made clear that Stormont needs a budget, with talks required to continue, while warning that “free money” is not the answer.
Cool FM News159,145 views • 2 months ago
🗣️‼️Sinn Féin MLA: 'Anger and frustration' on Garvaghy Road over planned Orange parade. 'The size of the march is irrelevant.' 🎤Upper Bann MLA John O' Dowd responding to Orange Order proposals for a "limited" parade along the Garvaghy Road later this month. If approved, it would be the first orange parade along the route in almost 30 years after a decades-long dispute which sparked serious disorder at times in the 1990s. Mr O’Dowd appealed to the Orange Order to reconsider its stance to "allow this society and the rest of our society to continue on its journey forward."
Cool FM News45,685 views • 16 days ago
💥🗣 NEW Naomi Long: 'There are people fighting battles of the past because they have no vision for the future... It's NOT begging bowl politics.' 🎤🎥 Justice Minister and Alliance Party Leader Naomi Long MLA tells Chief Reporter James that Stormont must get beyond the 'taunting and toxicity' of the Assembly Chamber and focus on delivery. It comes as the race against time to get legislation passed before the Assembly is dissolved in March, ahead of the election, well and truly begins following the summer break. On the budget talks, she says Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant is 'working really hard and pushing the Treasury' to maximise the offer Northern Ireland can secure. The Minister also rejects any notion of 'begging bowl politics.' We understand the Government’s financial proposal to the Stormont Executive on Monday was around £350 million. The Executive says it cannot agree a budget for this financial year without additional support from Westminster.
Cool FM News25,996 views • 9 days ago
⁉️💥BREAKING: Jon Burrows will name a new Health Minister tomorrow. Will the next Minister be a ‘puppet’? Will Mike Nesbitt be disciplined over his resignation letter? 🎤🎥Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA tells Chief Reporter James that he never instructed former Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on how to do his job or make decisions. He says the next Health Minister will be named tomorrow. He was also asked whether the UUP will take disciplinary action against Mr Nesbitt over his resignation letter. The resignation came following a clash with UUP leader Jon Burrows over the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital. Mr Burrows told a town hall meeting that he did not support the removal of emergency general surgery from Causeway. The Northern Health Trust had previously recommended that emergency general surgery should be provided at only one of its hospital sites. It is understood the Department of Health was still awaiting a final recommendation. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News67,750 views • 1 month ago
⁉️🗣UPDATE: Gavin Robinson says the DUP will nominate a new Health Minister if the UUP ‘fails’ to do so 🎤DUP Leader Gavin Robinson says he will nominate a new Health Minister if the UUP fails to do so. However, UUP Leader Jon Burrows made clear at a press conference today that he will announce the new Minister tomorrow. Chief Reporter James was at Stormont. The resignation came following a clash with UUP leader Jon Burrows over the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital. Mr Burrows told a town hall meeting that he did not support the removal of emergency general surgery from Causeway. The Northern Health Trust had previously recommended that emergency general surgery should be provided at only one of its hospital sites. It is understood the Department of Health was still awaiting a final recommendation. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News65,225 views • 1 month ago
🚨💥BREAKING: Watch Minister Gordon Lyons exchange with protesters calling for him to resign 👥Creatives, including actor and playwright Roisin Gallagher, are delivering a letter of no confidence in Communities Minister Gordon Lyons at Stormont. 🎤Chief Reporter James was there for us. During the protest, Gordon Lyons MLA came down the steps and spoke to some of those involved. After a lengthy exchange, it ended with a handshake and a “commitment” from the Minister, but people there today say they still feel forgotten about. The letter of no confidence points to Minister Lyons’ “continued failure to provide the leadership, strategic direction and sustainable investment required to protect and develop Northern Ireland’s arts and cultural sector” and calls on the Northern Ireland Assembly to “recognise the Minister’s failure”. More on-air and online.
Cool FM News22,208 views • 11 days ago