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Brendan Hughes
@brendanhughes64.bsky.social
1.4K followers 160 following 390 posts
Journalist, currently Political Reporter for BBC News Northern Ireland
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brendanhughes64.bsky.social
Sinn Féin MLA's son denies damaging DUP mayor portrait

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sinn Féin MLA's son denies damaging DUP mayor portrait
The son of Sinn Féin's Carál Ní Chuilín has denied being involved in damage to a portrait of a former Belfast lord mayor.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:31 PM
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Stormont committee hears claims that Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín's son may have been involved in damage to a former DUP lord mayor's portrait.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Carál Ní Chuilín: Sinn Féin MLA's son accused of damaging mayor portrait
The allegation was raised at the Executive Office scrutiny committee by a TUV MLA.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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An additional £370m will be provided for the Northern Ireland Executive as a result of the UK government's budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves tells MPs.

#Budget2026
November 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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Christian ethos in schools to be maintained, says Education Minister Paul Givan after court ruling

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Paul Givan: Christian ethos in schools to be maintained, says minister
Paul Givan was responding after the UK Supreme Court ruled Christian religious education taught in schools in Northern Ireland is unlawful.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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No prosecution over damage to DUP mayor portrait

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Belfast City Hall: No prosecution over damage to DUP mayor portrait
Lord Browne's painting was displayed inside Belfast City Hall when it was damaged in October last year.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
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DUP defends Stormont's handling of Covid pandemic after damning inquiry report

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Covid inquiry report highlights 'poor' relationships between NI parties
A Democratic Unionist Party MLA defends the executive's handling of the pandemic saying the
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
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Nearly 200 paramilitary murals and memorials are on Housing Executive land and property across Northern Ireland

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Almost 200 paramilitary murals and memorials on NI Housing Executive land
It comes amid calls for ministers to consider an audit of memorials on public land and to remove paramilitary imagery.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
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MPs to vote on new Troubles legacy legislation

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Troubles legacy legislation to be debated by MPs in the Commons
The Northern Ireland Secretary, who will open the debate in the Commons, says he is confident the bill will pass.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 AM
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Next steps for Troubles legacy on British-Irish meeting agenda

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British-Irish Conference: Troubles legacy on agenda at Dublin meeting
Tánaiste (Ireland's PM) Simon Harris is hosting NI Secretary Hilary Benn in Dublin at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 7:26 AM
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A Sinn Féin member has been expelled from the party after her partner was arrested as part of a garda investigation into far-right extremism

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Sinn Féin: Member expelled after partner's far-right arrest
Sinn Féin's national spokesperson says the woman was expelled after
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
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Stormont's education minister Paul Givan has received an invitation to make a second visit to Israel in the new year.

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Paul Givan: Invitation made for education minister to make second Israel visit
The invitation has been received by the Department of Education
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 PM
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Presbyterian leader steps down over safeguarding 'failings'

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Presbyterian Church moderator steps down over 'failings' in safeguarding
The Rev Trevor Gribben says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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Catherine Connolly to be sworn in as Ireland's 10th president

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Catherine Connolly: Irish presidential inauguration to take place at Dublin Castle
Catherine Connolly becomes the Republic of Ireland's 10th president, as Michael D Higgins' term ends after 14 years.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM
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As Michael D Higgins vacates the Áras, a look back at his time as Irish president ✍️

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Michael D Higgins: Legacy of the Irish president who pushed boundaries
As Michael D Higgins ends his 14-year stretch as Ireland's president, Enda McClafferty looks back at his defining moments.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
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📢 "Shame on you" 🗣️ "Order members"

Here's the moment when a protester was removed from Stormont's public gallery during the no-confidence debate against DUP minister Paul Givan over his recent trip to Israel.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
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DUP leader Gavin Robinson insists his party's absence from the forthcoming Irish presidential inauguration is "not a snub".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
DUP absence from Connolly inauguration 'not a snub' says Robinson
Gavin Robinson was speaking after the party confirmed they would not send a representative to Catherine Connolly's inauguration on Tuesday.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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Education Minister Paul Givan faces no-confidence vote over Israel visit.

The trip cost Israel's gov almost £4k, according to his updated Stormont register of interests.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Paul Givan faces no confidence vote over Israel visit
The move is set to fail as it needs cross-community support and unionists have already ruled out supporting it.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:08 AM
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BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resign

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
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DUP confirms it will not send a representative to the Irish presidential inauguration.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Emma Little-Pengelly: No DUP representative at Catherine Connolly's inauguration
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the DUP should send an alternative representative to Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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Remembrance Sunday marked across Northern Ireland

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Remembrance Sunday marked across Northern Ireland
Belfast's ceremony began with a two-minute silence where First and Deputy First Ministers Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were amongst those to lay wreaths.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
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Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly confirms she will not be attending the inauguration of Irish president Catherine Connolly due to "other commitments".
Statement from Emma Little Pengelly MLA “I have received an invitation for the inauguration events for the Irish President on Tuesday but it will not be possible for me to accept due to a number of other commitments in Belfast and Windsor. “Tuesday marks Remembrance Day, an important day for so many. I am scheduled to attend a service and to participate in an Act of Remembrance in Parliament Buildings before travelling to Windsor Castle at the invitation of Their Majesties, The King and Queen for a special reception to commemorate VJ Day 80th Anniversary to honour veterans of the Second World War, and in particular of the Pacific on this day of remembrance. It is therefore not possible to also attend the inauguration. “I wish Catherine Connolly well as she takes up office, recognising that this is undoubtedly a significant personal honour for her, and I hope to speak with her personally in the next number of days." Emma Little-Pengelly
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
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Pay parity to be delivered for healthcare workers, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt says

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NI health: Pay parity will be delivered for health service staff
This restores pay parity with the percentage uplifts as recommended by pay review bodies being back dated in full to the 1 April 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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Graffiti sprayed at the headquarters of the Alliance Party is being investigated by police as a "sectarian-motivated hate crime".

Alliance leader Naomi Long said the "sinister attack" was "deliberately trying to incite fear and intimidation".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Alliance Party: Criminal investigation after Newtownabbey headquarters damaged
It was reported on Wednesday that graffiti had been sprayed onto external windows, door shutters and a fence.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
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Stormont "may add to the pressures" on its finances by choosing not to "raise more funds for itself", the Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn has said.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hilary Benn: Stormont choices 'may add to funding pressures'
Hilary Benn refused to be drawn on whether the Budget later this month would involve tax rises.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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Hauliers tell a Stormont committee it's "easier" to move goods from GB to Northern Ireland by travelling through the Republic of Ireland.

Bureaucracy under NI's post-Brexit Windsor Framework deal is "quite horrendous", MLAs were told.

📰
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 5, 2025 at 5:06 PM