FactCheckNI
@factcheckni.bsky.social
FactCheckNI is Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated not for profit fact checking and training service. Accuracy matters.
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FactCheckNI
@factcheckni.bsky.social
· Nov 21
We’ve had a lot of new followers in recent days, so we thought we’d (re)introduce ourselves!
FactCheckNI is an independent team of fact-checkers committed to examining key public statements related to Northern Ireland.
FactCheckNI is an independent team of fact-checkers committed to examining key public statements related to Northern Ireland.
Reposted by FactCheckNI
🌍 Who comes to the UK, and what are they entitled to?
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
August 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
🌍 Who comes to the UK, and what are they entitled to?
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Northern Ireland still has the largest disability employment gap in the UK - but have the numbers shifted recently? 🔍
Read our fact-check to find out.
#DisabilityEmployment #FactCheckNI
🔗 factcheckni.org/articles/emp...
Read our fact-check to find out.
#DisabilityEmployment #FactCheckNI
🔗 factcheckni.org/articles/emp...
November 7, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Northern Ireland still has the largest disability employment gap in the UK - but have the numbers shifted recently? 🔍
Read our fact-check to find out.
#DisabilityEmployment #FactCheckNI
🔗 factcheckni.org/articles/emp...
Read our fact-check to find out.
#DisabilityEmployment #FactCheckNI
🔗 factcheckni.org/articles/emp...
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr. recently claimed that proportionally, more loyalists than republicans went to prison during the Troubles.
FactCheckNI reviewed the evidence and found big gaps in the data.
Our verdict? Unsubstantiated.
FactCheckNI reviewed the evidence and found big gaps in the data.
Our verdict? Unsubstantiated.
November 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr. recently claimed that proportionally, more loyalists than republicans went to prison during the Troubles.
FactCheckNI reviewed the evidence and found big gaps in the data.
Our verdict? Unsubstantiated.
FactCheckNI reviewed the evidence and found big gaps in the data.
Our verdict? Unsubstantiated.
Behind every statistic on Violence Against Women and Girls is a real person - but if the data’s unclear, how can we fight it?
Our article explores the serious gaps in how NI’s justice system records and understands VAWG.
Read more here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Our article explores the serious gaps in how NI’s justice system records and understands VAWG.
Read more here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
October 29, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Behind every statistic on Violence Against Women and Girls is a real person - but if the data’s unclear, how can we fight it?
Our article explores the serious gaps in how NI’s justice system records and understands VAWG.
Read more here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Our article explores the serious gaps in how NI’s justice system records and understands VAWG.
Read more here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Who’s responsible for Lough Neagh’s phosphorus pollution?
Agriculture (61%) leads, while wastewater & septics tanks adds 30%.
Read our full analysis here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/lou...
#LoughNeagh #FactCheckNI #NIEnvironment
Agriculture (61%) leads, while wastewater & septics tanks adds 30%.
Read our full analysis here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/lou...
#LoughNeagh #FactCheckNI #NIEnvironment
October 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Who’s responsible for Lough Neagh’s phosphorus pollution?
Agriculture (61%) leads, while wastewater & septics tanks adds 30%.
Read our full analysis here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/lou...
#LoughNeagh #FactCheckNI #NIEnvironment
Agriculture (61%) leads, while wastewater & septics tanks adds 30%.
Read our full analysis here 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/lou...
#LoughNeagh #FactCheckNI #NIEnvironment
🎓Does Northern Ireland really have a shortage of local uni places?
NI’s universities face a challenge: demand outstrips supply. But the story is more complicated than it seems - with funding caps, student choices, and migration all in the mix. 📊
Read our full analysis 👇
#HigherEdNI #Education
NI’s universities face a challenge: demand outstrips supply. But the story is more complicated than it seems - with funding caps, student choices, and migration all in the mix. 📊
Read our full analysis 👇
#HigherEdNI #Education
October 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
🎓Does Northern Ireland really have a shortage of local uni places?
NI’s universities face a challenge: demand outstrips supply. But the story is more complicated than it seems - with funding caps, student choices, and migration all in the mix. 📊
Read our full analysis 👇
#HigherEdNI #Education
NI’s universities face a challenge: demand outstrips supply. But the story is more complicated than it seems - with funding caps, student choices, and migration all in the mix. 📊
Read our full analysis 👇
#HigherEdNI #Education
👥 Northern Ireland is getting older.
There are now more people aged 70+ than children under 10.
What does this mean for our future health, pensions & policies?
Read more ➡️ factcheckni.org/articles/dem...
#northernireland #demographics #factcheckni
There are now more people aged 70+ than children under 10.
What does this mean for our future health, pensions & policies?
Read more ➡️ factcheckni.org/articles/dem...
#northernireland #demographics #factcheckni
September 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
👥 Northern Ireland is getting older.
There are now more people aged 70+ than children under 10.
What does this mean for our future health, pensions & policies?
Read more ➡️ factcheckni.org/articles/dem...
#northernireland #demographics #factcheckni
There are now more people aged 70+ than children under 10.
What does this mean for our future health, pensions & policies?
Read more ➡️ factcheckni.org/articles/dem...
#northernireland #demographics #factcheckni
Does Belfast have the 2nd highest number of asylum seekers in the UK, and do almost a fifth of them live in BT12, as claimed by DUP MLA Edwin Poots?
❌ No.
📊Belfast ranks 20th overall.
👥With 0.6% of the local population (1 in 167 people).
➡️ No data confirms the BT12 claim.
❌ No.
📊Belfast ranks 20th overall.
👥With 0.6% of the local population (1 in 167 people).
➡️ No data confirms the BT12 claim.
September 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Does Belfast have the 2nd highest number of asylum seekers in the UK, and do almost a fifth of them live in BT12, as claimed by DUP MLA Edwin Poots?
❌ No.
📊Belfast ranks 20th overall.
👥With 0.6% of the local population (1 in 167 people).
➡️ No data confirms the BT12 claim.
❌ No.
📊Belfast ranks 20th overall.
👥With 0.6% of the local population (1 in 167 people).
➡️ No data confirms the BT12 claim.
📊 FactCheckNI has a new series exploring NI’s demographics-exploring age,religion and place of birth.
These articles are designed to be a reference point for what’s changed and what’s stayed the same over time.
➡️First up: place of birth.Where were people who call NI home born?
These articles are designed to be a reference point for what’s changed and what’s stayed the same over time.
➡️First up: place of birth.Where were people who call NI home born?
September 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
📊 FactCheckNI has a new series exploring NI’s demographics-exploring age,religion and place of birth.
These articles are designed to be a reference point for what’s changed and what’s stayed the same over time.
➡️First up: place of birth.Where were people who call NI home born?
These articles are designed to be a reference point for what’s changed and what’s stayed the same over time.
➡️First up: place of birth.Where were people who call NI home born?
Does Belfast really house more “illegal migrants” than every other UK city except Glasgow? Turns out, no.
This FactCheckNI article slices through the noise with clear, evidence-based insight.
Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/imm...
#FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #Belfast
This FactCheckNI article slices through the noise with clear, evidence-based insight.
Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/imm...
#FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #Belfast
August 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Does Belfast really house more “illegal migrants” than every other UK city except Glasgow? Turns out, no.
This FactCheckNI article slices through the noise with clear, evidence-based insight.
Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/imm...
#FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #Belfast
This FactCheckNI article slices through the noise with clear, evidence-based insight.
Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/imm...
#FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #Belfast
🌍 Who comes to the UK, and what are they entitled to?
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
August 27, 2025 at 8:30 PM
🌍 Who comes to the UK, and what are they entitled to?
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
Most UK migrants are here legally - and unauthorised migrants have very limited entitlements. In this article we unpack the facts behind the headlines.
👉 Read the full explainer here: factcheckni.org/articles/exp...
We recently published an analysis of what is known about Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland, focusing on the criminal justice system and, in particular, the statistical records maintained by the PSNI.
August 12, 2025 at 7:57 AM
We recently published an analysis of what is known about Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland, focusing on the criminal justice system and, in particular, the statistical records maintained by the PSNI.
Reposted by FactCheckNI
Who migrates to the UK and what are they entitled to?
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
July 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Who migrates to the UK and what are they entitled to?
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
Crime in NI: Have reoffending rates risen to nearly 75%?
UUP MLA Doug Beattie recently claimed: “[R]e-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from 70% in 2016 to around 74% in 2024”.
Was he right? No.
UUP MLA Doug Beattie recently claimed: “[R]e-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from 70% in 2016 to around 74% in 2024”.
Was he right? No.
August 6, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Crime in NI: Have reoffending rates risen to nearly 75%?
UUP MLA Doug Beattie recently claimed: “[R]e-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from 70% in 2016 to around 74% in 2024”.
Was he right? No.
UUP MLA Doug Beattie recently claimed: “[R]e-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from 70% in 2016 to around 74% in 2024”.
Was he right? No.
Is bad information impacting the communities or groups you work with?
Thousands have benefitted from our training sessions in fact-checking and critical thinking skills.
Find out how NI’s first and only fact checking organisation can support you.
factcheckni.org/training/
Thousands have benefitted from our training sessions in fact-checking and critical thinking skills.
Find out how NI’s first and only fact checking organisation can support you.
factcheckni.org/training/
July 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Is bad information impacting the communities or groups you work with?
Thousands have benefitted from our training sessions in fact-checking and critical thinking skills.
Find out how NI’s first and only fact checking organisation can support you.
factcheckni.org/training/
Thousands have benefitted from our training sessions in fact-checking and critical thinking skills.
Find out how NI’s first and only fact checking organisation can support you.
factcheckni.org/training/
Who migrates to the UK and what are they entitled to?
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
July 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Who migrates to the UK and what are they entitled to?
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
🔺Immigration has been a recurring theme in UK, Irish and global politics over the last number of years. In some cases there have been protests, riots and attacks on people who are perceived not to be ‘local’.
This July, FactCheckNI is 10!
For a decade, we’ve been checking facts, tackling misinformation, and championing critical thinking in NI.
Stick with us as we keep holding power to account and standing up for evidence and integrity.
For a decade, we’ve been checking facts, tackling misinformation, and championing critical thinking in NI.
Stick with us as we keep holding power to account and standing up for evidence and integrity.
July 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This July, FactCheckNI is 10!
For a decade, we’ve been checking facts, tackling misinformation, and championing critical thinking in NI.
Stick with us as we keep holding power to account and standing up for evidence and integrity.
For a decade, we’ve been checking facts, tackling misinformation, and championing critical thinking in NI.
Stick with us as we keep holding power to account and standing up for evidence and integrity.
Housing in NI: Are rents rising faster in Belfast than in London?
Yes - overall, when considering all the available data and the quality of that data, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that rents in Belfast are increasing at a higher rate than those in London.
Yes - overall, when considering all the available data and the quality of that data, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that rents in Belfast are increasing at a higher rate than those in London.
July 8, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Housing in NI: Are rents rising faster in Belfast than in London?
Yes - overall, when considering all the available data and the quality of that data, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that rents in Belfast are increasing at a higher rate than those in London.
Yes - overall, when considering all the available data and the quality of that data, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that rents in Belfast are increasing at a higher rate than those in London.
What we don’t know about Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland.
🔺Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a big problem under a bright spotlight. But what do we really know about it?
#VAWG #NorthernIreland
🔺Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a big problem under a bright spotlight. But what do we really know about it?
#VAWG #NorthernIreland
July 2, 2025 at 10:45 AM
What we don’t know about Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland.
🔺Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a big problem under a bright spotlight. But what do we really know about it?
#VAWG #NorthernIreland
🔺Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a big problem under a bright spotlight. But what do we really know about it?
#VAWG #NorthernIreland
The House of Commons voted on amendments to abortion law last week.
🔺None of the proposals directly affect Northern Ireland.
🔺Based on the amendment that did ultimately pass, coming changes will mean that the law in England and Wales is much closer to how things work here.
🔺None of the proposals directly affect Northern Ireland.
🔺Based on the amendment that did ultimately pass, coming changes will mean that the law in England and Wales is much closer to how things work here.
June 26, 2025 at 6:58 AM
The House of Commons voted on amendments to abortion law last week.
🔺None of the proposals directly affect Northern Ireland.
🔺Based on the amendment that did ultimately pass, coming changes will mean that the law in England and Wales is much closer to how things work here.
🔺None of the proposals directly affect Northern Ireland.
🔺Based on the amendment that did ultimately pass, coming changes will mean that the law in England and Wales is much closer to how things work here.
Immigration in NI: Did a local bus company recently drop off a “bus load” of migrants in Lisburn? No.
This is a good example of how photos shared on social media can be misinterpreted or misleading.
This is a good example of how photos shared on social media can be misinterpreted or misleading.
June 17, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Immigration in NI: Did a local bus company recently drop off a “bus load” of migrants in Lisburn? No.
This is a good example of how photos shared on social media can be misinterpreted or misleading.
This is a good example of how photos shared on social media can be misinterpreted or misleading.
Explainer: What does the Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of the word “woman” mean for Northern Ireland?
In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that use of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to people whose biological sex is female.
In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that use of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to people whose biological sex is female.
June 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Explainer: What does the Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of the word “woman” mean for Northern Ireland?
In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that use of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to people whose biological sex is female.
In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that use of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to people whose biological sex is female.
Health in NI: Are local MS rates some of the highest in the world?
🔺Yes. Data indicates that Northern Ireland has a higher prevalence of MS than England and Wales, but lower than Scotland.
🔺Yes. Data indicates that Northern Ireland has a higher prevalence of MS than England and Wales, but lower than Scotland.
May 21, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Health in NI: Are local MS rates some of the highest in the world?
🔺Yes. Data indicates that Northern Ireland has a higher prevalence of MS than England and Wales, but lower than Scotland.
🔺Yes. Data indicates that Northern Ireland has a higher prevalence of MS than England and Wales, but lower than Scotland.
In a debate in the Assembly several claims were made about diabetes in Northern Ireland.
We’ve taken a look in more depth:
We’ve taken a look in more depth:
May 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
In a debate in the Assembly several claims were made about diabetes in Northern Ireland.
We’ve taken a look in more depth:
We’ve taken a look in more depth:
In a statement to the NI Assembly, Alliance Party MLA Sian Mulholland said:
“Northern Ireland has the highest rate of people claiming disability benefits and the highest prevalence of mental ill health in the UK.”
Is this accurate? We took a look at this complex issue:
“Northern Ireland has the highest rate of people claiming disability benefits and the highest prevalence of mental ill health in the UK.”
Is this accurate? We took a look at this complex issue:
April 25, 2025 at 8:29 AM
In a statement to the NI Assembly, Alliance Party MLA Sian Mulholland said:
“Northern Ireland has the highest rate of people claiming disability benefits and the highest prevalence of mental ill health in the UK.”
Is this accurate? We took a look at this complex issue:
“Northern Ireland has the highest rate of people claiming disability benefits and the highest prevalence of mental ill health in the UK.”
Is this accurate? We took a look at this complex issue: