THE future of Ards Magistrate’s Court is hanging in the balance due to the latest round of government cutbacks, it has emerged this week. It appears that uncertain times are ahead for staff at the Regent Street courthouse which could be set to close its doors as part of the government’s drive to save cash. However…
Commander leaves as local policing reorganised
THE PSNI senior management team in North Down and Ards is to change to align with the new council structures effective from April 1, as part of the biggest shake-up in policing in Northern Ireland in years. Revealing changes to front-line service delivery across Northern Ireland, Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin yesterday (Wednesday) outlined response…
Police in appeal for information over suspicious death at Savoy
THE Serious Crime Branch have issued a public appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of Bangor man Ronald Reid, before his suspicious death last month. The body of 63-year-old Mr Reid was discovered at his apartment in the Savoy care home, on the Donaghadee Road in Bangor, on Christmas Eve. Yesterday (Wednesday) police updated an appeal for…
Police inquiry over hate crime assault
POLICE in Bangor are appealing for information following an assault in the Central Avenue area of the town on December 20. Constable Shane Burdin explained, “At approximately 12:20am, a male was walking along Central Avenue when he was verbally abused and then assaulted by two males. The culprits then ran off in the direction of…
Footballer Gillespie back in court
FORMER Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer Keith Gillespie has been charged with breaching a restraining order less than two weeks after it began. Gillespie, of Ballycrochan Avenue, Bangor, is charged with breaching a restraining order barring him from contacting his ex-partner. The breach is alleged to have occurred on 24 June 2014 on High…
Child abuse ‘predator’ gets 14 years in jail
A BANGOR man has been jailed for sexually abusing six children over a 17-year period. Last Friday (28th) Alastair Carswell was sentenced to 14 years for what was described as ‘predator activity’ involving victims aged between seven and 16. Carswell (48) is originally from Bangor, though court records currently give his address as HMP Maghaberry,…
Teenager accused of assaulting schoolgirl
A TEENAGE girl has been charged with an assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon a 14-year-old at Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College campus, last Thursday (November 27). The accused, aged 17, is expected to appear at Newtownards Youth Court on Monday December 15 and as is normal procedure all charges will be reviewed by…
Year behind bars for con man turned wannabe royal assassin
BANGOR’S con man turned wannabe royal assassin Mark Townley is to spend another year in jail. Dodgy dealing Townley, now known as Ashraf Islam after claiming to undergo a jailhouse religious conversion, was due to walk out of jail this Sunday (23rd) after serving time for a bizarre plot to kill Prince Harry. But…
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