From Malawi to Long Kesh

An African priest with close ties to West Belfast has made an emotional return to meet friends and fellow clergy. Father Lawrence Simbota from Christ the King parish in the Blantyre diocese of Southern Malawi has been staying with local charity worker Reggie Donnelly and has said Masses in local churches. Fr Simbota first came to West Belfast to stay with Reggie and his family in 1980 while he was studying in Maynooth. He spent three memorable summers in

Glenavy joy for local priest

Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor, Anthony Farquhar, ordained a new priest in Glenavy on Sunday. Father Colin Crossey was ordained during a special ceremony in St Joseph's Church in Glenavy. Fr Colin was born in Ballinderry and attended Ballymacrickett Primary School near Glenavy village before moving to St Michael's Grammar in Lurgan. He then studied Psychology and Scholastic Philosophy at Queen's, and Divinity at Maynooth Seminary. After winning a Fulbright Scholarship, Colin completed a Masters in Psychotherapy in

Divis hoods behind bonfire

by Alana Fearon a.fearon@belfastmedia A criminal gang which is being actively targeted by the PSNI is behind this year’s Divis bonfire. Local thugs who call themselves the Divis Hoods Liberation Army (DHLA) have been amassing material next to the Westlink in preparation for an August 9 bonfire. At a public meeting last month the PSNI said it was actively targeting the gang, blaming it on robberies, burglaries and death-driving. Those behind the bonfire have been slammed by local community

Driver lucky to be alive

Westlink motorists narrowly escaped death when their vehicles were stoned by children at Divis Street bridge. Vehicles were pelted with rocks during an hour of madness on Monday night. Colin Ormsby’s seven-tonne truck swerved across two lanes when a brick smashed his front windscreen. Luckily there were no other vehicles near him on the road and the experienced driver managed to bring the vehicle under control. Police are investigating reports of three other cars being attacked shortly afterwards. Kids

Falls most dangerous road for traffic in city

The Falls Road is officially the most dangerous stretch of road for traffic in Belfast. Statistics released at the weekend show there have been six deaths on the road since 2000 – more than anywhere else in the city. The figures also reveal that the highest number of road traffic collisions in the North occurred there in the years 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004. Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann has called on the Department for Regional Development (DRD) to

£5k to repair home of evicted family

The Housing Executive will have to shell out £5,000 to repair a Ballymurphy property from which the tenant was recently evicted. Marie Gorman lived at 45 Brittons Parade until she was put out by the HE last month amid allegations of continued anti-social behaviour. A court gave the Housing Executive permission to repossess the property after it heard accounts of late-night parties and ongoing conflict at the address. The Gorman family moved out three weeks ago. But housing chiefs