From Stormont's return to the arrest of former DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson, these are five of our stand out moments in politics in 2024
2024 was a year where we witnessed a number of key political events in Northern Ireland. From the return of the Stormont Assembly to a number of scandals which shook the core of both the DUP and Sinn Féin, 2024 has certainly been one for the history books.
The Saturday sitting saw Michelle O’Neill installed as the first nationalist First Minister and Emma Little Pengelly appointed as deputy First Minister. Other ministers appointed that day included Junior Ministers Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron, John O’Dowd as Infrastructure Minister, Gordon Lyons as Communities Minister, Naomi Long as Justice Minister, Andrew Muir as Agriculture and Environment Minister and Robin Swann as Health Minister.
Due to legal constraints and to protect the identity of the alleged victims, we were unable to name Jeffery Donaldson or his wife in our initial reporting, however, the following day on Good Friday, the DUP issued a statement announcing Sir Jeffery’s immediate resignation as party leader in the wake of the charges which he continues to deny.
With only 450 votes separating Jim Allister from Mr Paisley, this came as a shock to many across the country, including to some of those within the TUV, especially as Ian Paisley managed to survive the first recall petition in the history of the UK parliament after he was suspended from the Commons in 2018 following an undeclared trip to Sri Lanka.
Alliance’s Sorcha Eastwood surprised some by becoming the first female and first non-unionist MP in Lagan Valley . Ms Eastwood, who has continued to garner support in the constituency held by former DUP leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson who stood down earlier this year following allegations of historical sexual assault and rape which he denies.
The following day, First Minister Michelle O’Neill told Stormont’s Executive Office Committee that she was unaware that McMonagle had taken up employment with the British Heart Foundation after he was dismissed from the party and that she wasn’t aware that he had been present at an event in the Great Hall in Stormont which she also attended despite being photographed just metres away from the now convicted sex offender.
In a separate statement, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the party's leadership had not been informed of the contact between the charity and the party's HR department at the time. Mary Lou McDonald also said she had written to the young person and his mother "offering a full, unequivocal and sincere apology"
Kneecap win legal challenge over Government grant refusal Towards the end of November, Irish language rap trio Kneecap won its legal challenge over a decision by former business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a £14,250 funding award after the UK Government conceded it was “unlawful”.
Belfast City Council DUP PSNI TUV Ulster Unionist Party Conservative Party Jeffrey Donaldson Michelle O'neill Naomi Long Antrim Co Down Dromore Shankill Road South Down Stormont
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scotland's Christmas Home of The Year 2024 - all five houses in the runningInterior designers Anna Campbell-Jones and Banjo Beale along with architect Danny Campbell go in search of the most seasonal homes across Scotland, choosing their Christmas cracker.
Read more »
Golfing Year 2024: A Year of Triumphs and TurmoilThe 2024 golfing year was marked by both significant achievements and concerning trends. While American golfers dominated the men's majors, and Nelly Korda reigned supreme on the women's tour, the sport grappled with political instability and a growing influence of greed.
Read more »
Five best Wowcher Black Friday deals as tips and tricks launched for 2024Wowcher is offering up to 80% off in their Black Friday extravaganza - here are some of the best deals you can snap up today
Read more »
Le Bal des Débutantes 2024 Hosted at Paris's Five-Star Shangri-La HotelThis year's prestigious debutante event, Le Bal des Débutantes, took place at the luxurious Hotel Shangri-La in Paris, featuring 19 handpicked young ladies from influential families worldwide.
Read more »
Investec Champions Cup 2024-25: Five things we learned from opening roundBBC Sport looks at five things we learned from the opening round of the 2024-25 Investec Champions Cup.
Read more »
Five Best Amazon Gifts For Cats In 2024This article recommends five cat gifts available on Amazon, including a water fountain, feather wand toy, and radiator bed. The author shares their personal experience with these products and highlights their benefits for cats.
Read more »