BALLYMENA: A nurse from Antrim town who drove through a police checkpoint with more than twice the legal alcohol limit was banned from driving for 13 months and fined £420. Arnold Mupani (51) also admitted failing to comply with a police direction and failing to wear a seatbelt.

BELFAST: Two men were sentenced at Laganside Crown Court for armed robberies at two west Belfast shops in February 2024, during which staff were threatened with knives and a young girl was assaulted. Sean Paul Fisher (40) received 81 months and John McKissock (24) received 54 months, both split between custody and licence.

DOWNPATRICK: A woman serving a life sentence for murder was given an additional six-month prison sentence after admitting being unlawfully at large for several days in August last year. Alison Michelle McDonagh (52), who has convictions including murder, robbery and child abduction, was arrested at a shopping centre in Newry after failing to comply with her licence conditions.

ANTRIM: A Dungiven man who twice choked his partner during an argument in Portstewart was sentenced to 26 months, to be served half in custody and half on supervised licence. Cahir Deeney (38) pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation at Antrim Crown Court, where the judge noted the victim had suffered lasting psychological harm.