2022 in Northern Ireland
| |||||
| Centuries: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decades: | |||||
| See also: | |||||
Events from the year 2022 in Northern Ireland.
Incumbents
- First Minister of Northern Ireland - Paul Givan (Until 3 February) Vacant (3 February-)[1]
- deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland – Michelle O'Neill (Until 3 February) Vacant (3 February-) [2]
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Brandon Lewis
Events
January
- 3 January - 28 year-old tattoo artist Aidan Mann is stabbed and killed in Downpatrick.[3]
- 5 January - During a virtual meeting, members of Stormont engage in a verbal dispute due to TUV leader Jim Allister displaying an Ulster Defense Regiment book during the conference.[4]
- 6 January - First Minister Paul Givan says no further COVID restrictions are needed in Northern Ireland despite a surge in Omicron variant cases.[5]
- 14 January - The Europa Hotel in Belfast is briefly evacuated due to a fire on the eleventh floor. The fire is believed to have been started accidentally.[6]
- 17 January - Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan announces that she will be forwarding a verdict to the Director of Public Prosecutions related to the Ballymurphy Massacre. The verdict could compel additional soldiers to come forward and provide first hand accounts.[7]
- 25 January - Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party comes under fire after historical controversial tweets are discovered on his account.[8]
- 27 January - The Democratic Unionist Party announce that they will halt customs checks put in place following Brexit following failure to secure a vote on said issue.[9]
- 30 January - Thousands march in Derry on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.[10]
- 31 January - A public consultation is launched relating to a proposed bill that would include misogyny, sectarian attacks and transmisogyny in a new hate crime bill.[11]
February
- 1 February - At Stormont, MLAs vote to set a target date for Northern Ireland to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.[12]
- 3 February - First Minister Paul Givan resigns as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party over disagreements regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol.[13] Sinn Féin call for an early election as a result. Due to the power sharing agreement, Michelle O'Neill was also forced to resign as deputy.[14]
- 4 February - The High Court orders ports to resume checks related to the Northern Ireland Protocol that had been halted by Edwin Poots days prior.[15]
- 6 February 2022 - Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II marking 70 years since Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne on the death of Her Father George VI on the 6 February 1952. Public celebrations will be held in June.[16]
- 12 February - Barry's Amusements is acquired by the Galway based Curry family. The family runs the Curry's Fun Park in Salthill.[17]
- 14 February – Health Minister Robin Swann announces that all remaining COVID regulations in Northern Ireland will be lifted from the following day and replaced with guidelines.[18]
- 15 February - Storm Dudley impacts the country with Antrim and Londonderry being issued with amber warnings.[19]
- 18 February - Storm Eunice impacts the country days after Storm Dudley.[20]
- The majority of flights at Belfast City Airport, and many at Belfast International Airport are cancelled due to severe storm conditions.[21]
- 19 February - Christopher Stalford, Democratic Unionist Party politician, and former High Sheriff of Belfast dies aged 39.[22]
- 20 February - Storm Franklin impacts the country with numerous road closures and power outages reported.[23]
- 28 February - The Irish FA confirms that all matches against Russia are cancelled for the forseeable future due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[24]
March
- 7 March - The 2022 Ulster Grand Prix is cancelled due to funding issues.[25]
- 10 March - Ian Paisley Jr. calls on the British Government to act due to a steep rise in the cost of living.[26]
- 18 March - DUP leader Paula Bradley announces that she is stepping away from politics in order to care for her elderly parents.[27]
- 22 March - The Terror threat in Northern Ireland is lowered for the first time in 12 years, from severe to substantial.[28]
- 23 March - The High Court squashes a decision to drop charges against a former Paratropper known as Soldier F for his role in Bloody Sunday.[29]
- 24 March - Health Minister, Robin Swann, confirms that most people in Northern Ireland will no longer be eligible for free COVID testing from 22 April, although lateral flow tests will continue to be free for people displaying symptoms. Swann also confirms that routine contract tracing is to be phased out in Northern Ireland between mid-April and June.[30]
- 29 March - Sinn Féin hold their election launch at the Europa Hotel, a move that is criticized due to it being a target of the Provisional IRA during The Troubles.[31]
Predicted and scheduled events
- 5 May - [32] Northern Ireland Assembly Elections (likely date)
- 2–5 June 2022 - [33] Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday and Celebrations.
Deaths
February
- 19 February - Christopher Stalford (b. 1983), politician.[34]
March
- 11 March - Gavin Martin (b. 1961), journalist[35]
References
- ^ "DUP: NI First Minister Paul Givan announces resignation". BBC News. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "DUP: NI First Minister Paul Givan announces resignation". BBC News. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Downpatrick stabbing: Victim named locally as Aidan Mann". BBC News. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Watch: Stormont row erupts over UDR book in background of Jim Allister during committee meeting". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ "Covid-19: Further NI Covid restrictions 'not necessary'". BBC News. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Belfast's Europa Hotel fire suspected to have been caused accidentally". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Victims welcome news that findings of Ballymurphy inquest will be sent to PPS". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Doug Beattie will ask party to decide on leadership". BBC News. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "DUP to halt Brexit checks at Northern Ireland ports, as Sinn Fein accuse party of 'stunt politics'". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "'We Shall Overcome'... Bloody Sunday march on 50th anniversary". www.derryjournal.com. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Public urged to help combat rising hate crime attacks in Northern Ireland". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Stormont sets target of net-zero emissions by 2050 as Greens' amendment passed by vote of 50 to 38". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "NI protocol crisis: Paul Givan's resignation expected by afternoon and effective immediately amidst border crisis – of which Downing Street was unaware". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Paul Givan resigns as First Minister, as DUP's Donaldson says time for people to 'have their say'". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- ^ "Edwin Poots' order to halt NI Protocol checks at ports suspended by High Court judge". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Plans announced for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend 2022". The Royal Family. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Galway firm rides in to save Barry's Amusements in Portrush". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Covid-19: Northern Ireland to remove all remaining restrictions". BBC News. 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Storm Dudley: Weather warning brought forward". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "Storm Eunice: Northern Ireland agencies on alert for wind and snow disruption on Friday". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "Storm Eunice Northern Ireland updates: New weather warnings for ice and wind issued by Met Office". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Tributes to Christopher Stalford pour in at NI Assembly meeting". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Met Office Storm Franklin forecast Northern Ireland: 9,000 people faced power cuts at height of storm". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Northern Ireland will not play Russia 'for the foreseeable future' as Irish FA joins boycott before Fifa and Uefa announce ban". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Live, Belfast (7 March 2022). "Ulster Grand Prix future in doubt after cancellation of 2022 event". BelfastLive. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Cost of living crisis: Northern Ireland fuel and heating oil prices soar – weekly increases revealed". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley stepping away from politics to care for elderly parents". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Northern Ireland terror threat level lowered for the first time in 12 years". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Bloody Sunday: Court quashes decision to drop Soldier F murder charges". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Covid-19: Free PCR tests to end for most in April". 24 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Sinn Fein slammed for election launch at Belfast's Europa Hotel which was repeatedly bombed by IRA". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Northern Ireland Assembly elections". Electoral Commission. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Plans announced for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend 2022". The Royal Family. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ "Tributes paid to DUP politician Christopher Stalford, who has died at 39". the Guardian. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Tributes paid to 'true original' NI music journalist Gavin Martin after death aged 60". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 11 March 2022.