Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bryson calls for PSNI action after car targeted in attack
Loyalist is ‘concerned about family’
JAMIE Bryson has called on police to do more to protect him and his family following an attack on his car while his son was staying with him.
The prominent loyalist, 31, said it was the latest in a long line of incidents with police telling him just four weeks ago his address and car registration had been found inside Maghaberry Prison.
Mr Bryson told the Mirror: “I have a six-year-old child who happened to be staying with me last night and was in the house.
“If these attacks were to escalate and harm was to come to my child while he is staying with me, that would be a matter of concern for me. In some respects it’s water off a duck’s back for me but obviously I am concerned about my family.
“Threats have been made towards my child and family and that’s the difficulty.
“Four weeks ago the PSNI called to my home and served me with a threat telling me that my details, car details and home address has been gathered inside Maghaberry Prison and obviously asked me to step up my security.
“But clearly now my car has been attacked and there has been an attack on me, I question what the police have done to protect me given the knowledge they have.
“Everybody should be equally protected under the law no matter what their political views are or if they are disliked or not.”
Unionist politicians have taken to social media to support Mr Bryson. TUV leader Jim Allister tweeted: “Jamie Bryson is entitled to live as free from intimidation as anyone. So, last night’s attack on his property requires clear PSNI action, particularly given the antecedents of the situation.”
A PSNI spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing. Call 101 if you have any information.”
I question what the police have done to protect me JAMIE BRYSON YESTERDAY
NORTHERN Ireland’s 2021 census has gone live with households in the region now able to complete the 10-yearly survey online.
This year’s packs are being sent to 840,000 addresses across Northern Ireland from today and they are all due to arrive by Saturday.
They each contain an access code to enable people to complete their census online.
Households will have the option of completing the survey in traditional paper format if desired, although they have to proactively request one.
The first tranche of results are expected to be published in June 2022. Those will include top line findings such as Northern Ireland’s population calculation.
The region’s population is currently estimated to be around 1.9 million.
Northern Ireland’s Registrar General Siobhan Carey said: “It is important that everyone takes part in the Census which provides an accurate picture of the people of Northern Ireland.
“The Census form is very easy to complete, taking less than 20 minutes per household and the results will help determine funding and services for the next 10 years.
“Just like managing our own households, only if you know the characteristics of the population can you make good decisions about the allocation of funds and services.
“The information gathered in the Census will be used by Government to help plan provision for health, education, transport and so much more.”
■ For more information visit www. census.gov.uk/ni or call the Census contact centre on 0800 328 2021.
LIKE most 12-year-old cousins who are best friends,
Aine Hamill and Caoimhe Sexton love hatching big plans together.
Their latest though has been their biggest yet, because the girls, who were born just three weeks apart, have responded to a crisis in their homes like no other.
Their mums, sisters Catriona and Brid, were diagnosed with cancer just four months apart and have been undergoing gruelling treatment while separated by nearly 300 miles in the midst of lockdown.
Today the women, both teachers, have smashed their way through the first phase of care and are heading into months of recovery to rebuild their lives and the confidence in their bodies most people take for granted.
At the heart of their recovery are their two wonderful girls, children still but adult in their approach creating good from an horrific experience by helping others.
Catriona O’meara, 44, lives in Portstewart, Co Derry, with husband Jimmy Hammill, 45 and their children Ronan, 23, Aine, 12 and nine-year-old Finn. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in May.
Brid Sexton, 40, lives in Donohill, Co Tipperary, with husband Paul, 45, Caoimhe, 12, Brian, 10, eight-year-old Fia and Odhran, five. She was diagnosed with jaw cancer in October.
In the space of five months the families experienced the emotional chaos a cancer diagnosis creates when it explodes like a bomb into a home.
Catriona said: “I went for a regular check up and our lives just changed.
“A lump was found and a biopsy showed it was cancerous. I took the phone call from the consultant who told me the news. I shut off the phone, shouted to Jimmy that I was heading out for a walk and out I went into the wind and rain. I walked through the storm to get my head around it, to calm down.
“Then I came home and told Jimmy and a week later we told the kids. It has been tough and rough and I’ve been sick but I’m getting there now.”
Treatment got underway at Antrim Area Hospital’s Laurel House and Altnagelvin Hospital, a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiotherapy.
Catriona was sick, sore, exhausted but bolstered by news that the treatment was working. And while she will be under medical care until the end of the
LOVING Catriona with Jimmy Finn & Aine year, 2022 is expected to bring her peace and good health.
Catriona, who works for Women’s Aid, said her own family, sister and family helped carry her through the worst of days, relying as always on Brid for support that has been in supply for a lifetime.
Catriona said: “One day in October B r i d called to see how I was, and I was having a good day and was delighted to be able to tell her.
“But she wasn’t. Brid was having the worst day. She told me, ‘I have jaw cancer’.
“I couldn’t take it in. It still seems unbelievable that this would happen to us both,
and at the same time.
An abscess under a tooth turned out to be cancer.
“Antibiotics hadn’t cleared it and her dentist was concerned so he took a sample which returned the news.
“The diagnosis floored her, the enormity of it and speed things moved in afterwards to get her treated.
“Brid started treatment quickly and has been cared for in Dublin, and has been very unwell, unable to eat or drink and she’s in St Luke’s now where they’re making sure they keep her strength up until she can eat better.
“And next week we hope will be her last week of chemo and radiotherapy.
“She has spent a lot of time away from her family and it has been very
hard to watch especially at a distance and with the restrictions in place.
“Somehow with both of us dealing with a diagnosis at the same time it meant we have one person, a loved and trusted person beside us who understands what it feels like to be in this situation, and personally for me that has helped a great deal.”
What has also helped is a plan by their 12-year-old daughters which carried a determined message to their mums of triumph in adversity.
Catriona said: “Aine and Caoimhe were upstairs and had hatched a plan to raise funds for cancer
research.
“By the time they came downstairs they’d the whole thing sorted out.
“They wanted to raise £1,000 so other families and patients could benefit.
“I loved their ambition but we had to caution against it a bit because we didn’t want them disappointed.
“We were amazed and of course we very proud. The thing that struck us all was the maturity they showed because the research they wanted to help fund is to ensure cancer patients become cancer survivors.
“We agreed immediately to help them get a funding page set up but we had to tell them to be realistic, that maybe instead of trying to raise £1,000, they should aim at £100. They decided to walk 5KM every day for 30 days and they’ve kept up their end of deal.
“It was so exciting to watch the page go live with Gofundme. It turns out our girls know more than any of us though, because within a few minutes the £100 target was reached and exceeded, and just a few days in it is heading to £7,500.
That money will help people, and that feels amazing.
“It really has been the best mood enhancer to see our daughters take positive action.
“The diagnoses took away a sense of control and they grabbed that back and they also sent a clear message to us, their mums this is about more than being a patient, it’s about survivors being a patient. My roles as a mum, wife, teacher, sister, daughter and friend were left at the door of the hospital.
“I became simply the cancer patient because that’s what the treatment was for.
“But girls’ talk about cancer survivors helped me accept my role as a patient in my journey to get back to all my other roles.
“It’s been a rotten few months but Brid and I have been lucky to have the fantastic care of medical teams in four excellent hospitals and our thanks go to every one of the people helping us.
“And our thanks go too to Áine and Caoimhe, whose kind hearts and determined action have spurred us along the bumpy road to recovery.”