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Lough Neagh crisis: Does most of the phosphorus in the lough come from agriculture?
16 October 2025
CLAIM: Over 60% of the phosphorus in Lough Neagh is a result of agriculture, while a third comes from the wastewater system and septic tanks.
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ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
During an Assembly debate on Lough Neagh on 9 September 2025, SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone said: “The only way in which to address [the Lough
Articles
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Elections
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Environment
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Health
Does poor air quality contribute to 800 deaths in Northern Ireland every year?
2 July 2024
CLAIM: Poor air quality contributes to 800 deaths in Northern Ireland every year.
Rating
ACCURATE
The SDLP manifesto for the 2024 General Election claims that “poor air quality contributes to 800 deaths in Northern Ireland every year”. We’ve looked at
Articles
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Environment
Are none of Northern Ireland’s rivers, lakes or coastal bodies of water of good standard
20 June 2024
CLAIM: None of the rivers, lakes or coastal water bodies in NI are currently assessed as having good overall status.
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In a press release published on 21 May, Green Party NI Leader Mal O’Hara said: “Northern Ireland is the twelfth worst place in the world
Articles
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Environment
Are almost one in eight of all species in NI at risk, amidst an ongoing decline in local woodland?
2 May 2024
CLAIM: 12% of all animal, plant and fungus species in Northern Ireland are at risk of extinction, while the area of certified woodland has declined despite increases in other parts of the UK.
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ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION/INACCURATE
On 9 April in a debate in the Assembly, Alliance Party MLA John Blair claimed: “…12% of our species are being threatened with extinction and
Environment
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Explainer
Agri-food policy, environmental protections and plans within plans within plans
1 December 2023
Articles
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Environment
Is Northern Ireland the least environmentally protected place in Europe?
13 October 2023
CLAIM: Northern Ireland has the least protected environment in Europe – it has no independent environmental protection agency or government, Lough Neagh is dying, and councils are giving significant fossil-fuel schemes the green light.
Rating
MIXED
In a post on social media on 12 September, campaign group Save Our Lagan claimed: “NI is the least protected environment in the Europe: Lough
Articles
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Environment
Will nearly 40% of NI properties be at risk from flooding by 2080?
5 September 2023
CLAIM: The Belfast Telegraph claimed that projections from the Department of Infrastructure indicate that 38% of all properties in Northern Ireland will be at risk of flooding by 2080.
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INACCURATE
On 4 September, the Belfast Telegraph published a story under the headline: “Flooding warning: Nearly 40% of properties in NI will be at risk of
Articles
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Environment
Does this picture show all the publicly-available green space in Northern Ireland?
28 June 2023
CLAIM: A map shared on Twitter shows the amount of green space in Northern Ireland which is available to the public.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 25 May, Irish Mirror/Belfast Live Environment Correspondent Shauna Corr shared the following image on Twitter: In her tweet, she said: “This map of Northern Articles
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Environment
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Health
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Is Lagan Valley one of the least wooded parts of NI?
22 June 2023
CLAIM: Lagan Valley is one of the least wooded areas in Northern Ireland, particularly with regards to ancient woodland.
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On 18 June, Alliance Party MLA Sorcha Eastwood claimed on Twitter: “Lagan Valley is one of the least wooded areas in NI, particularly re ancient
Articles
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Environment
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Europe
Does Dungiven have some of the worst nitrogen dioxide readings in Western Europe?
7 March 2023
CLAIM: Dungiven has some of the worst nitrogen dioxide (NO2) readings in Western Europe.
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On 27 January, community group Glenshane Community Development Ltd tweeted: “Why is Dungiven choked up this evening whilst the bypass lies unopened? The town has Articles
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Environment
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Health
Do 140 people per year die while fishing in Irish waters?
16 June 2022
CLAIM: Approximately 120 to 140 people die while fishing in Ireland.
Rating
INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On BBC Radio Ulster’s show Good Morning Ulster on June 7, during a discussion about deaths during the Isle of Man TT, former road racer
Economy
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Elections
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Environment
Do 25 of NI’s 27 main ‘economic hubs’ have creaking water and sewage infrastructure that is holding back development?
4 May 2022
CLAIM: The DUP’s manifesto claims that 25 of NI’s 27 economic hub towns have compromised water infrastructure - with only 12 set to see investment by 2027.
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ACCURATE
The DUP manifesto for the 2022 Assembly election claims: “The crisis in available water and sewerage capacity in Northern Ireland is curtailing economic investment and