Latest Fact Checks

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WhatsApp Rumours in NI: Was a woman was approached in Limavady by a group of “foreign nationals” who gave her a business card which resulted in her losing consciousness?

3 June 2026

CLAIM: A woman was approached in Limavady by a group of “foreign nationals” who gave her a business card which resulted in her losing consciousness.

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INACCURATE

A recent viral WhatsApp message has been in circulation claiming that a woman was approached by three men (described as being “foreign nationals”) in a

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Economy

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Environment

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Topics

Politics in NI: Was redevelopment of the A5 stopped by the Climate Change Act?

1 June 2026

CLAIM: Despite Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald suggesting unionism had a hand in stopping redevelopment of the A5 Western Transport Corridor, the project was halted by the Climate Change Act – and all unionist parties support amending the Act.

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ACCURATE

On 26 April in a post on social media, newspaper columnist Newton Emerson said: This claim that redevelopment of the A5 was stopped by the

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Economy

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Peace

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Topics

WhatsApp Information in NI: Will the Orange Order help you purchase a home?

21 May 2026

CLAIM: People looking to buy homes in the near future could get support to do so from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

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INACCURATE

In recent weeks, messages have been circulating on social media making claims that the Orange Order, and one lodge in the Castlecaulfield area in particular,

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Economy

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Environment

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Explainer

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Green energy in NI #1: The Renewables boom, and what came after

18 May 2026

What is renewable energy doing for people in Northern Ireland? What more can it do? How do we make that happen? Recent shocks in the

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Economy

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Education

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Peace

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Topics

Education and jobs in NI: Does Derry/Londonderry have the lowest employment rate in NI?

4 May 2026

CLAIM: Derry/Londonderry has the lowest employment rate and second-lowest proportion of school leavers heading into Higher Education in Northern Ireland.

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ACCURATE/INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION.

In a 21 April article for the Belfast Telegraph, journalist and policy expert Paul Gosling claimed that: “Derry has Northern Ireland’s lowest employment rate alongside

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Health

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Topics

Health in NI: Do ambulances respond to less than 20% of suspected heart attacks within the target time?

30 April 2026

CLAIM: Fewer than one in five suspected heart attack and stroke patients in Northern Ireland get an ambulance in target time, compared to almost half across the border. Just 18.5% of Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Category 2 calls were responded to within the service’s 18-minute target, whereas 45% of equivalent RED calls in the Republic were responded to within 19 minutes during 2025.

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IT'S COMPLICATED

In a Written Question to the Health Minister answered on 28 March, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty asked the minister: “For his assessment of the figures