Latest Fact Checks

Articles
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Health
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Law
Does easier access to abortion and contraception lead to an increase in domestic abuse and sexual violence?
22 September 2023
CLAIM: As abortions and contraceptives become more readily available, rates of domestic abuse and sexual violence go up.
Rating
INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 7 June on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown claimed: “The problem is that we find as abortion
Articles
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Economy
Has Northern Ireland been in fiscal deficit for most – or indeed all – of its existence?
20 September 2023
CLAIM: SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole claimed that, since it came into being a century ago, Northern Ireland has been a net recipient of UK Government funding - either in most years, or in every single year.
Rating
ACCURATE/INACCURATE
During a speech at a New Ireland Commission event on August 23, SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said: “Northern Ireland has been in fiscal deficit for
Economy
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Europe
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Peace
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Topics
Is the EU contributing €1 billion to the PEACE PLUS fund for Northern Ireland?
13 September 2023
CLAIM: The Irish News claimed that the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Belfast to announce €1 billion of EU funding for Northern Ireland.
Rating
INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On September 11 2023 The Irish News tweeted: “Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has joined EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Belfast to announce €1 billion of EU
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.
Rating
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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Law
Is there no such thing as a ‘hate crime’ under NI law?
25 August 2023
CLAIM: There is no such thing as a hate crime under NI law. Instead, there are only crimes aggravated by hatred.
Rating
ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
In a social media post on 1 August, commentator Newton Emerson claimed: “There’s no such thing as’’a hate crime’ under NI law, only crimes aggravated
Articles
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Education
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Health
Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Northern Ireland: What’s happening?
14 August 2023
A four-page leaflet circulated by the lobby group Truth Behind RSE NI (TBRNI) makes multiple claims regarding Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in Northern Ireland.Browse by Topic
We have written 160 fact-check reports on public statements since 2016.