The Irvine Herald and Kilwinning Chronicle
£5M ‘GHOST SITE’
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has spent more than £5m on salaries for staff at an Ayrshire mental health inpatient unit that’s not open yet, a Freedom of Information request has uncovered. The Herald can also reveal that in 2025, the health board employed 31...
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SICKRAPIST STRANGLED PARTNER
The victim of a violent bodybuilder rapist has spoken out after the brute was convicted of attacking three women in under two years. Twisted predator Mark McMillan, carried out his reign of terror against the women he was in relationships with at...
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MANIN ARMED SIEGE WITH BABY
A man who had a 10hour armed siege with police while he was looking after a toddler has been spared jail over the incident. Ryan Martin created such a scene that firearms cops and police negotiators were among 27 officers sent to the stand-off in...
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MAJOR BID TO RELIEVE LOCAL NHS SHORTFALL
Major efforts are being made to turn around the performance of financially-stricken NHS Ayrshire and Arran. That was the clear message from North Ayrshire Council leader and NHS Board representative Marie Burns at a full council meeting, following a...
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BITTERSWEETTRAGEDY
A heartbroken Ayrshire mum has told of the bittersweet moment medics said her cancer was shrinking while her husband was dying from the disease. Courageous Shona MacLaren lost her partner Will to cancer while she was still undergoing chemotherapy -...
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COPSPROMISE A CRACKDOWN ONDRUGS
TWO EASY WAYS TO CLAIM PAGE 5 Police have pledged to tackle drug problems after reports there had been deaths and overdoses in Irvine. Irvine Community Council member Elaine Walker said she had heard reports of drug deaths and overdose in the Dickson...
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CRACKDOWN ONYOUTH DISORDER
Pro-active police are targeting youth disorder in Irvine town centre after revealing it has become a widespread problem. Sergeant Will Thomson told Irvine Community Council: “We are looking for the public to help us by phoning in when they see youth...
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FUNDRAISER TRIBUTETO HEROTONY
An Ayrshire army hero is being honoured by a fundraiser launched in his memory. Tony Moore, a 47-year-old from Irvine, died suddenly last month from a suspected cardiac arrest. Wife Jacqueline has paid tribute to her “husband, best friend, amazing...
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MUCH-LOVED ‘SPORTS CLUB MUM’ PASSES AWAY ‘ANEVER-ENDING POSITIVESPIRIT’
Tributes have been paid to a much-loved Kilwinning head teacher after she tragically passed away. Susan Lauder was hailed for her “never-ending positive spirit and determination.” The mum-of-three was praised by her employers, North Ayrshire Council,...
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DRIVER REFUSED TAXI LICENCE AFTER CLASH AT STRIP CLUB
A North Ayrshire driver who grabbed a steward and police and swore at them in a strip club was denied a taxi driver’s licence. James Murray was caught filming dancers at Private Eyes in Aberdeen before clashing with a steward and cops on July 16,...
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MAN ARRESTED AFTER 10 HOUR STAND-OFF WITH COPS
A man has been arrested and charged after a 10 hour stand-off with police following a disturbance in Kilwinning. Armed police were called to Cathkin Place in the Whitehirst Park area of the town at just after 1am on Monday. Reports suggested an...
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SOCIAL CARE WORKER IS STRUCK OFF
An abusive Irvine social care worker has been struck off for a catalogue of care failings towards patients under her supervision. During one incident, Margaret Cavin shouted at a dementia patient: “Do you like getting shouted at?” or words to that...
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FURY OVER TOILET PROVISION DELAYS FOR HARBOUR PROJECT
Angry community campaigners have hit out at North Ayrshire Council for pushing toilet provision at Irvine Harbour “further down the road”. The Great Harbour is the programme to develop the Irvine Harbourside area as a great place to live, work, play...
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SOCIALCARE WORKER SNARED INPAEDO STING
An Irvine social care worker has been struck off after being caught in a paedophile sting. Alessandro Citti committed an offence contrary to Section 34 (1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 and was convicted in February this year at...
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CARE WORKER IS DISCIPLINED FOR BUYING SERVICE USER PORN DVDS
An Ayrshire social care worker has been sanctioned by the industry regulator for buying pornographic DVDs for a service user at a complex needs centre. John Robertson was also adjudged to have placed his hand between a colleague’s thighs while...
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PENSIONER FOUND DEAD IN HER HOME
A pensioner was found dead in an Irvine home sparking a major emergency response. The elderly resident was discovered at Pladda Avenue at 6.15am on Tuesday, September 30. Police, ambulance and fire crews raced to the scene where the woman was...
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TAKEAWAY PROPOSAL ISOPPOSED
Highly controversial plans to open a fast food takeaway in a deprived area of Kilwinning have been knocked back after being opposed by campaigning residents and planning officials. A group of Blacklands residents have lodged objections to the plans by...
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KILLER FERRIS DIES IN PRISON
One of Scotland’s most notorious killers has died after being rushed to hospital from prison. Billy Ferris, brother of former gangland enforcer Paul Ferris, was jailed for life in 2003 for the brutal murder of 15-year-old Jason Hutchison in...
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IRVINE DRUG FACTORY FARMERS ARE JAILED
Three Albanian men have been jailed for running an “industrial scale” cannabis farm in a disused shopping centre. Elton Skenderi, 29, Gjovalin Toma, 31, and Eduard Daja, 39, were all arrested while attempting to “flood” central Scotland with the class...
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COPS PROBE CAR BLAZE
A car was deliberately torched in the middle of the night, police have confirmed. Detectives are appealing for information after the white Hyundai ixc5 car was set on fire in the Dick Crescent area of Irvine. The incident happened around 2.55am on...
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HAVEYOURSAY ON NEW 188 HOMES PLAN
Proposals for one of the biggest ever housing developments will come under the microscope at a special event this week. A consultation event will be held for residents and interested parties to view and discuss the proposals at a site in Irvine. A...
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POUNDLAND SHUTDOWN
An Ayrshire Poundland store will close its doors for the final time next month. Poundland’s Rivergate Shopping Centre outlet in Irvine is one of 68 stores which are set to close this year as the company embarks on a “restructuring and recovery...
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THREE JAILED OVER DRUG FACTORY FIND
Three men are behind bars after police uncovered a £1.8m cannabis factory at the derelict Forum shopping centre. Two of the Albanian trio had previously been ordered to be deported from the UK - with one managing to return after he had been kicked...
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MAN IN DOCK OVER MURDER OF SHONA 31 YEARS LATER
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of mum Shona Stevens over 30 years ago. Fraser Kilpatrick, 67, was in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday. Kilpatrick, of Glasgow, made no plea and was remanded in custody while the case...
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EMERGENCY HOUSING BILL IS NOW £7.5M
More than £7.5 million has been spent by North Ayrshire Council on emergency accommodation in the past two years, a Freedom of Information request has uncovered. In 2024-25 some £3,801,139 was spent, with £2,908,106 going on temporary furnished...
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BRAVE MORGAN BEATS BRAIN TUMOUR ODDS
A young woman who was given just a 20 per cent chance of survival after her brain swelled to life-threatening size has shared her remarkable recovery journey in a bid to help others. Morgan Thain Miller, who lives in Saltcoats, had to relearn how to...
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HOSPITAL WARD IS AXED AMID FEARS FOR SAFETY
An Irvine mental health ward which has seen an increase in incidences of violence and aggression has been forced to close. Ward 7A at Woodland View Hospital has been axed following serious concerns for the safety of clinical staff, as well as...
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STOP HIDING AND LISTEN
Furious parents campaigning to stop plans to axe their school crossing patrols have slammed North Ayrshire Council for refusing to allow their voices to be heard. And they are warning that children could be hurt as a result of the decision to scrap...
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HUGE SURGE IN ATTACKS ON9 99 STAFF
Shock stats show a huge spike in the number of emergency workers being assaulted. Frontline workers have been subjected to kicking, spitting, headbutting and punching, Ayrshire’s top cop revealed. The most recent North Ayrshire data shows a 22.7 per...
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LET’S MAKE CHILD POVERY HISTORY
Child poverty rates have fallen more steeply in North Ayrshire than anywhere else in Scotland, welcome figures have revealed. However North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns, who has made tackling the problem one of her administration’s flagship...
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FOUR JAILED FOR £6M NHS FRAUD
Four men convicted over a £6million corruption and bribery scandal at health boards in Scotland have been jailed for a total of 29 years. The probe was first revealed after an NHS counter-fraud team swooped on Irvine’s Oricom’s offices in...
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NURSES TRUCK OFF FOR CARE ‘FAILINGS’
An Ayrshire nurse has been struck off and handed an 18-month interim suspension after being found guilty of as many as 18 charges of care ‘failings’ across two care homes in Irvine and Kilmarnock. Ramani Sreekumar was subject to a disciplinary...
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SECOND MURDER CHARGE AFTER TRAGEDY AT BEACH
A second teenager has appeared in court charged with murder following the tragic death of Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in private at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Friday. The male youth...
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TRIBUTESTO TEENAGER ATTACKED ON BEACH
The dad of a teenage boy who died following a disturbance at Irvine Beach has paid tribute to his “best friend”. Kayden Moy, from East Kilbride, was found with serious injuries at the Ayrshire beauty spot on Saturday night. The 16-year-old, pictured...
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WIND BOOM
A company specialising in recycling and repairing wind turbines has relocated to Ayrshire after winning a “multi-million pound” contract with Scottish Power Renewables. Ecocel opened their new facility in Kilwinning on Tuesday, May 6, after taking on...
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FURY OVER SCHOOL TRANSPORT CUTS
A war of words has erupted over funded school transport being axed for some of North Ayrshire’s most vulnerable kids. North Ayrshire Labour say the decision is ‘cruel’ but the ruling SNP administration say Labour introduced the current school...
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JOB CUTS FIGHT AT PAPERMILL
A union says it is fighting plans for a raft of redundancies at a paper mill. Caledonian Paper Mill in Irvine, which celebrated 35 years in business last year, has reportedly told staff of plans to cut workers, which Unite the Union say will affect...
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PAY OFFER STRIKE THREAT
Council staff in North Ayrshire are set to be balloted on strike action after a union rejected a “pitiful” pay offer. Unison has announced that they will ballot members across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities next month in a bid to find a better...
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FIRM HIT BY BLAZE HAS GONE BUST
A battery recycling firm which saw two major fires at its facility in Ayrshire — the most recent last week — went into liquidation five months after the first blaze. Fenix Battery Recycling Ltd was almost £2million in debt following the first fire at...
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ROAD PROJECTS WORTH £5.3M ARE CONFIRMED
A host of improvements for North Ayrshire roads was outlined as the council battle against an estimated carriageway maintenance backlog figure of £38.5m. The current figure for maintaining roads in their current condition is £5.5m per year. The...
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SAVE OUR LOLLIPOP LIFESAVERS
Panicked parents gathered outside Cunninghame House to protest North Ayrshire Council’s plans to axe ‘life-saving’ lollipop staff jobs. The rally was in response to the February 26 budget meeting which set councillors’ intentions to axe 17 school...
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COPS HUNT MAN WHO EXPOSED HIMSELF TWICE
A police hunt is underway after a man exposed himself twice in Kilwinning town centre. Police have appealed for information following the “disturbing and upsetting incident”. He was spotted exposing himself in two separate places around the Main...
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INCINERATOR PLANSARETO BEDEBATED
Controversial plans for an incinerator will be debated at a special public forum in Irvine next month. Irvine Community Council are staging a public meeting on the Energy Recovery Facility at the Oldhall Industrial Estate in the Volunteer Rooms on...
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BOWL IN ONE
Ambitious blueprints for a planned all-round entertainment spot in Irvine town centre can now move full steam ahead after a provisional premises licence was granted. The application was for the display of alcohol at a bowling alley and on and off...
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POLICE APPEAL FOR WITNESSES AFTERMAN DIES IN COLLISION WITH A CAR
A man has died following a collision involving a pedestrian and a car on the A71 in Irvine. The incident happened around 6.45pm on Wednesday night when police received reports of a man walking along the A71 (pictured) between the Greenwood Interchange...
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TODDLER GETS BITTEN ON THE FACE BY DOG
A toddler has been left with facial injuries after a dog attacked him. The three-year-old was bitten on the face by the animal at around 6pm on Thursday night in Leven Place in the Castlepark area of Irvine. The tot was rushed to Crosshouse Hospital...
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Man,59, dies after carcrash in Irvine
A man has died following a single-vehicle crash in Irvine. Emergency services were called to the scene on Kilwinning Road at around 8.30pm on February 9. The driver and only occupant of the car, a 59-yearold man, was pronounced dead at the...
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OUR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS WORST IN THECOUNTRY
North Ayrshire has clocked Scotland’s worst school attendance figures - with council chiefs insisting they ARE intent on tackling the problem. A total of 37.9 per cent of pupils missed more than 10 per cent of possible attendances in 2023-24 - the...
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GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK
A young Irvine woman who had two ovarian tumours in a decade is raising money for expensive private surgery to remove her reproductive organs after feeling ignored and “silenced” by NHS doctors. Jemma Bruce, 22, was diagnosed with two benign ovarian...
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COUNCILLORS KICKOUTBID TOBUILD115 NEWHOMES
Councillors have backed the recommendation of planners to refuse a controversial application for more than 100 houses in Kilwinning owing to concerns about flooding. Planning permission was sought for the erection of 115 homes to include the formation...
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FURY OVER PLAN TO SCRAP FREE TOWN CENTRE PARKING
Nearly 2,000 angry Kilwinning residents have signed a petition aimed at forcing North Ayrshire Council not to scrap free town centre parking. One of the proposals from officers in the early budget consultation back in October was to end free parking...
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CAREWORKER THREATENED ‘RAPE’ AFTER PROBE INTO SEXUAL FLING
A Kilwinning care assistant has been struck off after she embarked on a ‘prolonged’ sexual relationship with a service user ... then threatened to have him ‘done’ for rape when their relationship was investigated. Leigh-anne McCartney attempted to...
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PLUG IS PULLED ON POUNDSTRETCHER
Poundstretcher have announced the shock closure of one of their Ayrshire stores. Irvine’s Riverway Retail Park will be left with an empty unit from Wednesday, January 8 as the firm confirmed the closure last Friday (January 3). Having been present in...
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BATTLE TO KEEP CRIME GANGS OUT OF THE PUB TRADE
Licensing staff are working with divisional intelligence teams to intervene against organised crime groups, Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell revealed at a meeting of North Ayrshire Licensing Board. There are currently five serious and...
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HARBOUR GRIPES
A furious Labour councillor has hit out at the “incompetent” SNP administration for what they claim is a lack of progress on the sprawling new harbourside development and says questions have to be asked. Labour have uncovered figures which reveal that...
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Controversial turbines plan blown away
Controversial plans for the erection of wind turbines very close to a residential area have been thrown out by councillors amid concerns about a danger to health and safety of residents. The North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee were asked to...
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TIPPINGPOINT
Worried North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns admitted local authorities across the country are at a“tipping point” and “close to the edge”with hard decisions having to be made to balance the books. And staff jobs at North Ayrshire could be in...
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Tory pair jump ship to reform
The North Ayrshire Conservative group have been rocked with the shock news that two councillors have jumped ship to join controversial party Reform UK. Councillors Ferguson and McLean on Friday gave letters to Tory leader Cameron Inglis to confirm...
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NO FESTIVE SWITCH ON FOR IRVINE
A lack of funding and volunteers means there will be no Christmas lights switch on ceremony in Irvine this week. Initially, fears were raised that the town would be in darkness over the festive period until a local business swooped in to save the...
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IT’LL DRIVE US OUT OF BUSINESS
A shop boss claims he could go out of business if town centre car park charges are introduced in North Ayrshire. Free parking could end if budget plans are approved in the region with one long-established store painting a stark picture for local...
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FRESH HUNT FOR SHONA’S KILLER
Almost 30 years after the death of Shona Stevens a reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information to help catch her killer. The Irvine mum was 31 when she was found seriously injured on a footpath in a wooded area near to the rear of Alder...
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NIGHT NURSE STRUCK OFF
A nurse who used force against a “terrified” mental health patient has been struck off. Patrick Gribben tried to get the patient into a treatment room then “forcefully attempted” to administer medication to the vulnerable female patient at Woodland...
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DON’T PUT CHILDREN IN DANGER
A worried North Ayrshire councillor is warning children are in danger if shock budget proposals to axe school crossing patrols across the community go ahead. The stark claim comes from councillor Donald L Reid, who said it would be unwise to vote to...
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Councillors told to halt insults over budget
Councillors in North Ayrshire have been told to stop trading insults over budget cuts and focus on halting them. Union bosses at GMB Scotland warned the risk to frontline services in the area is grave and urged politicians to stop the blame game. The...
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NO VISION NO PURPOSE NO DIRECTION
North Ayrshire Council chiefs have been accused of lacking leadership after brutal budget cuts were proposed. Fifty teachers could go as part of savage £16 million savings which need to be made at Cunninghame House. Labour group leader, Joe...
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HORRIFIC
North Ayrshire residents are bracing for what is being described as the ‘most horrific budget’ the region has ever seen. Today councillors will be presented with a series of plans for savage cuts to plug a £16m budget black hole. Six libraries are on...
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Broadcasting icon spills the beans
Scottish broadcasting doyen Dougie Donnelly admitted a glittering gold medal for an Irvine athlete was one of the highlights of the Olympic Games in 2000 which was the launchpad for future major British glory. And the former Radio Clyde morning show...
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