Wishaw Press
STATUEDATE CONFIRMED FORLISBON LIONTOMMY
A statue finally honouring the legacy of Celtic hero Tommy Gemmell is set to be unveiled in Craigneuk next month. The Lisbon Lion, renowned for his pivotal role in the club’s historic 1967 European Cup victory, will be commemorated with a new...
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JOHNWASA GENTLEMAN
Warm tributes have been paid to prominent Wishaw businessman John Chapman who has died at the age of 93. Mr Chapman, who was awarded the OBE for services to the Scottish meat trade in the 1992 New Year Honours List, was well respected throughout the...
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£1M BILLTOKEEP TRANSKILLERIN HOSPITAL
A transgender killer’s long stay in hospital is believed to have cost the tax payer well over £1 million. Sophie Eastwood, 40, has been living at University Hospital Wishaw since last August and she is guarded round the clock. She was moved there...
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THANKYOU
Hard-working volunteers at Wishaw’s foodbank have hailed the incredible number of donations from schools, businesses and members of the public. Wishaw Community Foodbank closed its doors for the festive period after handing out a huge number of food...
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MURDERPROBE AFTERYOUNGDAD SHOTINOWNHOME
A murder investigation is underway after a man who recently became a dad was shot and killed in his Motherwell home. was discovered by loved ones at his flat on Shields Court in Muirhouse, last Monday afternoon, December 15. Police believe it was a...
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WE’LLFIGHT ONUNTILYOU LISTENTOUS
A public meeting heard powerful testimony from parents, clinicians and campaigners opposing the planned downgrade of Wishaw Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – with a pledge made to “keep fighting until the government listens”. Scottish Labour leader Anas...
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FROM50 YEARSTO THEFINAL SECONDS
Motherwell’s skyline has been transformed forever after three of its tallest and most recognisable residential towers were demolished in a carefully planned blowdown, ending more than 50 years of housing history in the town. The three 20-storey...
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MAKEYOUR VOICEHEARD ONNEONATAL PLANS
Scottish Labour candidates Mark Griffin and Ayeshah Khan will host a major public meeting in Craigneuk to oppose plans to downgrade Wishaw’s award-winning Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The meeting at the Jim Foley Centre on Monday, December 8, will...
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KIERAN’S ON TOP OF THE W RLD
Kieran Tierney is not only the toast of Wishaw this week, but the entire nation. The Celtic defender, who grew up in Muirhouse, scored a stunning curling strike in stoppage time to put Scotland on the way to a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark that...
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THEGIFTOFLIFE
A young mum has made an emotional plea for the gift of life this Christmas as she searches for an organ donor. Laura Hayman, 29, was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2017. She was immediately started on dialysis treatment to remove toxins from her...
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THUGBEHINDBARS FORATTACKINGHIS NEIGHBOUR WITHAKNIFE ANDFRYINGPAN
A man who stabbed his neighbour as horrified children looked on has been jailed for 22 months. Colin McKenzie also hit the man on the face with a frying pan during the disturbance outside their homes in Laurel Drive, Craigneuk. McKenzie, 47, appeared...
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FAMILIESFIGHT FORNEONATALUNIT
A leading children’s charity has called for balance between expert care and family support as the battle continues to stop the downgrading of University Hospital Wishaw’s neonatal unit. Lia’s Wings, the UK charity that flies premature babies and...
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BOXINGHERODAVE ATRUEGENTLEMAN
Tributes have been paid to former Wishaw boxer and“true gentleman”Dave Mooney who has passed away. The 93-year-old from Cambusnethan, who worked as a miner, beat Johnny Cole to win a British light heavyweight title in 1956. Dave, known locally and...
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Dougie’s neonatal tribute
Well boss unhappy with decisions but insists team must move on
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£3.9B AICAMPUS COULDBRING 2000NEWJOBS
Major plans for a £3.9 billion AI energy campus on the former Ravenscraig steelworks site could bring more than 2000 jobs to the area. Renewable energy developer Apatura’s ambitious proposals include a 550MW data centre paired with a 650MW Battery...
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FIONA’SMISSION TOFIGHTPOVERTY
A kind-hearted Wishaw woman has reflected on a memorable charity mission to Kenya to help some of the world’s poorest people. Fiona McCall spent a fortnight working with Project Nakuru helping build classrooms, handing out food parcels and giving...
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SUPERBIKE STAR WAKES FROM COMA
A Wishaw Superbike star has awoken from a coma and spoken his first words in the wake of a horror crash. Callum Grigor was left in a “serious” condition following a collision at Donington Park during the Pirelli National Superstock race.
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FAMILIES SHARE ‘REAL LIFE STORIES’IN NEONATAL BATTLE
A Scottish Parliament Committee has met with local families and staff at University Hospital Wishaw’s specialist baby unit, as it considers a petition calling for a halt to plans to centralise neonatal intensive care services. MSPs met petitioner...
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ZEROISBEINGDONETO STOPKNIFECRIME
A Wishaw mum has spoken out after it was revealed that Scotland’s zero tolerance policy on knife crime, which saw jail sentences for carrying a blade, has been abandoned. In 2012, new prosecution guidelines were introduced to ensure that even...
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KILLER ISPUT BEHIND BARS
A man who“battered the life”out of his mother’s ex-partner has been given eight years in prison for causing his victim’s death. John Forsyth, 29, left Barry Evans with “catastrophic and unsurvivable” injuries during an assault which took place at his...
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TERMINALLY ILLDADIN 15-HOUR A&EWAIT
A terminally ill grandad was kept waiting for 15 hours through the night at A&E until a health board boss intervened. Peter Black, 71, who suffers from stage 4 cancer, was taken to Wishaw General with alarming symptoms by worried relatives at 6.30pm...
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FAMILY’S BACKTO SCHOOL NIGHTMARE
A Wishaw mum slammed the council after two of her children were left stuck at home when school returned. Fiona Graham spoke out after kids Jaxon and Peyton were due to be transported to Fir Park Secondary together.
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HEARTBREAKAS FIRERIPS THROUGH WISHAW YMCA
The heartbroken team behind Wishaw YMCA say they “don’t know how to give up” as they vow to try and maintain the vital community facility after it was hit by a devastating fire at the weekend. Six fire appliances raced to the scene on Sunday night...
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COUNCILLOR SUSPENDED IN‘SEXUAL MESSAGES’ CLAIMS
A North Lanarkshire Labour councillor has been suspended over claims of sexually inappropriate messaging. Motherwell North councillor Andrew Duffy-Lawson also quit as finance convener at the council last Thursday morning. He is understood to have...
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156PATIENTSWAIT 12HOURS ATA&E
Over one third of patients at University Hospital Wishaw’s A&E department waited more than eight hours for treatment shock new figures have revealed. The latest A&E waiting time figures show that for the week ending July 6, 564 patients were seen...
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120MPH DANGER DRIVER INCOPCHASE
A driver clocked at least 120mph in atrocious weather as he fled from the police. Marc Burns, 32, was banned from driving for 22 months and ordered to resit his test when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court. Burns admitted driving dangerously and...
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LIFE-SAVING KITTRASHED BYVANDALS
A dim-witted individual has stolen vital parts from a public defibrillator in Wishaw – rendering it useless. The life-saving machinery was within a closed but unlocked cabinet at the Veterans’ Centre (Lanarkshire) Community Hub in Shieldmuir Street,...
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TERMINALLY ILLDADIN SADDLE FOR4000 MILE ROAD TRIP
A brave terminally ill Wishaw dad and his wife are set to embark on a road trip of more than 4000 miles from Lanarkshire to Portugal to raise funds for a charity close to their hearts. Steven Cross, 57, and his wife Lorraine, 51, have visited the town...
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DELIVERY DRIVER EARNED £400KFROM DRUGSGANG
A delivery driver serving time for organised crime offences made almost half a million pounds from illegal activities, a court has heard. Anthony Kelly, 38, made a total of £462,375 from his involvement in drug dealing in Lanarkshire between August...
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WEEWARRIORZAC SMILEDRIGHT UNTIL THEEND
The mother of a Motherwell schoolboy has paid tribute to her “magical wee warrior”. Zac Gunn passed away peacefully in London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital on Monday, June 9, just weeks after receiving a long-awaited lung transplant. His devastated...
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GIGANTICPLANS
Plans for a huge Battery Energy Storage Facility (BESS) near Wishaw have been formally submitted to North Lanarkshire Council. The proposed development on land at Harestonhill Farm near Waterloo will comprise 400 containerised battery storage units,...
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BLAZERIPS THROUGH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
The owner of a fire-ravaged North Lanarkshire garage has said he has no idea what caused the devastating blaze which is understood to have gutted three businesses in a Cleland industrial estate. Mindagas Virketis told the Wishaw Press that a huge fire...
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HELPBUILD BRIGHTNEW FUTUREFOR THEYMCA
Wishaw tradesmen and builders are wanted to help restore one of the town’s famous old buildings to its former glory. Members of Wishaw YMCA are asking for the community’s help to restore its Main Street base. YM Chair Mary Jean Ferguson said: “Any...
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TEEN GANG INVADE PETROL STATION FORECOURT TERROR AS BALACLAVA TEENSTOSS FLARE
Teenage yobs have been slammed after lighting a flare in the forecourt of a petrol station in Newmains. The youths were captured on CCTV causing havoc at the Cooper Brothers filing station in Overtown Road, with shocked staff contacting police after...
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JAMESONRIGHT TRACKIN 24-HOUR EPIC RUN
Less than a week after completing the London Marathon in a personal best time a Wishaw man took on a gruelling 24-hour running challenge, clocking up almost another 100 miles. James Paterson decided to take on the 24-hour Tough of the Track at...
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COCAINE MUM HAD DRUG DEAL MESSAGES ON PHONE
A Wishaw mum caught with cocaine worth £12,000 had messages on her phones that suggested she’d been involved in drug dealing for more than a year. Lyndsey Paton, 40, admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A substance between July 2022 and...
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TERRIFIEDDAD ATTACKED BYROAD RAGE TRUCKDRIVER
A truck driver who attacked a motorist has been banned from the road for 18 months. Kristopher Lorimer, 38, must also do 300 hours of unpaid work and will be confined to his home each night under a 12-month electronic tagging order. Hamilton Sheriff...
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TOWN CENTRE FIXTURES UP FOR SALE
Wishaw town centre has been rocked with the news that two of Main Street’s most well-established businesses have been put up for sale by their owners. A fixture in the town for decades, The Waverley Bar has been put on the market with a guide price of...
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Award for ‘an angel on Earth’
A Wishaw hospital midwife who went above and beyond to support a mum and dad who lost their twin baby boys has been presented with an award recognising her compassion. Natasha Allan-Reeves, 25, had only qualified as a midwife six months before Hannah...
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FOODFOR THOUGHT ASCAFE CLOSES
A charity community cafe in Wishaw has announced its closure due to rising costs. The Food for Thought Cafe, run by the Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health (LAMH), in Wishaw’s Kirk Road was housed in the old Classic Cinema on the street, a grade...
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GRANDDESIGN TAKING SHAPE
The first phase of North Lanarkshire Council’s Gowkthrapple masterplan has been completed. Phase one, which is on the site of the former Caplaw Tower, sees 97 new council homes for rent delivered, including an amenity house for local people to meet in...
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FATAL ACCIDENT INQUIRY FINDINGS INTO NEWBORN DEATHS BABIESCOULD’VE BEENSAVEDHAD THEIRMUMS RECEIVED PROPERCARE
A Fatal Accident Inquiry has revealed that three babies who died within hours of being born may have lived if their mums had been given proper health care. Two of the babies who tragically lost their lives, newborns Ellie McCormick and Mira-Belle...
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KNIFEPOINTBOOZE RAIDTERROR Thug in alcohol demand
A woman looking for alcohol tried to rob a Wishaw shopkeeper at knifepoint after telling him she had no money to pay for it. Shareen McKay was foiled by the brave man who was joined in a struggle by a staff member from a neighbouring store. At...
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FACTORY INVESTS £2.9M IN FUTURE Pupils get to work
A Wishaw primary school put inspiring careers at the forefront of their World of Work Week. Pupils at St Ignatius’ Primary were treated to talks and presentations from parents and carers who volunteered to share their experiences with the...
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PRISONTERMFOR DRUNKMAN CAUGHT WITHKNIFE
Police who stopped to help an intoxicated man in Wishaw town centre found he was carrying a knife. David MacAulay, 43, was jailed for 14 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He admitted possession of a lockback knife in McAlpine Street on...
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COUNCIL BUDGET SPECIAL MAJORHUB INVESTMENT ...BUTHUGE TAXHIKE
20&21 Three new community hubs will be built after North Lanarkshire Council confirmed major investment plans in setting its budget for the next year. One of the new hubs, which will include state-of-the-art primary schools, will be built in...
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COUNCILTAX TOSOARBUT NOCUTS Extra cash will help authority balance books TOSERVICES
North Lanarkshire Council’s finance convener insisted there will be no cuts to services in this year’s budget for the first time in 15 years – but also confirmed a 10 per cent council tax rise. Councillor Andrew Duffy-Lawson acknowledged the council...
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£40CHARGE TO LIFT GARDEN WASTE
North Lanarkshire Council is to introduce an annual charge of £40 to dispose of garden waste from June 1. “All councils are facing real challenges as they try to deliver local services with less money each year,” said Councillor Helen Loughran,...
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LAST MAN STANDING IS READY TO MOVE ON
A man who refused to l eave a condemned housing estate that council bosses want to demolish has accepted a move to another property. Retired bank worker Nick Wisniewski had been living on his own in the derelict Stanhope Place buildings for three...
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MUM’S 50-HOUR WAIT IN ‘WAR ZONE’ HOSPITAL
A woman was left lying on a trolley in Wishaw’s A& E unit for almost 50 hours before receiving vital treatment. Mother-of-two Lynn Nelson – who was suffering from flu, pneumonia and a collapsed lung – said she believed she was going to die. Mrs...
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‘UNSAFE BUS CUTS PUT MY SON AT RISK’
A Wishaw schoolboy and his mum are backing the campaign to reinstate free school transport for high school pupils in North Lanarkshire. Amanda Smith’s son Klayton attends Clyde Valley High. He was one of thousands in North Lanarkshire whose right to...
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KILLER JAILED FOR STABBING PAL THROUGH HEART
A killer who stabbed his friend through the heart during a frenzied attack has been jailed. F r ancis McConna c h i e murdered Thomas O’Rourke, 21, after a row between the pair broke out on Coldstream Crescent in Wishaw on February 24,...
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DELIVERING BAGS OF KINDNESS
Over 50 emergency bags of food were handed out to needy families in Wishaw over the festive period. Wishaw Community Foodbank, run by members of South Wishaw Parish Church, have been helping to feed hungry individuals and families within the...
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‘UNSAFE’ SCHOOL WALK ROUTE RETHINK
An ‘unsafe’ school walking route will be reassessed by the council in the new year. SNP Councillor Fiona Fotheringham, representing Central Wishaw, escalated the concerns of parents of children who attend Clyde Valley High. She said: “The route does...
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BLESSED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
A Wishaw church has thanked the public for their amazing generosity helping to provide toys for hard-up kids this Christmas. Since 2021, Pathway Church in Wishaw have partnered with MADE4U IN ML2 on their annual community Christmas Toy Drive to help...
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Life for Kevan’s killer
A former soldier who stabbed a man to death at the door of his home was jailed for life on Monday for the brutal murder of his victim. Stephen McGhee, 48, was ordered to serve at least 21 years in prison before he becomes eligible to seek release on...
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CHURCHES CLOSE FOR WORSHIP
Two Wishaw churches are set to close for worship thanks to radical plans announced by the Church of Scotland. The Presbytery of Forth Valley and Clydesdale have taken the decision to amalgamate St Mark’s Church in Coltness, Wishaw Old and Cambusnethan...
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SOUND ALARM OVER A&E WAIT TIMES
The Scottish Government has been accused of “being unprepared” for winter following the release of the latest NHS accident and emergency figures for Lanarkshire. For the week ending November 17, University Hospital Wishaw was the area’s busiest as...
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GIFT OF GIVING
A Wishaw church and community group have launched a toy appeal to help families struggling this Christmas. Since 2021, Pathway Church in Wishaw have partnered with MADE4U IN ML2 on their annual community Christmas Toy Drive to help children in the ML2...
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JUSTICE FOR KEVAN Police praise public for support
A fleet-footed young girl from Motherwell is making her mark in the world of Irish dancing. Hannah Fraser, a P3 pupil at Cathedral Primary, only took it up a couple of years ago but is racking up the trophies and titles. The six-year-old has produced...
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ANGER AS BIKE TRACK TORCHED
Mindless vandals have wrecked part of a wellused pump track in Craigneuk. The yobs left a small bonfire on the Wishawhill Wood track, leaving the surface badly damaged. Dan Scott, from Socialtrack, who run a variety of activities at the track, said:...
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PITCH PERFECT
A grassroots football club has had its request to take over a rundown football facility in Overtown approved in principle. Fir Park Corner FC took a major step forward in its campaign to regenerate Overtown Sports Pitch and Pavilion on Castlehill Road...
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LAST MAN WILL BE FORCED OUT OF FLAT
North Lanarkshire Council has been authorised to use a compulsory purchase order to obtain the last remaining privately- owned flat in a Gowkthrapple estate so it can build new houses on the site. This is the latest development in a long-running...
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‘UNBEARABLE’ ITCH TURNED OUT TO BE CANCER Niamh’s skin irritation dismissed as allergy
A brave teenager who was suffering from an “unbearable” itch has been diagnosed with a rare cancer. Niamh Connell, 15, developed a “constant” irritation across her body in June, which was initially dismissed as an allergic reaction. Her GP advised...
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MY PAIN FEAR ANDREW HAS PIONEERING TRANSPLANT GONE AFTER Life turned around for young dad SURGERY TRIAL
A Wishaw dad is hoping to be saved from years of knee pain after taking part in an international transplant surgery trial. Andrew Pollock, 29, has become the first patient in Lanarkshire to receive a replacement meniscus – a pad of knee cartilage that...
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Residents evacuated during terrifying two-week fire spree
A notorious firestarter caused more than £ 100,000 of damage in a spate of blazes in Wishaw. Alan Beck’s targets included a base for offenders carrying out unpaid community work. Beck, 45, wh who has previously set fire to ho houses, a nursing home...
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RBS CONFIRMS BRANCH CLOSURE ‘NO THANKS’ FROM BANK
Wishaw politicians have lamented the loss of the town’s RBS branch. Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed the closure of four Lanarkshire bank branches, including Wishaw, which were previously granted a reprieve amidst ongoing scrutiny. Despite hopes...
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