Derry's year in review: May 2023

As May began, figures released from The Western Health & Social Care Trust showed that the turnaround times for cervical smear tests have dropped significantly over the last few years.

In 2018, nearly 100% of women would receive their smear test results within 28 days. Latest figures show that only 20.25% of women received their results within a four week window during 2022.

In early May the Derry Chamber of Commerce warned “Key frontline services will be cut across education, the economy and health” following the announcement of the 2023-24 NI Budget delivered by British Secretary of State Chris Haton-Harris. Chamber Chief Executive Anna Doherty said the budget's 'consequences will be felt by all communities, businesses, and families across Northern Ireland'.

In the same week the significantly cut budget was imposed on the North, the new King was crowned in an event that cost between £50 million and £100 million.

The coronation prompted the Bloody Sunday March Committee to unveil a mural at the Free Derry Wall, titled: ‘England’s Bloody Empire - Coronation Special’, depicting King Charles, ex Colonel-in-Chief of the British army’s Parachute Regiment, in full military uniform.

The day after the mural was unveiled, a statement was issued jointly by the Bloody Sunday Trust and the Pat Finucane Centre, Tony Doherty, whose father was murdered on Bloody Sunday. They expressed their 'disgust' that all four battalions of the Parachute Regiment were to take part in the coronation given the ‘gruesome track record of the Paras in Ireland’.

Car parking fines were issued to Derry drivers incorrectly in May due to problems with a system that regulates parking charges at car parks across the city. The most affected car parks were Lesley Retail Park, Crescent Link and the Riverfront Complex.

In mid May over a million pounds in funding was awarded to Derry community groups to 'divert young people away from the threat of paramilitary recruitment.' The International Fund for Ireland granted the money to eight charity and community organisation projects across the North West.

On 14 May Derry Girls won a TV Bafta for scripted comedy. The show's writer and creator, Lisa McGee thanked her home city during her acceptance speech.

On local election day, 18 May, Stormont officials were accused of attempting to 'bully Derry into silence'. The Department for Communities ordered the Derry University Group to remove a billboard highlighting the urgent need for action on the North West.

The billboard sat on the Strand Road and said 'No more promises, no more excuses fix it now. #FiftyYearsofFailure. It's not subjective, it's not debatable. The data doesn't lie.'

In the same week it was revealed that university student fees in Derry were to be raised by over 50%.

As for the election itself, Sinn Féin's success was the biggest talking point. All 18 of its candidates were elected, gaining the party seven more seats than in the 2019 election.

That week the newly elected and re-elected councillors faced a baptism of fire when the Department of Communities cut the Rate Support Grant across the North.

Derry and Strabane Council's budget of £982,450 left what was described as 'an unbudgeted pressure of £807,000 for the current 2023/24 financial year'.

In late May Saoradh said its representatives in Derry were contacted by a number of concerned parents. They stated that young people between the ages of 13 and 16 have been working as 'Juvenile Covert Human Intelligence Sources' for the PSNI.

On 26 May the City was struck by tragedy as young Rebecca Browne was killed in a tragic accident in Buncrana.

The young hairdresser was returning from a night out to where she was staying, close to where she was hit by a Garda car.