May 2025: Looking back on the Derry defining stories of the year

It was revealed in May, Derry BT workers affected by the company’s shock announcement it was closing its Derry operation would receive a redundancy payment comprising one month’s pay for every 12 months they had worked for the company.

The payment was capped at 12 months - a maximum of one year’s payout - meaning the many employees who have worked for BT for longer than 12 years will receive no additional payment.

140 people were made redundant in May as a result of the BT action, while a limited number were offered relocation to Belfast.
Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) national officer Tracey Fussey said BT’s decision to close operations in Derry and offshore the work to India had “left workers and the local community stunned”.

In a statement to The Derry News, Ms Fussey added: “After the loss of hundreds of [BT] jobs at Enniskillen and Belfast in the past year, this comes as yet another blow to communities already suffering from a lack of investment and opportunity.

“CWU members are hugely disappointed with the decision, and will be doing all they can to protect jobs and identify suitable alternatives.”

A young mother told The Derry News she was afraid for her life following a terrifying ordeal in the Shantallow area of Derry.

Echo Echo Dance Company

There was further bad news for the city with the announcement funding had been completely pulled from a Derry dance theatre company.

According to Echo Echo dance theatre company, the Arts Council has cut 100% to its annual funding provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Funding Programme.

The company said the declined funding of £112,910 would have contributed to three full-time staff salaries and building overheads at Echo Echo Studios for financial year 2025/26.

A statement from Echo Echo's board, staff and artists said: "This decision comes as a great shock to all involved in the company.

“We are currently assessing the impact that this cut will have on the future of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company and our home studios.

"We will be meeting with ACNI to discuss this decision soon."This is an immediate existential threat to the company but we expect to continue all of our current programmes and keep Echo Echo Studios open and staffed for at least the next three months as we consider all of our options.”

A spokesperson for the Arts Council said: "As an Arts Council client and multi-grant recipient, Echo Echo Dance Company has accessed funding from many of our programmes, including the Annual Funding Programme (AFP).

"Unfortunately, with disappointment this year Echo Echo did not receive 25-26 AFP funding. We are seeking a meeting with Echo Echo on their immediate plans.

"We want to reassure the dance community in Northern Ireland that public investment in dance in the Derry City and the North-West region remains a priority and we will be working to ensure that provision for dance continues.”

Targeted attack 

Later in May, a young mother told The Derry News she was afraid for her life following a terrifying ordeal in the Shantallow area of Derry.

Courtney McFadden was in bed in the early hours of Friday morning when she heard a loud bang outside her Drumleck Drive home.

In what she described as the “second targeted attack” in a year, Ms McFadden then witnessed her car being engulfed in flames.

“There was glass shattering and debris was flying everywhere,” she said. “I was afraid for my life and for the lives of everybody around me.”

Ms McFadden said the attack had left her shaken.

Mums Jenny Beveridge and Cathy Burke enjoying the One Big Walk in the Park for World Maternal Mental Health Day.

Mobuoy Dump scandal

It became public in May, City Industrial Waste Limited, one of the two companies responsible for the Mobuoy Dump scandal, has gone into insolvency.

The company, which had a registered office at Recycling Centre, 60, Mobuoy Road, Campsie, on the outskirts of Derry, was wound up on the order of the North’s High Court of Justice on May 8, 2025.

According to the official court documentation, winding up was done on the petition of The Department of Finance of Land and Property Services (Rating), presented to the Court on March 10, 2025.

Character reference

Later in the month, it emerged a Derry peace-building intermediary provided a character reference to prominent loyalist Winston Irvine.

In the reference, City Centre Manager Jim Roddy described Winston Irvine as “honest” and “trustworthy”.

Trial documents obtained by Belfast Telegraph journalist, Sam McBride, revealed Jim Roddy and former Methodist Church president, Reverend Harold Good, had provided a joint, written statement of character for Irvine following his arrest in 2022.

Anti-Racism Charter 

May also saw the launch of the North West Anti-Racism Charter, which was developed at a meeting held in Derry as part of the 2025 commemoration of Bloody Sunday.

The Charter pledges supporters to: “Oppose all harm by words and actions on the basis of difference of race and colour… live together, love together, struggle together, thrive together… hold ourselves and others to account for racist words and actions… commit to policies and practices that oppose division by race and colour… promote these attitudes throughout our region in the north west of Ireland… say no to racism.”

The charter was launched by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr and Inishowen Municipal District Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Terry Crossan in Bridgend in County Donegal.