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

Derry City and Strabane District councillors unanimously agreed to write to Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan regarding the "dilapidation" of a school building in the city, in November.

Raising the issue at a full Council meeting, Cllr Aisling Hutton (Sinn Féin) highlighted the ongoing situation at St Eugene’s Primary School, near the city centre.

Cllr Hutton said it was not the first time the infrastructure of schools in the city and district had been the topic of conversation at Council.

“St Eugene’s Primary School, which is in The Moor DEA, was set across two sites. However, at the minute, because of the dilapidation of one of the buildings, the school is now operating with more than 200 children and staff in one site of the school,” added Cllr Hutton.

“There has been a budget set. There has been a timeline set in relation to the refurbishment of the older building which is [scheduled] for 2027. I have visited the school. I have spoken with the school principal and I would propose that we write to the Education Minister asking if he and his team could maybe source more resources so that the works’ timeline can be expedited in relation to this school.

“I think it is very, very important for the well-being of the staff and the children and also the health and safety aspect of the school, given where it is situated,” said Cllr Hutton.

A young girl pictured with Santa at the Culmore Community Partnership’s “Elf Parade and Christmas lights switch-on” at the Culmore Community Hub. PHOTO: Tom Heaney, nwpresspics.

Nolan show underfire from listenners with disabilities

In November, BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘The Nolan Show’ came under fire for what have been described as “inaccurate claims” made about the Motability Scheme.

The scheme enables disabled people in receipt of certain disability benefits, their families and their carers to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.

Several people, including Sinead Quinn, a disability activist from Derry leasing a Motability car, have lodged a complaint with the BBC about the content of The Nolan Show broadcast on November 5.

According to Ms Quinn the complaint has also been sent to Tim Davie, the corporation’s director-general, and Adam Smyth, the director of BBC NI.

Ms Quinn said the entire debate was “set up on a false pretence”.

“Claims were made in the programme that young people were accessing luxury cars via the Motability scheme, and there were no rules in place ensuring the cars were used for the benefit of the disabled person,” said Ms Quinn. “These are inaccurate claims, made freely by the presenter, and easily debunked by ‘googling’ or going to the Motability website.”

Family warns others to push for echocardiogram results

Also in November, a Derry woman whose father died suddenly is urging anyone sent for an echocardiogram for potential heart problems, to make sure the results are sent to their GP.

Nadine Hamilton’s father Terence Moore, affectionately known as ‘Digger’, died on June 15, 2022, from a massive heart attack.
Ms Hamilton said: “My father died three months after he underwent an echocardiogram in Altnagelvin Hospital on March 21, 2022.

“My sister and I were devastated by his death. Daddy was central to our family. He meant the world to Erin and me.

“But as well as trying to cope with our grief, we are angry that the results of my daddy’s echocardiogram were not communicated to his GP. As a result of this mistake, my Daddy received no treatment for his heart condition, treatment which may have prolonged his life.”

Year 8 student Darragh takes centre stage.

Buncrana Road widening no nearer

It appeared in November, the long-awaited widening of Derry’s A2 Buncrana Road has been put on the long finger by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

Daniel Heaney, the department’s western divisional road manager, was questioned about the project by SDLP councillor Rory Farrell at Derry City and Strabane District Council Environment and Regeneration’s committee meeting.

Cllr Farrell said congestion on the Buncrana Road was leading to congestion right across the city. He added there need to be “realistic timescales to have some sort of movement, to unpause that project”.

“We need to see progress and we need to see it soon,” added Cllr Farrell.

Responding, Mr Heaney said: “[The A2 Buncrana Road] is paused at the moment. The design and taking it forward is dependent on the Northwest Transport Plan and that’s due for public consultation in spring 2026.

“So, hopefully, that will be developed next year and that will give some clarity as to when and how the Buncrana Road is taken forward.

“Obviously there is a prioritised list of strategic route improvement schemes out there at the minute that was published earlier this year and because it is paused Buncrana Road was not included in that and once the Northwest Transport Plan is completed, we will be able to get clarity on whether that should be included in future schemes.

“As soon as we have that clarity it will be publicised with regards to whether we take the Buncrana Road through and where it sits in our priority list.”

Cllr Farrell also took issue with the DfI’s allocation of funding to in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, while recognising “the Department is operating in a very difficult financial position”.

“I think nobody will be unaware of the state of disrepair of roads, road markings, street lighting schemes that need updated and upgraded right across this city and district,” said Cllr Farrell.

“But I just want to touch on the spend across this council area. A DUP MLA from North Down, Peter Martin, asked the Infrastructure Minister in September for a breakdown of spend per council area over the last 10 years.

“I have had a look at it. The spend in Derry and Strabane is not great. In the last year we were eighth out of 11 council areas and in the eight years we have data for, we were in the top half on only one occasion,” said Cllr Farrell.

Lisnagelvin site back on market

With offers in the region of £1,000,000 invited, the former Lisnagelvin leisure centre site in Derry’s Waterside was back on the market in November.