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Image copyright News Letter

Image copyright Daily Mirror

Snow has caused "chaos" and "mayhem" in Northern Ireland, according to Wednesday's papers.

The Belfast Telegraph says the wintry blast led to treacherous conditions on the roads with 15 crashes and the cancellation of bus services.

It adds that drivers reported "horror" journeys, thousands of homes were left without power and many schools closed.

The News Letter says the snowiest place was Glenanne, County Armagh, where 8ins (21c) of snow was recorded.

Image copyright PSNI Cookstown Image caption Police posted a photo of 'just one of the many' crashes they dealt with in the snow

Elsewhere in the county, the paper reports that Craigavon Area Hospital's emergency department was "bursting at the seams" on Monday night.

'The worst yet'

It quotes SDLP councillor Declan McAlinden who visited the hospital after receiving a call from concerned staff.

He described the scene as "bedlam" and "the worst yet" with 10 ambulances waiting outside to offload patients.

The Southern Health Trust apologised to patients who experienced "lengthy waiting times" but described the situation on Monday as a "spike in activity" which was "quite normal for an emergency department".

Image caption The trust said the number of ambulances at Craigavon was 'not unexpected' at this time of year

A medical miracle makes the front page of the Irish News, with the heart-warming story of a sister and brother who cheated death against the odds.

Mary and Fintan O'Neill were both knocked down after getting off their school bus and suffered serious head injuries and other wounds.

Their mother, who was the first on the scene, says she found the children on the road "holding on to each other".

Amelia O'Neill says doctors told her "only a miracle" would save her daughter's life and at one point, the family were told Mary might be brain dead.

One year on, Mary's recovery has "astounded" medics and the family are counting their blessings as the "luckiest people in the world".

'DUP distain'

A frank TV interview with Gaelic games commentator Joe Brolly is widely reported in Wednesday's papers.

Image caption Joe Brolly complained that half of the Irish rugby team 'aren't even from Ireland'

He says middle-class Catholics have lost faith in attempts to create a shared society in Northern Ireland and says the opportunity and hope created by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has been wasted.

He largely blames what he describes as the "contempt and distain" shown at DUP conferences, and said former DUP leader Peter Robinson was thwarted in his attempts to build confidence among Catholics.

The Irish News focuses on his comments about the Irish rugby team.

Mr Brolly said the sport was being "destroyed" by professionalism, and claimed that "half the [national] team aren't even from Ireland".

The paper says the remark is "likely to prove controversial".

The Irish News also carries provocative comments from former first minister of Northern Ireland, David Trimble.

Image caption Lord Trimble urged the government to cut Sinn Féin MPs' expenses

Lord Trimble accuses Sinn Féin of collapsing the Northern Ireland Assembly in order to use Brexit to further their cause for the reunification of Ireland.

He also suggested that the government should the party's Westminster expenses allowances as its MPs do not sit in Parliament.

On the topic of abstentionist MPs, speculation continues on who will challenge Sinn Féin in the forthcoming by-election in West Tyrone following the resignation of Barry McElduff.

Kevin Skelton, whose wife was murdered in the Omagh bomb in 1998, tells the News Letter he would "love to stand" to provide a voice for Trouble victims at Westminster.

'Wonderful idea'

The widower says the most important thing would be to have "the respect of both communities".

However, victims' campaigner Alan McBride, who was widowed by an IRA bomb in 1993, warned the idea could be "toxic" and "very bad for the victims' community".

He argues it would inevitably lead to questions about their impartiality, with people asking: "Whose victim are they?"

The Daily Mirror reveals that Ann Travers - whose sister was shot dead by the IRA in 1984 - has been approached to run in the by-election.

'Storm of a voice'

Ms Travers has ruled herself out due to family and work commitments but said a Troubles "legacy candidate" was a "wonderful idea".

Image copyright Reuters Image caption U2 called the late Dolores O'Riordan Limerick's 'Bel Canto'

The paper leads with police confirmation that there was no foul play in the sudden death of the Cranberries singer, Dolores O'Riordan.

It carries the poignant final photo she posted on her Instagram account, when she revealed her New Year's Eve celebrations would be a night in with her boyfriend, having a takeaway in her pyjamas.

It carries a tribute from Bono and U2 to Limerick's "Bel Canto".

The band tweeted: "Out of the west came this storm of a voice - she has such strength of conviction yet she could speak to the fragility in all of us.


Image caption This car came to grief on a snowy road near Ballyclare, County Antrim

More than 280 schools in Northern Ireland are closed on Wednesday because of heavy snow.

The Met Office said it expected a gradual improvement through the day. It issued a yellow warning for snow from 18:00 GMT on Wednesday till 06:00 on Thursday.

A further yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from 09:00 GMT on Thursday to 24:00 on Friday.

Northern Ireland Electricity said about 600 customers remained without power.

Delays on roads are possible, however, and drivers are urged to take care.

The Department for Infrastructure salted the roads overnight with snow ploughs operating where necessary.

"Resources are currently focussed on road salting operations, however, we will endeavour to restock salt bins and salt piles on public roads for community self-help as quickly as possible and when safe to do so," it said.

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Dog walkers on Divis Mountain above Belfast

The department said a multi-agency group was meeting on Wednesday to monitor the weather and make emergency planning arrangements.

"Despite our best efforts we cannot guarantee ice-free roads even after salting and rain can wash salt off the road and ice may form," it cautioned.

'Considerable covering'

By Geoff Maskell, BBC News NI weather presenter

Where the snow was lightest overnight - with just a couple of centimetres of lying snow - we have seen a slight thaw through the early hours of this morning.

However, the wet and slushy roads do not necessarily make the driving conditions any easier and a YELLOW severe weather warning for snow and ice remains in place after the earlier AMBER warning expired at 08:00 GMT.

Through the day, wintry showers will top up the levels where there is lying snow and some areas have a considerable covering.

Image caption The scene on Slemish Mountain on Wednesday morning

At 05:00, the weather stations at Glenanne, Lough Fea and Ballypatrick were recording snow depths of 22 cm, 14 cm and 11 cm respectively.

The wintry showers will turn increasingly to rain by the afternoon.

However, the winds are building and there is the potential for gusts of 60-70 mph quite widely on Wednesday evening, perhaps reaching 80 mph in some places.

Along with the strong winds, a spell of heavy rain can also be expected, turning to snow for a time with the potential to add another 2-8 cm to snow depths in some places.

Watch: Northern Ireland weather forecast

Translink suspended all bus services on Tuesday night, but services resumed on Wednesday morning.

Its rail services were continuing to operate, although delays are expected throughout Wednesday.

There were also delays to air travel because of bad weather, although Northern Ireland's three main airports were operating as normal on Wednesday morning.

The Rathlin Island ferry has cancelled all of its Spirit of Rathlin sailings on Wednesday. Rathlin Express sailings have been cancelled until 14:00 GMT when a decision will be made regarding a crossing later in the day.

Image copyright PACEMAKER Image caption Widespread disruption caused after heavy snow fell overnight

Overnight, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency assisted the Southern Health Trust in using 4x4s to transport nurses to vulnerable people who were snow-bound in the Warrenpoint and Newry area.

Skip Twitter post by @PSNIBelfastN Wintry conditions on many roads throughout the country this morning. Please take care if driving and leave yourself plenty of time for your journey. Please also keep distance between you and the vehicle in front even on roads that appear to be clear. — PSNI North Belfast (@PSNIBelfastN) January 17, 2018 Report

About 23,000 customers had been without electricity at some stage on Tuesday.

Image copyright Pacemaker Image caption Frozen food on the menu for this country dweller

Cavan and Monaghan

Storm Fionn brought heavy snow to the Republic of Ireland, where an orange snow and ice warning is in place until 12:00 local time on Thursday.

About 2,000 homes, farms and businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan are without power.

The Republic's Road Safety Authority has urged motorists to take care on the roads, particularly drivers of high-sided vehicles during the strong winds.

Image copyright Press Eye Image caption Traffic making its way into a snowy Belfast

Wednesday night's Gaelic football Dr McKenna Cup semi-final between Donegal and Armagh has been postponed following a pitch inspection in Ballybofey, County Donegal.

The game is now expected to be played at the weekend.

Have you been affected by snow in your area? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:


Northern Ireland will take on South Korea for the first time in a friendly at Windsor Park in March.

From the section Football


Image copyright PAcemaker

A man in his 60s has died following a collision with a lorry in County Antrim.

It happened on Main Street in Broughshane shortly after 09:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Insp Peter Duncan said: "The road was closed for a number of hours following the collision but has since reopened."

Police have asked anyone who saw the collision, or who has any information, to come forward.

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