FactCheckNI

@factcheckni.bsky.social

FactCheckNI is Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated not for profit fact checking and training service. Accuracy matters.

A widely shared post claimed 85% of women murdered in Ireland this year were killed by foreign migrants. We examined the evidence. Our verdict: Unsubstantiated. There is no official police data to support the claim, and publicly available evidence points to a substantially lower figure.

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Financial pressure is not the same as underfunding. Northern Ireland’s public finances are under immense strain, but that’s not the same as evidence that Westminster has underfunded NI.

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📊 Have child poverty levels in Northern Ireland fallen significantly? The latest official figures show child poverty rates fell from 21% to 16% in 2024/25. But the picture is more nuanced than a single headline figure suggests.

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Immigration debates in NI often focus on asylum seekers.But what do the latest figures actually show? An explainer we published last year has been referenced recently,so we’ve updated it with the latest data 📊 How many people are seeking asylum in NI 📊 How NI compares with the rest of the UK

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A recent political cartoon about migration in Northern Ireland is attracting attention online. The image appears to assume migrants receive free housing, free money and free healthcare. The reality is much more nuanced. Different groups have different legal statuses, rights and entitlements.

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🔍 FACT CHECK We examined a claim by DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley that people of Somali descent are more likely to commit crimes than other immigrant groups in the UK. 📊 To assess the claim, we reviewed the available data and consulted expert analysis. 👇

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In the hours after a major incident, information travels fast. Unfortunately, rumours and misinformation often travel even faster. Police and community leaders have urged people not to share unverified claims that could cause further harm to families,communities and ongoing investigations.

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Northern Ireland’s renewable energy story is more complicated than “we stalled after 2016.” Our latest prebunk breaks down what the data really shows about wind power growth, why the 80% by 2030 target matters, and how misleading claims can shape the debate.

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🚩 Prebunk / Explainer: PSNI guidance on harmful flags Public discussions about flags in NI can quickly become confusing and misinformation can spread easily. Our latest article looks at the PSNI’s new instruction on removing harmful flags and clarifies what it actually means in practice. 👇

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The claim that regional inequality has doubled in Northern Ireland is not accurate. 📈Stats show Belfast’s output per person grew faster than average but that’s not a full measure of regional inequality. Read why here 👇

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Will new EU customs fees apply to parcels in Northern Ireland? 📦 We found the answer is more complicated than some claims suggest. Our latest fact check explains what’s confirmed, what won’t apply, and what’s still unclear. Read our full analysis ⬇️

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📈Trade between NI, GB and Ireland has increased in recent years. 👉 While the figures cited in support of the Windsor Framework are broadly accurate, trade volumes were already rising before the framework was agreed in 2023, meaning the data alone does not show its impact on trade.

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📊Are Northern Ireland’s breastfeeding rates among the lowest in Europe? A new @FactCheckNI analysis finds that while international data comparisons are imperfect, current evidence suggests NI lags behind the rest of the UK - and the UK sits near the bottom in Europe. Read the full breakdown 👇

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A new year doesn’t need louder opinions, it needs clearer facts. In 2026, FactCheckNI will keep checking claims, explaining the evidence, and separating fact from spin in Northern Ireland. Because accuracy still matters.

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