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Val Sweeney


Senior reporter

Val Sweeney is an award-winning and experienced journalist. Having worked on several newspapers in the north of England in various roles as a reporter and feature writer, she joined the Inverness Courier in 2001.

WATCH: Lack of affordable housing in the Highlands adding to crisis in recruiting care staff

10 February 2025
WATCH: Lack of affordable housing in the Highlands adding to crisis in recruiting care staff

WATCH: Lack of affordable housing in the Highlands adding to crisis in recruiting care staff

10 February 2025

A lack of affordable housing in the Highlands is fuelling the social care staffing crisis, care homes across the region are warning.


Gold award for breastfeeding support provided by Highland Council and NHS Highland

06 February 2025
Gold award for breastfeeding support provided by Highland Council and NHS Highland

Gold award for breastfeeding support provided by Highland Council and NHS Highland

06 February 2025

The high level of support provided to breastfeeding mothers in the Highlands has been recognised with a gold award.


Major disruption for train services in Highlands continues in wake of Storm Eowyn

25 January 2025
Major disruption for train services in Highlands continues in wake of Storm Eowyn

Major disruption for train services in Highlands continues in wake of Storm Eowyn

25 January 2025

Train services across the Highlands continue to be affected today in the wake of Storm Éowyn.


Met Office issues yellow warning for snow and ice in north of Scotland

06 January 2025
Met Office issues yellow warning for snow and ice in north of Scotland

Met Office issues yellow warning for snow and ice in north of Scotland

06 January 2025

Further wintry showers may lead to some travel disruption in the Highlands amid a yellow weather warning for snow and ice.


Risk of flooding in Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey on Hogmanay

30 December 2024
Risk of flooding in Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey on Hogmanay

Risk of flooding in Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey on Hogmanay

30 December 2024

Flood barriers have been installed in Nairn as an amber weather warning from the Met Office is due to take effect from just after midnight (Tuesday).


Police ask farmers to check fields and outbuildings as search continues for man reported missing in Aviemore

30 December 2024
Police ask farmers to check fields and outbuildings as search continues for man reported missing in Aviemore

Police ask farmers to check fields and outbuildings as search continues for man reported missing in Aviemore

30 December 2024

Police are asking farmers to check their fields and any outbuildings for a man who has been reported missing in the Aviemore area since December 17.


First Minister to chair emergency meeting as heavy rain warning in Highlands upgraded to amber on Hogmanay

30 December 2024
First Minister to chair emergency meeting as heavy rain warning in Highlands upgraded to amber on Hogmanay

First Minister to chair emergency meeting as heavy rain warning in Highlands upgraded to amber on Hogmanay

30 December 2024

​​The ​Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGORR) has activated as weather warnings for rain were upgraded to amber.


Police issue appeal for help to trace man reported missing in Aviemore

22 December 2024
Police issue appeal for help to trace man reported missing in Aviemore

Police issue appeal for help to trace man reported missing in Aviemore

22 December 2024

Police in Aviemore are appealing for help to trace Marc Drostle, who has been reported missing.


Hundreds of tributes pour in following the death of ‘legendary’ Highland baker Harry Gow

21 December 2024
Hundreds of tributes pour in following the death of ‘legendary’ Highland baker Harry Gow

Hundreds of tributes pour in following the death of ‘legendary’ Highland baker Harry Gow

21 December 2024

Tributes have poured in following the death of Highland baker Harry Gow aged 89.


New mental health service for young people in Highlands delivers hundreds of sessions

09 December 2024
New mental health service for young people in Highlands delivers hundreds of sessions

New mental health service for young people in Highlands delivers hundreds of sessions

09 December 2024

A new mental health service for young people in the Highlands has delivered hundreds of sessions since opening its doors.


Growing calls to halt proposals for future funding of women’s aid services in Highlands

04 December 2024
Growing calls to halt proposals for future funding of women’s aid services in Highlands

Growing calls to halt proposals for future funding of women’s aid services in Highlands

04 December 2024

Calls are growing for an urgent rethink on proposals which could affect services for women and children affected by domestic abuse in the Highlands.


Domestic abuse services in the Highlands at risk under council’s funding plans, warn Women’s Aid services

26 November 2024
Domestic abuse services in the Highlands at risk under council’s funding plans, warn Women’s Aid services

Domestic abuse services in the Highlands at risk under council’s funding plans, warn Women’s Aid services

26 November 2024

Domestic abuse services for women and children in the Highlands could close under funding plans by Highland Council, Women’s Aid groups are warning.


Man dies after four-vehicle crash on A9

19 November 2024
Man dies after four-vehicle crash on A9

Man dies after four-vehicle crash on A9

19 November 2024

A man has died following a crash involving a lorry and three other vehicles on the A9 near Ballinluig.


School staff in Highlands suffering average of almost 8 assaults a day, shock figures reveal

14 November 2024
School staff in Highlands suffering average of almost 8 assaults a day, shock figures reveal

School staff in Highlands suffering average of almost 8 assaults a day, shock figures reveal

14 November 2024

School staff in the Highlands are suffering an average of almost eight physical or verbal assaults every day, official figures have revealed.


Stop ‘salami slicing’ of applications for major energy projects, demand community councils across the Highlands

28 September 2024
Stop ‘salami slicing’ of applications for major energy projects, demand community councils across the Highlands

Stop ‘salami slicing’ of applications for major energy projects, demand community councils across the Highlands

28 September 2024

A growing number of community councils in the Highlands have joined forces calling for greater clarity on plans for major energy projects.


Inverness airport passengers continue to experience delays going through security

27 August 2024
Inverness airport passengers continue to experience delays going through security

Inverness airport passengers continue to experience delays going through security

27 August 2024

Air passengers flying from Inverness are still being advised to arrive early as work continues to resolve a technical issue with a security scanner.


Drug deaths in Highlands fell in 2023, new figures reveal

20 August 2024
Drug deaths in Highlands fell in 2023, new figures reveal

Drug deaths in Highlands fell in 2023, new figures reveal

20 August 2024

The number of people in the Highlands who died due to drug misuse last year has shown a marked decrease.


‘A festival fit for its 20th anniversary’ is verdict of Belladrum producer as festival-goers head home

28 July 2024
‘A festival fit for its 20th anniversary’ is verdict of Belladrum producer as festival-goers head home

‘A festival fit for its 20th anniversary’ is verdict of Belladrum producer as festival-goers head home

28 July 2024

It has been a Belladrum Festival fit for its 20th anniversary, according to event producder Dougie Brown.


Why did it take so long for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire election result to be announced?

08 July 2024
Why did it take so long for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire election result to be announced?

Why did it take so long for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire election result to be announced?

08 July 2024

Questions are being asked about why it took so long to declare the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency result in the General Election.


Still to receive or return your postal vote in the Highlands?

30 June 2024
Still to receive or return your postal vote in the Highlands?

Still to receive or return your postal vote in the Highlands?

30 June 2024

Advice has been issued for voters in the Highlands who have yet to receive or return their postal votes.


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