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Northern Ireland to participate in trial assessing puberty blocker use
A forthcoming trial aims to evaluate the potential risks and benefits associated with the use of these medications in minors experiencing gender dysphoria.
A clinical trial assessing the effects of puberty-blocking drugs on children questioning their gender is set to include Northern Ireland as a participating site.

This development comes after a review of Northern Ireland's gender identity services, led by Dr. Hilary Cass, which examined the current state of these services.
Dr. Cass emphasized the importance of thorough assessments for children and young people before they are placed on any medical pathway for gender transition, considering their overall well-being.
The review was commissioned by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, who tasked Dr. Cass with evaluating the existing gender services in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Cass, a consultant in pediatric disability and former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, brings extensive expertise to the review.
Previously, she conducted a similar review for NHS England, examining the gender services available to young people.
The NHS England review highlighted significant gaps in research and a lack of robust evidence supporting medical interventions in gender care for children.
Specifically, Dr. Cass's review found insufficient evidence to confirm the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers, which temporarily pause puberty.
Researchers at King's College London are currently undertaking a clinical trial involving approximately 220 children under 16, exploring the impact of these drugs on their overall development.
The trial aims to investigate the physical, social, and emotional effects of the medication on the participating children.
However, the trial has sparked controversy, with some campaigners expressing concerns about its potential risks and ethics.
According to Dr. Cass's review, Northern Ireland is poised to participate in this trial as a research site.
To facilitate this, Dr. Cass noted that significant staff training, changes to clinical processes, and establishment of research infrastructure would be necessary.
She also stressed the need for comprehensive training on all aspects of the research protocol, including preparatory work with young people being considered for puberty blockers.
Dr. Cass underscored the urgency of engaging with the King's College London team leading the trial.
The Belfast Health Trust operates the Brackenburn Clinic, which provides services for adults with gender dysphoria and a separate service, Knowing Our Identity (KOI), for young people.
The clinic currently supports around 150 adults, with 25 new patients each month, and approximately 60-80 children and young people referred to the KOI service annually.
Plans are underway to merge under-18 and adult services into a single "Lifespan Gender Identity Service" to address the growing waiting list for gender services in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Cass was asked to assess whether the proposed changes to services for young people in Northern Ireland align with the recommendations from her previous review in England.
Her review involved meetings with staff and users of gender identity services in Northern Ireland, gathering insights into the current state of these services.
Dr. Cass observed that standardizing services in Northern Ireland with those in England would be beneficial, given the complexities and controversies surrounding this area of medicine.
She emphasized the importance of establishing a safe, standardized clinical pathway from assessment to treatment.
The review called for more research into the characteristics of children seeking treatment and the outcomes for each young person.
Dr. Cass noted that referrals from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have helped facilitate early mental health treatment for young people in Northern Ireland.
However, some CAMHS staff expressed frustration about delays in accessing the KOI service for children and young people on their caseload.
The review highlighted the need for comprehensive assessments that capture the individual needs of young people, enabling tailored interventions before any medical pathway is considered.

The review acknowledged that a small subgroup of children may experience persistent gender incongruence and require ongoing support, possibly including medical interventions.
Dr. Cass stressed the importance of supporting parents in keeping options open and managing distress to avoid premature or inappropriate social transitions.
The review included several recommendations, with a key suggestion being that clinical practice in Northern Ireland should align with that in England.
Dr. Cass noted that the proposed Lifespan model should facilitate a smoother transition from children's to adult services for 17-25 year olds.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt expressed gratitude to Dr. Cass and her team for conducting the review during their visit to Northern Ireland in November.
Nesbitt hoped the report would provide assurance that the new Lifespan Gender Service complies with Dr. Cass's 2024 review and that investing in additional psychological and psychiatric support is the right approach.
In July, Nesbitt faced criticism from some unionist politicians after allocating over £800,000 to gender identity provision in Northern Ireland.
News
GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.
For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.
Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.
News
Family of Murder Victim Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Trial Scheduling
A 21-year-old woman, Chloe Mitchell, lost her life in June 2023, and a man is set to stand trial, facing a murder charge.
The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.
Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.
Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.
Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.
The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.
The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.
The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.
The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.
The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.
Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.
Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.
Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.
Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.
The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.
The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.
The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.
Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.
Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.
George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.
He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.
However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.
The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.
News
Keanu Reeves’ John Wick Video Game Revealed at PlayStation Event
The iconic hitman has made previous appearances in games, however, the version developed by Saber will mark the first instance where the character is voiced by Reeves.
A video game adaptation of the John Wick franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is in development, with Keanu Reeves set to lend his likeness and voice to the project.

The game, currently titled "Untitled John Wick Game", is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick film series.
A trailer for the game, expected to serve as a prequel to the film series, was unveiled during PlayStation's "State of Play" event on Thursday.
The event also featured announcements for remakes of several major game franchises, including the God of War trilogy, as well as a special 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman.
The John Wick film series, which has earned over $1 billion globally, follows the story of a retired assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, as he seeks vengeance in a world of high-stakes action.
Although the character of John Wick has appeared in games before, this will be the first time Keanu Reeves has provided his voice for the role.
Reeves has previous experience in the gaming industry, having played a key role in the hit game Cyberpunk 2077 as the character Johnny Silverhand.
According to Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the development team is "honored" to be working with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves to bring the John Wick universe to life in a AAA game.
The game's story will be an original narrative designed for mature audiences, featuring a mix of familiar characters from the film series and new ones.
Jenefer Brown, president of global products at Lionsgate, the producer of the John Wick films, expressed the company's goal of capturing the "intense action" and "distinctive fight choreography" that define the franchise.
The reaction to the game's announcement has been largely positive among fans on social media.
However, some fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Saber Interactive's other projects, including the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic.
Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of The Game Business, believes that the John Wick game is a strong fit for Saber Interactive, given the studio's experience with action-oriented IPs and its ability to release multiple games across various genres.
Dring notes that Saber Interactive operates as a collective of studios working on multiple IPs, allowing it to release a diverse range of games annually.
During the same event, Sony announced that Santa Monica Studios is working on remakes of the first three God of War games, building on one of the platform's most successful franchises.

Although a release date for the God of War remakes was not provided, Sony did announce a surprise side-scrolling prequel game, Sons of Sparta, which is available now.
The event also offered a first look at Townfall, the latest installment in the Silent Hill series, set on the fictional island of St. Amelia, which draws inspiration from Scotland.
A 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman was also announced, featuring five versions of the 1995 game, along with a near-immediate release.
Loic Gounon, brand producer for the Rayman games, discussed the anniversary edition with the BBC, highlighting the inclusion of a new documentary that explores the making of the original game, as well as accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for modern players.
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