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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.

Feedback sought on plans for new indoor skatepark for Inverness

31 May 2024
Feedback sought on plans for new indoor skatepark for Inverness

Feedback sought on plans for new indoor skatepark for Inverness

31 May 2024

Public feedback is being sought on plans to create the first indoor skatepark for Inverness.


Hydro developers in race to pump Loch Ness dry, says fishery board

30 May 2024
Hydro developers in race to pump Loch Ness dry, says fishery board

Hydro developers in race to pump Loch Ness dry, says fishery board

30 May 2024

Developers are in a race to pump Loch Ness dry, according to a salmon conservation body.


Behind The Lens: The Legacy of a Highland news photographer

26 May 2024
Behind The Lens: The Legacy of a Highland news photographer

Behind The Lens: The Legacy of a Highland news photographer

26 May 2024

Donkey enclosure, Black Isle Wildlife Park.


PICTURES: Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter ‘fantastic’, say fans - despite long bar queues

26 May 2024
PICTURES: Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter ‘fantastic’, say fans - despite long bar queues

PICTURES: Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter ‘fantastic’, say fans - despite long bar queues

26 May 2024

Hot weather and thousands of thirsty festival-goers led to long bar queues on day one of Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter.


Permission sought to extend empty Inverness city centre building

26 May 2024
Permission sought to extend empty Inverness city centre building

Permission sought to extend empty Inverness city centre building

26 May 2024

Plans have been resubmitted to extend a prominent building in Inverness city centre which has been empty since last autumn.


PICTURES: Festival-goers gather for Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter

25 May 2024
PICTURES: Festival-goers gather for Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter

PICTURES: Festival-goers gather for Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter

25 May 2024

Festival-goers have been gathering on the Black Isle for two-days of music from a range of bands including Peat & Diesel.


Pictures: Renewing friendships over roast beef and Yorkshire pudding at Merkinch Community Centre

25 May 2024
Pictures: Renewing friendships over roast beef and Yorkshire pudding at Merkinch Community Centre

Pictures: Renewing friendships over roast beef and Yorkshire pudding at Merkinch Community Centre

25 May 2024

New friendships were forged and old ones renewed over lunch at an Inverness community centre.


More than 700 sign petition urging rethink of Inverness Caley Thistle move

25 May 2024
More than 700 sign petition urging rethink of Inverness Caley Thistle move

More than 700 sign petition urging rethink of Inverness Caley Thistle move

25 May 2024

More than 700 people have signed a petition urging Inverness Caledonian Thistle to reverse its decision to move the club’s training base to Fife.


Police issue appeal for witnesses following deaths of two men after car leaves A87

25 May 2024
Police issue appeal for witnesses following deaths of two men after car leaves A87

Police issue appeal for witnesses following deaths of two men after car leaves A87

25 May 2024

Police officers have issued an appeal for information following the deaths of two men after a car left the A87 at Invergarry.


Highland MSP calls on SNP to drop wood-burner ban

25 May 2024
Highland MSP calls on SNP to drop wood-burner ban

Highland MSP calls on SNP to drop wood-burner ban

25 May 2024

The importance of wood-burning stoves to homes in rural and islands communities will be debated in the Scottish Parliament next week.


‘I have no words to express my gratitude’ - doctor’s appeal to save family in Gaza reaches £111k

22 May 2024
‘I have no words to express my gratitude’ - doctor’s appeal to save family in Gaza reaches £111k

‘I have no words to express my gratitude’ - doctor’s appeal to save family in Gaza reaches £111k

22 May 2024

A fundraising appeal launched by an Inverness hospital consultant in a desperate bid to evacuate family members from Gaza has raised almost £111,000.


Highland campaigner vindicated as government announces compensation scheme for infected blood scandal victims

21 May 2024
Highland campaigner vindicated as government announces compensation scheme for infected blood scandal victims

Highland campaigner vindicated as government announces compensation scheme for infected blood scandal victims

21 May 2024

A Highland campaigner who has spent 33 years trying to expose the truth behind the UK infected blood scandal has spoken of the “stolen years”.


Memories of guitar-playing footballer following his death aged 75

21 May 2024
Memories of guitar-playing footballer following his death aged 75

Memories of guitar-playing footballer following his death aged 75

21 May 2024

Fond tribute has been paid to a former guitar-playing Highland football player who has died at his home in New Zealand aged 75.


Black Isle campaigner in London for publication of scathing report into UK infected blood scandal

20 May 2024
Black Isle campaigner in London for publication of scathing report into UK infected blood scandal

Black Isle campaigner in London for publication of scathing report into UK infected blood scandal

20 May 2024

A Black Isle man infected with contaminated blood was in London today to hear that a treatment scandal affecting thousands could have been avoided.


Motorists caught speeding on North Coast 500 during weekend police operation

20 May 2024
Motorists caught speeding on North Coast 500 during weekend police operation

Motorists caught speeding on North Coast 500 during weekend police operation

20 May 2024

A police operation on the North Coast 500 route has resulted in 24 drivers being charged with speeding offences.


Behind The Lens: The Legacy of a Highland news photographer

19 May 2024
Behind The Lens: The Legacy of a Highland news photographer

Behind The Lens: The Legacy of a Highland news photographer

19 May 2024

June 2015: The jubilation of Inverness Caley Thistle players and manager John Hughes is captured as they bring home the Scottish Cup.


EXPLAINED: Loch Ness attracts developers in hydro ‘gold rush’

17 May 2024
EXPLAINED: Loch Ness attracts developers in hydro ‘gold rush’

EXPLAINED: Loch Ness attracts developers in hydro ‘gold rush’

17 May 2024

The UK’s largest volume of water is proving to be an alluring - if contentious - draw to those hoping to harness the power of this vast resource.


Loch Ness is focus for another proposed Highland hydro project

17 May 2024
Loch Ness is focus for another proposed Highland hydro project

Loch Ness is focus for another proposed Highland hydro project

17 May 2024

Ambitious plans have been revealed for another major hydro scheme using Loch Ness in the drive to generate more green energy and reach net zero.


Behind The Lens: The legacy of a Highland news photographer

12 May 2024
Behind The Lens: The legacy of a Highland news photographer

Behind The Lens: The legacy of a Highland news photographer

12 May 2024

March 2019: Demolition of the fire-ravaged Eastgate Hostel in Inverness begins following a long-running campaign by the Inverness Courier.


Legal challenge over planned revamp of Academy Street in Inverness heard in Court of Session

09 May 2024
Legal challenge over planned revamp of Academy Street in Inverness heard in Court of Session

Legal challenge over planned revamp of Academy Street in Inverness heard in Court of Session

09 May 2024

A legal challenge over Highland Council’s controversial plans to revamp Academy Street in Inverness has been heard in the Court of Session.


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