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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.

Artist voices concerns over ‘hateful’ commentary on Cameron Barracks asylum seekers plan as new painting exhibited

14 November 2025
Artist voices concerns over ‘hateful’ commentary on Cameron Barracks asylum seekers plan as new painting exhibited

Artist voices concerns over ‘hateful’ commentary on Cameron Barracks asylum seekers plan as new painting exhibited

14 November 2025

Artist and mother-of-two young children Marina Gjertsen does not consider herself to be a hugely political activist.


Outlander author views historic Inverness ‘treasure house’ - including secret commode seat - as she backs campaign to save it

14 November 2025
Outlander author views historic Inverness ‘treasure house’ - including secret commode seat - as she backs campaign to save it

Outlander author views historic Inverness ‘treasure house’ - including secret commode seat - as she backs campaign to save it

14 November 2025

International best-selling author Diana Gabaldon has backed a campaign to transform a historic Inverness building as she visited the Highland capital.


Pictures: Moonlight Ball raises more than £100k for children’s charity

14 November 2025
Pictures: Moonlight Ball raises more than £100k for children’s charity

Pictures: Moonlight Ball raises more than £100k for children’s charity

14 November 2025

A charity ball in Inverness has raised over £100,000 to support babies, children and families across the Highlands.


Can you help save a historic Inverness building for community use?

12 November 2025
Can you help save a historic Inverness building for community use?

Can you help save a historic Inverness building for community use?

12 November 2025

Do you have a story to share about the Old High Church in Inverness?


‘We are committed to ensuring people feel safe and welcome in Inverness’ - organisations issue joint statement on asylum seekers plan

11 November 2025
‘We are committed to ensuring people feel safe and welcome in Inverness’ - organisations issue joint statement on asylum seekers plan

‘We are committed to ensuring people feel safe and welcome in Inverness’ - organisations issue joint statement on asylum seekers plan

11 November 2025

A network of organisations in the Highlands has issued a joint statement pledging support for people seeking asylum as well as local communities.


50 years of friendship - the remarkable bond between a group of former students and their tutor

08 November 2025
50 years of friendship - the remarkable bond between a group of former students and their tutor

50 years of friendship - the remarkable bond between a group of former students and their tutor

08 November 2025

They first met in 1975.


Green light for allotments at expanding city neighbourhood

08 November 2025
Green light for allotments at expanding city neighbourhood

Green light for allotments at expanding city neighbourhood

08 November 2025

Campaigners wanting to develop a community growing space in an expanding Inverness neighbourhood have finally been given the go-ahead.


‘It’s not our building - it’s yours!’ - campaigners to reveal progress on community buyout of historic building

06 November 2025
‘It’s not our building - it’s yours!’ - campaigners to reveal progress on community buyout of historic building

‘It’s not our building - it’s yours!’ - campaigners to reveal progress on community buyout of historic building

06 November 2025

Progress on an ambitious plan to buy a historic Inverness church for community use will be outlined at a public meeting next week.


New network set to strengthen social care in the Highlands

06 November 2025
New network set to strengthen social care in the Highlands

New network set to strengthen social care in the Highlands

06 November 2025

Community groups in the Highlands have joined forces in a bid to strengthen social care across the region.


Inverness prepares to pay tribute on Remembrance Sunday to those who have died for their country

06 November 2025
Inverness prepares to pay tribute on Remembrance Sunday to those who have died for their country

Inverness prepares to pay tribute on Remembrance Sunday to those who have died for their country

06 November 2025

Communities across the Inverness area will pay poignant tribute to those who have died in conflict at Remembrance events this weekend.


Path safety improvement work on A82 in Inverness to last 12 weeks

06 November 2025
Path safety improvement work on A82 in Inverness to last 12 weeks

Path safety improvement work on A82 in Inverness to last 12 weeks

06 November 2025

Motorists and pedestrians are being warned of disruption as path improvement work is carried out along the A82 in Inverness.


Post mortems, parasites and CPR on dogs - public invited to find out more at pioneering veterinary centre

01 November 2025
Post mortems, parasites and CPR on dogs - public invited to find out more at pioneering veterinary centre

Post mortems, parasites and CPR on dogs - public invited to find out more at pioneering veterinary centre

01 November 2025

A pioneering Inverness research centre in animal - as well as human - health is throwing open its doors to the public next month.


Inverness Samaritans talk a dawn walk to mark World Mental Health Day

01 November 2025
Inverness Samaritans talk a dawn walk to mark World Mental Health Day

Inverness Samaritans talk a dawn walk to mark World Mental Health Day

01 November 2025

Volunteers with a suicide prevention charity were joined by community members in Inverness for a walk before sunrise to mark World Mental Health Day.


Inspiring staff and volunteers at High Life Highland celebrated at awards ceremony

30 October 2025
Inspiring staff and volunteers at High Life Highland celebrated at awards ceremony

Inspiring staff and volunteers at High Life Highland celebrated at awards ceremony

30 October 2025

Staff and volunteers at High Life Highland have been recognised for their efforts in making life better for residents and visitors across the region.


Are social media comments over plans for asylum seekers depicting the city as unwelcoming?

30 October 2025
Are social media comments over plans for asylum seekers depicting the city as unwelcoming?

Are social media comments over plans for asylum seekers depicting the city as unwelcoming?

30 October 2025

There have been warnings of a tsunami of trouble on its way. Calls for protests. And predictions that mobs will be roaming the streets of Inverness.


New affordable home with running costs of £5 a week could solve housing crisis, says homebuilder

30 October 2025
New affordable home with running costs of £5 a week could solve housing crisis, says homebuilder

New affordable home with running costs of £5 a week could solve housing crisis, says homebuilder

30 October 2025

An Inverness homebuilder has developed an affordable home prototype which it says could be a solution to the nationwide housing crisis.


Asylum seekers deserve to be treated with respect and humanity, says Scottish Refugee Council amid backlash over barracks plans

28 October 2025
Asylum seekers deserve to be treated with respect and humanity, says Scottish Refugee Council amid backlash over barracks plans

Asylum seekers deserve to be treated with respect and humanity, says Scottish Refugee Council amid backlash over barracks plans

28 October 2025

A leading charity which supports refugees has criticised plans to house asylum seekers in Inverness army barracks as yet “another short-term measure”.


Climate campaigner in Highlands to receive prestigious $500,000 Blue Planet Prize

28 October 2025
Climate campaigner in Highlands to receive prestigious $500,000 Blue Planet Prize

Climate campaigner in Highlands to receive prestigious $500,000 Blue Planet Prize

28 October 2025

An environmental campaigner in the Highlands will be presented with a prestigious global prize at a ceremony in Japan tomorrow.


Who will win the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election? Former MSP gives her prediction

27 October 2025
Who will win the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election? Former MSP gives her prediction

Who will win the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election? Former MSP gives her prediction

27 October 2025

In seven months’ time, voters will take to the polls in the Scottish Parliamentary election.


‘You don’t own this place. This is our community and we live here, too’ - tackling anti-social behaviour on a housing estate

26 October 2025
‘You don’t own this place. This is our community and we live here, too’ - tackling anti-social behaviour on a housing estate

‘You don’t own this place. This is our community and we live here, too’ - tackling anti-social behaviour on a housing estate

26 October 2025

Residents in an Inverness estate blighted by anti-social behaviour say there have been improvements following action from authorities.


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