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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: From post mortems on wild fish to investigating viral diseases in cattle - the pioneering work being carried out in an Inverness lab

21 April 2025
WATCH: From post mortems on wild fish to investigating viral diseases in cattle - the pioneering work being carried out in an Inverness lab

WATCH: From post mortems on wild fish to investigating viral diseases in cattle - the pioneering work being carried out in an Inverness lab

21 April 2025

At a lab on Inverness Campus, a group of ghillies from various sporting estates recently spent a day learning how to carry out post mortems on salmon.


Drop-in sessions on controversial substation project to be held in Beauly

21 April 2025
Drop-in sessions on controversial substation project to be held in Beauly

Drop-in sessions on controversial substation project to be held in Beauly

21 April 2025

Drop-in sessions for people to look at the Fanellan substation planning application will be held in Beauly.


Groups in Highlands urged to apply for funding for community-led projects

20 April 2025
Groups in Highlands urged to apply for funding for community-led projects

Groups in Highlands urged to apply for funding for community-led projects

20 April 2025

Groups in the Highlands are being invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 for community-led projects.


Old rusty railings at beauty spot which has undergone £2.5m revamp are a hazard, says councillor

19 April 2025
Old rusty railings at beauty spot which has undergone £2.5m revamp are a hazard, says councillor

Old rusty railings at beauty spot which has undergone £2.5m revamp are a hazard, says councillor

19 April 2025

Rusty railings at an Inverness beauty spot which underwent a £2.5 million revamp are a hazard and an eyesore, according to a city councillor.


Dedicated campaigner who helped create first cycling map of Inverness dies aged 54

18 April 2025
Dedicated campaigner who helped create first cycling map of Inverness dies aged 54

Dedicated campaigner who helped create first cycling map of Inverness dies aged 54

18 April 2025

A dedicated campaigner on cycling and public transport issues in the Highlands has died suddenly aged 54.


Search is on for vocal talent to take part in Ness Factor 2025

18 April 2025
Search is on for vocal talent to take part in Ness Factor 2025

Search is on for vocal talent to take part in Ness Factor 2025

18 April 2025

The search for vocal talent has been launched for Highland Hospice fundraiser, Ness Factor 2025.


Giant Bunny Takeover among Easter activities at city shopping centre

17 April 2025
Giant Bunny Takeover among Easter activities at city shopping centre

Giant Bunny Takeover among Easter activities at city shopping centre

17 April 2025

A Giant Bunny Takeover and an egg hunt are among the Easter activities at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness.


Can you help to solve mystery of VE Day anniversary sampler?

15 April 2025
Can you help to solve mystery of VE Day anniversary sampler?

Can you help to solve mystery of VE Day anniversary sampler?

15 April 2025

An Armed services organisation in Inverness is appealing for public help to solve a 20-year-old mystery.


New group aims to give young people a greater say in tackling social issues in Highlands

13 April 2025
New group aims to give young people a greater say in tackling social issues in Highlands

New group aims to give young people a greater say in tackling social issues in Highlands

13 April 2025

Young people in the Highlands are being offered the chance to have their voices heard in tackling social issues with the formation of a new group.


Pub attack which left man (20) seriously injured branded ‘senseless’

13 April 2025
Pub attack which left man (20) seriously injured branded ‘senseless’

Pub attack which left man (20) seriously injured branded ‘senseless’

13 April 2025

An attack in an Inverness pub which left a 20-year-old seriously injured has been branded as “senseless”.


Did Highland writer create greatest literary hoax of all time?

13 April 2025
Did Highland writer create greatest literary hoax of all time?

Did Highland writer create greatest literary hoax of all time?

13 April 2025

It has been described as the ‘greatest literary hoax of all time’.


Game-changing grant awarded to care charity near Loch Ness for electric cars

13 April 2025
Game-changing grant awarded to care charity near Loch Ness for electric cars

Game-changing grant awarded to care charity near Loch Ness for electric cars

13 April 2025

A charity providing care services in a rural area south of Loch Ness is celebrating a “gaming-changing” grant to buy two electric cars.


Police retain presence outside pub after man (20) seriously injured in disturbance

13 April 2025
Police retain presence outside pub after man (20) seriously injured in disturbance

Police retain presence outside pub after man (20) seriously injured in disturbance

13 April 2025

A 20-year-old man has been taken to hospital after being seriously injured during a disturbance at an Inverness city centre pub.


Park’s climbing frame temporarily closed after child almost hit by falling equipment

13 April 2025
Park’s climbing frame temporarily closed after child almost hit by falling equipment

Park’s climbing frame temporarily closed after child almost hit by falling equipment

13 April 2025

A climbing frame at an Inverness park has been temporarily closed just a week after the children’s play area reopened following a £500,000 revamp.


WEEKLY COURT ROUND-UP: Man almost lost life in motorcycle crash, jail for paedophile and man assaulted partner and her mother

13 April 2025
WEEKLY COURT ROUND-UP: Man almost lost life in motorcycle crash, jail for paedophile and man assaulted partner and her mother

WEEKLY COURT ROUND-UP: Man almost lost life in motorcycle crash, jail for paedophile and man assaulted partner and her mother

13 April 2025

It was another busy week for Inverness Sheriff Court with a number of cases covered by the Inverness Courier.


Update: Revamped play park where child narrowly missed being hit by equipment had passed inspections

12 April 2025
Update: Revamped play park where child narrowly missed being hit by equipment had passed inspections

Update: Revamped play park where child narrowly missed being hit by equipment had passed inspections

12 April 2025

An Inverness play park where a child narrowly missed being hit by a piece of equipment had passed inspections following a revamp, officials say.


Near miss reported due to equipment failure at newly-reopened play park following £500k revamp

12 April 2025
Near miss reported due to equipment failure at newly-reopened play park following £500k revamp

Near miss reported due to equipment failure at newly-reopened play park following £500k revamp

12 April 2025

Checks are being carried out at a newly-revamped play park in Inverness after a reported near miss with a piece of equipment.


Open letter signed by community groups and trade unions calls for visitor levy to be used to tackle housing crisis

11 April 2025
Open letter signed by community groups and trade unions calls for visitor levy to be used to tackle housing crisis

Open letter signed by community groups and trade unions calls for visitor levy to be used to tackle housing crisis

11 April 2025

Groups and trade unions have joined forces to step up calls for a proposed tourist tax in the Highlands to be used to address the housing crisis.


Fire-hit retail units demolished as police inquiries continue

11 April 2025
Fire-hit retail units demolished as police inquiries continue

Fire-hit retail units demolished as police inquiries continue

11 April 2025

Demolition work has started on a row of shops destroyed in a massive blaze at an Inverness business park last month.


Extra £2.6m for National Treatment Centre Highland paves way for thousands more operations

10 April 2025
Extra £2.6m for National Treatment Centre Highland paves way for thousands more operations

Extra £2.6m for National Treatment Centre Highland paves way for thousands more operations

10 April 2025

Thousands more operations will be carried out at the National Treatment Centre (NTC) Highland thanks to extra funding of £2.6 million.


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