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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.

Giant Bunny Takeover among Easter activities at city shopping centre

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

Giant Bunny Takeover among Easter activities at city shopping centre

18 April 2025

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


Fundraising midnight run on airport runway to return as charity celebrates 20th anniversary

12 April 2025
Fundraising midnight run on airport runway to return as charity celebrates 20th anniversary

Fundraising midnight run on airport runway to return as charity celebrates 20th anniversary

12 April 2025

The popular Run the Runway event is returning to Inverness Airport to raise funds for cancer support charity, Maggie’s.


Controversial plans for visitor levy prompt 4000 ‘very mixed’ responses during consultation

08 April 2025
Controversial plans for visitor levy prompt 4000 ‘very mixed’ responses during consultation

Controversial plans for visitor levy prompt 4000 ‘very mixed’ responses during consultation

08 April 2025

About 4000 “very mixed” responses were received during the public consultation on the possible introduction of a visitor levy for the Highlands.


Police appeal for information after man seriously injured after Ross County football match

08 April 2025
Police appeal for information after man seriously injured after Ross County football match

Police appeal for information after man seriously injured after Ross County football match

08 April 2025

Police have issued an appeal for information after a man was seriously injured after leaving the Ross County football match on Saturday.


Contract for major electricity network projects around Inverness and Highlands awarded to Freedom

07 April 2025
Contract for major electricity network projects around Inverness and Highlands awarded to Freedom

Contract for major electricity network projects around Inverness and Highlands awarded to Freedom

07 April 2025

Electricity network projects worth £55 million in the Inverness and Highlands area will be carried out by the Freedom Group.


Film industry spend in Highlands rises to more than £3.5m

01 April 2025
Film industry spend in Highlands rises to more than £3.5m

Film industry spend in Highlands rises to more than £3.5m

01 April 2025

Productions such as The Traitors pushed direct spending by the film industry in the Highlands to more than £3.5million in 2024 - its highest level.


Police stop 156 vehicles for road traffic offences during weekend operation in Highlands

01 April 2025
Police stop 156 vehicles for road traffic offences during weekend operation in Highlands

Police stop 156 vehicles for road traffic offences during weekend operation in Highlands

01 April 2025

Police stopped 156 vehicles in connection with road traffic offences during a two-day operation in the Highlands and Islands.


Proposed tourist tax should be used to address housing crisis, say Living Rent Highland campaigners

31 March 2025
Proposed tourist tax should be used to address housing crisis, say Living Rent Highland campaigners

Proposed tourist tax should be used to address housing crisis, say Living Rent Highland campaigners

31 March 2025

Campaigners have delivered a petition to Highland Council’s headquarters calling for a proposed tourist tax to be used to address the housing crisis.


Brother and sister prepare for ‘toughest foot race on earth’ to raise funds for Highland charity

28 March 2025
Brother and sister prepare for ‘toughest foot race on earth’ to raise funds for Highland charity

Brother and sister prepare for ‘toughest foot race on earth’ to raise funds for Highland charity

28 March 2025

A trainee solicitor will attempt what is known as “the toughest foot race on earth” in aid of a Highland charity helping people with complex needs.


WATCH: ‘I sometimes pinch myself and say I really survived covid’ - but five years on former care worker is still battling Long Covid

22 March 2025
WATCH: ‘I sometimes pinch myself and say I really survived covid’ - but five years on former care worker is still battling Long Covid

WATCH: ‘I sometimes pinch myself and say I really survived covid’ - but five years on former care worker is still battling Long Covid

22 March 2025

Former care home worker Sarah MacDougall was one of the first patients in the Highlands to survive Covid 19 - but it has had a life-changing impact.


Sex offender (55) who subjected victims to years of ‘horrific’ offending sentenced to 12 years in prison

19 March 2025
Sex offender (55) who subjected victims to years of ‘horrific’ offending sentenced to 12 years in prison

Sex offender (55) who subjected victims to years of ‘horrific’ offending sentenced to 12 years in prison

19 March 2025

A 55-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the domestic and sexual abuse of two women.


Man (44 ) charged with road traffic offences including drink driving after car found to be travelling at 101mph on Ross-shire road

17 March 2025
Man (44 ) charged with road traffic offences including drink driving after car found to be travelling at 101mph on Ross-shire road

Man (44 ) charged with road traffic offences including drink driving after car found to be travelling at 101mph on Ross-shire road

17 March 2025

Police have arrested and charged a man after a car was found to be travelling at 101mph on a Ross-shire road yesterday.


Communities on Black Isle show they are a friend of Ukraine amid anger at US actions

11 March 2025
Communities on Black Isle show they are a friend of Ukraine amid anger at US actions

Communities on Black Isle show they are a friend of Ukraine amid anger at US actions

11 March 2025

Communities on the Black Isle have demonstrated their support for the people of Ukraine by donating thousands of food, medical and hygiene items.


PICTURES: Launch of open MRI scanner at Highland clinic marks a first in Scotland

03 March 2025
PICTURES: Launch of open MRI scanner at Highland clinic marks a first in Scotland

PICTURES: Launch of open MRI scanner at Highland clinic marks a first in Scotland

03 March 2025

A private independent clinic in the Highlands has become the first in Scotland to buy a state-of-the-art open MRI scanner.


The Traitors’ creepy clown dancers from Highlands and Moray return in US version of TV show

02 March 2025
The Traitors’ creepy clown dancers from Highlands and Moray return in US version of TV show

The Traitors’ creepy clown dancers from Highlands and Moray return in US version of TV show

02 March 2025

They were given a 10 by Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman in her role as presenter of the BBC TV reality show, The Traitors, filmed in the Highlands.


Rock legend Bryan Adams set for Bare Bones performance in Inverness

24 February 2025
Rock legend Bryan Adams set for Bare Bones performance in Inverness

Rock legend Bryan Adams set for Bare Bones performance in Inverness

24 February 2025

Rock legend Bryan Adams is set to appear in Inverness this spring.


Highland house where witching ritual filmed for TV series is on market at £1.25m

24 February 2025
Highland house where witching ritual filmed for TV series is on market at £1.25m

Highland house where witching ritual filmed for TV series is on market at £1.25m

24 February 2025

A Highland house visited by Alan Cumming and Miriam Margolyes for their TV series, Lost in Scotland, is up for sale at £1.25 million.


Child poverty rates in the Highlands remain unacceptably high, says MSP as she visits charity’s new building

15 February 2025
Child poverty rates in the Highlands remain unacceptably high, says MSP as she visits charity’s new building

Child poverty rates in the Highlands remain unacceptably high, says MSP as she visits charity’s new building

15 February 2025

Child poverty rates in the Highlands remain unacceptably high, says an MSP as a children’s charity prepares to open a new building in the region.


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

11 February 2025
Lack of affordable housing in the Highlands adding to crisis in recruiting care staff

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

11 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.


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