FactCheckNI: Northern Ireland's First Dedicated Non-Profit Fact-Checking Service
Use the search tool below to explore topics that matter to you in Northern Ireland. FactCheckNI is an independent team of fact-checkers committed to examining key public statements related to Northern Ireland. We analyse the best available evidence and publish fact-check articles to enhance the quality of public debate, knowledge and understanding.
Latest fact checks
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Economy
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Europe
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Law
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Peace
Immigration in NI: Does Belfast provide homes to more “illegal migrants” than every other UK city except Glasgow?
28 August 2025
CLAIM: New Home Office data has revealed the ten cities with the most homes given to “illegal migrants” in the UK – with Glasgow at the top and Belfast in second place.
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INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION
On 21 August, a social media user calling themselves “Basil the Great” claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter): This isn’t accurate, for several
Articles
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Law
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Peace
Crime in NI: Have reoffending rates risen to nearly 75%?
6 August 2025
CLAIM: Reoffending rates were at 70% in 2016 – but rose to 74% by 2024.
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INACCURATE
In a 3 July post on social media, the Ulster Unionist Party quote MLA Doug Beattie saying: “Re-offending rates in Northern Ireland have gone from
Articles
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Economy
Rates in NI: Do businesses in Belfast pay rates that are four times higher than their equivalents in Dublin?
28 July 2025
CLAIM: A local business owner recently opened premises on a “prestigious” street in Dublin, where rates are just €9,000 per year – while “comparable” premises in Belfast could see rates of €36,000.
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UNSUBSTANTIATED
In an Assembly debate on the cost of doing business on 2 June, UUP MLA Diana Armstrong said: “A local business owner recently shared aChoose from over 300 fact checks on the topics that matter most to you
Services
Fact Check Search Engine
We have published over 300 fact check articles on topics relating to life in Northern Ireland since 2016. This is a free resource that anyone can use 24 hours a day.
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Training
We design and deliver bespoke training sessions in fact checking and critical thinking skills to groups, organisations and communities across NI
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Fact Check Toolkit
We've created a simple guide that's perfect for anyone wanting to learn how to tell the difference between fact, fiction, and “fake news.” We encourage everyone to think critically, and in this article, we share tips on how you can check the information you come across, especially online.
Learn moreWhy trust us?
FactCheckNI is Northern Ireland’s first and only dedicated fact checking service, operating with the following commitments