“Once mighty priests and Provos, powerful men peddling sacred myths in the exercise of squalid and petty power, were brought low by women who could not be terrorised and silenced.”

BY any standards, the contribution to political life in Ireland over many decades by the late Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien has been both enormous and controversial.

The joint chairman of the British government appointed panel looking into how to settle the legacy of the Northern conflict have said they will publish their report.

Recommendations empowering victims and survivors of the Northern conflict are to be published this week.

The Omagh bomb trial reopens today, when the defence team for Sean Hoey, the alleged Real IRA dissident republican, begins its case.