The absence of violence should not be taken for granted in Northern Ireland, former US envoy George Mitchell warned.

Former US special envoy to Northern Ireland George Mitchell has issued a hard-hitting put down to the new US administration, insisting America is about diversity and not "who we want to keep out and throw out".

The American senator who brokered the peace deal which ended the Troubles has said border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic would be a backwards step.

Between Mr Sepp ‘Steering The Ship’ Blatter (see elsewhere on this page), Mr Patrick ‘Golf Balls’ Neary (see the finance/comedy section) and Mr REDACTED REDACTED’REDACTED (see various legal eagles), it hasn’t been a great few days for prominent personages.