Sinn Féin today vigorously disputed police claims that republicans operated a spy ring at Stormont which led to the collapse three years ago of devolution and the unmasking of one of their members as a British agent.

Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde was urged tonight to state clearly why IRA bomber Sean Kelly was put back behind bars.

THE latest report on paramilitary activity in the North which said the IRA showed no sign of winding down was yesterday rejected by Sinn Féin as “of little interest.”

Ulster Unionists should consider declining ministerial seats if power sharing is restored and going into opposition instead, one of its Stormont Assembly members said today.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy today called for Orange Order parades tomorrow to be “peaceful and dignified“.

Extra police and soldiers are expected to be drafted into north Belfast tomorrow in preparation for a controversial loyalist parade through a nationalist area.

REPUBLICANS and loyalists have been involved in high-level talks in a bid to end violence in north Belfast, it emerged last night.

Northern Ireland’s Policing Board is to face demands for an early response to calls for an outside officer to take charge of the Omagh bomb inquiry.

Sinn Fein has told a key adviser to US President George W Bush that it does not have any case to answer on the arrests of three Irish terrorist suspects last month in Colombia, a leading party member said today.

A device has exploded outside the offices of the nationalist SDLP in north Belfast.