A cross-border programme aimed at stimulating the border economy and improving co-operation between the Republic and the North has benefited from EU funding to the tune of €152m over the past five years.

Plans for a cross-border bridge at the site of one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles have been dealt another blow after funding from Europe was pulled.

Questionable spending involving more than €3.7m in grant aid has allegedly occurred in cross-border projects linked to the peace process.

Sinn Féin tonight criticised a programme designed to distribute around £134m for peace building in the North for entrenching sectarian differences.

Peace is set to create 20 jobs in Omagh with the opening of a new centre for the distribution of peace funding.