An investigation is needed to establish Sinn Féin’s role in the erroneous issuing of an on-the-run letter to the suspect in Gareth O’Connor’s murder, political rivals have urged.

Three criminal cases linked to the alleged rape of a Belfast woman who insists the republican movement covered up her claims are to be independently reviewed, the Public Prosecution Service has announced.

Up to 500 people are expected to attend a homecoming party for John Downey in Co Donegal.

Obituaries and eulogies in tribute to the life of the Nobel laureate, the poet Seamus Heaney, were as generous as they were deserving.

Assembly members in the North are today poised to vote through a controversial bill barring ex-prisoners guilty of serious offences from becoming special advisers to Stormont ministers.

Relatives wept as former Ireland rugby star David Tweed was jailed for eight years for a catalogue of child sex abuse.

More than twice as many Catholics as Protestants have been appointed to the board of Sport Northern Ireland, it was claimed tonight.

Northern Ireland’s Tourism Minister is to enter talks to ensure an historic First World War battleship berthed in Belfast remains in the city.

A Protestant clergyman who became the first from the North to address Sinn Féin's ard fheis has today told critics he wanted to help communities "move out of the past".

Talks on the formation of a new Government in Stormont are set to get underway following the completion of the count in the North's Assembly elections.

The failed Ulster Unionist and Conservative Party pact threw more money at the British general election than any of its opponents, it has been confirmed.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams clashed with Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson after he wore a wristband supporting the Army at a meeting with families bereaved by British troops, it emerged today.

New legislation on defusing tension over controversial marches in Northern Ireland can be salvaged despite an Orange Order decision to reject the plan, senior politicians said today.

WHILE Westminster minds are focused on the formation of a new UK government, politicians in the North are today wondering if the election results could destabilise their own coalition administration.

The future of Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson was in doubt today after the sensational General Election defeat of the First Minister of the powersharing executive at Stormont.

Ian Paisley Jnr will take over from his father as MP for North Antrim.

The North’s First Minister Peter Robinson sensationally lost his Westminster seat for east Belfast today.

A suspected getaway car used by dissident republican bombers disappeared after being left for two days without police examination, officers admitted tod

The North’s leading politicians Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness promised a new spirit of partnership today, despite their famously frosty relationship.

THE coffee shop opposite Hillsborough castle is called Humble Pie – but for once, Sinn Féin and the DUP did not try to force each other to eat such a dish during their marathon negotiations.

The Ulster Unionist Party today romped home to easily win a Craigavon Borough Council by-election.

Hardline unionists in the North today spelled out their hopes of bringing down the region’s power-sharing government.

A hardline unionist party was today accused of an embarrassing climbdown after it apologised for branding Irish a "leprechaun language".

Police are today investigating an attack on an Orange Hall that plays a central role in the Order’s July 12 parades in Belfast.

Former DUP leader Ian Paisley has taken the Northern political establishment by surprise today by saying he might contest the next British general election.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) suffered a major collapse in its vote today as a new force in right-wing unionist politics emerged in the North.

Sinn Féin is being widely tipped to top the poll when the European election results are counted in the North tomorrow.

A top election official apologised tonight to voters who were accidentally charged over £5 (€5.75) to receive their polling cards.

A former DUP member opposed to sharing power with republicans has appealed to voters to help him bring down the North's coalition government.

The leading contenders in a high profile by-election in the North remained in positive mood tonight as initial signs indicated their votes were holding up.

Another DUP local councillor has resigned from the party to join the anti-power-sharing "Traditional Unionist Voice" party.

The North is set for a bitter election contest after it was confirmed today that the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has selected one of its top politicians to fight a Co Fermanagh council seat.

A by-election is to be held in Fermanagh after a UUP and DUP stand off, it was revealed tonight.

FOR a brief moment last year it seemed Ian Paisley would defy Enoch Powell’s dictum that all political careers end in failure. At the grand old age of 81, he was at the height of his powers with prime ministers and presidents flattering him at every turn.

The DUP has suffered a surprise defeat to the Ulster Unionists in the Dromore council by-election in Co Down.

The new unionist party set up to oppose the DUP's decision to share power with Sinn Féin appears to be polling well in the Dromore by-election in Co Down.