One of the most touching moments of the past year’s commemorations happened 100 years to the minute after the first fatality in the Easter 1916 Rising.

The Northern Ireland Office report, released by the UK National Archives, details how the escape from the Maze Prison H-Block unfolded, and the UK Government’s determination that the IRA should not be able to gain from the episode.

Dublin City Council is to write to the British government calling for the return of a surrender letter rebel leader Padraig Pearse handed to an English general after the Easter Rising, it emerged tonight.