Schoolchildren across the North face disruption after classroom assistants said they had opened a ballot for a strike when the new term begins next month.

The North's Education Minister is urging young people to speak out if they believe a friend might be in danger of suicide.

DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness today became the North’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister after taking the pledge of office.

Ian Paisley's first public handshake with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, is another important piece of history, Martin McGuinness claimed today.

Sinn Féin has announced that Catriona Ruane will be its new Education Minister in the North.

Relatives of six men murdered when loyalists sprayed a Northern Ireland bar with bullets have told MEPs that British security forces colluded in the atrocity.

A €37m new dual carriageway between Newry and Banbridge opens today.

The Equality Commission today came under fire from unionists and republicans over its findings on the religious make-up of the North’s public and private sector workforces.

THE onward march of Sinn Féin has slowed to a stroll. That is a clear conclusion which can be drawn from the results of the Westminster elections held in Northern Ireland this day last week.

THE British general election campaign has reached the half way point and is now beginning to heat up.

THE Government was yesterday urged to act after one of the judges who convicted three republicans of training Colombian rebels questioned the evidence on which the men were convicted.

THE sisters of murder victim Robert McCartney have denied their attendance at Sinn Fein’s annual conference sent out “mixed signals”.

Murder victim Robert McCartney’s sisters tonight denied their attendance at Sinn Féin’s annual conference sent out “mixed signals” .

A war of words erupted between nationalists in the North today after an SDLP representative raised the possibility of restoring devolved government without Sinn Féin involvement.

SUPPORTERS of three fugitive Irishmen facing 17 years in a Colombian jail yesterday ruled out attempting to appeal the decision domestically.

The Colombian authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of the so-called Colombia Three following a Supreme Court ruling overturning their acquittal for training anti-government rebels.

An Irish trio linked with aiding left wing guerrillas in Colombia are playing a dramatic waiting game, writes John Breslin.

Nearly 15,000 people were stopped and searched by police or members of the British Army in Northern Ireland last year, new figures have shown.

CATRÍONA RUANE is the high-profile leader of the campaign in support of the Colombia Three.

THE Government has been urged to put fresh pressure on the Colombian authorities to secure the return home of three Irishmen released from prison on Tuesday.

Deric Henderson

Three Irishmen cleared of training left-wing guerillas in Colombia may have to wait in the country for several months until an appeal by prosecutors is heard.

It is not yet clear whether three Irishmen cleared yesterday of training FARC guerillas whether they will be allowed to leave Colombia.

THE Vice President of Colombia yesterday launched a vigorous defence of his country, where three Irishmen are still being held in prison awaiting a verdict eight months after their trial finished.

THREE Irishmen who have spent nearly two-and-a-half years in jail in Colombia must wait at least another two months before a judge rules on whether they are guilty of training left-wing rebels in the South American country.

The Government is being asked to use its presidency of the EU as an opportunity to ensure three Irishmen being held in Colombia are returned home.

THE trial of three Irishmen accused of training FARC guerrillas in Colombia was described as a farce as it entered its final phase yesterday.

OBSERVERS from three continents are expected to attend the controversial trial of three Irishmen accused of training FARC rebels in Colombia which is due to resume in the capital, Bogota, today.

THE trial of three Irishman accused of assisting South American left-wing guerrillas to develop deadly mortar bombs resumes today after months of delay.

Paul Hill, one of the Guildford Four, has been denied a visa to travel to Colombia to observe the trial of three Irishmen accused of training anti-government rebels.

The Government is being asked to request the halting of the trial of three Irish men who are charged with training FARC rebels in Colombia.

Two politicians tonight withdrew from a visit to the trial of three Irish men arrested in Colombia on suspicion of training FARC guerillas.

Members of the Daíl should not attend the trial of three Irish men arrested in Colombia on suspicion of collaborating with Farc guerillas, it was claimed today.

A spokeswoman for the three Irishmen facing trial for allegedly training anti-government rebels in Colombia has said the men have not yet decided whether to attend their trial.

One of three Irishmen held in a Colombian prison on suspicion of training rebel FARC guerillas was unexpectedly separated from his Irish cellmates, it has been revealed.

We, as families of three Irish citizens incarcerated in Colombia, wish to highlight the fact that they have now been held for 12 months without trial.

The detention of three Irish men in Colombia, whose trial date has been set for October, has been described as nothing short of internment by remand.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is under pressure from party members to turn down an invitation to testify this week at a US Congressional hearing on republican links to Colombian rebels, it was claimed tonight.

Three Irishmen detained for the last six months by the authorities in Colombia on suspicion of training left wing rebels are being denied a fair trial, their supporters claimed tonight.

There is increasing concern about the safety of the three Irishmen being held in a Colombian jail.

A campaign has begun to free the three Irishmen being detained in a Colombian jail. Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley were arrested in the country on suspicion of training rebels in the use of weapons.