A row erupted at the Northern Ireland Assembly today between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein over disturbances in Lurgan which followed the Armagh’s historic All-Ireland Final triumph.

The decision to bar the Orange Order from marching down the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown is a denial of natural justice, it was claimed today.

A cross-party delegation of Assembly members was today heading off on a four-day fact-finding mission to Denmark and Belgium to look at alternative energy sources.

A Lurgan textile factory due to close next month with the loss of 140 jobs could have survived if it had not been for Marks and Spencer, it was claimed today.

If canvassing were an Olympic sport, then Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble would be a certain gold medallist.

The Orange Order today responded by calling to be treated equally to those opposed to marches.

A Sinn Fein Assembly member today expressed alarm at comments from the chairman of the Parades Commission that Portadown Orangemen should engage with nationalist residents if they want a march from Drumcree this year.