Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane was arrested just hours before the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Mo Mowlam was due to sign his final papers releasing him from parole, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

A SENIOR garda attempted to block a statement that claimed he had no concerns about terrorism in Northern Ireland, the Omagh civil action case heard yesterday.

A senior garda attempted to block a statement which claimed he had no concerns about terrorism in the North, the Omagh civil action case heard today.

A senior garda today denied he ordered the transfer of a suspended colleague from Donegal to Dublin.

A suspended detective Garda sergeant, who is credited with thwarting a string of Real IRA terror attacks, was today cleared of planting a shotgun at a traveller encampment in Donegal in a bid to frame a group of men for murder.

The lengthy delay in obtaining telephone records vital to the investigation into Raphoe cattle dealer Richie Barron’s death was not acceptable, an assistant commissioner said today.

Sean O’Riordan

THE McBrearty family yesterday protested about being excluded from confidential discussions about garda informants at the Morris Tribunal.

The McBrearty family today protested about being excluded from confidential discussions about Garda informants at the Morris Tribunal.

TO say security was tight for today’s EU-US summit at Dromoland Castle would be an understatement.

A man has been arrested following the discovery of a large quantity of commercial explosives in Limerick.

An FBI spy testifying against alleged Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt suggested he should be hypnotised in order to remember details of meetings with dissident republicans which he infiltrated, a court heard today.

An FBI agent who infiltrated dissident republican terror organisations was told to hand over smuggled beer kegs to use in bombs, a court heard today.