“Do it. Do it now. I have made my peace with God.”

Athlone town councillors have kicked to touch a motion that a state-owned artwork featuring messages sent by hunger strikers to their families should be removed from the town’s modern art gallery.

Businessman Don Tidey has paid tribute to a fallen soldier who made the “supreme sacrifice” while assisting in his rescue from a gang of Provisional IRA kidnappers almost 30 years ago.

IRA victim Private Paddy Kelly is to be honoured with the Military Star medal almost 30 years after his killing.

ALTHOUGH it is neither advisable nor wise to attempt to “justify” the activities of the Provisional IRA during its violent campaign, some clarity is called for given the recent incident whereby the son of a member of the army of this state who was killed confronted Martin McGuinness.

MARTIN McGUINNESS has been branded a liar by the son of an Irish army soldier killed by the IRA.

The son of a soldier shot dead by the IRA in the 1980s has confronted presidential hopeful Martin McGuinness.

MAZE prison escapee Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane was yesterday awarded €15,500 over his prosecution for the kidnap of supermarket boss Don Tidey in the 1980s.

Maze prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane was today awarded €15,000 over his prosecution for the kidnap of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

The European Court of Human Rights is to rule today whether there was undue delay in prosecuting Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane for the kidnapping of supermarket executive Don Tidey.

THE European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has decided that a full sitting of the court will hear a case taken against the State by former IRA leader Brendan “Bik” McFarlane.

ARMY representatives are calling for 40-year mandatory sentences for the murder of defence force members as concern mounts over the growth in armed political splinter groups and gangs.

The trial of a former IRA chief, Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, on kidnap charges collapsed today after the Special Criminal Court ruled that incriminating statements he allegedly made cannot be used in evidence.

The Special Criminal Court ruled today that an alleged admission by former IRA leader Brendan "Bik" McFarlane that he was at the wood where kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey was held captive for 23 days almost 25 years ago cannot be admitted in evidence.

Judges are expected to rule today on whether incriminating statements allegedly made by a former IRA chief can be used against him in his trial on kidnap charges.

THE Special Criminal Court will rule today on an application by lawyers for former IRA leader, Brendan “Bik’’ Mc Farlane, to have alleged admissions by him to gardaí ruled inadmissible.

A senior police officer did not not tell a bail hearing that an ex-IRA chief charged over a violent kidnapping implicated himself in the crime under questioning, a court heard today.

A former IRA chief charged over a violent kidnapping today denied implicating himself in the crime under intense police questioning and accused detectives of making up the claim.

The former head of Garda intelligence told a court today that he would have arrested former IRA leader Brendan 'Bik' Mc Farlanefor the kidnap of supermarket executive Don Tidey if had come face to face with him.

One of Ireland’s most senior gardaí refused today to reveal in court the source of confidential information which led to the arrest of a former IRA chief wanted for a violent kidnapping.

A former IRA chief told detectives investigating the kidnapping of a supermarket boss that he was at a hidden camp where the captive was held, it was claimed in court today.

Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane told gardaí that he was "prepared for the big one" when he was questioned about the kidnapping of former supermarket executive Don Tidey, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

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 retired Garda ballistics expert told the Don Tidey kidnap trial today that he concluded that gunfire from two automatic weapons had been fired in the direction of a recruit garda and soldier who were killed when the supermarket executive was rescued almost twenty five years ago.

A hidden makeshift camp camouflaged in dense woodland was discovered where a supermarket boss was held captive, a court heard today.

The trial of a former IRA chief charged over the kidnapping of a businessman 25 years ago continues today.

Former supermarket boss Don Tidey told a court today of the "battleground'' that erupted around him when security forces rescued him from his kidnappers almost 25 years ago.

Prosecution witnesses will begin giving evidence today in the trial of a former IRA chief allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a supermarket boss 25 years ago.

Maze prison escapee Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane went on trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today for the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey during which a trainee garda and soldier were killed.

THE Supreme Court has cleared the way for the trial of Maze Prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Maze prison escapee Brendan McFarlane today lost his latest legal challenge to stop his trial over the kidnap of a supermarket boss 25 years ago.

OVER the years diverse theories have sprung up about what happened to Shergar, with everyone from Colonel Gadaffi to a New Orleans mafia outfit to Charles Haughey accused of involvement.

MAZE prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane is to take the Government to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to halt his trial for the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

A criminal gang aborted a plot to kidnap businesswoman Norma Smurfit because they ’felt sorry’ for her, a new book has claimed.

Maze prison escapee Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane has lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court in a bid to prevent his trial going ahead on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Maze prison escaper Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane is to appeal to the Supreme Court in a bid to prevent his trial going ahead on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

The Special Criminal Court today adjourned the trial of Maze prison escaper Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane on charges connected with the 1983 kidnap of supermarket boss Don Tidey after hearing that he is taking a fresh legal challenge to halt the trial.

A HUGELY successful Irish-made children’s animated religious series is due for a new run of episodes on the small screen.

The Special Criminal Court today fixed a date in October for the trial of Maze prison escaper Brendan "Bik" McFarlane on charges connected with the 1983 kidnap of supermarket boss Don Tidey.

Maze prison escaper Brendan "Bik" McFarlane faces trial on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket exectuive Don Tidey following a Supreme Court decision today.

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against a High Court decision preventing the prosecution of Maze prison escaper Brendan “Bik” McFarlane on charges connected with the 1983 kidnap of supermarket executive Don Tidey.

IT may have been the PD’s birthday party but Sinn Féin gatecrashed it without even trying.

A PHASED €40 million plus mixed development is coming out of the starting blocks in the East Cork town of Midleton - moving from its market town status to major growth centre.

Maze escaper Brendan ``Bik'' Mc Farlane was remanded until next October by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on charges connected with the 1983 kidnap of supermarket executive Don Tidey.