Groundbreaking first talks between the head of the Roman Catholic church in Ireland and loyalist leaders are to take place today.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland is to meet loyalist paramilitary leaders later this week.

Further divisions are emerging within the UDA after a leading loyalist admitted that some of the group's members are dealing in drugs.

The Ulster Defence Association was today given 60 days to disarm and protect £1.2m (€1.77m) earmarked for the redevelopment of their neighbourhoods.

All remnants of paramilitarism must disappear from the North's society, First Minister Ian Paisley insisted today.

A loyalist paramilitary boss today predicted direct talks with republicans were inevitable if the North's new, devolved government succeeds.

Two women were tonight being questioned by detectives hunting the killers of deposed loyalist terror boss Jim Gray.

The British government has said it made it clear to loyalists this week that they must end all paramilitary activity and deal with the issue of decommissioning their weapons.

A top-security Northern Ireland jail is on the brink of chaos, prisoners representatives warned tonight.

Police were today investigating reports of shots being fired during bonfire celebrations in the North.

LOYALISTS yesterday threatened major disruption across the North unless strip-searches inside a top security jail are cut back.

Loyalists today threatened major disruption across Northern Ireland unless strip- searches inside a top security jail are cut back.

Loyalists staged a naked protest at a high-security Northern Ireland prison today over claims of intensified strip searches.

The Ulster Defence Association has begun an internal debate on the status of its alleged ceasefire, according to the political wing of the organisation.

Loyalist paramilitary representatives tonight hailed their first meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as historic and said many more may follow.

Loyalist paramilitary representatives were on their way to Dublin tonight for talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to hold talks tonight with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries.

The Taoiseach is to hold talks with a group linked to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association in Dublin tomorrow.

A group representing loyalist inmates today called on the British government to bring the British army in to help run Northern Ireland’s prisons.

ELECTIONS to Northern Ireland’s collapsed power-sharing government will be held in October, it was predicted yesterday.

Elections to Northern Ireland’s collapsed power-sharing government will be held in October, it was predicted today.

Accusations that the Ulster Defence Association broke its ceasefire to firebomb a house could provoke bomb attacks by dissident republicans, it was claimed tonight.

Nearly 300 workers at an east Belfast seat belt manufacturing plant were today made redundant.

Unionist and loyalist politicians were today heading to South Africa for talks aimed at producing a single unionist vision for Northern Ireland’s peace process.

The situation at a sectarian flashpoint in east Belfast is spiralling out of control, unionist politicians and Protestant clergymen in the district warned tonight.

Loyalist claims that republicans are masterminding street disorder to boost their vote in next year’s Assembly elections are laughable, a senior Sinn Fein figure claimed tonight.

A loyalist research group linked to the Ulster Defence Association has accused the IRA of transporting its members to interface areas throughout Belfast to participate in sectarian clashes.

A loyalist initiative to reduce tensions in Belfast has been put on hold after a fresh bout of rioting in the east of the city last night.