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.

A YOUNG Englishman will spend Christmas in Cork Prison after he was refused bail yesterday in a case where he is accused of carrying €70,000 worth of drugs through Cork Airport.

A Finglas man who agreed to act as "back-up" in the collection of a €200,000 consignment of heroin in return for receiving a €120 Lifestyle tracksuit has been remanded in custody pending sentence.

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.

A Cavan man who was convicted by a jury of intimidating his former flatmate arising out of a stabbing incident following the 2004 All-Ireland Football Final between Mayo and Kerry will be sentenced in April.