The political deadlock that has prevented the Northern Ireland Executive meeting for four months is now hitting other Assembly business, critics claimed today.

SMUGGLED, secretive and frequently soaked in tears, the hidden history of one of the country’s longest human rights struggles finally has a home.

BILL CLINTON’S decision to pull out of a Belfast conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is a vote of no confidence in it, a leading unionist claimed yesterday.

Bill Clinton’s decision to pull out of a Belfast conference marking the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is a vote of no confidence in it, a leading unionist claimed today.

Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson was today sworn in as the North's new junior minister following the official resignation of Ian Paisley Junior.

Senior civil servants were asked to help the Northern Ireland Office give as positive a response as possible to issues raised by the Rev Ian Paisley’s son during devolution negotiations before a key political deadline, it emerged today.

The DUP's Ian Paisley Jnr. Has stepped down as junior minister in the Northern Executive.

The joint leaders of the North's power-sharing government will hold talks in Brussels today with senior European Union officials including commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

The only private sector proposal on the table for a controversial visitors centre at the Giant’s Causeway still has a number of issues which need to be addressed, Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster said today.

A European Commissioner leading a Brussels taskforce on the North Ireland will today meet a senior minister in the Stormont power sharing government.

FORMER Old Bailey bomber and prison escapee Gerry Kelly could be in line for a senior cabinet post in the Northern Ireland power sharing government, it emerged last night.

The North's politicians found their appetite for devolved government again today.

The DUP and Sinn Féin were making significant gains in the Northern Ireland Assembly Elections.

Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and other senior Sinn Féin leaders have had to step up their personal security for fear of attack from hard-line republicans, it emerged tonight.

Police Ombudsman investigators who questioned an ex-detective as part of a widening inquiry into alleged security force collusion with loyalist paramilitary killers wanted publicity without any hard evidence, it was claimed tonight.

Northern Ireland Assembly members were today given until Monday to make their position clear on a committee preparing for devolved government.

The DUP is seeking a two week extension on the British government's November 24 deadline for the restoration of power-sharing in the North.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board today extended the consultation period over the introduction of 50,000-volt Taser guns following pressure from human rights campaigners.

The DUP is criticising the GAA for not asking police to prosecute players involved in on-pitch violence during a National Football League match between Dublin and Tyrone a week ago.

Unionists today demanded a public inquiry after Sinn Féin expelled a senior party official who had admitted working as a British spy.

THE acquittal in Belfast of three men accused of operating a spy ring at Stormont shows the spirit of the RUC’s Special Branch still exists, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness said yesterday.

Ian Paisley’s daughter has launched legal action accusing him of sexual discrimination, it emerged today.

A primary school and nearby houses in the heart of Ian Paisley’s constituency were evacuated during an early-morning bomb alert today.

Northern Ireland’s most senior policeman Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde today rejected claims by unionists that his officers were failing to be even handed when policing parades protests.

President Mary McAleese was tonight accused by unionists of failing to apologise properly for comments comparing Nazi prejudice towards Jews to the hatred of Catholics in Northern Ireland.

SDLP Leader Mark Durkan sprang to the defence of President Mary McAleese today after she compared the Nazis’ hatred of Jews to those who taught children in Northern Ireland to despise Catholics.

The crisis-hit Northern Bank may withdraw all its banknotes in a desperate attempt to foil the gang which cleared the Belfast headquarters of a record £22m (€31.2m), it was revealed today.

The Republican movement is holding up progress in the search for a new peace process deal, Democratic Unionist leader the Reverend Ian Paisley claimed today.

Republican paramilitaries carried out a £2m (€2.9m) cigarette heist in Belfast, police said today.

THE Democratic Unionist Party wants to see the devolution of policing and justice powers but it must be done in a way which can inspire confidence in Northern Ireland, deputy leader Peter Robinson said yesterday.

Any move to axe the full-time police reserve in Northern Ireland could threaten next month’s crucial peace process negotiations, the British government was warned today.

Sinn Féin must address the future of the IRA if it is to bridge its huge credibility gap, the party was told today.

A POLICE raid on Sinn Féin offices at Stormont which led to the suspension of devolution in Northern Ireland had to take place for the sake of democracy, it was claimed yesterday.

A police raid on Sinn Féin offices at Stormont which led to the suspension of devolution in Northern Ireland had to take place for the sake of democracy, it was claimed today.

A memorial to one of Northern Ireland’s best loved sportsmen was vandalised today.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble should quit while the going is good, his main rival the Rev Ian Paisley claimed today.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy has said the Stevens report has raised very disturbing issues, and the fact that the events at the core of the investigation dated back to the 80s did not diminish their seriousness.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair were expected to reach a decision today on whether the latest IRA statement could advance the peace process.

John Reid is set to be replaced as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as he takes up a post as Labour party chairman.

Republican terrorists in Northern Ireland are planning to carry out either a political assassination or a major bomb attack, it was claimed today.

Police in Northern Ireland have warned politicians that republican terrorists are planning either a political assassination or a major bomb attack, Democratic Unionist Assemblyman Ian Paisley junior claimed today.

An off-duty police officer in the North today escaped injury after an explosion at his car.

With the departure of Ronnie Flanagan, Northern Ireland’s new policing service was today losing one of its most articulate and controversial figures.

Any decommissioning of arms carried out by the IRA over the next few days will be no more than a meaningless stunt, Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley predicted today.