Two men were being questioned today about the £26.5m (€38m) Northern Bank robbery in Belfast last December.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain is poised to call new talks with the North's political leaders in a bid to restore devolution after the IRA declared an end to its armed campaign.

Ulster Unionists will boycott any new coalition government in Northern Ireland that includes Sinn Féin, party leader David Trimble pledged today.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy today announced financial sanctions against Sinn Féin following the Northern Bank robbery.