The captain of a ship which collided with a passenger ferry causing thousands of pounds worth of damage had drunk up to seven bottles of beer, a court in the North heard today.

A woman arrested on suspicion of wasting police time after a major search for a baby feared lost at sea was today released from custody.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time after a major search for a baby feared lost at sea was called off.

Police in the North have arrested a woman on suspiscion of wasting police time, after reports of a baby missing in Belfast Lough were declared a false alarm.

A major search for a baby feared lost at sea has been called off after police said they believe initial reports that an infant fell from a ferry were incorrect.

The rescue operation for a baby, believed to be missing in Belfast Lough, has been called off.

A search operation has resumed for a baby who is reportedly missing in Belfast Lough.

The North’s emergency services were last night continuing to search for a baby reported to have fallen from a cross-channel ferry in Belfast harbour.

A major air and sea search operation is underway after a baby and a woman fell overboard a Stena Line Ferry in Belfast Lough.

Motorists were warned to take extra care after gale force winds battered the country.

The captain of a cargo ship involved in a collision with a passenger ferry in Belfast Lough could face two years in jail, a court has heard.

The captain of a cargo ship has pleaded guilty to being over the alcohol limit after his vessel and a ferry were in collision recently.

The captain of a cargo ship is being charged following a collision with a passenger ferry in Belfast Lough.

The captain of a cargo ship has been arrested today after his ship and a passenger ferry were in collision on Belfast Lough.

A man's body has been recovered from Belfast Lough today.

The operation to transfer 54,000 tonnes of oil from a damaged tanker at the mouth of Belfast Lough is over.

The process of removing 54,000 tonnes of oil from a damaged tanker off the coast of the North is beginning this morning.

THERE’S an interesting paper on eider ducks in the current edition of Irish Birds.

A TITANIC-THEMED wedding might not provide the ideal metaphor for a plain-sailing future together, but that is unlikely to discourage couples reserving the North’s latest venue for their big day.

A Titanic-themed wedding might not provide the ideal metaphor for a plain-sailing future together, but that is unlikely to discourage couples reserving the North's latest venue for their big day.

Rory McIlroy will get a heroes' welcome when he arrives back to Co. Down later this week.

THE poet, Louis MacNeice died suddenly in 1963 of viral pneumonia, contracted while recording sound effects in an underground cave in Yorkshire for his last radio play, Persons from Porlock.

A RECORD breaking monkfish with an enormous fanged-mouth big enough to swallow a person is to be stuffed — not for dinner, but for display.

A CHANGE of pace saw standings across the 13 classes tighten into two distinct groups: the outright battles for first place in some, and clear favourites in others. Light winds are again expected today while there will be possible near-gale conditions tomorrow.

People evacuated from their homes told today how they picked their way through twisted shards of metal and glass after a car bomb attack at a British Army base in the North.

THIS week, I will diverge from reports of local events in nature, the marvellous humpback whale displays in Wexford, and the shoals of sprats in the seas off west Cork, to tell readers about a book I’ve greatly enjoyed called Birding from the Hip: A Sound Approach Anthology.

Two policemen were praised today for their bravery after swimming into a lagoon during the night to rescue a young man and a girl.

Belfast was gearing up today for a week of celebrations today as the Tall Ships arrive.

The Coast Guard in the North says six young people who were rescued from a raft on Belfast Lough last night are lucky to be alive

A Titanic-themed tourist attraction and a rapid transit transport system are to be built in Belfast as part of a £250m (€299m) investment announced today.

The George Best Belfast City Airport has been sold for nearly four times what its owners paid just five years ago, it was announced today.

An extra 3,000 flights a year could use Belfast City Airport, it was revealed today.

THE Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) is not prepared to consider the selection of Star class sailors Peter O’Leary and Stephen Milne for this year’s Games pending the outcome of an appeal against their nomination lodged by Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks.

IKEA is definitely coming to Ireland.

THE Northern Ireland Tourist Board is keen to attract family groups for mid-term and other short breaks this year.

A rusting monument to Belfast’s bygone maritime era was brought home tonight as crowds cheered from the quayside.

A Russian cargo ship was at the centre of a rescue operation today off the Co Down coast.

MPs in the North were tonight urged to back radical £150m (€218m) plan to make Belfast one of Europe’s most vibrant cities by 2020.

A major land, air and sea search was mounted today for a man who went missing on New Year’s Day after he left a bar in Belfast docks.

Police in the North are investigating the discovery of a body at a landfill site in north Belfast this morning.

The authorities in the North have short-listed three possible locations for a proposed new multi-million pound sports stadium.

A range of hills high above Belfast once used by the British army to spy on terrorists in the city has been sold in a £3m (€4.3m) deal, it was revealed today.

OLYMPIC 49er sailor Tom Fitzpatrick (Howth YC) set an Irish record when he won the Allianz Irish Helmsmans’ title in a blistering five race final at Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club on Belfast Lough yesterday.