Two men appeared in court in the North today charged with blackmail and fundraising for terrorism.

Two women were covered in tar by thugs who broke into their home in Northern Ireland, police revealed today.

The RUC came under attack last night after the discovery of a number of blast bombs on the loyalist Lower Shankill Rd in Belfast.

A group of loyalists attacked RUC officers in west Belfast today after the police seized a number of suspected blast bombs.

An attempt was made tonight to broker a deal to end the sectarian violence plaguing north Belfast.