Eyebrows were raised when five TDs expressed ‘deep concern’ that jailed dissident republican Michael McKevitt was not allowed on extended temporary release last year — but the political intervention is not an isolated case, writes Michael Clifford

Liam Adams, a brother of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, has lost an appeal against his convictions and sentence for raping and abusing his daughter.

An “ongoing incident” at a prison in the North which houses dissident republican inmates is being dealt with by prisons authorities.

Two men have been jailed in connection with a savage attack on a family’s dog in the North.

A suspect allegedly linked to the murder of a prison officer in Northern Ireland attempted to get a battery for the car used to attack him, a court heard today.

Northern Ireland’s main high-security jail is to be broken into three mini prisons, the justice minister said.

A new republican paramilitary group calling itself the IRA is claiming responsibility for the murder of prison officer David Black earlier this month.

Police investigating the murder of prison officer David Black have made another arrest this morning.

A 58-year-old prisoner has died inside Maghaberry prison after apparently taking his own life.

The family of murdered prison officer David Black denounced his killers as cowards at his funeral today.

Gardaí last night released a man they had been questioning in connection with the murder of prison officer David Black.

The funeral for murdered prison officer David Black will take place on Tuesday, it was confirmed today.

Detectives probing the murder of a prison officer in the North are today questioning three men in connection with the killing.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a prison officer in the North.

A long-serving prison officer was murdered in a motorway ambush by dissident republicans in Northern Ireland today.

A prisoner serving a life sentence for murder has hanged himself in the North.

Three prison governors in the North face disciplinary action after a violent prisoner was released by mistake, a report said.

Personal details of up to 87 police officers have allegedly been passed to inmates in a high security prison in the North by a jailed ex-policeman, a court has heard.

Another prominent republican is to be tried in connection with the Massereene murders, while police suspect at least one more person was involved.

A damning report has called for an overhaul of the North's prison system after finding it is wasting public money and failing to create a safer society.

Republican prisoner Brendan Lillis has been released from police custody in the North.

A Derry man due to appear in court today has died in his prison cell.

A dentist who murdered his wife and ex lover’s husband then covered it up as suicide has apologised for killing two innocent and honourable people as verdicts delivered at the original inquest were overturned.

Two remand prisoners are believed to have hanged themselves in custody in the North.

THE clock on the wall directly above the dock was just approaching 10.23 when she heard the words which condemned her.

Double killer Colin Howell said today that he hopes the victims of his crimes can forgive him for what he did.

A prison governor removed from his post after the suicide of an inmate in the North has been appointed head of Magilligan jail.

Sinn Féin is to hold talks with the political representatives of the Real IRA dissident republican paramilitary group, it was confirmed today.

Prison officers in the North were forced to wear body armour to protect against the dissident republican threat, it was revealed today.

Tackling the North's crippling legal aid bill and dealing with problems in the prison system should be top priorities for the region's new Justice Minister, a Westminster Committee said today.

A 35-year-old woman has been killed in a car crash in Co Antrim this afternoon.

The governor of the North's main high security prison has resigned less than five months after taking up the post.

Prison authorities in the North have launched an investigation after bomb-making parts were found during the search of a high-security jail.

A major investigation has begun today at a high security prison today after the second suicide of an inmate in more than a year.

The Prison Officers Association has condemned an attack on three female prison officers at Maghaberry Jail in Co Antrim over the weekend.

The head of a prison where an inmate hanged himself at the fourth attempt is to be replaced, it was disclosed today.

A prison officer at a high-security Antrim jail has been suspended while police investigate alleged drugs offences, it was confirmed today.

A dentist accused of murdering his wife and his ex-lover’s husband is to be assessed by a psychiatrist in a fortnight’s time to decide if he is fit to face new questioning by investigating police, a court heard today.

Detectives today launched a new appeal in a bid to trace ex-patients of dentist Colin Howell who is facing a double murder as well as accusations of drugging and indecently assaulting four women.

The governments on both side of the border need to show leadership in tackling suicide and self-harm, Gerry Adams insisted today.

An armed robber and a forger have gone missing after being given Christmas home leave from a Northern Ireland jail, it emerged today.

FOR Luke Fitzgerald and Stephen Ferris, it has been a dizzyingly rapid ascent. But having reached the pinnacle of Irish rugby with their international debuts at the weekend, both have their feet firmly back on the ground.

A FUGITIVE conman wanted either side of the Border for swindling companies out of tens of thousands of euros worth of equipment, went on live radio yesterday to say he wants to give himself up.