A former police inspector was charged tonight with murdering an 80-year-old woman in the North more than two decades ago.

Major advances towards a new policing regime in the North will stall without total political backing, a new watchdog report warned today.

Up to 20 people hold the key to whether the killers of Belfast father of two Robert McCartney will face justice, his family claimed tonight.

Police in Belfast are investigating reports that a rifle was pointed at a train driver as he headed into the city.