The North’s new police service has struck a deal with the loyalist protestors outside the Catholic Holy Cross school in Belfast that should see the protest scaled down in the coming days.

Loyalist residents in north Belfast today vowed to defuse tensions in their area by ensuring protests against Catholic schoolchildren and their parents pass off peacefully.

Loyalists in north Belfast are considering moves to tone down their picket this week of Catholic schoolchildren and their parents, a source close to the protest claimed tonight.

Glasgow 47 Cardiff 32

Two-goal hero Michael Owen praised his team-mate John Arne Riise after the Norwegian’s rocket shot capped Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield.

Being booked for time-wasting in the first half of your Eircom League debut would be a puzzling introduction to any new football situation but Bray Wanderers goalkeeper Matt Gregg was not going to let that spoil his enjoyment.

Paul McGinley maintained his two-stroke lead before play in the Volvo Masters was halted again by high winds in Jerez this morning.

Tony Blair has declared that his determination to see through the war against terrorism is as strong now as it was on September 11.

Justine Henin ended Anna Kournikova's Grand Slam comeback with a 6-2 7-5 victory in the Australian Open.

A referee who gave a team losing 18-1 a helping hand by scoring a goal for them resigned today after being suspended by the Football Association.

Aaliyah scored a posthumous UK Number 1 single with a song which was released as a memorial.

The FA has ordered Cardiff City owner Sam Hammam to remain in the director’s box for the duration of the side’s home matches.

Eight men have been arrested in connection with violence at Cardiff City's shock FA Cup win over Leeds United.

Loyalists today began another week of protests outside the Holy Cross school in north Belfast amid warnings that pupils could be damaged permanently.

Catholic children enduring daily protests at their Belfast school could be permanently damaged, a priest at the centre of the dispute has warned.

Paul Lambert reckons former team-mate Harald Brattbakk has proved the critics wrong but is hoping he can still become a Celtic hero in Porto next week.

The secretary of the Tipperary GAA board Michael O'Brien has welcomed the initiation of the anti-doping measures, which were introduced on All-Ireland Final hurling day for the first time.

As the half-time whistle blows, Ireland lead by five points.

Ulster fly-half David Humphreys shattered the Heineken Cup points scoring record at Ravenhill tonight to leave Wasps on the brink of an early Heineken Cup exit.

About 200 loyalists gathered on the disputed Ardoyne Road to hold a short service in memory of 16-year-old Thomas McDonald, who died in an incident in another flashpoint area of the city on Tuesday.