An historic breakthrough was made in the Northern Ireland peace process at the end of October when the first IRA arms were put permanently beyond use in a move monitored by the International Commission on Decommissioning. In the early hours of October 23 General John de Chastelain oversaw the disposal of what was called a "sizable quantity" of the IRA's weapons, a move which … [Read more...] about IRA Dispose of Weapons
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Loyalist Ceasefires
Declared Over
The Northern Secretary John Reid announced recently that he considered the ceasefires of three loyalist groups to be over. The actions of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) were so blatant and persistent that they could no longer be ignored by politicians.
The move came mostly in response to the murder of Northern journalist Martin … [Read more...] about Loyalist Ceasefires
Declared Over
Aer Lingus Survival
Package Agreed by EU
Ireland's national airline, Aer Lingus, has been pulled back from the brink of bankruptcy by a deal hammered out between the Irish government and the European Union transport authorities at the eleventh hour. Aer Lingus suffered massive losses in the aftermath of the Twin Towers collapse, and was no longer considered to be commercially viable.
The semi-state body, partly owned … [Read more...] about Aer Lingus Survival
Package Agreed by EU
Protests at Catholic School
North Belfast, Oct. 23 – Loyalist protestors who have spent the last eight weeks blocking Catholic children from entering their school were threatened with legal action if they do not call off their protests. The governors of the Holy Cross School in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast announced they were going to the High Court if the stand-off continued. The protestors came … [Read more...] about Protests at Catholic School
RUC Guilty in 1969 Attack
The family of a Derry man who died in 1969 three months after being savagely beaten in his home by the RUC have welcomed a move by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan which upheld a complaint by the family that the RUC dealt with their concerns inappropriately at the time. While the Ombudsman said she did not believe that disciplinary action could now be taken … [Read more...] about RUC Guilty in 1969 Attack