THE Irish Network Against Racism (ENAR Ireland) has welcomed the convictions yesterday (Tuesday) at London’s Old Bailey of Gary Dobson and David Norris for the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence 18 years ago.

Today (Wednesday) Gary Dobson was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years two months; David Norris was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years three months.

Catherine... Free article

VITA CORTEX workers – in occupation of the foam manufacturing plant in Cork for more than two weeks, including Christmas and the New Year – have responded positively to the call by Jobs and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton for them and management to use the state’s industrial relations machinery to try and resolve the dispute.

The Vita Cortex workers said they will do so to try... Free article

It’s important that republicans remember the families of fallen Volunteers, especially in the run-up to Christmas

THE work of supporting the families of republican activists imprisoned or killed defending their republican beliefs and principles has been carried on down through the decades by very committed people. Today that work is being continued by the Green Cross... Free article

THE SITUATION in Maghaberry Prison is tense, making the need for the prison administration to resolve outstanding issues in the jail for the benefit of prisoners and staff even more urgent, Sinn Féin MLAs said after visiting there on Thursday.

Sinn Féin MLAs Raymond McCartney (Foyle) and Jennifer McCann (West Belfast) visited Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre and Women’s Prison as... Free article

THE FAMILY of Pat Finucane has announced it is to take legal action challenging the British Government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry into the assassination of the defence lawyer at his Belfast home in front of his family in 1989.

The killing is engulfed by widespread suspicion that British Government security services, the British Army or the RUC – or all three – and... Free article

By Paul Hayes, West Cork

I WONDER did the people of Cork and across the country really think that when they voted for Labour candidates last February that a short nine months later their Dáil deputies would support such a savage attack on the most vulnerable in our society?

People have come to expect that Fine Gael would always side with the more-well-off in society and protect... Free article

By Treoir

THE Budget introduced a range of significant reductions that will affect unmarried parents. Treoir is concerned that the amount of earnings disregard for the purposes of One-Parent Family Payment is to be reduced from €146.50 to €130 per week in January 2012 for existing as well as new recipients.

In addition, further reductions will be introduced over the following four... Free article