Moves to repatriate Manchester Martyrs

Bandon Sinn Féin Councillor John Desmond, who has spent the last six years researching the possible return to Ireland of the Manchester Martyrs, has welcomed reports of a government move to get involved.

Councillor Desmond said: "Recent press reports have indicated that the government may be willing to work for the return of the Manchester Martyrs to Ireland. This is very good news if it is true. The Manchester Martyrs belong to no one political party but to the people of Ireland. If the government puts its weight behind the return of the Martyrs, then it can happen that much quicker. They certainly deserve a state funeral just like the Forgotten Ten received in 2004."

Meeting with delegation from Presbyterian Church

A Sinn Féin delegation led by party President Gerry Adams MP and including Vice President Pat Doherty MP, Councillor Joe Reilly, Caitriona Ruane, Alex Maskey MLA, Tom Hartley and the head of the party's unionist outreach programme Martina Anderson held a meeting on Wednesday with a delegation from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland led by the Moderator Dr. David Clarke.

Ferris calls on State to purchase Greencore property

The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Ferris TD, has called on the state to make a compulsory purchase of property owned by Greencore, formerly the site of the sugar factories at Carlow and Mallow. He has also asked Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, on the matter in her capacity as the trustee of the state's 'Golden Share' in the company.

Earlier in the week Ferris again called on Greencore to honour its original commitment on a redundancy package for former workers at the Mallow factory.

Valerie Leonard to run in Skerries

Sinn Féin has announced that their candidate in the Skerries, Co Derry by-election will be Valerie Leonard. Leonard ran in the 2005 election which was part of the historic first campaign by Sinn Féin in all the Council wards.

Valerie is married to sitting Coleraine Sinn Féin councillor Billy Leonard and the family live in Portstewart.

The back-drop to the by-election is the council seat vacated after the scandal surrounding DUP Councillor Dessie Stewart and voter registration fraud.