A definitive line was drawn under last May's general election as hundreds of Sinn Féin members from every corner of Ireland gathered for an internal conference in Dublin last Sunday. It was the culmination of months of intense discussion among the membership across the 26 Counties. Free article

Newtownabbey Sinn Féin councillor Briege Meehan who recently suffered the loss of her husband Martin Meehan, was one of 11 republicans to receive a death threat from the previously unheard of Irish Republican Liberation Army. Free article

AN inquest into the UDA murder of Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor in July 2002 was halted after a judge ordered the coroner to stop the proceedings in Belfast last week. The High Court's dramatic intervention followed a refusal by coroner John Leckey to postpone the inquest until the completion of a Police Ombudsman's investigation into possible collusion by state forces in the killing. Free article

26-COUNTY Environment Minister and Green Party TD John Gormley is in the middle of a political storm this week following the granting of permission by An Bord Pleanála for a deeply controversial incinerator in Dublin. During the general election, Gormley promised to oppose the incinerator, in his own constituency of Dublin South-East, and appeared on pickets with anti-incinerator campaigners. Free article

Speaking at a major demonstration outside Leinster House on Wednesday demanding that breast cancer services be maintained at Sligo General Hospital, Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said the crisis in mammography is being used by government and the HSE to justify their drive to over-centralise hospital services while downgrading local hospitals. Free article

Over 300 people packed the Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney last Saturday night to pay tribute to five party members who were given presentations in recognition of their contribution to their local communities and the republican cause. Free article