The efforts of British securocrats to use the 'RIRA' micro group to undermine Sinn Féin and the Peace Process were dramatically exposed this week when the British state abandoned the case against four people arrested with bombs in Ballymena in 2005. It is understood that the abandonment of the trial centres on claims that Paddy Murray was a British agent. Free article

THE power-sharing Executive in the North, in which Sinn Féin and the DUP are the major partners, has this week agreed its first Budget, Programme for Government (PfG) and Investment Strategy (ISNI) with significant achievements in additional investment in key areas of social housing, health, education and youth provision as well as the Fire Service. Free article

AFTER the Green Party's Lisbon Treaty conference last weekend, where the party leadership failed to secure a two-thirds majority in favour of the treaty, Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has invited those seeking a 'No' vote in the referendum to join with Sinn Féin in securing a better deal for Ireland. Free article

LIMERICK Sinn Féin's Maurice Quinlivan has strongly welcomed the publication of vision documents for the regeneration of Moyross, Southill and Ballinacurra Weston this week. Quinlivan said Sinn Féin is keen to offer its support for the plans to improve facilities and services in both areas, something for which the party has been campaigning for over many years. Free article

THIS YEAR'S Le Chéile dinner to honour republicans who have made an outstanding contribution to the struggle takes place at the Stillorgan Park Hotel in Dublin on Saturday 1 March, after the close of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. Free article

SINN FÉIN's leader on Limavady Borough Council Paddy Butcher has condemned an attack on two of his female colleagues after a meeting to discuss the implementation of a neutral public space motion which was adopted as policy last October. He laid the blame for the outrage at the door of Unionist MEP Jim Allister's local "loose cannon councillor" Leslie Cubitt. Free article

A packed meeting saw Dublin City Councillor Daithí Doolan elected as chairperson of Sinn Féin's National Elected Representatives Forum (NERF) in Dublin last weekend. Also elected at the AGM were Seán McPeake as vice-chair and Waterford Councillor David Cullinane as runaí. Councillor Larry O'Toole and Seán McPeake are Ard Chomhairle representatives. Free article