A NEW REPORT into the UVF bombing of McGurk’s Bar in 1971 has to be produced by the Police Ombudsman has to be produced to rebuild confidence amongst the victims’ families and the wider public, Sinn Féin North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly has said.

“The report given to the relatives of those killed in the UVF attack on McGurk’s bar was so inaccurate that it couldn’t even... Free article

POLICE OMBUDSMAN Al Hutchnison has suspended today's scheduled publication of his report into the RUC investigation of the 1971 UVF bombing of McGurk's Bar in north Belfast which claimed the lives of 15 people, including two children.

The Police Ombudsman said he will be meeting relatives to discuss their concerns.

FIFTEEN people, including two children, died when a UVF bomb exploded at McGurk's Bar in north Belfast in December 1971.

The bombing was initially blamed by the authorities on the IRA as a premature explosion, a so-called 'own goal'.

Relatives of the victims have expressed their upset at Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson's findings.

UTV and RTÉ news reports on the probe into... Free article

GERRY ADAMS has appealed for calm over the Twelfth period, describing the Orange Order's rejection of draft proposals agreed by the DUP and Sinn Féin to solve the issue of controversial parades as “deeply disappointing”. He warned that unionist and nationalist fringe elements may seek to provoke trouble around the Twelfth.

The Sinn Féin president revealed that he has written to... Free article

PROMINENT former Green Party councillor, Independent Cork City Councillor Chris O’Leary, has today joined Sinn Féin.

Chris works full-time as a project manager in a Community Development Project on the city’s northside and has been involved in anti-poverty work for many years.

The well-known environmental activist has also spent time working on a voluntary basis in Latin America,... Free article

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is in denial on the reality of cuts to services for disabled people and carers Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said as families and campaign groups protested in Dublin, Galway and Mayo against cuts in disability services.

“Both yesterday and today in the Dáil, the Taoiseach has been in denial on the reality of the... Free article

THE purchase by ESB of the North’s electricity supplier, NIE, could mean lower energy prices to consumers throughout Ireland, Sinn Féin’s Mitchel McLaughlin has said.

"The benefits to consumers of one energy provider are obvious. It will assist in all-Ireland harmonisation and should deliver efficiencies through elimination of duplication of resources resulting in lower energy... Free article

SINN FÉIN Councillor Seán Crowe has said unemployment in Tallaght is spiralling out of control as new figures show that only Limerick City, Cork City and Waterford have higher numbers of unemployed in the 26 Counties.

Councillor Crowe said all the talk of emerging from recession means nothing unless the real issue of unemployment is addressed.

“The Government must bring forward a... Free article

SINN FÉIN has said it won’t take lectures from the under-performing Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, who has accused critics of the state of the health service in the North of playing politics.

The health minister refused to attend yesterday’s North/South Ministerial Council where health and all-Ireland co-operation in the recession dominated the agenda.

MLA for mid-Ulster... Free article

FIANNA FÁIL TD Noel O’Flynn has accepted a challenge to debate the Government’s attitude to youth unemployment after five Ógra Shinn Féin activists staged a two-hour roof-top protest on his constituency office in Cork on Tuesday morning.

Gardaí were called to the premises on Old Mallow Road but no arrests were made and the protests ended after Deputy O’Flynn agreed to the... Free article