Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey was elected Mayor of Belfast on Wednesday evening, 5 June. His victory marks the first time a republican has held a position for many decades jealously denied to any nationalist representative. Free article

A 400-strong loyalist mob engaged in a standoff, reminiscent of Drumcree, on the edge of Short Strand, a nationalist enclave in the predominantly loyalist east Belfast, on Wednesday, the sixth day of attack on the area. In full view of the British Army and RUC/PSNI personnel, a masked loyalist drove a hijacked lorry to blockade the Newtownards Road. Free article

Selected last Saturday as leader of Sinn Féin's newly elected Parliamentary Group in Leinster House, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin is undeterred by Fianna Fáil's and the PD's return to power, and points to promising changes in the Dáil Opposition. Free article

The fact that neither nationalists nor unionists have welcomed the appointment of Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hugh Orde as the new Chief Constable of the RUC will no doubt lead the British government to tell themselves that because nobody likes it, it must be right. Free article

A Catholic pensioner sitting in the front room of his Enid Street home was lucky not to be killed when a shot was fired through his window on Monday night, 3 June at around 9.30pm. Free article

As expected it was announced on Wednesday, 29 May, that retired Canadian judge Peter Cory (76) has been appointed to 'review' a number of controversial killings where there have been allegations of collusion. Free article