Niall Connolly, Jim Monaghan and Martin McCauley this week received the vindication that they have been waiting for since their Colombian nightmare began 33 months ago. On Monday afternoon, after an anxious weekend, Judge Jairo Acosta gave his verdict that the three Irishmen were not guilty of the charge of training left-wing FARC guerrillas. Free article

DECLAN KEARNEY, Chairperson, Cúige na Sé Chondae, assesses current British strategy in the wake of last week's IMC report and calls on republicans to mobilise to maximise popular support for the Peace Process. Free article

The media just can't make up its mind. For Ireland on Sunday, the IMC report "could destroy Adam's reputation as a statesman", while for the Sunday Times it was like water off a duck's back. The IMC report "would be expected to cause problems for most political leaders, but not Adams", wrote that well known anti-republican, Liam Clarke. Free article

Workers and Trade Unionists from the community and voluntary sector picketed Stormont this week. The protest had been organised to highlight opposition to the political vetting witch-hunt advocated by the recently published IMC report. Over 50 representatives gathered to stage the protest, some carrying placards calling for the immediate disbanding of the IMC, a British Government quango imposed outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Free article

The inquests into the victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings reopened last Tuesday, 27 April, after a lapse of 30 years. Margaret Urwin of the Justice for the Forgotten group told An Phoblacht that the inquests are expected to continue until 7 May. Free article

Bertie Ahern on Wedneday was forced to acknowledge that Sinn Féin is not involved in criminality. Ahern, speaking in the Dáil, said he accepted "what Deputy Ó Caoláin has put on the record" when the Cavan/Monaghan TD said, "Sinn Féin is not and has not been involved in, or been a beneficiary from, such (criminal) activities, either in this jurisdiction or in any part of this island or beyond." Ó Caoláin had rejected the "barrage of accusations directed at Sinn Féin by some politicians and indeed some journalists, whose anti-republican bile is apparently inexhaustible". Free article

Derry City Council passed a Sinn Féin motion on Tuesday, proposed by Cllr Gerry Mac Lochlainn, calling for abandonment of the proposed referendum on citizenship changes in the 26 Counties. Free article

Michael Finucane, son of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane, will deliver the annual Bobby Sands Lecture at the Devenish Complex in Belfast on Friday 7 May at 7.30pm. Free article

Belfast 3pm Sun 9 May Free article