MONDAY saw Sinn Féin activists from across Ireland gather in Navan, County Meath, for a key political meeting. Those attending included TDs, MPs, MLAs councillors, regional organisers and activists as well as members of the party's ruling Ard Chomhairle. The Navan get-together was was the culmination of a series of party meetings in recent weeks which discussed this year's local and EU elections, the upcoming Lisbon referendum and the future political strategy of the party. Speaking afterwards, party president Gerry Adams said: "Activists today put forward proposals on a range of pressing issues. Free article

SPEAKING following the meeting of the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle in Navan on Monday, Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald confirmed that the party will launch a vigorous campaign for a second 'No' vote on the Lisbon Treaty. "Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for a better deal for Ireland and the European Union. Free article

TYRONE republicans were busy this week in their final preparations for the National Hunger Strike rally which will be held for the first time in the county on this coming Sunday 16 August. The march is the culmination of a weekend of events that includes a Friday night Torchlight procession in Dungannon, a panel discussion, a number of events organised by Ógra Shinn Féin and an exhibition. Several thousand people are expected for the parade which will mark the 28th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike. The commemoration will also remember Tyrone Hunger Striker, Seán McCaughey who died on Hunger Strike in the 1940s as well as Michael Gaughan and Frank Stagg who died in prisons in England in the 1970s. Free article

THE decision announced last Thursday, 6 August, by the Policing Board to close and sell off 26 police stations across the North - in the face of unionist opposition - has been welcomed by Sinn Féin Policing Board member Alex Maskey MLA as "a victory for commonsense". The stations are: Greencastle, Mountpottinger, Greyabbey, Dromara, Toomebridge, Templepatrick, Loughgall, Markethill, Rathfriland, Bessbrook, Portadown, Belcoo, Belleek, Coagh, Fivemiletown, Kesh, Newtownbutler, Pomeroy, Stewartstown, Bellaghy, Claudy, Donemana, Newtownstewart, Portstewart, Kells and Kilrea. Free article

THE decision by the Policing Board to close Mountpottinger PSNI barracks as one of the 26 police stations surplus to requirements across the North has been hailed by east Belfast Sinn Féin representative Niall Ó Donnghaile as a victory for the vigorous campaign by the Short Strand community, supported by Sinn Féin. Free article