The case of seven Irishmen facing deportation to the Six Counties from the United States was heard in the corridors of power in Washington last week. A high-powered Congressional hearing was given moving testimony from the men's families and strong arguments against their deporation from leading politicians. Free article

At an emotive Belfast press conference on Tuesday 11 February the mother of murdered nationalist Peter McBride (18), when asked were there any similarities between her son's killers - Scots Guards Mark Wright and James Fisher - and paratrooper Lee Clegg, sighed and replied, ``yes, special release. I do not expect anything other than their release.'' Free article

AN PHOBLACHT HAS LEARNED THAT a series of meetings has taken place in recent weeks in the Killycomain area of Portadown and in Moira, County Down between representatives of the UVF and UDA in mid-Ulster who have agreed to support the Portadown loyalist Billy Wright in his stand against the UVF leadership. Free article

A MAN LIVING IN THE MARKETS area of South Belfast is afraid to leave his home at night because of a campaign of RUC intimidation against him. Free article

Short Strand Sinn Féin representative Dominic Corr hit out at the RUC at a press conference in the local Sinn Féin advice centre on Wednesday 12 February where a local man had come forward to expose a blackmail attempt by the Special Branch. Free article

SIX YOUNG DOWNPATRICK MEN were attacked and beaten by members of the RUC's DMSU in the early hours of Sunday morning 9 February. Three of the men were subsequently arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour. Free article

Dublin drug campaigners remain unconvinced about the Garda approach to drug dealing after sharp exchanges at a drugs conference last weekend. The two-day gathering hosted by Dublin Corporation ended with unanimous backing for a call from City Manager John Fitzgerald for extra state resources to take on the crisis. However, views on how and where Garda resources are being directed were far from unanimous. Free article

A member of a British army patrol fired a shot as Gerry Adams and Gerry Kelly were being held at a checkpoint on the Dublin to Belfast road near Banbridge. Free article

Englishman Nick Martin-Clark considers why Britain remains in the Six Counties Free article

SINN FEIN'S ALEX MASKEY has rubbished the Spotlight programme broadcast by the BBC on Tuesday 11 February and has accused the BBC of backing an SDLP smear campaign against the party. Maskey said there is no evidence that the party is involved in electoral fraud. Free article