A North Belfast mother whose 15-year-old son was shot dead by the RUC has called on a local soccer team, Newington FC, not to play against the RUC in a match due to take place this Saturday, 18 March. Free article

``I'm a man of principle and I'll not pay any fine'' says Sinn Féin man Patrick Gavin. Free article

The Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has no credibility on the issue of credit union tax reform, following news that the EU Competition Commissioner has told him he can go ahead with reforms recommended by the credit union taxation Working Group and supported by the Credit Union Movement. Free article

Residents of Dunmurray Lane in Belfast have forced the Department of the Environment to backtrack on a decision not to put a pelican crossing at an accident black spot near their homes. Free article

The discovery of very high levels of dangerous radon gas in 13 schools was raised in Leinster House last week by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. In response, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Willie O'Dea, confirmed that remedial action would be taken but also that many schools had not taken up the invitation to be tested for radon. Ó Caoláin called for testing of schools to be made compulsory. Free article

On the day before Jack Straw allowed former dictator Augusto Pinochet to escape justice and return to Chile, journalist Hugh O'Shaughnessy was in Dublin launching his new book, ``Pinochet: The Politics of Torture''. Free article

The recently formed Greater Clonard Ex-Prisoners group is to hold its first reunion in the Sean Mac Diarmada GAC club on Belfast's Falls Road on Friday, 24 March. Free article

Young people in Ireland are faced at all turns with the opportunity to dabble in drugs of one kind or another. In a recent National Youth Council survey, 53% of respondents between the ages of 15 and 24 stated that they had taken illegal drugs. Twelve per cent of those surveyed were taking drugs regularly, once/twice a week. Free article

`Green Cross Eileen', died on 21 February 2000. She lived in Beechmount in the heart of the Falls. When I first met Eileen, her family were all grown up and no doubt along with her husband she thought she could take it easy but things seldom go as planned. 1969 changed many a family, many a way of life was gone for ever. Free article