It was ironic that on Thursday 2 May, as up to 200 republicans gathered at the corner of the Springfield Road and Crocus Street to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the death on active service of Volunteer Finbarr McKenna, the British announced they were closing the very barracks Finbarr was attacking when he died. Free article

In a statement received by An Phoblacht on Wednesday, 8 May, the leadership of the Irish Republican Army denied any involvement in the disappearance of Crossmagen man Charles Armstrong, who vanished in August 1981. Gardaí have been digging in the hope of recovering his remains at a site in north Monaghan since last week, reportedly acting on information received by the Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains. The following is the full text of the IRA statement: Free article

Sinn Féin Vice President, West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty, says it is time for real talks after the Assembly backed a Sinn Féin motion supporting the principles of the Good Friday Agreement despite opposition from the DUP and the abstention of the UUP. Free article

Speaking in Belfast at Sunday's 21st anniversary march to commemorate the 1981 Hunger Strike, Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey reiterated that republicans are still committed to the peace process. Free article

Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan has described as "outrageous" the revelations that Special Branch coerced a 14-year-old boy to act as an informer for them. The youth, now 19, came forward to republicans in the past number of weeks to confess his role. Free article

Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty said that in light of the announcement by the British government to hand over Long Kesh, Crumlin Road jails and Malone and Ebrington Barracks to the Executive as a means of generating public funding, there is nothing now standing in the way of transferring the massive Lisanelly British Army installation in Omagh in a similar way. Free article

Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McLoughlin travelled to England last week for a speaking tour at the invitation of the Troops Out Movement. The tour took him to venues in Nottingham and Birmingham, where he expressed Sinn Féin's solidarity with members of the Trades Councils. Free article

McBride's mother meets Reid, Wild attack on children, Catholic girl targeted in Antrim, Markets attack, Ballymena nationalists assaulted, UDA attack Randalstown pub, Orange Order challenged over arch and Derry residents slam A-Team tactics Free article

Over 1,000 people filled the length of O'Connell Street last Thursday to protest the government's recent legislation making trespass a criminal offence, in the process criminalising the traditional nomadic way of life of the Travellers that the same government had sworn to respect and protect. Free article

In response to growing concerns about street crime and anti-social behaviour, Sinn Féin Councillor Dessie Ellis has said that part of the solution lies with Community Wardens. Free article