Yolanda Amaya Herrera, General Secretary of the Foundation Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Colombia, was imprisoned for 30 months due to her work as human right defenders. She has travelled to Europe to highlight the civil rights situation in Colombia and to promote the work of her organisation, which monitors the human rights conditions of political prisoners detained in police stations or in the country's prisons. It and also tries to protect trade unionists, social workers, small farmers, indigenous peoples and human rights defenders whose lives are at risk. Free article

As An Phoblacht goes to press, Belfast St Patrick's Day organisers are warning that next week's celebrations - scheduled to take place outside City Hall - are in grave jeopardy after the Carnival was refused British Government funding. The stunning announcement comes after an application for £27,000 to help stage the St.Patrick's Day concert was unceremoniously turned down by the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC). The NIEC claims that the funding application was submitted too late to be considered for approval. Free article

Reports that a senior member of the Gardaí ordered a key Garda file on the May 1974 Dublin/Monaghan bombings to be removed from an office and that this file was later found under the seat of a patrol car were raised with the Taoiseach in the Dáil by Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin on Wednesday. Free article

The 150th anniversary of the sudden death of a Young Irelander was marked at his Washington DC graveside on Friday last 5 March. Thomas Devin Reilly, writer and revolutionary and key member of the Young Irelanders, was born in Monaghan Town in 1824 and died in Washington at the age of 30. Fellow Monaghan town man and Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin gave the main address. Free article

Sinn Féin's All-Ireland Policy Co-ordinator, Martin Anderson, received a rapturous response when she addressed a rally of over 6,000 Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) supporters on Saturday night in Barcelona. Speaking on behalf of Sinn Féin, Martina addressed the theme of conflict resolution. She stressed that while no two conflicts are the same, that engagement and dialogue are core principles which should guide all conflict resolution processes. Free article

A huge crowd attended the commemoration march in Sheelagh, County Louth, on Sunday last, in memory of Volunteer Keith Rogers, who was murdered by criminals on 12 March 2003. This first commemorative march was led by a colour party and bands from Cullyhanna, Andersonstown, Crossmaglen, Kilkeel and Strabane. Free article

A function to celebrate Seán Kenna's time as a councillor in Dundalk was held at Oriel Park last Saturday night. The large crowd was testament to the popularity of one of Dundalk's best loved republicans. Tribute was paid to Seán by Arthur Morgan TD, who thanked Seán's wife Eileen and his family, for standing by him through thick and thin. Councillors Kevin Meenan and Geraldine Cassidy also spoke warmly of Seán's contribution to republicanism. Free article

Ag labhairt sa Dáil ag tús Seachtain na Gaeilge, d'éiligh Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, úrlabhrai Gaeilge Shinn Féin, nach raibh fócas dáirire ag an diospóireacht agus gur 'Tokenism' a bhí ann. Dúirt Ó Snodaigh: "Is maith go bhfuil Gaeilge á labhairt sa Teach ach is trua nach bhfuil aon fócas ag an ndíospóireacht seo. Níl ann ach an sraith ráitis, Tokenism. Free article

BY STEPHANIE LORD - In recent times, the numerous conflicts between various companies, their workers and trade unions have led to questioning of just how much value or respect management in these areas actually place on their employees. Profit before staff is the essential equation. The conflict between Irish Ferries workers and their management displays this attitude perfectly. The Irish Continental Group, which run Irish Ferries, operates passenger ferries and freight vessels between Ireland and Wales, and Ireland and Continental Europe. Free article