The North's Chief Electoral officer Denis Stanley has been criticised by Sinn Féin's Paul Butler after a report by the Electoral Commission found that loyalists had gained access to last year's election count at Dromore County Down to confront Butler. Stanley, in a written reply to a letter of complaint from Butler, had denied that loyalists had entered the count hall in Dromore on 27 November 2003 and had interfered with the count. Free article

BY ELIZABETH MARKS - John O'Dowd, Sinn Féin MLA for Upper Bann, visited Birmingham and Wolverhampton for celebrations of International Workers' Day on 1 May. He was the guest of the Troops Out Movement and spoke at Trades Union Council events in both cities. Anti-fascism, anti-racism and asylum issues were the main themes of the day. Free article

The NIO has said that it hopes to resolve all outstanding issues regarding Six-County access to TG4 by the end of the year. The statement was made in response to a letter from West Tyrone Councillor and MLA Barry McElduff, asking what obstacles were preventing people in the North from viewing the station. Free article

Sinn Féin spokesperson on racism, South Belfast MLA Alex Maskey, was in London on Wednesday to brief British MPs on the current political situation but also on the issue of racism and the increase in racist attacks, particularly in Belfast. Free article

East Derry Ógra Shinn Féin held a well-attended demilitarisation protest at Ballykelly British Army Barracks on Saturday 8 May. They handed the British Army an eviction notice and read out a statement reclaiming Ballykelly Barracks in the name of the Irish Republic. Free article

Sinn Féin EU candidate for the Dublin Constituency, Mary Lou McDonald, accompanied by party president Gerry Adams, handed in her nomination papers in Finglas on Tuesday. Free article

Wexford Councillor John Dwyer, Sinn Féin EU candidate for the East constituency in the European elections, was upbeat on his party's election prospects as he handed in his nomination papers in Trim Courthouse in Meath on Monday. Free article

Sinn Féin's Lisburn Councillor Paul Butler has welcomed the news that Fermanagh Council has passed a motion support his Sinn Féin's campaign for power sharing in Lisburn Council. Fermanagh Council called on Lisburn Council to implement power sharing arrangements to make the council more representative. Free article

Sinn Féin's Newry and Armagh MLA Davy Hyland is to step down from Newry and Mourne council seat at the end of this month "to concentrate on his position in the Assembly and to give his constituency a higher profile". The popular local teacher hopes to be replaced on the council by local party activist Marian Mathers. Hyland said he had enjoyed his time as a councillor but it is time for him to him to let someone else in the party gain experience of local government. Free article

Pictured from left to right are Leon Meade, Rhona Clarke and Brian Mahon, just before they jumped solo from 10,000 feet at Clonbologue, County Kildare, on Saturday 24 April to raise funds for Tallaght Sinn Féin's (Markievicz Cumann) local election fund. Less brave/foolhardy republicans in Tallaght with their feet closer to the ground are more than grateful for the plunging fundraising effort, which they say will go along way towards fighting a successful campaign. Free article