TULLAMORE, County Offaly was the venue last week as Sinn Féin councillors from across the country came together to discuss an issue that almost every elected representative will have doubtless spent countless hours deliberating over - planning. The seminar in Tullamore, organised by Sinn Féin's National Councillor's Forum (NCF) on Saturday 19 April was held to develop the Sinn Féin planning policy in conjunction with the party's Policy Department. Free article

DID the British state collude in the murder of a citizen within its own jurisdiction? That's the key question of the inquiry into the killing of Rosemary Nelson, according to counsel for the inquiry, barrister Rory Philips. Free article

DENIALS by an ex-DUP Mayor of Lisburn that Catholics in the small village of Stoneyford, near Belfast, have suffered sectarian intimidation have been met with anger. Free article

HUNDREDS of people gathered at Colin Glen Park on Saturday afternoon in solidarity with a young American visitor who was brutally assaulted and raped. The attack happened in broad daylight the previous weekend. A 15-year-old male has subsequently been arrested and charged. Free article

LIMERICK Sinn Féin spokesperson Maurice Quinlivan has welcomed confirmation from Justice Minister Brian Lenihan that the 'Dial to Stop Drug Dealing' initiative, successfully piloted in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin, is to be rolled out locally with particular reference to Limerick. Free article

THE construction industry has lost almost 1,500 jobs in recent weeks and a Sinn Féin-sponsored debate on the crisis saw a motion calling for a strategy to enable the industry to plan for the future and safeguard jobs was passed by MLAs this week. Free article

Ag tacú le hAthbhreithniú Dlí ó thaobh Acht 1737 Riar na Córa (Éirinn) de, dúirt Feisire Eorpach Bairbre de Brún go bhfuil gá láidir ann an reachtaíocht a athrú. Free article

A PLAN to exclude GAA halls from an Northern Ireland Office compensation scheme for local halls damaged in attacks has been slammed by Sinn Féin MLA Barry McElduff. Free article

THE 2008 republican commemoration at Ballykissane, County Kerry took place last weekend and was a particular success following efforts by local republicans to reinvigorate the event commemorating the deaths of Conn Keating, Donal Sheahan and Charlie Monaghan at Ballykissane pier on 21 April 1916 as they attempted to assist the importation of arms on board the Aud for the 1916 Rising. Free article

Michael Kenny, Assistant Curator, National Museum of Ireland, delivered the 26th Annual Fergal O'Hanlon Memorial Lecture in Monaghan town last Sunday 20 April. Free article