Ireland
Northern Ireland Assembly faces fourth suspension
By Julie Hyland, October 12, 2002
Northern Ireland’s power-sharing structures are facing suspension yet again amidst allegations of a Republican spy ring at the heart of government and countercharges of a Unionist/British securi...
Northern Ireland security force links to loyalist gunmen exposed
By Mike Ingram, June 21, 2002
In its June 14 edition, the Guardian newspaper cited leaked information on the long-awaited report by Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir John Stevens.
Irish elections: Ruling Fianna Fail vote increases, Sinn Fein win five seats
By Mike Ingram, May 20, 2002
With votes counted in 37 of the 42 constituencies, Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fail had taken 74 of the 166 seats in the Dail (Irish Parliament). The party had achieved 41.5 percent of first preferenc...
Ireland: government attack on abortion rights defeated in referendum
By Julie Hyland, March 13, 2002
An attempt to impose further restrictions on the right to abortion was narrowly defeated by just 10,000 votes in Ireland’s referendum held March 7.
Sectarian tensions lead to riots and school closures in Northern Ireland
By Julie Hyland, January 14, 2002
Sectarian tensions caused serious rioting and led to the closure of several schools in north Belfast last week.
Sectarian divisions widen in Northern Ireland
By Mike Ingram, January 7, 2002
A report issued by the Royal Geographical Society finds that sectarian divisions have worsened since the so-called “peace process” began in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland: Just incompetence or police collusion in Omagh bombing?
By Mike Ingram, December 21, 2001
The publication of an official report into the police investigation of the 1998 Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people, has provoked a flurry of criticism from the media, politicians and the police.
Finucane murder suspect shot dead in Northern Ireland
By Mike Ingram, December 15, 2001
The chief suspect in the murder of Irish civil rights lawyer Pat Finucane was gunned down outside his house on Tuesday evening in north Belfast.
Northern Ireland: anti-Agreement unionists take legal action to force Assembly elections
By Mike Ingram, November 10, 2001
A judge has ruled that Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) can proceed with a legal challenge to a decision not to call elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly before May 2003.
Northern Ireland: How the US told the IRA to begin decommissioning
By Mike Ingram, October 31, 2001
An article in last Sunday’s Observer newspaper gives a revealing insight into how the commencement of IRA weapons decommissioning came about.
Northern Ireland: IRA decommissions arms
By Mike Ingram, October 25, 2001
On the eve of today’s deadline for the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the possible collapse of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) finally began decommiss...
Political tensions increase in Northern Ireland
By Julie Hyland, October 5, 2001
Northern Ireland is currently witnessing the worst violence in 30 years. On September 28, Martin O’Hagan became the first journalist covering Northern Ireland politics to be killed by paramilita...
