A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Two Irish films will get their world premieres at Sundance
Two Irish films have been chosen for screening at the Sundance Film Festival, writes Jason Michael.
The Guard(Element Pictures and Reprisal Films), directed by John Michael McDonagh, and Ian Palmer's documentary Knuckle(Rise Films) will receive their world premieres at the festival, which runs from January 20th to 30th in Park City, Utah. They were chosen from more than 9,000 submissions.
The Guard, which will be the opening film in the World Dramatic Competition at Sundance, tells the tale of a small-town, confrontational Garda sergeant who comes into contact with an FBI agent over an international drugs ring. The film stars Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle.
Knucklerelates a 12-year journey into the world of an Irish Traveller community as Palmer takes the audience into the brutal, secretive and exhilarating arena of bare-knuckle fighting.
SF criticises Robinson's budget remarks
Sinn Féin has sharply criticised First Minister Peter Robinson over a speech in which he pointed to the shape and timing of an agreed budget for the Stormont Executive.
Mr Robinson told a gathering of the Chief Executives Forum in Co Antrim he anticipated a budget, agreed with Sinn Féin and the other Executive parties, before Christmas. He outlined a series of budget proposals including voluntary ministerial pay cuts and cuts in the use of some advisers.
Sinn Féin Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said he was "surprised that Peter Robinson has made public the detail of the discussions that have been ongoing on the budget".
21 years at least for double murder
The dentist who admitted murdering his wife and the husband of his former lover in Co Derry must serve at least 21 years before he can be considered for release, the Crown Court has heard, writes Dan Keenan.
Sentencing Colin Howell (51) for planning and carrying out the murders 19 years ago and making them appear as suicide, Mr Justice Hart said the crimes were "ruthlessly executed".
Howell murdered his wife Lesley Howell (31), the mother of their four children, and Constable Trevor Buchanan (32), the husband of his then lover, by gassing them with car fumes.
He killed them in separate incidents in Coleraine, Co Derry in May 1991. He then transported their bodies to an address in Castlerock, Co Derry, leaving them in a car to make it look as they had both died in a suicide pact. His role remained a secret until he confessed last year.