In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Woman held over bank robbery freed

A 40-year-old Tyrone woman who was arrested and questioned in connection with the Northern Bank robbery in Belfast has been released by the PSNI. She was arrested early yesterday and taken for questioning at Antrim police station.

The woman, from Coalisland, was freed yesterday afternoon.

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Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness condemned the arrest as politically motivated.

Loyalist group's chair resigns

The chairman of the Loyalist Commission, the Rev Mervyn Gibson, has stood down following pressure from other members. The umbrella group, which includes loyalist paramilitaries, unionist representatives, Protestant clergy and others, is understood to have asked him to stand down. He is said to have left without hesitation but admitted to some surprise.

It was reported yesterday that differences arose over an initiative by the Northern Ireland Office to deal with contentious parades which included nationalist residents' groups as well as the loyal orders.

One source told the BBC it was thought Mr Gibson had "taken on too much, too soon". However, Mr Gibson said there was a "difference of interpretation" between himself and the commission.

Father of LVF victim dies

Michael McGoldrick, who devoted himself to charity work overseas following the murder of his son, has died in Moldova.

Michael jnr was shot dead by the LVF in July 1996 during the tense standoff over the Drumcree Orange parade in Portadown, Co Armagh. The murdered man was driving a taxi at the time and had recently graduated from university.

Following the killing, Mr McGoldrick and his wife, Bridie, absorbed themselves in charity work, providing for children in eastern Europe.

French strike delays Irish flights

Aer Lingus reported delays of between 30 minutes and two hours on its flights to and from France due to yesterday's general strike there. A spokeswoman for the airline said none of its scheduled flights to and from three French airports had been cancelled, though there were delays on all flights to Nice (30 minutes), Marseilles (40 minutes) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (one-two hours).

Ryanair cancelled all its flights to and from France.

IRA membership trial adjourned

The trial of a Co Cork chef arrested as part of a Garda investigation into IRA money-laundering was further adjourned until next month at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday.

Don Bullman (31), Wilton, Co Cork, was charged in February last year with IRA membership.

His trial was originally fixed for March 22nd but was adjourned last month after the court was told that extensive documentation had been received by the defence.

The court remanded Mr Bullman on continuing bail until May 3rd next.