Relatives hail new inquiry into events of Bloody Sunday

Saturday-Sunday:

The murder of a taxi-driver in Belfast brought to eight the number of Catholics killed since the murder of the LVF leader, Billy Wright, in the Maze in late December.

It was the sixth killing in Northern Ireland in a week. Mr John McColgan (33) was killed after picking up a fare on the Andersonstown Road shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The Department of Social Welfare said it saved almost £160 million in 1997 through checks on recipients.

Almost 500,000 claims for social welfare payments were reviewed, resulting in the referral of 245 cases - or less than half of 1 per cent - to the Chief State Solicitor's office for prosecution.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, said she would consider appointing an official to investigate the National Irish Bank.

Allegations concerning offshore bank accounts marketed by the bank were "very disturbing", she said.

Monday:

The Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) walked out of the multiparty talks which moved to London, insisting it had decided to leave voluntarily rather than be "humiliated" by expulsion.

Its departure followed the Ulster Freedom Fighters' admission that it had been involved in a number of sectarian murders.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, insisted that the Amsterdam Treaty would not affect Irish neutrality.

However, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance said the Treaty threatened to replace Ireland's neutral stance with a policy of common defence with other EU member-states.

The Kerry Group announced it had acquired the food ingredients business of Dalgety plc, which has operations in eight European countries, for £394 million. The deal made Kerry the biggest speciality ingredients company in Europe.

A 33-year-old Dublin man, David Lawler of Edgewood Lawn, Blanchardstown, was jailed for life after he pleaded guilty to the murder of civil servant Marilyn Rynn in 1995.

Tuesday:

A discussion paper on future North-South links was presented to the multi-party talks by the British and Irish governments. The SDLP welcomed it as "fully consistent" with the Joint Framework Documents, while Sinn Fein said it was "a step in the right direction".

But the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) dismissed the paper as "of no relevance".

A man arrested by gardai in connection with the murder of a French woman, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, in west Cork in December 1996 was released after 12 hours of questioning.

The Labour TD, Mr Michael Bell, said he had initiated a compensation claim against the Department of Defence for deafness allegedly caused by inadequate ear protection during his time in the FCA.

Mr Bell, his party's defence spokesman, said he "felt sore" at the adverse publicity given to members of the Defence Forces taking claims which he knew were justified.

Wednesday:

A young boy who was alleged to have been severely mentally handicapped as a result of the circumstances of his birth at Wexford General Hospital was, with his parents, awarded £1.125 million in the High Court.

Gerard and Vera Doyle brought the action against the South Eastern Health Board and a doctor on behalf of their son Gerard (5), who suffers from cerebral palsy.

A woman was killed after her car was in collision with a stolen car at Milltownpass, Co Westmeath.

Nine squad cars and a Garda helicopter were involved in a dramatic chase with the stolen car, which was believed to be driven by a 29-year-old man who had been released on bail from court earlier that morning on charges of taking two vehicles and burglary.

The man and his woman companion were also suspected of having been involved in crimes in the Galway area after leaving court.

The Revenue Commissioners are to examine documentation in the main Irish banks relating to non-resident deposit accounts, it emerged.

According to Central Bank figures, there was about £3 billion in Irish pound-dominated non-resident accounts.

Thursday:

A new judicial inquiry into the events surrounding Bloody Sunday was announced by the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair. He said the weight of new evidence was such that the events in Derry of January 30th, 1972, should be re-examined and he hoped it would close "a painful chapter". Relatives of those who died said the "historic" announcement meant they could now declare Lord Widgery's report to be "dead".

National Irish Bank admitted there were "unsatisfactory aspects" to its Isle of Man investment bonds scheme which was being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners and the Central Bank.

The bank said it did not "condone, encourage or knowingly engage in tax evasion" and that the problems faced by NIB in this area were "not unique".

The Central Criminal Court heard how a former Irish national and Olympic swimming coach had sexual intercourse with preteenage girls and sexually abused other young girls over many years in a room which became known as "the chamber of horrors". Derry O'Rourke (51), who was a successful swimming coach for 25 years, pleaded guilty to 29 charges relating to 11 girls.