Police officers standing guard outside Castlereagh police station in east Belfast in 2002. Photograph: Paul McErlane/Reuters Anatomy of a Killing: Restrained examination of the IRA murder of an RUC officer

Book review: Ian Cobain carefully dissects the 1978 murder of Millar McAllister

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly: ‘One of your Three Wise Men stuck his middle finger up at me’
The IRA attack killed 20 British soldiers and a tourist was also killed as the Paras returned fire on August 27th, 1979. Photograph: Sunday Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images Fintan O’Toole: Truth is Ireland’s vaccine against the Troubles
“The first TGV was rolled out in 1981, 40 years ago – hardly a new technology. Similar new rail lines should be imagined, such as Dublin to Derry and Derry to Cork, with interconnected trains to Galway, Limerick and elsewhere.” Photograph: iStock David McWilliams: Start building and don’t stop until we have all-island transport
A man carrying a Christmas tree walks past a mural depicting a Saltire design in Leith, Edinburgh on St Andrew’s Day. Support for independence has increased to 54 or 55 per cent. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA Scotland: Under the twin shadows of Covid and Brexit
Working from home: Companies have found that the work gets done, but what happens when the Covid-19 crisis is over? Will the Covid-19 vaccine mean a return to the office and dreaded commuting?
2,000 fans were present for Arsenal’s win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday night. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA Jackie Tyrell on corner-back evolution; Johnny Sexton back for Ireland
You Exist Too Much: A provocative and insightful debut
Infectious disease specialist Prof Sam McConkey was criticised in many quarters for his perceived negativity when he urged caution on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. File photograph: Getty Those in Ireland who depart from consensus are often isolated and ignored
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attending a garden party in Paris in2014. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Ireland is more obsessed with Britain’s royals than they are with Ireland
Neymar scores Paris Saint-Germain’s third goal during the Champions League win over Manchester United. PhotoL: Peter Powell/EPA Farrell to name strong team for Scotland; delving into Mayo’s high press
Little Red and Other Stories is Éilís Ní Dhuibhne’s latest short-story collection. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times Little Red and Other Stories: Rooted in human feeling and authenticity
The burnt-out La Mon House hotel near Belfast following an IRA bombing in 1978. Photograph: Pacemaker Newton Emerson: Unionists will not get desired balance from public inquiries
Recent economic modelling shows the long-term economic impact of a no-deal Brexit to be greater than that of Covid-19. Photograph: Peter Boer/Bloomberg Brexiteers line up Ireland as they play blame game
Is 2018 as good as it’s going to get for Ireland under Performance Director David Nucifora? Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Gordon D’Arcy: David Nucifora does not believe he is accountable to the Irish public
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson congratulates Caoimhin Kelleher after their win over Ajax. Photo: Jon Super/EPA Klopp praises Kelleher; IRFU’s Nucifora must answer questions
The pandemic has stretched many friendships as the usual supports for keeping them alive have disappeared. Photograph: iStock ‘I’m a man in my 30s and I lack any strong, platonic friendships’
Ian Rankin has released A Song for the Dark Times, his 23rd Rebus novel. Photograph: Ulf Andersen/Getty Best new crime fiction: Ian Rankin’s brilliant John Rebus returns
The past never goes away. It is in our DNA, our folk memory, our mindset. It’s what still sends men out to acquire guns and murder innocents like Lyra McKee. Photograph: Jess Lowe Kathy Sheridan: What was the purpose of Brian Stanley’s tweet glorifying mass killings?
Munster were 52-3 winners over Zebre at Thomond Park last night. Photograph: Inpho Comfortable wins for Munster and Ulster; Full panels can now attend GAA matches
‘My daughter confided in me that she is stressed about her friend and told me she often has to talk her friend down and out of her moods.’ Photograph: iStock ‘My 15-year-old daughter’s depressed friend is leaning on her emotionally’
Thom Yorke, Phil Selway and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead: Steven Hyden pitches Kid A as “an overture for the chaos and confusion of the 21st century”. Photograph: Samir Hussein/Referns Music books: A round-up of reads for literate listeners
Some current accounts now offer digital payment solutions such as Apple or Google Pay. Photograph: iStock With fees on the rise, is it time to switch current account?
If you’re born in a body that does not match your deep sense of self, the notion that you can change your body may be, literally, a lifesaver. It is both a necessity and a joy. Fintan O’Toole: How does defence of trans rights become search for women to blame?
Edinson Cavani’s brace saw Manchester United come from behind to beat Southampton. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/PA Limerick set up Waterford final; Cavani completes Man United comeback
Maradona runs past England defender Terry Butcher before dribbling past goalkeeper Peter Shilton and scoring the goal of the century, during the World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and England on June 22nd, 1986 in Mexico City. Photograph: Getty Images Ken Early: Maradona’s wonder goal a monument to lost freedom
In 2007, then Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was presented with a Liam Cosgrave election poster from 1973, watched by local candidate Frances Fitzgerald and his wife Fionnuala. Photograph: David Sleator Saving the State: intimate if flattering inside story of Fine Gael
If they didn’t care about public health advice, everyone drinking on the street would instead be in a house or an apartment boozing together in comfort and warmth. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill Una Mullally: Restriction-lifting opens menu of activities from which to choose
Winter Papers 6: There’s nothing here that doesn’t earn its keep
‘Covid has now gone on so long and I feel like I just don’t want to be in a relationship during this.’ Photograph: Getty Images ‘Covid has made my relationship boring and I want to end it’
Car parks are ideal micro-projects for reimagining the broader city. Photograph: iStock David McWilliams: We need to reinvent our empty city car parks
Vaccination against Covid-19 has been developed and is being tested. File photograph: iStock Fintan O’Toole: To counter vaccine sceptics, we must understand them
Barack Obama accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009: He was fully aware of the irony that he was deploying more troops to Afghanistan at that very moment. Photograph: Doug Mills/New York Times A Promised Land: Absorbing account of Barack Obama’s first presidency
The kitchen smells of rum. Either my old dear is over or Sorcha’s baking a Christmas cake
There are bizarre inferences that the breaches of guidelines surrounding GAA games are somehow less risky or more forgivable than others. Photograph: INPHO/Donall Farmer Jennifer O’Connell: GAA exceptionalism wins in a pandemic
Dundalk lost 3-1 to Rapid Vienna in their latest Europa League clash last night. Photograph: Inpho Billy Burns named at 10 to face Georgia; Errors cost Dundalk against Rapid Vienna
Tautly edited, the sheer stylistic euphoria of Davud Keenan’s form seems to breathe itself to life. Photograph: Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images Xstabeth: David Keenan’s rock ’n’ roll fairy story and Muse myth is a triumph
Just 22 of the 9,062 Irish virus clusters identified so far have been attributed to public houses. Photograph: iStock Anti-alcohol zeal of public health experts peppers reopening debate
US president-elect Joe Biden delivers a Thanksgiving address in Wilmington, Delaware. Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Stephen Collins: Biden’s support for Government’s North position a contrast to JFK's stance
Holyhead: For many Irish companies this will be the first time they have exported outside of the EU. Cliff Taylor: Deal or no deal we are now heading for a hard Brexit
Diego Maradona has died ahed 60. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Diego Maradona dies aged 60; can Cavan’s kickouts do for the Dubs?
Michael Douglas as 1980s Wall Street predator Gordon Gekko. ‘The theme is evident from the title. Gekko is wrong. Greed is bad and it is dead.’ Greed Is Dead: Gekko got it wrong
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl: debating the lyrical impropriety of their song has become an annual tradition. We have finally reached saturation point over Fairytale of New York debate
US president-elect Joe Biden with secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken, who fully subscribes to the notion of Brexit breaching the Belfast Agreement. Photograph: Mark Makela/Getty Images Newton Emerson: Joe Biden’s Brexit remarks show an opportunity for unionism
Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring Manchester United’s opener with Marcus Rashford. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty/AFP Fernandes the spark for Man United; Gordon D’Arcy says get the basics right
Image: iStock My mother is a narcissist and has ostracised one of my siblings
The Ireland 10 Ross Byrne needs to have one eye on “the plan” and the other on what his gut tells him. Keep the forwards on the front foot and build pressure on the scoreboard. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Gordon D'Arcy: I know what Joe and Cheika would do. Fix the basics
Yusef Salaam, one of the five boys once known as the Central Park Five. Photograph: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images YA fiction: Growing up black in the US
Areas of Georgian Dublin such as Fitzwilliam Square were not simply random patchworks of individual plot developments, but carefully controlled streetscapes and building types decided on by the great developers, including the Wide Street Commissioners, the Gardiner Estate and the Pembroke Estate. Photograph: Cyril Byrne Michael McDowell: Our cities need huge planned, aesthetically pleasing redevelopment
Robbie Brady was injured during Burnley’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Knockout All-Ireland could be the way forward; Gerry Thornley on Ireland’s lineout
Parents need to make sure that their own finances are in tip-top shape before they start gifting funds to a child. How to gift your child a house deposit . . . tax free
Labour has had a Bill outlawing so-called “revenge porn” before the Oireachtas since 2017, going nowhere. Now, it’s suddenly urgent and the Government is promising action. File photograph: iStock Fintan O’Toole: Our Government should be a fox. It is actually a snake
If vaccines stop 90% of infection, herd immunity is realisable. File photograph: Getty Covid-19 vaccines: All we know so far and the challenges ahead