Disappeared Link To Stand-Off

The BBC has reported today that the man who was arrested after a four-hour long stand-off with police at a property in Belfast is a son of Jean McConville, one of the people killed and secretly buried by the IRA (the 'Disappeared'). The PSNI was called to a third-floor flat on Cliftonville Avenue about 12.30pm on Saturday after a report of a disturbance. A number of neighbouring flats were evacuated as a precaution, and, after discussions with the negotiator and other police officers at the scene, the man emerged uninjured from the flat at around 4.15pm.

Claudy 'Bomb Priest' Call

The families of the victims of a bloody IRA massacre should know about the full circumstances. DUP MP Gregory Campbell has challenged the Catholic Church to release any files it has on the alleged role of a priest in the Claudy bombing which - in 1972 - claimed the lives of nine people, including a nine-year-old girl. Shortly afterwards, it emerged that one of the suspects was parish priest Father James Chesney, who died in 1980. Mr Campbell said he hoped the Catholic Church would be forthcoming if it did have information: "If they do have some documentation pertaining to the role, if there was a role, of the priest in either the bombing, the planning of it, the knowledge of it, or the movement of the priest afterwards, I think that information should be given to the Historical Enquiries Team," he said.

Co Down Child Critical

A child critically hurt in a weekend road crash has been transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital after first being treated at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. The three-year-old boy was involved in a road accident at Monteith Road in Annaclone, outside Rathfriland at about 3pm on Sunday.

Groomsport Harbour Tragedy

An elderly man has drowned off the coast of Co Down. The body of Duncan McInnes, who was 84, was recovered from the sea off Groomsport early on Sunday. It is understood he had been in a dinghy which capsized. The coastguard and Bangor lifeboat were involved in the operation. The body of his dog was also recovered. Mr McInnes was a founder member of the Cockle Island boat club.

PSNI Lifesavers

A senior police office has said that two of his men had undoubtedly saved a woman's life after they rescued from Newry canal in the early hours of Saturday. The unnamed woman is not believed to have suffered any serious injuries. PSNI Area Commander Chief Inspector Sam Cordner commended the officers and said that the PSNI received a report about the woman being in the canal at Merchant's Quay at about 3.45am. The two officers jumped into the cold water and got the woman onto the canal bank where she was treated by waiting ambulance staff.

Respond To Draft: MLA

A Stormont Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy Minister, has urged all sections of the community to respond to the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI) recently launched draft consultation document. Robin Newton - the East Belfast DUP MLA - said: "It is vitally important that all sections of the community take the opportunity to reply, what ever portion they represent, big or small businesses, business groups, community groups, tenants' organisations, charitable organisations, school principals or parents group's etc. this document and the evolving legalisation is important for our future potential and prospects," he said.

(BMcC/GK)