Saturday/SundayThe British government has resumed contact with Sinn Fein in a further attempt to clarify the terms for republican involvement in all-party talks on the future of Northern Ireland, it was learned.
The contacts took place amid mounting tension over Drumcree, and, coupled with the perceived restraint in public comments by Mr Gerry Adams after the Drumcree march was forced through the Garvaghy Road, have encouraged senior British sources who believe a ceasefire remains possible.
Fifteen people were left homeless as flash floods caused an estimated £1 million worth of damage at Glencullen in north Mayo at the weekend. The heavy rain caused landslides, left roads impassable, and destroyed houses. The world premiere of Neil Jordan's film of Pat McCabe's The Butcher Boy closed the Galway Film Fleadh. The film was acclaimed.
MondayThe bulk of the money being held in the so-called Ansbacher Deposits was moved elsewhere shortly after the Dunnes payment to politicians tribunal began public hearings, The Irish Times learned.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, has instructed his civil servants that he will sign parliamentary replies for the four Independent group deputies who voted for Mr Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. It includes the sole Sinn Fein member, Mr Caomhghin O Caolain All others, including the former Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, will receive replies signed by a civil servant.
Gardai in Cork said they were close to finalising their investigation into the murder of Ms Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the French woman battered to death at her holiday home in Schull, west Cork, last year.
Tuesday Mr Charles Haughey appeared before the Dunnes Payment to Politicians Tribunal. He told the tribunal that from 1960 onwards his financial affairs were run by the late Mr Des Traynor. He had no knowledge that Mr Traynor had solicited £1.3 million from Mr Ben Dunne. He said he had no idea where the funds used to support his lifestyle came from.
Mr Traynor had done this, Mr Haughey said, in order that he (Mr Haughey) might devote himself to public life.
He said his lifestyle was not lavish. He had no recollection of a 1991 incident when Mr Dunne handed him three bank drafts worth £210,000.
The former Justice Minister, Mrs Nora Owen questioned whether the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, believed that Mr Haughey's conduct in relation to the tribunal befitted a member of Fianna Fail.
Claiming that the unco-operative nature of Mr Haughey's evidence demonstrated the need for a new tribunal, Mrs Owen said it was difficult to believe a person with large monthly outgoings would not question how these were paid.
She also drew attention to the disparity between his income, as either a Minister or Taoiseach, and the cost of maintaining his lifestyle.
An 18-year-old Catholic woman was shot dead while staying at the home of her Protestant boyfriend's family in Co Antrim.
The damage to Mr Proinsias De Rossa from an article by Eamon Dunphy in the Sunday Independent was "immediate and terrible", the High Court heard in the third hearing of the De Rossa libel action, which opened in Dublin. Wednesday
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, conceded in principle that a second tribunal will have to be established to further investigate Mr Charles Haughey's financial affairs while in office.
Mr Ahern said the admission that Mr Haughey had received £1.3 million from Mr Ben Dunne revealed standards of conduct "that are unacceptable from one of the most capable leaders this country has ever seen".
Two men were charged with the capital murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare, Co Limerick, in June of last year. They were also charged with the attempted murder of Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan at the same time.
The RUC said the murder of the young Catholic woman, Bernadette Martin, at the home of her Protestant boyfriend "may well have been sectarian". Two people were being questioned about the killing.
Thursday
Fianna Fail began an investigation into the disbursement of the leader's allowance by Mr Charles Haughey when he led the Opposition. It has also started inquiries into election funds accounts in his constituency.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, is to meet the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, next week in an effort to rescue the Stormont talks process. The prospect of agreement on decommissioning paramilitary weapons receded when Mr Trimble told Mr Blair he could not enter substantive political negotiations on the terms proposed by London and Dublin.