The timing of the Northern Secretary, Peter Mandelson, could not be worse, declared the Impartial Reporter of Enniskillen.
His confirmation that "the Patten recommendations on policing are to be implemented pretty much in full will not have come as a major surprise to many, but the lack of surprise should not mask the deep wound that it will inflict on the unionist community," it stated.
"The fact that few concessions, if any, have been made to the concerns of unionists will undoubtedly be used in certain quarters to reinforce the argument that there is nothing in the agreement for unionists." In addition, the fact that decommissioning remained tantalisingly out of reach was "particularly alarming", believed the Impartial Reporter. "Are the republicans engaged in brinkmanship, or are they seriously considering putting everything at risk by not decommissioning?" it asked.
The Longford Leader saw "sinister overtones" in the beef dispute, with its suggestion of a cartel in the meat business.
"One does not have to be an Einstein to work out that the people who make the really big profits from Irish beef farming are the meat factories. And the people who are losing out are the beef farmers and the consumers . . . It seems there is still a lot of unfinished business from the infamous beef tribunal to be sorted out and, for the sake of Irish beef farmers, the quicker the better."
The Northern Standard saw a similarity between the beef dispute and the conflict over decommissioning and the reform of the RUC. In both cases, the arguing parties had common interests.
The beef processor could not ultimately exist without the beef farmers. Similarly, the people of Ireland had the common interest to see peace preserved and developed. "It would be ideal if there was some kind of court of justice that could apply common sense to the resolution of such conflicts.
"In the meantime we can but hope for more of that common sense from the people involved," the newspaper said.
A "horrifying attack" on a Waterford man prompted an editorial comment by the Waterford News & Star. "No words can adequately illustrate the disgust, horror and shock felt by every decent person in Waterford city and county at the barbaric, unwarranted attack which left a young man at death's door in our city on Monday morning," it said.
"Jamie O'Sullivan was beaten repeatedly with a golf club until a bone broke in his leg and he was then carted around in the boot of his own car by thugs crazed on drink and drugs. A horrific ordeal, which lasted for seven hours, could have had tragic consequences, but thankfully the young man is recovering well physically, but what the longterm prognosis is for his psychological well-being is anyone's guess," it commented.
The perpetrators were "the lowest forms of life" and should be "taken out of circulation for a long time", it believed.
The Ballymena Guardian described a "bizarre drama at Drumtara" where a mobile shop owner thwarted thieves. Having worked for 12 hours straight, eagle-eyed Davy McKinney (36) was determined not to give his money away to boys who could get their hands on it in 10 seconds, he told the Guardian.
When he saw them approaching, he "nailed" his van, revved it up and sped off, but not before the thieves had jumped on board. With a gun pointed at his head, McKinney continued to drive despite the robbers' demands that he stop. When the van lurched around a corner, one of the thieves fell off on to the road. The other jumped off soon afterwards.
"His actions give new hope to traders in Ballymena who increasingly see themselves facing an escalating crime wave," the Guardian said.
A thief in Carlow felt the pain of "wuff justice", the Nationalist said. The man had just stolen what gardai described as "a lifetime's collection" of jewellery when he casually jumped the wall into an adjoining house - where he was attacked by a guard dog.
"The gardai stated that the dog in question is so fierce that he is not even allowed to roam around his own house without being on a leash." Gardai were waiting for doctors to report a man going for a tetanus injection, a garda spokesperson said.
The Connaught Telegraph said a judge had apologised profusely for describing a young defendant as "a thick, fat fool" with a "head like a mallet". The judge, who sentenced the lad to weekly training with the GAA, also apologised to that organisation.
In another case reported by the Nationalist, a man charged with assaulting his girlfriend was ordered to write an essay entitled: "I am a bully and I struck a woman."