SATURDAY/SUNDAY
UNIONIST parties raised the stakes in the decommissioning debate, as details of their proposals vindicated a hardening of demands. The proposals to the Stormont talks by the Ulster Unionist Party, the DUP and the UK Unionist Party appeared to call for a return to the so called "Washington 3" precondition.
Under this condition some weapons would have to be decommissioned before Sinn Fein would be allowed into talks. UUP sources denied their stance was a return to Washington 3. They drew a distinction between Sinn Fein's entry into talks and actual "substantive negotiations".
The Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Mr Liam Naughten, was killed in a road accident between Athlone and Ballinasloe on Saturday. The driver of a second car, Mr Toni Laznibat, also died.
MONDAY
The RUC discovered preparations for a landmine or mortar attack on security forces vehicles in countryside outside Derry. The find raised fears of a renewed IRA campaign in Northern Ireland.
The High Court adjourned the inquiry into the detention of 14 men at the centre of the Judge Dominic Lynch controversy for a week. The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, received the report by Mr Sean Cromien and Dr Edmond Molloy on the Judge Lynch affair.
A radical report from the Government appointed disabilities commission urged thorough reforms to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, announced proposals for fining litterers and dog owners who allow their animals to foul public places.
The Albert Reynolds libel trial in London inched to a verdict as it entered its sixth week.
TUESDAY
By a majority of 10 to 1 the jury in the Reynolds case agreed he had been libelled in a Sunday Times article, but awarded him "zero" damages. Mr Reynolds said he would return to court to fight having to pay all the trial costs.
The inquiry into the Lynch affair was published by the Government, after the names of officials were replaced with letters of the alphabet.
The report found the paper trail in relation to the Government decision to delist Judge Lynch "ran into the sand". It said key individuals had been unable to recollect important details.
The jury in the libel action by the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, was discharged. Mr Justice McCracken said "certain things that had occurred over the weekend" could influence the jury and the case could not continue. The Sunday Independent had published an article by Gene Kerrigan about the trial.
One of the State's biggest beef farmers had his six month sentence for possessing illegal growth promoters, including angel dust, doubled to 12 months after he had appealed the original sentence. He is Ronald Armitage, of Borrisokane, Co Tipperary.
WEDNESDAY
The judge in the Reynolds trial decided to award the former Taoiseach a penny damages. Mr Reynolds called the result "unjust and immoral".
Mrs Owen announced that certain officials would be disciplined over the Judge Lynch affair.
Officers of the Criminal Assets Bureau raided a house and an equestrian centre in Co Kildare associated with Mr John Gilligan, who is being held in custody in Britain. The officers, some of whom wore dark glasses and scarves, took horses, jeeps, horse trailers, equipment, televisions and video recorders from the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre at Mucklon. Mr Gilligan's wife, Geraldine, who was at the centre with her on and daughter, said she had received a £1.3 million tax demand.
A Co Wicklow man was found guilty of murdering his father, who had been stabbed nine times.
The alleged prison van escaper, Thomas "Bomber" Clarke, was jailed for 12 years for three armed robberies and other offences committed in 1993.
The High Court awarded the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, all costs and expenses incurred since the beginning of his aborted libel trial.
The film of Roddy Doyle's novel The Van, premiered in Dublin.
THURSDAY
A 600lb car bomb planted outside the RUC headquarters in Derry was defused after a telephone warning from the IRA "Continuity Army Council".
The group admitted responsibility for the bomb that destroyed the Killyhevlin Hotel in Co Fermanagh during the Drumcree standoff in July. Unionist spokesmen said the incident was further evidence that a new IRA ceasefire could not be trusted. The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said he was "deeply angered" by the attempted attack, but remained convinced that an unequivocal cessation was achievable.
In a provisional judgment the Royal Courts of Justice ruled that Mr Reynolds may not have to pay the Sunday Times's £200,000 legal preparation costs.
The chairman of the inquiry into the hepatitis C scandal ruled that three representative groups would not get legal representation at the tribunal. Mr Justice Finlay ruled that the participation of the Irish Haemophilia Society, Transfusion Positive and the Irish Kidney Association was neither "necessary nor appropriate."
