Best of BBC news

Two men in their 30s are arrested in the Irish Republic as part of an ongoing investigation into the activities of dissident republicans.

A 50-year-old Londonderry woman appears in court charged with attempting to murder her son at the weekend.

Sunderland's James McClean is expected to be included in the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly against the Czech Republic.

The great 19th century writer thrilled Belfast audiences

The Stephen Carroll murder trial has heard "a very high level of gunshot particles" were found on a jacket alleged to belong to one of the accused.

Fifty-five suspected sex offenders with outstanding arrest warrants against them in Northern Ireland are currently at large.

A woman is stabbed during an attempted armed robbery at a shop in Larne, County Antrim.

One of Belfast's largest legal practices is to merge with the international law firm Pinsent Mason.

The search is continuing for two men who are still missing after a trawler sank off the Cork coast last month.

Phoenix Natural Gas rejects proposed controls by the utility regulator which would have slashed the price of gas for big business in Northern Ireland.

Ulster Bank can expect to lose at least £5m following the collapse of a County Tyrone development company.

A 26-year-old man is taken to hospital after being shot in the legs at a house in north Belfast.

A director of Belfast-based Andor Technology makes almost £900,000 by selling part of his shareholding in the firm.

A number of children under 10 are treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland for eating disorders, the Department of Health says.

A 41-year-old man is charged with attempted murder after a police officer was stabbed in Lurgan.

The relatives of those killed in a loyalist gun attack at a Belfast bookmakers publish a booklet in a bid for fresh information about the atrocity.

The police are continuing to question a man about a murder in Lurgan, County Armagh.

The proceeds of last year's Black Santa sit out are distributed to charity at a special service at St Anne's Cathedral.

A new initiative which aims to tackle sectarianism and racism through health and well-being is being launched later.

The Belfast Giants claim a valuable win over the Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League.