Children as young as eight years old in Northern Ireland are being treated for alcohol and substance abuse. Drink, cannabis and solvents are being peddled to primary school children who are regularly misuing them, a project coordinator told the BBC News Website.

One of the UK’s most wanted sex offenders has gone missing and could be in hiding in Ulster. Police are hunting for John Richard Murrell (38) after he failed to comply with legal restrictions on his movements.

More people in Northern Ireland are using complementary and alternative medicine, a new survey has suggested. The University of Ulster survey found the use of therapies such as reflexology, acupuncture and herbal medicines was increasing.

A woman in her 20s was the victim of a serious sexual assault in the grounds of Queen’s University in Belfast on Saturday night, police have confirmed. The attack happened some time between 2330 GMT and midnight.

Cynthia Owen has demanded a public inquiry into the Garda handling of her case, after a coroner ruled that she was the mother of a baby murdered in Dublin 34 years ago.

The Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan, has said more time is needed to debate the issues relating to the rights and protection of children before a referendum can proceed.

The Government has published the wording of a proposed amendment of the Constitution on the rights of children. The Taoiseach said the proposed change was ‘a watershed for Ireland’s children’.

Health minister Paul Goggins was under pressure last night to respond publicly to Belfast Telegraph revelations about a major police probe into allegations of widespread sexual abuse among patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

A convicted killer is to use legal aid to launch an audacious bid to halt next month’s Assembly elections unless he is allowed to vote, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today. Murderer Stephen Boyle (38), will to go court to challenge current legislation that bans him from voting.

Police have launched a major investigation into allegations of widespread sexual abuse among patients at Muckamore Abbey Hospital over two decades, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.