In a further blow to Northern Ireland's peace process, a civil servant has been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged IRA spying

The official worked in the office of Northern Ireland's former First Minister, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, as well as for the Catholic Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan. The spying probe has already led to the suspension of self-rule for the province. Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said: "I can't say too much about the investigation but confidence in the process is undermined by issues like this." Murphy is due to make a statement next week on convening multi-party talks aimed at restoring home rule. Allegations of IRA spying at the heart of Northern Ireland's Stormont government last month prompted Britain to suspend the power-sharing assembly. Four people, including a senior official from the IRA's political ally Sinn Fein, have already been charged.