Belfast's Bank Buildings ablaze on August 28 2018. Picture by Hugh Russell Belfast's Bank Buildings ablaze on August 28 2018. Picture by Hugh Russell
ByGareth McKeown
BREXIT, bonfires and the Primark blaze make up some of most iconic pictures published in The Irish News in 2018.
The year in pictures from photographers Irish News photographers Hugh Russell, Mal McCann, Margaret McLaughlin and Ann McManus showcases a turbulent 12 months, in which Brexit uncertainty has dominated the headlines.
Police and contractors move into Cluan Place in east Belfast to remove a loyalist bonfire from the road Picture Mal McCann. Police and contractors move into Cluan Place in east Belfast to remove a loyalist bonfire from the road Picture Mal McCann.
The pictures also captured tensions in east Belfast over the removal of loyalist bonfires, as well as the Primark fire at Bank Buildings on August 28, which devastated the city centre.
Belfast's Bank Buildings ablaze on August 28 2018. Picture by Hugh Russell Belfast's Bank Buildings ablaze on August 28 2018. Picture by Hugh Russell Paddy Jackson on the way out of court in Belfast after a jury found him not guilty. Picture by Hugh Russell Paddy Jackson on the way out of court in Belfast after a jury found him not guilty. Picture by Hugh Russell
The high-profile rugby rape trial also came to a conclusion in March with former Ulster players, Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding found not guilty, while The Irish News led the way in its coverage of the abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.
Picture Ann McManus. Picture Ann McManus.
Meanwhile in the GAA, poignant images captured Tyrone heartbreak after All-Ireland defeat to Dublin and Slaughtneil despair after the Ulster club champions were defeated by Derry rivals Eoghan Rua in October.
Shock and despair on the final whistle in October as reigning Ulster Champions Slaughtneil are beaten by Eoghan Rua Coleraine during the 2018 Derry Senior Football Championship quarter-final replay at Owenbeg. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Shock and despair on the final whistle in October as reigning Ulster Champions Slaughtneil are beaten by Eoghan Rua Coleraine during the 2018 Derry Senior Football Championship quarter-final replay at Owenbeg. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney on their way into Musgrave Police Station. The men, who made the documentary No Stone Unturned, were arrested by police in August over the alleged theft of a document from the Police Ombudsman's office which a Journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney on their way into Musgrave Police Station. The men, who made the documentary No Stone Unturned, were arrested by police in August over the alleged theft of a document from the Police Ombudsman's office which appeared in their documentary about the Loughinisland massacre. Picture By Hugh Russell Octogenarian Francie Arthurs taking part in the Gaeltacht Quarter 10k race in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Octogenarian Francie Arthurs taking part in the Gaeltacht Quarter 10k race in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann A man peers through newly constructed fence around the perimeter of the Primark building area in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann A man peers through newly constructed fence around the perimeter of the Primark building area in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Winecellar Entry, off Lombard Street in Belfast, is home to White's Tavern, a pub founded in 1630. Picture by Mal McCann Winecellar Entry, off Lombard Street in Belfast, is home to White's Tavern, a pub founded in 1630. Picture by Mal McCann Family and friends gather at a memorial beside the Rising Sun bar in Greysteel to remember the eight people who died after a shooting inside the bar, on the 25th anniversary of the 1993 massacre. Mass was celebrated earlier in the evening at St Mary's Chu Family and friends gather at a memorial beside the Rising Sun bar in Greysteel to remember the eight people who died after a shooting inside the bar, on the 25th anniversary of the 1993 massacre. Mass was celebrated earlier in the evening at St Mary's Church in the Co Derry village. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
