The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has contacted Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness to emphasise that peace in the North was hard won and must be protected.

Mr Kenny contacted the North's Deputy First Minister following the arrest of Sinn Féin's northern chairman this morning in connection with the murder of Kevin McGuigan in Belfast.

Bobby Storey was one of three men detained this morning.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says he has grave concerns about the arrest, but he stopped short of saying it is 'political policing'.

Negotiations aimed at saving Northern Ireland's power sharing executive resumed this morning.

Talks come after the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) walked out last night, insisting the IRA should be the first topic addressed.

The crisis talks had been spearheaded by the Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and the Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, after the PSNI linked the murder of Kevin McGuigan to members of the provisional IRA.

David Ford, leader of the Alliance Party, says the UUP's decision is difficult to understand.