27/06/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news.

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games is rocked by the resignation of its

Chief Executive. John Scott admits he took gifts and hospitality from

potential suppliers. In other news tonight: eyewitnesses

tell of the last few moments before these teenage girls jumped to their

deaths into the River Clyde. Paying the penalty? Hearts' refusal

to sack this convicted sex offender leads to threats of a boycott by

sponsors, fans and advertisers. And later in the programme:

First an ace and then a royal flush. Andy Murray eases into the last

Their chief-executive of Glasgow's Commonwealth Games has stood down

after admitting he brought the organisation's rules of accepting

gifts and hospitality from potential contractors and suppliers.

The sudden resignation of John Scott is seen as a setback for the

games which will be held in three years.

This was John Scott just a few weeks ago, celebrating the start of

building work at the athletes village. There was no indication

then that anything was wrong. His sudden resignation today was a

shock to many. In a statement, Glasgow 2014 said Mr Scott offered

to resign over an error of judgment. He accepted an offer from a

potential supplier but did not declare it. This was a breach of

Glasgow 2014's policy on gifts and gratuities. It is not known what

the gift was, but police say they are not investigating. All I will

say is that it was significant enough that John Scott was prepared

to step up and resign. He was prepared to admit what he had done.

The host for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be Glasgow. It was just

months after this announcement that John Scott was appointed. He has

been the public face of the Games, in charge of their delivery and

their defender when costs rose. is some eight years ahead of the

staging of the Games, and when you're going through a big process

clearly you're trying to moderate amount of money invested, because

it is a speculative bet. You have no idea you're going to win. If you

spend huge amounts of money on a bed you don't Secure, you get

criticised. Tonight, Glasgow 2014 is beginning the hunt for a new

executive. The organising committee is adamant the bed is on track.

With three years ago tell the Games begin, they will have to act fast

to ensure John Scott's resignation does not threaten this.

Let's go now to our business editor Douglas Fraser who is at the

Velodrome. First, do we know anything more of what John Scott

accepted? There is very little detail about that, but we

understand a potential Contractor offered some gifting kind worth we

are told several thousand pounds. That was accepted but not declared,

which it should have been according to the rules of the organisation.

We are told normal information is being offered, not so much to be

dead John Scott, whose reputation is damaged and to apparently feels

horrendous, but to protect the potential bidder. We have to a

simmer they're still in the process of bidding. How damaging his John

Scott's resignation to the overall success of their games? Bear in

mind that major sporting events have a pretty bad record recently.

If you look at the hosting of the FIFA World Cup recently, and the

corruption allegations surrounding that, and also the Delhi World Cup

was mired in allegations. They had to get the money handling

absolutely right. More than �5 million is being spent on venues

like this, and at the moment, although this has been dealt with

by the city council, contracts for up accommodation and cleaning and

all of these things, that process is absolutely critical at the

Mollet. The other thing going on just now is ramping up the size of

the organisation. In October, it moved the new headquarters that is

much bigger, and will be in Merchant City. Most weeks they add

more people to the staff, with around 60 now and 100 expected next

year. That is a big increase in the scale of the organisation.

Leadership but that was absolutely critical, and the question is how

the now managed to continue without John's got in place.

Eye witnesses have told of the moments before two teenage girls

threw themselves to the best from the Erskine Bridge. A fatal

accident inquiry into how Neve Lafferty and Georgia Rowe died

heard from a passing motorist who described how he saw them with

their arms around each other and their backs to the water.

Shown to the inquiry today, the CCTV pictures taken of the main

exit in Bishopton. It is just before 7:45pm on an ad girls died.

Neve Lafferty and George are now were the only girls who left the

centre about time. They walked past the barrier and onto the road.

Within one hour, they were on the Erskine Bridge. The inquiry was

told that he was driving on the Erskine Bridge around 8:40pm that

night. He's a two figure sitting on the railings with their backs to

the water. He said the leaned back towards the water. He said it

happened quickly. They were facing the traffic and, he said, it seemed

they put their arms around each other and back they went. He was

asked by the process -- Procurator Fiscal if he saw anything that

would explain it. He said there were not arguing but just leaned

back. This woman was also driving at night. Days later, she

recognised Neve Lafferty from a photograph in a newspaper is one of

She said she made eye-contact with Neve Lafferty. She said there was a

strange expression of arise. She said Neve Lafferty was just a few

feet away and she could see her eyes quite clearly. Beverley

Cotterell was driving back from war: that night. I saw two girls on

the right hand side. They caught my attention because they were not

walking across the bridge. One of the girls actually had like she was

looking over and so she pushed herself up a wee bit. That is what

I saw and what caught my attention. The inquiry also heard today that

in his statement another man witnessed. He said when he saw the

girls, they were holding hands. The inquiry at Paisley Sheriff Court

continues tomorrow. You are watching Reporting Scotland.

Still to come: the show must go on. How Scotland's outdoor Shakespeare

Festival as coping with her underwhelming summer weather.

It has been a great debt has got at Wimbledon. Andy Murray is through

to the next round of the singles, Aziz Jamie Murray and the mixed

doubles and Colin Fleming. And you don and a new day and a

newly for him, and he is feeling good.

Appeals to the Supreme Court in London should only be allowed if

Scotland's highest court permits it. That is the view of a panel of

legal experts appointed by the First Minister to look at the role

of the UK Supreme Court. It follows a number of controversial decisions

taken recently. The SNP Government tonight welcomed the findings.

We welcome the report that gives us parity with other jurisdictions

within the United Kingdom. It also means the ultimate authority as the

Scots scored here in Edinburgh. Joining me now is the Home Affairs

Correspondent Mabel and -- Reevel Alderson. This caused a mighty

river Alex Salmond said the Supreme Court should have no place in the

Scottish legal system. Yes, I was a huge row. A political row, a legal

row up a constitutional row. It follows the second of two very

controversial cases which went to the Supreme Court. That of Nat

Fraser, who was appealing against his conviction for murder. He asked

the Appeal Court in Edinburgh to refer his case to the Supreme Court

on a matter of importance. They refused, so he was then able to go

directly to the Supreme Court did have a here in there anyway. That

is a rout also taken by Luke Mitchell at the moment. He was

convicted of the murder of Jodi Jones. The First Minister is angry

that somehow or other people were able to get round the final court

of Appeal in Scotland and go to the Court in London. What actual

changes would this make? If these changes where enacted, what it

would mean it is she would only be able to go to the Supreme Court in

London if the Appeal Court in Edinburgh said you could. That

would bring us into line with the situation in England and Wales, and

indeed in Northern Ireland. I have to say, these changes, if they were

to be made, would have to be made by the Westminster Parliament. And

a delicious plate Brays, -- and a delicious phrase, what McCluskey

said that the legal plumbing needs to be worked out.

More pressure and Hearts tonight after their decision not to sack

Craig Thomson after he was placed on the sex offenders' register. One

of the club's sponsors has withdrawn his support and a stadium

advertising is setting the same. Fans are threatening a boycott

later this week. John Murray is angry at Hearts. As

the father of two young daughters he is concerned. His company's name

appears on billboards around Tynecastle. It is disgusting and

dead ball and sent a message to the world that this kind of behaviour

is acceptable. It is totally not. Pressure is growing all round on

Hearts. These are some of the club's official sponsors. They say

they're increasingly concerned and today one withdrew their support.

They say they have no choice but to withdraw and say they're extremely

disappointed that our Hearts has handled the situation. Craig

Thomson pleaded guilty this month to lewd and libidinous behaviour

towards two young teenage girls. The club's owner of Vladimir

Romanov decided not to sack him, instead suggesting that may have

been an explanation for his actions. Many Hearts fans are furious.

Supporters' website had been inundated with angry complaints.

Some supporters groups are prepared to go even further. We will be

calling for a boycott. We want to make it clear that this decision is

unacceptable. Within the last hour, Craig Thomson has issued a

statement through his solicitor, asking Hearts fans and the wider

public to respect the judgment of the courts and of Heart of

Midlothian Football Club. Some appear to support his call. It is

not up to Hearts to police the player, 0 to do the job of the

court in deciding whether the player is a danger to the public.

It is up to them to decide whether he is in breach of contract and,

whether he is a not, whether to keep him in employment. Between

sponsorship withdrawal and threat of a fans' boycott, the pressure is

undoubtedly 91 Heart of Midlothian to change its decision. The

question now is whether its owner, Vladimir Romanov, will do so. If he

doesn't, just how much it could cost the club.

Now some of the other stories across Scotland: at 13-year-old boy

has appeared in court charged with murder.

This follows the death of 34-year- old Dawn McKenzie in Hamilton on

Friday evening. The teenager made no plea and was remanded in custody.

A woman has died and two other people have been injured after a

car mounted that it Patten mother off. Police say it appeared the

driver became ill while driving down the state. He hit two parked

cars before staking two pedestrians, one of whom died on the scene. The

driver and another woman are being It is rapidly approaching make-

your-mind-up time for the voters of Inverclyde. They go to the polls

this week to choose a new MP following the death of David Cairns

last month. Our political correspondent has been meeting the

hopefuls as they make a last push in the tightly fought contest.

The circus is in town in more ways than one. On Thursday, the people

of Inverclyde fate for a new Westminster and tea and that means

political hopefuls looking for votes. She has made creating more

jobs in the area a top priority of her campaign. Alex Salmond has an

ambition to be industrialise Scotland and I want to read

industrialise Inverclyde using renewable energy. Traditionally

this is a Labour energy put -- area. The candidate is the council leader.

Ian Mackenzie wants to hold on to his seat by bringing renewable

energy jobs here, too. He says the SNP have not helped deliver them.

Over the last year alone, we bid for the renewable energy jobs only

to find that they went to the east coast, so they tend to be

overlooked this. The Liberal Democrats have lost lots of support

in this area. 20-year-old student said the bridge and it may be young

but she is hopeful of winning them back. -- Sophie Bridger. I think

that as a young person I have a lot to offer because we need more

energy and optimism. Conservatives do not really think

they have a chance of winning but they are aiming for second place.

David Wilson is a councillor whose campaign is increasingly aimed at

the nationalist. I have found on the doorstep people have been

talking about independence because they got a fright after May. They

did not think they were voting for independence, for an SNP with an

overall majority but that is what they have got and they are worried.

The UK Independence Party are standing here, too. Mitch Sorbie is

a nightclub owner hoping to take Westminster by storm. It is vital

we get jobs quickly and we use the money that is getting wasted in

Brussels in the European Union to invest back into Inverclyde, to

help stimulate the jobs market. is season here. They are famously

easy to catch. But there is always the chance of disappointment. -- it

is mackerel season. To move it requires a top-secret

operation and it only comes out of the display cabinet once every five

years. Let's go to Edinburgh Castle who is getting a very rare close up.

Aydin you will agree that his is just the sort of item that every

young girl would love in her dressing up collection. This is the

real deal, made for James the 5th in 15 for two. It has been

intricate leak and carefully cleaned by Richard, the head of

connections here at Historic Scotland. It is incredible here to

think of the famous heads that have worn this ground. It is wonderful.

Mary Queen of Scots. She was only nine months old when she was

crowned but maybe her hand touched it. And Charles II was the last

King of Scots to be crowned with this. It is beautiful to look at.

Tell me about the decorations. has oriental poles, these great big

poles on the top. Scottish freshwater pearls, the little ones

on the top of his cross. This golden Orb with the blue a mammal

and the little gold stars was bought by James in a shopping trip

to Paris in 1537. Perhaps one of the interesting things is that

after the Union of opponents in -- this ground was placed away any to

be discovered by Sir Walter's got 100 years later. But on Friday it

will be carried in procession down from Edinburgh council to Scottish

Parliament and it will replaced in front of Queen Elizabeth as she

carries out her official duties opening Parliament.

Sport now and the Royal thing continues.

The Duke and Duchess of Strathearn watched Andy Murray as he got

through to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after a straight-sets win

over Richard Gasquet. He beat him 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. Next for Murray,

Spain's Feliciano Lopez. Andy Murray has his fans. They are

certainly onside. Even the future king was cheering him on. There was

not much to separate the players in the opening set. The rally was at

times long and exciting. But both men were prone to errors. But

Murray recovered from that and took his first set. He won the tie-break

convincingly. Beat Scott was still struggling at times, though,

missing a chance to break Gasquet's serve only in the second set. This

frustration was clear. Eventually, Murray brief found his form. --

found his form again. He brought to the Frenchman and won his next game

to win the second set 6-3. Losing the first two sets seemed to affect

men. In contrast, the British number one was getting into his

stride. When his opponent did put his shot away here, marron took

advantage. He went 3-2 up. Murray was now in complete control. He won

it again. So no Barry out for marine, much to the delight of Kate

and William. I should have said the Earl and

Countess of Strathearn, of course. Our reporter is at Wimbledon

basking in the sun. Whatever you want to call the

royals, Andy Murray royally entertained them in the royal box.

It was a really good performance. Richard Gasquet, a former top ten

player. He had not lost a set so far this Wimbledon. He lost three

there in Centre Court as Andy Murray was in top form and Top gear.

He was particularly pleased when he came off court that he managed to

get off to a good start. He does not normally win the first set.

was important because conditions were very warm today so if you can

get on top of your opponent early and I managed to get a break in the

second set, did not give up too many break-point opportunities.

Andy Murray is safely through to the quarter-finals on Wednesday,

where he will play Feliciano Lopez of Spain. The good news, Andy

Murray has never lost to him the four times they have played before.

He won two comfortably last year. Jamie Murray, big brother, went

through as well and Colin Fleming is through to the third round in

the doubles for the first time in his career.

Back to work at Rangers today with a new man in charge of football

matters. Ally McCoist has warned other managers he will not welcome

any interest in his current players. He also vowed to add to his squad

as soon as possible. First day in a new job is never

easy but the first task of the day was posing for photographs

alongside the new chief executive. Then, the serious work began.

some think I have always been very excited about and I am looking

forward to the challenges ahead. I am aware it will be a bumpy ride.

Priority number one is adding to the current squad. New faces will

be coming but one old base could also be coming. Carlos Cuellar is

very high in the list. He is a player that we would certainly like

to see come back. There are a lot of things, or water under the

bridge. He learned his trade alongside the most successful

Rangers manager of the modern era. Although he is keen to praise his

former boss, macaws will be his own man. I do not care what anyone says.

The most important thing is that your team wins. So hopefully I will

have a winning team and I can discuss tactics afterwards. So he's

ready for the task in hand but when asked if he will meet anti-ageing

cream to alleviate the stress of the drop... Not just yet. Thanks

for reminding me. He might just needed!

It has not been a good summer for many of us get the spare a thought

for Scotland's only dedicated outdoor Shakespeare festival, Bard

In The Botanics. This year it could For ten years, they have been

serving up Shakespeare in the open air. Midsummer Night's Dream

reinvented as a burlesque musical, one of three shows being estate in

Glasgow's Botanic Gardens. But this year there is a further

twist. For the first time in a decade, they are performing under

cambers. We did not want to expose it too much to the elements. We

wanted to make sure the audience could he rate, that our ferries

were not shivering with the cold. - - that the audience could bear it

and are actors were not shivering with the goal. We thought after ten

years they deserved a roof. Establishing an outdoor Shakespeare

festival in Scotland was always going to be a challenge and the

company has had to battle hard for funding as well as against the

elements, but for many of the cast who return year after year, that is

part of the attraction. Keeping it going when there is a potential

downpour going... On the first year it completely Portadown on the last

night. The audience stay with you and enjoy it. There is something

exhilarating about it. This show, voted the public's favourite, is

their biggest today thanks to drama students who want to be involved

whatever the weather. It makes you work harder sometimes. When it is

raining the audience club in with you and you are all in it together.

When it is raining, muddy, dirty... A good atmosphere. And a decade on,

the company is keen to take the Bard beyond the but panics to open

air venues across the country. -- We will all be glad to know there

is some sunshine in the forecast for tomorrow. Fairly cloudy today.

The radar picture shows some cloud around. Up the east coast. There

was rain vet, elsewhere fairly dry. This evening dry and cloudy. Some

late sunshine in the West. The rain is moving towards the North Sea,

keeping the Northern Isles before it disappeared. Dry overnight.

Quite cool for this time of year. Into tomorrow, it will be a fine,

dry and bright start for many of us across the country. Towards lunch

time on the afternoon, one or two showers come in from the West but

fairly light and few and far between. But cloud coming in the

east as well. By mid- afternoon tomorrow, temperatures up to 16

degrees or 17 degrees, perhaps the odd 18 degrees. The former --

further north you go the more chance of showers. Through the rest

of the afternoon and into the evening to borrow, staying fairly

similar across many parts of the country. The sun makes an

appearance through the central belt and southern parts of the country.

Showers still around but nothing too heavy.

There is the rain we have had to go down the east coast. We have this

ridge of high pressure trying to build in for Wednesday but it will

not influence has too much because it stays quite a cloudy day. One or

two heavy showers. First day, a much better day on the cards

because it will be dry for many of us and some sunshine once again.

Temperatures creeping up as well. We might even see 19 Celsius.

Tonight, dry and some sunshine for The top stories: The chief

executive of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has stood day

after an 18 -- stood down after admitting he broke rules by

accepting gifts and hospitality from potential contractors and

suppliers. Eye witnesses have described the

final moments before two teenage girls threw themselves to their

deaths from the Erskine Bridge. The fatal accident inquiry into how

Neve Lafferty and Georgia Rowe died heard from passing motorists. One