27/10/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news:

Guilty. The Scots-born child-killer Robert Black is convicted of

murdering a fourth little girl. He abducted, abused and killed

Jennifer Cardy 30 years ago in Northern Ireland.

Tom Maxwell was just three years old when Black murdered his sister

Susan. I think the family, there will be some tiny element of relief.

We'll have a special background report into the crimes of Robert

Black. In other news this evening: The First Minister apologises to

parliament for misquoting an academic in support of his plans

for a referendum on independence. Send your children to your local

school. A council urges parents not to make school placing requests.

This time, physical exercises for Lady.

And a look the book which looks at the early days of BBC Scotland.

The triple child killer Robert Black has been convicted of the

murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy, who was abducted and killed

in Northern Ireland 30 years ago. Black, who's originally from

Grangemouth, is already serving life for the murder of the Scottish

girls Susan Maxwell and Caroline Hogg, as well as Sarah Harper from

Leeds. After he was found guilty at Armagh Crown Court, Jennifer

Cardy's parents said they didn't hate Robert Black but pitied him

for the life he'd led. Laura Bicker reports. Jennifer Cardy was proud

of our new red bicycle. On a sunny August day, she decided to cycle to

a friend's house. She told her mum she would be home in time for to

watch television. But it was not to be. All I can appeal for is that

she comes back and whoever has heard doesn't hold her. Divided

Protestant and Catholic communities united to set -- to search the

streets. Hundreds of people were eager to help. Within hours her

bicycle was found. Police and her parents feared the worst. They took

her because she was a lovely wee girl. Jennifer's body was

discovered in this damp, face down, floating among the weeds. It was a

petrol receipt which finally linked her murder to serial killer at

Robert Black. A six-week trial revealed the full horror of hit --

of his crime. How you kidnapped, sexually abused and murdered the

little girl. Today, at court, her parents were there. All of a sudden

we are confronted with the awfulness of those last few hours

and what she would have had to suffer. That has been truly awful

for each and every one of us. Jennifer had a lovely thought for

almost beyond her nine years. She will be for ever remember it and

always missed. Robert Black has done this awful deed, but I joined

with my husband and say that he will not destroy us. For 30 years,

Jennifer Cardy's parents have prayed for justice, today, their

faith was finally rewarded. It's 17 years since Robert Black

was convicted of the murders of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and

Sarah Harper. Even before today's verdict he was facing the rest of

his life in prison. Willie Johnston has been looking back how he was

finally brought to justice. Robert Black's reign of terror ended here

in the Borders village in 1990. He was seen abducting and driving off

with a six year-old girl in the back of his ban. The police were

called and stopped the van. His years of abusing and eventually

killing young girls were over. was who did, bound and gagged. The

look of terror on her face was incredible. Robert Black was

convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but for investigators that

was only the start. His his UK wide delivery job had given him scope to

target children around the country. The police linked him to three

unsolved murders. Susan Maxwell was matched. She had nothing we power

but a tennis racket. She was just coming home for her tea. Caroline

Hogg was next. She disappeared from a funfair near her home. We want

her back. We want her back now. then Sera Harper, at taken while

running an errand -- an errand for her grandmother in Leeds. The

investigation was long and painstaking. Police traced black's

workrooms and used fuel receipts to prove he had been where girls had

to disappear. Black was convicted of all three murders in 1994 and

given 10 life sentences. Every parent in the country can rest more

easily knowing that Robert Black is in jail for the rest of his life.

Now Black has been convicted of another killing. There may yet be

more or. But Black is not a man who surrenders his secrets. He is very

close and controlled. A coldness and somewhat empty eyes. Very

striking eyes. He would stay issue for long periods of time in

complete silence and eventually his head would drop. It is an element

of power. There are some serial killers who love to tell every one

of the crimes they have committed, there are others, like Black, who

liked to keep information to themselves because the power is

there that they know it is up to you to find out. Today's verdict

may represent justice, but possibly not the closer the family may crave.

Susan Maxwell's brother was only three when his sister was killed.

He says the shadow of black's you will never left. I think the family,

that there will be some tiny element of relief. That he is in

jail, he is going to rot there, but it doesn't bring Jennifer back. Is

it going to make a difference? Is it going to make a difference to

the gap that her death left, no. Someone has finally can -- been

convicted, but is that any kind of close to? I do not think it is.

The brother of Susan Maxwell ending Willie Johnston's report. You're

watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come before

seven: 90 years of remembrance - the

Scottish Poppy Appeal is launched in Edinburgh.

In sport: A premier League club manager asks his chairman to make a

public statement backing him - news on that, and what did Neil Lennon

say to his players behind closed doors at Easter Road last night?

Whatever it was, it worked. More on The First Minister Alex Salmond has

had to apologise to the Scottish Parliament after a row over his

plans for an independence referendum. Mr Salmond had

suggested to MSPs that he had received a retraction from a

prominent academic who had criticised the planned two-question

ballot. But it emerged later that the words quoted by the First

Minister came from a draft drawn up by one of his own special advisers.

Here's our political correspondent, Glenn Campbell. At the SNP

conference over the weekend, Alex Salmond hinted that his

independence referendum might include a second option, to give

Holyrood the power to raise the money it spends without Scotland

leaving the UK. At question time today, rivals for and against

independence accused him of confusing the issue. Why are we

prattling about with this second question? Surely it cannot be the

case that the First Minister lacks the courage to put his big idea of

independence to a strict yes or No vote of the Scottish people, or is

he afraid? That First Minister said at to question vote had been

endorsed by set a world leading expert. It closes by saying that,

while it is a matter for the Scottish people to decide, at two-

question proposition it would be fair, reasonable and clear. But the

expert in question are never wrote those words. In fact, he is quoted

in today's Times as the end, -- as Opposition said that the First

Minister had misled Parliament by making up a quote. The First

Minister has up a track record of misleading Parliament, but to write

a letter putting words in someone else's mouth and then at reading it

out as if they had been that said is really Loring himself. This is a

doctoring evidence and pulling the wool over the eyes of the people of

Scotland. The First Minister came back to the chamber to say sorry.

was given evidence that this was wrong, and therefore might response

was ended -- incorrect. This is my responsibility and therefore I

apologise. It was a rare moment of contrition from the only First

Minister to ever command a majority in this Parliament.

A bit embarrassing for the First Minister.

Yes. He is used to commanding of the chamber with soaring rhetoric

to -- rhetoric. I think we have clarified a few things. The

academic has written another letter to the Times. He says that perhaps

his full position was not reckon it -- represented in the first

representation. He says that a two- question ballot is not advisable

because then there can be confusion. He says Scots should be asked to do

you want change, if so do you want a fiscal devolution? He thinks that

those two things could be put in conflict with each other. I think

Alex and it has probably dampened down this road for now. The

question of the to quit as -- of the two questions will continue.

A campaign has been launched in Edinburgh to persuade parents to

send their children to their nearest local authority school. At

the last count, 30,000 families across Scotland made placing

requests to schools outside their catchment area. But the Scottish

Government have stopped compiling these figures and that's led to

criticism that they've removed an important measure of parental

satisfaction with the education system. Here's our education

correspondent Seonag MacKinnon. At how's whole life determined by the

quality of their school. Best primary school is helping many

children fly rather than finder. is a magnificent building, a state

of the art building. It is equipped for the 21st century. The learning

and teaching is of a very high standard. For the last few years,

our attainment has increased from 40% in national tests to the early

70s in national tests. But many try to get their children into schools

further afield. There is a widespread assumption that children

do better in schools in posher areas. But inspectors say that in

reality, many schools are coasting. Results could be down at two input

from parents and coasters. What would be the first sound? Council

leaders want more appearance to give their local school at times.

am local. The school seems satisfactory to me. Going to the

local school is easier on the mother. If the school in the area

wasn't something I was impressed with, I would rather have the

choice to send them out with that the area. All schools should be up

to a proper standard and then everyone would go local. At the

last count, 30,000 families across Scotland it to opt out. But there

are no figures for this year because the Scottish Government

have stopped publishing them. A decision that concern some.

information will still exist and will be known by the Government.

What has ended here is the opportunity for everyone else to

get access to the same kind of information as the quality makers

have. The Scottish Government says it has stopped pulling the figures

together because it is too much of a burden for local councils.

Placing requests by parents are expected to keep rising. But for

Arman murdered in comeback at the weekend -- a man murdered in

Cumnock at the weekend had previously been questioned by

police over alleged indecency. Strathclyde Police have confirmed

that are so a report was sent to the Procurator Fiscal in August

after he was accused of abusing a 12-year-old boy. Do we say there

was nothing to connect his murder to those allegations.

Statistics show that fewer Scots died during last winter than the

previous 50 years. The number of registered deaths dropped by 61

despite the unusually cold winter. Let us move on to the Poppy Appeal.

The 90th Poppy Appeal has been launched in Edinburgh. The charity,

which looks after former military personnel, was created by a Field

Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. The aristocratic general, born in

Charlotte Square in Edinburgh. The man who ordered soldiers in their

tens of thousands over the top in the First World War. He is buried

here, not far from his family home in the Borders. He is one of the

most controversial figures in military history. He set up the

veterans charity. It is now known as the poppy appeal. 90 years on,

it is still helping veterans from all conflict. People like Bill

Walker, who was injured fighting in Burma and India with the Royal Scot

in World War II. Do you think people understand what it means?

think so. There has been that many wars, so many people killed and

wounded, it is a way of life now, you know? People who have been

injured and comeback have had help from the poppy appeal. It helps

people not only in the forces now, but people who wear on the forces.

-- who were formerly on the forces. The campaigns in Afghanistan and

Iraq go on. The charity continues to evolve. Earlier this year, it

merged with the British Legion. All the money raised in Scotland and

the Scottish Poppy Appeal will be spent in Scotland.

A seal pup on an island in the River Forth has managed to escape

drowning after being trapped in a lobster pot. They were tossed

around by waves off the east coast on Tuesday. It has been named as he

DD by staff at the Scottish Sea Life Centre. -- Houdini. It is not

known whether it ultimately survived.

The seal escaped but I am still here! The Dundee United manager

Peter Houston says he expected his chairman to back him publicly. That

is after reports he was on the verge of getting sacked. He said

that, if he does go, he will leave with his head held high.

The spike the manager's world -- words of discovered Park -- words

of encouragement, the defeat at the League Cup tie against Falkirk has

prompted questions over Peter It is a far cry from the Scottish

Cup glory of just 17 months ago. Peter Houston says his record is

second only to that of Jim McLean. He says if he is sacked, he will

leave with his head held high. Many of that team have now left.

Regardless of cost cutting, Peter Houston must reserve -- must

reverse the slide. And fast. What did Neil Lennon say to his

players at half-time at Easter Road last night? Whatever it was, it

worked. It seemed that it was Neil Lennon's rousing team talk that

inspired a Celtic comeback. 1-0 down and things are looking grim

What caused the transformation? What are the managers say to the

team at half-time? The players knew themselves that the first that

performance was not up to scratch and that he let us know that.

will probably never know what was said. Rhetorical flourishes and

roller King's a part of the fabric of the game. Get your cells

prepared mentally! If that kind of treatment works for Neil Lennon,

why does he not do that before the game? I don't think you'd go down

too well as he did it at the start of the game -- if he did it at the

start of the game! The Scotland women's team are about to start

qualification for the 2013 finals. Their match tonight, the first

match, is at Tynecastle High. Last-minute preparations. It is the

first home tide of the UEFA 2013 qualifiers. Tonight's match against

Wales is a key match. The and a good side. They can score goals

against any team. We played them in February and we are under no

illusions that it will be a difficult game. If we can take her

opportunities then we're confident we can come out with a win. It is

high times for the women's game. 27,000 girls now play football at

schools. The SFA's say these are the building blocks for the

national side. If we have strong clubs, then we have strong national

teams. We see any investment in clubs as benefiting the whole game.

Scotland is now ranked 23rd in the world. They missed out on the last

European Championships by one point. This time, the focus is on getting

through. We want to be out there in Sweden. We are not being arrogant

about it. It would be something the men's team have not done since 1998.

No hairdryer treatment in the one in's Game! -- the ladies' game!

It was one of the most controversial broadcasts in history.

In 1926, Scotland was told that London was under siege. But it was

all a spoof. In this book, it tells of how staff escaped reprimand

because it led to a surge in interest for radios. The wireless

was a fairly new invention in 1926 and for many listeners, the spoof

report was a serious worry. understand that they Houses of

Parliament are about to be demolished. There were urgent phone

calls from certain people asking after their relatives. They thought

it had gone very wrong. In the end, the BBC's manager let

the matter ago, perhaps swayed by an upsurge in demand for radio

licences. From those five people in an amateur studio career nationwide

organisation recording every sort of programme. This was their

contribution to the war effort. It was a religious affairs programme,

from Glasgow, which made an even greater contribution. The scripts

were always late back from the sensors. Now we know why! I was

waiting on the script being sent back to me because it was carrying

coded messages from the French resistance because of the war.

Nobody ever seem to know this. the 1950s, the BBC expanded into

television and made history with a live outside broadcast from Sky. It

is on that hide that Mr Walker concludes his history. The rest, he

says, is for another writer and another book.

And if you thought that handsome news reader bore an uncanny

resemblance to one of our own, It will be fairly dry. Though

showers should disappear. One or two showers working into Orkney and

Shetland her, however. Much of the mainland dry and cloudy. Cooler

than of late. Temperatures in towns and cities going down. There is the

chance of a light frost in the Borders. We see the low pressure

out in the Atlantic. It is working it will be dry. For much of the

country, not too bad at all. A southerly breeze in there as well.

The north-west will start to see cloud pushing in. Some outbreaks of

rain for the Outer Hebrides and for Shetland, probably in the latter

half of the afternoon. That rain will continue to increase. It will

move its way eastwards, accompanied by some strong, southerly winds. We

can see these weather fronts moving their way end. There will be strong

winds for the first half of the weekend. With those southerly winds,

some shelter across their east coast. Still some heavy and

persistent rain in the West. You can keep up-to-date on Twitter.

Just before 7 o'clock, a summary - the financial markets have reacted

favourably to a deal aimed at saving -- solving the eurozone

crisis. They have boosted the eurozone funds to around one

trillion Euros. The triple child killer Robert

Black has been convicted of the murder of nine-year-old Jennifer