26/04/2012 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight...

More fall-out from the row between Rangers and SFA. The manager

condemns threats from some fans against members of the disciplinary

panel. We hear from one of the members. I have been in football

for a number of years and am quite used to that side of things, but

this is a different level entirely, a different experience. Police have

warned they will take action against those making threats.

The First Minister comes under further attack over his relations

with Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump.

The Nat Fraser murder trial hears how a few days before his wife

disappeared he said if he could not have a, no one else would.

And later, up for sale, we find out why locals are concerned about the

island under the Skye Bridge. The Rangers manager says he is

disgusted by threats from some fans against members of the Scottish FA

disciplinary panel. Earlier this week the SFA imposed a fine and

transfer ban on Rangers because of rule breaches are linked to the

club's financial meltdown. Tonight, one of the members subjected to the

abuse said he has not experienced anything like it before.

The three men who made the decision to impose sanctions against Rangers

have had to ask the police for help. They are fearing for the safety of

their families. I have been involved in football for a number

of years and am quite used to that side of things, but this is a

different level entirely. decision was made on Monday. The

SFA imposed �160,000 fine and a 12 month transfer ban after finding a

club guilty of bringing the club into disrepute under Craig Whyte's

ownership. On Tuesday, Ally McCoist reacted. Who are these people? I am

a Rangers supporter. The Rangers supporters and the Scottish public

deserve to know who they are. disappointed at that interview.

Nobody involved in this process has any axe to grind against Rangers.

It was purely a case of business on the evidence we have heard.

smaller, Ally McCoist issued a The police have confirmed that an

investigation is under way. Some of the comments that were seen it

ranged from hate-filled with bigoted undertones to people

inciting or suggesting that they would endanger end violence. But as

an acceptable. Rangers have announced they would use some of

the fans' fighting fund to challenge the SFA's sanctions. They

are urging fans to stay calm and say no Rangers supporter should get

involved in reprisal attacks, not my or at any time.

Laura Bicker is at Ibrox for us now. What else did Eric Drysdale have to

say about the way these decisions are made? The SFA has issued its

judgment. It has found Regus guilty of bringing the game into disrepute

but has not published the reasons why. -- Rangers. In the future,

those two things should be published together, that way, both

fans and the football club should have some degree of understanding.

Another twist in this Rangers cider and as we were here, there are

fears that there -- the worst is still to come.

The First Minister has faced questions over his relationship

with the broad market and the American businessman, Donald Trump.

-- Rupert Murdoch. He was challenged at Prime Ministers

Square -- First Minister's Questions.

He says he has done nothing wrong. Alex Salmond is having trouble with

two of the tycoons he has got close to as First Minister. And Question

Time, Labour, which long courted Rupert Murdoch, said Alex Salmond

was wrong to develop his dealings following the phone hacking scandal.

The First Minister became the only senior politician in this country,

perhaps the only one in the world, to invite him round for tea.

point echoed by the Liberal Democrat leader. -- a point. Is he

ashamed that he put his political motives above those of the phone

hacking victims? He is an amusing guy and I enjoy his company, I

enjoy talking. Rupert Murdoch's description of Alex Salmond. The

First Minister condemned illegal practices and said his relationship

was about promoting Scottish interests. It is the job of the

First Minister to advocate jobs for Scotland and I will continue to do

so. Alex Salmond, when I discussed it with him, he pooh-poohed it...

Donald Trump claimed to have private assurances from the First

Minister that no wind farms would be built near his golf resort. This

was revisited. Something stinks. Will the First Minister said the

record straight and state categorically before this chamber

that no such discussions on planning or wind farms took place?

No assurances were ever given in that line. Tycoons are the top of

this place today and Alex Salmond may well be wondering if making

friends with them is more trouble than it's worth.

Tonight on Newsnight Scotland at 11 o'clock, we will be talking to the

Scottish Labour leader and the SNP deputy leader.

The Scotland Bill, which will give more Paris to the Scottish

Parliament, has passed its final hurdle at Westminster and will

become law might next week. The Prime Minister said the UK

Government had delivered what it promised.

This is an historic day for Scotland. We made a clear promise

that we would go ahead with this Act, which is the biggest act of

fiscal devolution in Scotland's history, to give the Scottish

Parliament far more of responsibility to raise the money

that it spends. We have delivered on that promise.

Coming up... We are already familiar with guide

dogs and hearing dogs and we will meet a canines been trained to help

people with dementia. And we hear white Walter Smith

thinks there's worse to come for Rangers. Neil Lennon is in trouble

with the SFA, details later. We even have a couple of thrilling

hand cycling races for you. Yes, that is the Sports Minister.

Eight Moray businessman accused of murdering his wife 14 years ago

told a friend two days before she went missing but if he could not

have a, nobody would. Hector Dick told a High Court in Edinburgh that

Nat Fraser had an ill will towards his wife. He claimed Mr Fraser had

said there could be no prosecution if a person disappear at no body

was found. -- if a person disappear.

Hector Dick said he was a good friend of Nat Fraser and regularly

spend time with him and his wife. When the marriage started falling

apart he said Mr Fraser was worried about the cost of a divorce and was

jealous about Arlene going out socially. Two days before she

disappeared, Hector Dick said Nat Fraser wanted him to buy a car for

him. Hector Dick recalled a conversation. Nat Fraser said, if I

can't have her, no one will. He said that if people disappear and

there is nobody, there cannot be a prosecution. He said he had read in

a Symes magazine that if there was anything less than a piece of bone

about the size, it could not be identified. Hector Dick bought the

car and left it in his yard to be collected. On the morning Arlene

disappeared, he said it was gone. The court heard it was two days

later when he went to see Nat Fraser. Asked her he seemed, he

He said he did not tell police. He knew he had blown his chance and

did not know what to do. Mr Fraser denies murder and lodges a defence

of alibi and incrimination and says if Arlene was murdered, the

personal responsible -- the person responsible is Hector Dick. The

trial continues tomorrow. To the local elections and between

now and polling day we will take a look at the issues in the country.

We begin with Glasgow. The City was once a Labour fortress but the SNP

have high hopes of capturing it. The results of this battle could

have wider repercussions for both parties.

Glasgow is the shopping capital of Scotland. Consumers here are used

to choosing which ran they want. -- Brian. When it comes to the council

they have shown brand loyalty. Labour has run the council

continuously since the late 1970s and has seen itself as the natural

party of government in the City for far longer. This time, Labour no an

SNP victory is a possibility. They are taking nothing for granted.

are standing on a record, our vision, our team and the leadership

that this city requires. We are going to be speaking to thousands

and thousands of voters, listening to them, and telling them our

vision for bringing jazz go forward. -- Glasgow. If people vote the way

they did last year, the SNP will be the biggest party in the council.

There is a lot to play for. There are a fair number of people who

have not yet made up their minds and need an extra push in one

direction or another. I think there is everything to play for. Labour

has already lost its overall majority and some former Labour

councillors are standing against their old colleagues. The other

parties think there is every chance neither Labour nor the SNP will

have sole control after the election. What we have is a series

of policies that seat Glasgow in terms of education, in terms of

consultation and in terms of doing something about the buses. We need

to devolve power to local people and local communities and give

people ownership over devising policy. We have shown we can work

with any balance of parties. We would be keen to work on energy-

saving and supporting local businesses. The stakes are high in

Glasgow. A bad result for Labour would be a heavy blow to Scottish

Labour and Ed Miliband. If the SNP do not do well, it could halt the

momentum the party has belt behind -- has felt.

What else has been happening across the country less there is there...

Two men have been jailed for the theft of their vehicles stolen two

years ago. They were sentenced to 12 months and 11 months

respectively. They were caught after the owner uploaded CCTV

footage onto YouTube. There has been flooding on farmland

in the north and north-east after torrential rain. A river burst its

banks. One road was closed and several others have been affected

by standing water. An investigation is under way after

a fire tore through a Dundee tenement. 15 people were evacuated.

The fire spread to a neighbouring block near the city centre. Two

residents were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation and one

firefighter suffered a minor injury. If it was not for the swift action

of the fire fighters, there could have been potentially fatalities.

It may never be known why a Shetland fishermen died in January

last year. A fatal accident inquiry has concluded this. The man had a

reputation for being careful. He got tangled in a robe and write a

report. A man who made eight rooftop

protest has admitted bridge of the piece. He will be sentenced at a

later date. Students at Dundee University have

voted it the best in the UK. It came top of the at times higher

education student experience survey. Glasgow was the only other Scottish

university in the top 10. Dance enthusiasts will be working

with professionals in eight projects put together by Scots

choreographer, Michael Clarke. It is linked to the Olympic Games.

There are more stories from your area and all the latest news 24

Reporting Scotland can reveal that 22 roe deer have been killed in a

controversial cull in Aberdeen. The roe deer on Tullos Hill are being

shot to make way for a tree- planting operation to mark the

Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Campaigners say they have written

to the Queen, asking her to intervene. There were around 30 --

30 roe deer on the hill walk at the start of the cull.

Guide dogs are common enough these days. Now they will be trained to

help people with dementia. The idea won a competition run by the Design

Council. Eleanor Bradford reports. In this Supported accommodation for

people with dementia, it is hard to see who is doing more for residents

- the manager or hard dog. - mock Somebody should be entitled to have

a dog to help them. A lot of it is about gentle reminders.

This dog already fetches medicines, he could easily be trained to

remind his owner to take them. of predictability and routine. They

feel safe with that. So, by using that hook, we can then teach the

dog to sort of remind people by the sound of an alarm to go and get the

medication at the allotted time of the day.

A group of suitable puppies have already been selected for this very

unusual project, the result of a competition run by the Design

Council to help people who live with dementia. All that remains is

for Alzheimer's Scotland to get the funding in place and to get people

involved in the pilot to help them see how dogs could be used more

effectively. Now the sport.

Good evening. The former Rangers manager Walter Smith says there is

worse to come for the club that is already battling for its very

existence. He says that the recent transfer embargo and the absence of

a buyer do not bode well. He has called for the transfer sanctions

to be put on hold. In Rangers' time of lead, -- time

of need, two legends answered the call. The sanctions that were

imposed the other day -- if the sides is a were put in place the

other they are not lifted and there is no new owner, the club is in

trouble. Warmly yesterday, new rules were

introduced by the third ball late. Rangers still hour St Etienne

�250,000, are some all �136,000 and Hearts �800,000. Is a ban not

actually an appropriate sanction? They could perhaps wait until we

have a new owner and then he could try to rectify some of the problems

that have been created over the last few months. I think that

opportunity should be given to the club more than anything else.

is the issue of footballing sanctions among other things that

continues to muddy the waters for prospective bidders. With the

season's final Old Firm game on the horizon, the question is: Could it

be the last? Neil Lennon is in trouble with the

Scottish Football Association over his behaviour at the end of their

Cup semi-final -- semi-final defeat by Hearts. He has been punished for

abusing Euan Norris and running onto the pitch.

It has been described as the biggest game in the history of

their number of football. It is this year's Scottish Cup final

between Hibs and Hearts later this more -- next month. Tickets went on

sale to our Hearts fans today and diehard fans went -- queued up this

morning from 7am, determined not to be disappointed. I thought it would

be raining, but it is not. We are just happy to get the tickets.

man is looking after the aged. Andy Murray is through to the

quarter-finals of the Barcelona Masters tennis. He had a

comfortable win over Santiago Giraldo. He beat the Colombian 6-1,

6-2. His next opponent is the Canadian 11th seed Milos Raonic.

It is a Paralympic here this year. The games for athletes with

disabilities will also take part -- take place in London. An exhibition

has opened in Glasgow that is called Passionate About Paralympics.

Some of it is a real hands-on experience.

On your marks, get set, Go! The event is the Paralympic sport

of hand as cycling on a simulator. The racers are short -- sportsman

or Shona Robertson and Jonathan Patterson. -- Sports Minister are.

Jonathan was only using one hand, you have an advantage, and he still

beats you, a bit embarrassing! it in! It is all about the legs

rather than the arms. It just shows you how difficult that is. And how

fit you need to be. Jonathan, you have humiliated the

minister, now it is time to take on Surely it's the best of three.

The director was saying I should have taken my tyre off. We have to

have some standards, don't we? Once it was the bomb of Gavin

Maxwell, author of Ring of Bright Water, and the site of Matt Stevens

and White House. Now the island beneath the Skye Bridge has been

put up for sale. That has raised concern among locals about what

lies ahead for Eilean Ban. Tucked under the bridge to Skye,

Eilean Ban is renowned for its otter population. Once owned by the

late Gavin Maxwell, it provided the inspiration for his much-loved book,

Ring of Bright Water. This is a copy of chapter one of Ring of

Bright Water, his first book. Maxwell's home on the island is now

a museum which attracts hundreds of visitors each year. This is a focal

point Mack for Maxwell. In fact, it is the only place where you can

come and find out about Gavin Maxwell, so it is very important.

After being bought by a previous government to help prop up the Skye

Bridge, Eilean Ban is being sold off by transport Scotland, sparking

serious concern for the Trust Leasing the island. The Government

has been warned that this island provides a lot more than some

support for the Skye Bridge. people come here to see Maxwell's

heritage, the Stevenson lighthouse's heritage, wildlife,

otters, dolphins, and it would be a great pity for the place to just

disappeared off the map to people. A as well as being a tourist magnet,

Eilean Ban is perfectly positioned for conservation trips and his

contest -- frequented by local schools and community groups.

is something magical about the island, especially on a day like

today. It is something special and I think it is vital that it is kept

for the community. To transport Scotland says it

recognises the importance of Eilean Ban and it will be offered to other

government agencies before being put on at the open market. -- put

on the open market. The light is at the end of the

tunnel, that's like being the month of May. It has been very wet and

windy over the last 24-hour us. -- 24 hours. There are several flood

warnings in force in Moray. The good news is that the rain will

stop and ease away this evening. We lose the yellow warning and it will

be generally dry across the whole of the country. Temperatures will

dip away to around two or three Celsius, even in towns and cities.

There could be a touch of frost in rural areas. It will be cloudy

across the North with showers across Orkney, case that --

Caithness and Sutherland. The cloud and showers will move to the south

through the day. Temperatures will be around 10 or 11 Celsius in the

central belt. There will be snow on the mountains farther north. Higher

parts of the A 9 could be affected. We are not expecting too much

disruption. A ridge of high pressure is building for the

weekend. That should push those were the front subway and settle

things down. The southern half of the country will see at a quiet

start on Saturday. The rain comes back on Sunday, working its way via

the North this time. The far north Now a summary of tonight's top

stories: Ally McCoist says he is disgusted by threats from some fans

against members of the Scottish FA disciplinary panel. Earlier this

week, ESFA it imposed a penalty Mack and France they are banned

because of rule breaches. Ministers have questioned Alex

Salmond over his relationship with Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump. Mr

Salmond insists he has done nothing wrong.

The former Liberian leader Charles Taylor has been found guilty by a

special court in The Hague of aiding and abetting war crimes in

Sierra Leone. More than 50,000 people died during the country's

civil war in the 1990s. An eyewitness to the shooting of