17/01/2014 Reporting Scotland

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland. Three-year-old Mikaeel Koolar is

still missing. Despite a huge search involving hundreds of volunteers

across land and sea, it's now nearly two full days since the last

sighting of him. Police admit they're gravely concerned. It is

entirely possible that he has left the house of his own accord and all

of our actions are attempting to cover that possibility. It is

however entirely possible that he has become subject to a criminal

act. Police are also investigating an

unconfirmed sighting. Also this evening: Guilty - James

Dunleavy killed his own mother, cut her up, put her body parts in a

suitcase and buried her in an Edinburgh beauty spot.

Rangers deny they're heading towards administration, as the players

reject a wage cut to stem heavy losses.

And would you wear this tartan? Well, our athletes will at this

summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. We have an exclusive peek.

Hundreds of members of the public today joined the search for

3-year-old Mikaeel Kular, who's been missing from his home in Edinburgh

for nearly two days. But tonight police said they couldn't rule out

the possibility that he'd been the victim of a criminal act. Earlier

they said they were investigating a sighting of a small boy matching

Mikaeel's description not far from his home in Ferry Gait Crescent. A

motorist saw the boy, apparently alone, running along West Pilton

Gardens at 8:30am yesterday morning. Our reporter Steven Godden is

outside Mikaeel's home tonight. Steven.

It is almost fully two days since he was last seen at his home when he

was put to bed by his mother. Since, an intense search to try and

find him, but so far it has yielded nothing will stop police said there

were a number of strands to the enquiry but admitted he could have

an subject to what they call a criminal act. They appealed for the

public to come forward with any information they have. The community

rallied round once again today. United and worry, a community stands

shoulder to shoulder, searching for Mikaeel Kular, whose disappearance

is now measured in days rather than hours. This is a UK wide appeal. But

the focus of the police operation remains here in the north of

Edinburgh. Hundreds of locals helping in the hope of finding

something that leads to the safe return of the child.

People are positive, we would not be here if we were not. But obviously

it is getting later. We're doing our bit. We'll stay out as long as we

can. We have searched the woods, the

seafront, right along really. He is a child, he is tiny, he is freezing,

he is part of the community will stop I would travel any distance.

Earlier, people gathered at a community centre, filling out forms,

eager to get going on what for many was a second day of searching.

Anything I can do to help, I thought I should do. Anybody who can come

out needs to search their conscience. I can think of any

reason not to come out. Lunchtime and news of a potential sighting at

eight 30 a.m. Yesterday morning. A driver saw a small boy seemingly

alone running alongside the road will stop police say that CCTV fits

the description of Mikaeel Kular, but remain cautious. We need the

help of the public to let us know if they saw something. Or indeed if

they know it was their child, who could have fit the description of

Mikaeel Kular. An appeal went out in Glasgow Central Station. He was in

the same class as my son, I just can't imagine going through that.

Outside the family home, police activity continued. Tonight, a shift

in emphasis. It is entirely possible that he has become subject to a

criminal act. The investigation has been established as a twin track too

insular that that eventuality is fully explored. -- to ensure. Police

say they are gravely concerned but insisted the search will continue. A

number of things came out of the news conference. Firstly, Mikaeel

Kular had not been to nursery since Christmas. He had a chest infection.

As for the potential sighting, revealed around lunchtime, there has

been a good response but police say there is much more work to be done.

The overarching message from the police is that they still want

people to come forward and help. They say that the answer lies in

what people have seen. So they want to know.

A Dublin man has been convicted of killing his mother and then cutting

up her body, before burying her remains at an Edinburgh beauty spot.

40-year-old Seamus Dunleavy was found guilty of the culpable

homicide of 66-year-old Philomena Dunleavy on the grounds of

diminished responsibility. The discovery of Mrs Dunleavy's remains

led to an international investigation to discover her

identity. Rob Flett reports. This is James Dunleavy. Most people know him

as Seamus. He committed a crime that is hard to comprehend. The discovery

of a skull prompted a major police investigation. But repeated appeals

for information led nowhere. I was convinced it was important to widen

the net, after the first week. My gut instinct was that it was local,

that turned out to be the case. The breakthrough came following a

remarkable facial construction at Dundee University. The image made

sense to me in relation to the skull. We are pleased that the

depiction was close in terms of resemblance. The dead woman was

quickly identified as Philomena Dunleavy from Dublin, who had

visited her son near the spot where the body was found. Seamus Dunleavy

was arrested and charged with beheading her, cutting off the

body, and putting the remains in a suitcase, which he took, just a few

hundred metres down this road to dense woodland, where he buried it.

Philomena was a regular visitor to Edinburgh and her son was well known

in the post office alone his flat. Staff say that they are loving

relationship turned sour. She was very upset that events, his mother

left his father, moved in with a new partner in Dublin, he was very

angry. The High Court heard that Mr Dunleavy told friends that he had

heard voices in his head, that he might be evil, that he had done

something bad will stop prosecutors said that the evidence was

circumstantial but came together like the strands of a cable. He was

found guilty of culpable homicide, with diminished responsibility. It

is ten years since his brother was gunned down in Dublin, further

tragedy is the father, senior and the left, watched another son sent

to jail. -- seen here on the left. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on the programme: An exclusive look at the

Tartan specially designed for Scotland's Commonwealth Games team.

In sport: Ally McCoist says he backs his players 100% after their refusal

to take a pay cut. More on that. And Andy Murray tells us why his next

opponent is one of a kind. Earlier this week, we reported more

than half a million people were stopped and searched by police in

Scotland between April and December last year. The figure was slightly

down on the previous year but research from Edinburgh University,

seen by Reporting Scotland, shows the tactic is being used four times

as often here as in England and Wales. Our Home Affairs

Correspondent, Reevel Alderson has been reading the report.

Police stopping people on the street and searching them is a highly

controversial tactic in England and Wales, with members of black and

ethnic minority communities overwhelmingly targeted. But here in

Scotland it's becoming much more widely used. Research carried out by

Edinburgh University shows 86 people out of each 1,000 in Scotland were

stopped and searched in 2010. The figure for England and Wales was 17;

less than a quarter. But even these figures hide the shocking disparity.

In 2010, 123 people out of each 1,000 were stopped by the old

Strathclyde Police. The London figure was 59, less than half. Yet

look at this figure - 276 - in the year before Strathclyde Police was

merged. This is how police justify stop and

search. Knives taken off the streets. Drinks which cause

anti-social behaviour and crime. They say that falling crime figures

are due to stop and search. That is supported by this family, still

mourning the death of 25-year-old, Sean, stabbed to death in the

street. It saves families going through what we went through. If

they are called beforehand, taken away, sentenced, the word goes

about. Stop and search, it will deter you from taking knives out in

the first place. The use of stop and search is

declining south of the border, because of criticism that black and

ethnic minority communities were disproportionately targeted.

Edinburgh University research shows that has not happened in Scotland,

but nevertheless the massive rise in stop and searches has gone without

much criticism. One academic said that is not surprising. It is

focused on young white men in deprived areas who have no political

voice of people to speak on their behalf, so it is no supplies it has

not become political. -- surprise. Wider use could affect the way the

community react to the police, and the Childrens Commissioner has

expressed concern at the targeting of young people. But the charity,

children in Scotland, support the attack six, sing young people are --

support the tactics, sing young people are proportionately higher

victims of crime. Human remains found in Argyll last

week have been confirmed by police as those of Russian student Yulia

Solodyankin. The 22-year-old Edinburgh University physics student

was reported missing in June last year. Remains were discovered in a

remote location near Arrochar last Thursday. Police said her family had

been informed and there were no suspicious circumstances in

connection with the death. Scotland will pay more for and get

less from European Union membership if it becomes an independent

country, according to the Foreign Secretary, William Hague. But SNP

ministers accuse the UK government of scaremongering. Here's our

Political Correspondent, Glenn Campbell. Whether it is Alex Salmond

in China, or his predecessor, Jack McConnell, in Malawi, all first

ministers seek to develop trade, aid, and friendly overseas

relations. But under devolution, it is ultimately the job of the UK

government to represent Scottish interests internationally. How might

independence change our standing in the world?

I think yes. It would do us a power of good. We would have our own

decision to spend our money. I want it, you don't.

Sometimes family members are just as far apart as the Scottish and UK

government. In Glasgow, William Hague and Danny Alexander suggested

that negotiating European Union membership could be a setback. It

would not be simple. And at what price would come? You would end up

paying more to be in the European Union, getting less from it. But SNP

ministers are confident about prospects. As an independent

European Union member state could stand up for our national interest

better than the UK government ever does, and get the best deal for

Scotland. It is one of the real benefits. In Madrid, the Spanish

Minister highlighted the UK view that an independent Scotland would

find itself outside of the European Union, but neither he or the EU

president can categorically rule it out. Voters will choose between

independence or continued membership of the UK in eight months time.

Other stories from across Scotland this Friday: A horse rider has died

and another has been seriously injured in a crash in Dumfriesshire.

The two women were walking horses along a country road when they were

involved in a collision with a pick-up.

A third person has died after a crash on the A1 near the Torness

Power Station in East Lothian. The accident, involving two cars,

happened a week ago. The latest person to die was one of the

drivers, 23-year-old David Forsyth from Invergordon. The driver of the

other car, Dawn Morris, and her rear seat passenger, Claire Jamieson,

both aged 21 and from Cowdenbeath in Fife, died last week.

A Royal Navy search-and-rescue helicopter, with a crew of four on

board, made a precautionary landing at Ardrossan in North Ayrshire

earlier today. A warning light was activated in the cockpit. The

Ministry of Defence said that crew of the Prestwick-based Sea King had

followed standard procedures and they were waiting for engineers to

declare it safe. Construction company managers at the

Total gas terminal in Shetland say they're hopeful that industrial

action may be averted. The dispute has been mainly over the need for

their workers to share rooms. The company Petrofac has struck a deal

with the unions which will offer financial compensation to those

involved. And there are more stories from your

area - and all the latest news, 24 hours a day, on BBC Scotland's

website. Now here is David, with the sport.

Good evening. The Rangers manager, Ally McCoist,

says he's backing his players 100% following their decision to reject a

wage cut. The proposal was part of cost-cutting efforts as the club

attempts to stem heavy losses. As our senior football reporter

explains, Rangers say there is no chance the club will go into

administration. These players have made it clear

they are unwilling to bear the brunt of cost-cutting at Ibrox. Today

their manager came out in support, saying, I can assure everyone that

the players have my 100% backing. What with the playing budget having

to come down, no big cuts means players will have to be sold, which

presents its own problems. How many marketable assets have Rangers got

now? I would say only one, Wallace. He might bring in ?1 million or so.

But the fact is that he does not want to leave, so you could argue

that they have no marketable assets at all. It is two years since

Rangers went to do administration and the biggest question raised by

these cuts is, is this a precursor to administration happening again?

The chairman has said that is not the case, but there is clearly a lot

of work to be done on the financial side here at Ibrox. What is certain

is that Rangers will win a game need fans to dig deep, which at least

some, in the circumstances, are willing to do. Even if they increase

the price of a season ticket I will buy it for me and my family. It is

not even about football, it is about Rangers. That name, Rangers, that is

what he were here to support. But with season ticket renewal time

several months away, savings are required now. Andy Murray is back in

action at the Australian Open tennis tomorrow, in the wee small hours.

The fourth seed plays Spain's Feliciano Lopez for a place in the

last 16. Andy Murray says his opponent is one-of-a-kind. It will

be another good test for me. Now for a quick look at what else is

happening across Scottish sport. Aberdeenshire's Andrew Musgrave has

shocked the people of Norway by winning the sprint in their

cross-country skiing championships. It's lead story on Norwegian TV

News. So whiskey and bagpipes tonight? Yes. That is the plan.

Stirling golfer Craig Lee's tied for the lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf

Championship. He's nine under-par. So is Rafael Cabrera Bello of Spain.

There's a remote possibilty Edinburgh rugby will reach the last

eight of the European Cup this weekend. They need to win at

Munster, while Saracens, Cardiff Blues and Northampton Saints all

have to lose. We would love to continue to play in Europe and we

will be doing our level best to achieve that.

Motherwell are hoping to record their seventh win on the spin - for

the first time in 81 years tomorrow. They'll have to win at Celtic to do

it. We will go in with confidence, but we need to show the same level

of performance as we have been of late.

Ayr United are appealing a six-match ban imposed by the SFA on striker

Michael Moffat. The club says the punishment for breaching football

betting rules is grossly unfair. Defender Lee Mair is on the move

from one Premiership club to another. The 33-year-old defender is

leaving St Mirren for Partick Thistle.

And there are more sports stories - plus all the latest news, 24 hours a

day, on BBC Sport Scotland's website.

Thank you. What colour is your kilt? I am not quite sure!

Have a look at this, see what you think. Commonwealth swimming

champion Hannah Miley says, "It makes the Scottish athletes stand

tall." What is she referring to? Well, the parade uniform which is

uniquely made for Team Scotland for the Games. BBC Scotland has had an

exclusive look at the tartan specially designed for the

competitors - here's our Commonwealth Games reporter, Jane

Lewis. Back in 1954, there was not a kilt

to be seen. But come the 1970 Edinburgh games... COMMENTATOR: A

girl is wearing the specially designed top. Tartan made an

appearance and since then the national attire has been very much

on show. It is no different for this summer, and here is a first glimpse

of the 2014 tartan from balloons of the aisle mill in Aberdeenshire. --

from the weaving looms. The blue is from the spring water in Battersea

Bay. The Karen L colour is the burned bracken on the hills. --

caramel colour. This coral and red and pink, these are the Summerhill

is when the heather bursts forth. No great shock that is team Scotland

will don tartan when they walk out here for the opening ceremony, but

the bold and bright colours may surprise some. It is kind of

girlish. To pink for you? Yes. More red and blue in there. It is nice

and bright. I would probably wear it for the Commonwealth, yeah. The

designer will also create the team's Parade outfit. The men will

wear kilts but she will create a slightly different look for the

women. For the girls, for it to be just taken off from what the guys'

design has been is like being second best, so the fact that now the

designer has decided to make two separate things is really quite

exciting. It is unique and special. So a more female friendly style for

the women in the team, which will be similar to the men's but with a

modern twist. So what is it worth for me not to

ask you what you think of it? I quite like it. Still a number of

showers across many parts of the country tonight but they are slowly

fading away. Where the sky is clear we will see a patchy frost, maybe

icy patches as well. Still wet and windy. Day four or five for

Shetland. Gales through the weekend. The countryside may be lower than

freezing. Tomorrow showers towards Kintyre but elsewhere largely a dry

start but by mid to late morning rain works into Galloway, the

Borders, the central belt and then further North as we head through to

the middle part of the afternoon. So it is a deteriorating picture and by

mid afternoon, temperature wise, six or seven, fairly cloudy and dump.

Some drier slots for Glasgow and Edinburgh at times. The rain is

heavier in towards southern Aberdeenshire and other areas.

Passing showers for Orkney and passing rent for Shetland and gales

continue. If you are hill walking or climbing, the North West is best

some sunshine. After a dry start it turns damp elsewhere. On the eastern

ranges, largely set fair on the cane corns. -- Cairngorms. If you are

thinking about skiing tomorrow, you will probably get away with a dry

morning but towards the afternoon, slowly turning wet. The rest of the

afternoon, into the evening and overnight, the rain continuing to

slowly make its way northwards, fragmented all the time. If we look

at the big picture we can see what is happening overnight towards the

second part of the weekend. The rain, connected to this low pressure

in the Atlantic, and this cold front bringing an area of heavy rain

probably Saturday night to the central belt, something to bear in

mind if you are out on the town. By Sunday morning, white across

Aberdeenshire, down towards Dundee and up towards Inverness. South West

of year, dry and bright. One or two passing showers. Some sunshine.

Monday, the rain still in play across Shetland. Still blowing a

gale. Elsewhere, clarity. Temperatures down a notch. Sunday is

the better of the two days this weekend.

Now back to our main story - the search for three-year-old Mikaeel

Kular, who's now been missing for almost two days. Tonight police said

they couldn't rule out the possibility that he'd been the

subject of a criminal act. Our reporter Laura Maxwell is at the

headquarters of Police Scotland in Edinburgh tonight. What's the

latest, Laura? It is safe to say that the mood here

is subdued. Officers now say they are gravely concerned about the

well-being of Mikaeel Kular given the length of time he has been

missing. There has been a huge police presence on the streets of

the North of Edinburgh during the day. Everywhere you go you can see

officers searching for the missing three-year-old. Police cars, vans,

dog units moving around the city. Officers have said they are keeping

an open mind about what might have happened. Tonight they admitted that

it is entirely possible that Mikaeel has been the subject of a criminal

act. They are running a twin approach to the operation, on the

one hand a massive search and on the other hand they are repairing and

investigating the possibility that a criminal act may have happened.

Tonight the search will continue and they are asking anyone with

information to contact them. Thanks. Now a reminder of tonight's

main news: A Dublin man has been convicted of killing his mother and

then cutting up her body before burying her remains at an Edinburgh

beauty spot. 40-year old Seamus Dunleavy was

found guilty of the culpable homicide of 66-year-old Philomena

Dunleavy on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The Labour Leader, Ed Miliband, has outlined his plans to break up

Britain's high street banks if his party wins the next election. He

says it's time for a reckoning with the industry, and that a Labour

Government would create at least two so-called challenger banks. The

Government says it's done that already.

Back at HPN and just after the ten o'clock news. Goodbye. -- back at

HPN.