29/01/2016 Reporting Scotland

A 26 mother has been convicted as being a member of Islamic State.

Gale force winds and torrential rain cause travel disruption,

damage buildings and bring down power lines.

Shetland takes a battering, as 100mph winds whip

I am at Scotland's traffic control centre, where they are keeping a

close eye on the roads as more bad weather approaches.

The family of a Fife woman who died in Israel

in suspicious circumstances demand answers from authorities

Andy Murray is through to his fifth Australian Open tennis final.

And Scottish skiers are heading to the Alps-

and dominating Team GB's line-up at the Special Olympics.

Storm Gertrude has battered much of the country.

From Shetland to Saltcoats, storm-force winds and heavy rain

have caused transport disruption and damage to property.

Dozens of schools were closed and thousands of homes

The country woke up to a battering as Storm Gertrude made her presence

felt. But the force of the winds didn't put some of. Cyclists and

joggers were undeterred in Glasgow. How is your cycle to work? I am

coping really well, despite the strong winds. You are committed! Not

really, mad! But others found the walk to work a struggle. And

diversions made the commute even more miserable. Across the country,

there was travel disruption. The Forth Road Bridge was travelled all

more -- shuttle morning. In Orkney, it was to story for these ferries to

break the journey and then overturn lorry caused delays on the M nine

motorway and it was a big operation to raise this lorry on the a 96.

Throughout the day, people have a working to get train services back

to normal but when I was there at rush hour, it was a different

picture. At this time of the morning, you would expect the

station to be far busier than it is and that is because trains are

cancelled on the West Highland line, so you can't get to open or Fort

William. If you are trying to go to Inverness, you can get as far as

Perth before the services are cancelled, and the usual 15 minute

Glasgow to Edinburgh train is running every half an hour. Outside

Central Station, taxes picked up people who were running late. Only

from Paisley but it has taken me almost twice as long as it normally

would, so not ideal. We are in a taxi this morning, normally there is

a queue, but nobody is about this morning. Are you laid? Yes. At the

height of the storm, 12,000 people were without power. On the Black

Isle, workers repaired damaged lines. Our forecasters have been

monitoring Storm Gertrude throughout the course of the weekend we have

moved resources, engineers, support staff, mobile generators, into

position across the Highlands and Islands to be ready to respond as

quickly as possible. On Shetland, where winds reached over 100 mph, as

well as Orkney in the Western Isles, schools were closed. Damage to

buildings and pupils in other schools, like this one in Edinburgh,

got a day off as well. And the scaffolding at this building site in

Lenzi toppled over. The worst may have passed most of us now, but it

will take time to repair the damage that Gertrude has caused.

Ferries serving the islands on the west coast have experienced

disruption for days now, thanks

Storm Gertrude has only made that situation worse,

with many services now cancelled until Monday at the earliest.

Aileen Clarke spent the day on the west coast.

It was wild at Ed Robinson harbour this morning, with huge winds

whipping angry spray over the sea wall. The noise of the Gaels

battering the ferry office and giving the tropical palms a big

shake. There have been reports of 70 mph gales over on Arran today and it

is pretty rough here in Ardrossan and that is why there are no ferries

running. No there is a ripe for Arran at all, and others were

disrupted. -- there were no ferries from Arran at all. And it is getting

worse before it is getting better. The weather looks like it will

worsen today, it will be particularly bad tomorrow and will

not improve until Sunday, so at the moment, most services are subject to

cancellation and the late and that will extend into tomorrow and

hopefully when the weather improves, we will look to make additional

sailings on Sunday. But it may be the case that if you were not able

sailings on Sunday. But it may be to get the ferry this morning, you

may not get it until Sunday? That is right. Further down the Clyde coast,

people were trying to get on with their work, but Storm Gertrude

wasn't making it easy in Saltcoats. It is horrendous, very hard to work.

It is terrible, the wind and the rain here was really bad, your car

kind of fears of the road. You are not frightened to go out in the wind

with your hair nicely done? I won't do that, it will be spoiled. If it

is windy, I use this. In Largs, you had to hang onto whatever you had on

your head today and Western ferries managed to resume their crossing to

Dunoon later in the morning, and there were very relieved visitors

and residents in the Isle of Bute who managed to get a ferry across to

Rochus E. They say they will try and make use of any window tomorrow to

get ferries running -- across to Rothsea.

Shetland has borne the brunt of the gale-force winds,

with a red "danger to life" weather warning in place

The gusts have been among the highest ever seen

It has been an exceptional day of wind here in Shetland. We have had

hurricane force winds wind here in Shetland. We have had

islands most of the day and wind here in Shetland. We have had

strongest wind was up around 105 mph. The Met Office says that even

though Shetland is well used the strong winds, this has been

exceptional. We get a hurricane force 12 once a year, usually around

January, so force 12 once a year, usually around

but these costs are pretty unusual, close to the highest we have ever

but these costs are pretty unusual, recorded. Given the strength of the

but these costs are pretty unusual, wind, it has been surprising there

has been relatively little damage in Shetland. There was Navan blown off

the road earlier today, a few roof slates have come off, but according

to the police, it is because the people of Shetland have been

prepared. We made the decision to close all of the schools on The

Island to ensure no children were in danger. We have put safety measures

in place and the public seem to be sitting indoors and setting the

event out, no reports of any significant

event out, no reports of any anybody, which is the main thing.

Shetland seems to have been relatively unscathed by these

exceptionally strong winds. Around 400 properties were left without

power for a short while. There have been no interisland ferries or

power for a short while. There have down to the mainland were called

from 1pm and have not run. The worst of it is past, but we understand it

will be another blustery weekend and Monday, we are warned there could be

strong winds again. Hopes are high in Shetland that it won't be quite a

strong, not those 100 mph winds again.

And, as if that wasn't enough, I'm afraid there's more bad weather

An amber warning for snow and more wind is now in place for most

of mainland Scotland till 11am tomorrow.

That's expected to cause more problems on the roads.

Steven Godden is at the Traffic Scotland control centre

You can see that huge bank of screens over my shoulder and it is

made up of images taken from CCTV cameras that between them cover most

of Scotland's major road network. Today, as they do every other day,

the staff are keeping their eye on the screens, keeping their eye out

for any problems and in truth, tonight's rush-hour has been a lot

easier than this morning where, among the any other problems, was

the closure of the Forth Road Bridge, which people here could see

out of the window in South Queensferry, but there is still a

need for vigilance. As you mentioned, there is an amber weather

warning, it came into effect around half an hour ago. It is the more

winds but it is also the snow, which presents a very different challenge

for those responsible for keeping Scotland moving.

We can deploy the critters and the ploughs accept for the areas that

will get it as it comes in, so we monitor the weather and we react to

it, and with temperatures dropping, we do precautionary treatment on the

road so it won't freeze, we will keep on top of that right through

the night. Well, the challenges that the amber

warning covers much of the country so it means they can't predict

precisely where the bad weather is going to come. Also, the slow, if it

is to fall overnight, even if you use gritters, it needs cars to break

up the snow so it becomes challenging. All transport Scotland

are able to do is react and offer advice to motorists, which is as it

usually is, to be prepared and if you are travelling, to take care.

And Christopher will be here with an extended weekend

weather forecast later in the programme.

Also, coming up on tonight's Reporting Scotland...

The visionary behind the car that was built by a woman for women.

He's through to another Australian Open final.

We'll also hear from the managers of tomorrow's League Cup semifinalists.

And you'll find out why Scotland's refs are on a downer.

The family of a Fife woman who died in Israel in suspicious

circumstances last year are demanding answers

from the authorities investigating her death.

38-year-old Julie Pearson collapsed and died, after she was allegedly

raped and beaten at a hostel in the town of Eilat.

Lisa Summers has been to meet Julie's aunt,

who's started a campaign for justice.

It is two months since Julie Pearson died. Her aunt still can't quite

believe she will never come home. I treated her like my daughter, she

was really close. Julie hoped to move to Israel but had let her Visa

expired. She was living in the popular tourist resort of Eilat. Her

aunt believes a former boyfriend was responsible for her murder. Good

friends have said the day before she died, her ex-boyfriend had beaten

her and she was covered in bruises and she had been to this girl's

house and try to get her to go to the hospital and Julie wouldn't go

because she had no Visa, she was scared. The family say they are

struggling to get satisfactory answers from the Israeli

authorities. I spoke to police in Eilat, who said they could not

provide any information and directed us to Interpol. However, they did

release a report at the end of December which acknowledged duly

appeared to have been beaten but they go on to say her death was not

linked to the attacks. They say an investigation is still ongoing.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister said he would step in. We

have good relations with Israel and we should use those good relations

to make sure that when people need answers, they get them. It was

Deborah's MP who raised the matter in Parliament. It seems from what we

have been told, interviews with appropriate people and the gathering

of evidence was not done in an appropriate manner and so the other

questions we need to ask the authorities, we need to get the

autopsy report, get all of the facts and a proper investigation into

Julie Pearson's death so the family can have answers. The phone offers

say... -- the Foreign Office. Now, Julie's family can do nothing wait.

The bitter row over council funding goes on, with every council NOT run

by the SNP branding the Scottish Government's offer unacceptable.

Some are even looking into a legal challenge.

Our local government correspondent, Jamie McIvor, is with us.

And no doubts over just how the majority of councils

Indeed, two important meetings took place today, one was at the local

Government organisation which represents the vast bulk of Scottish

councils. 21 of backed a a strongly worded motion rejecting the budget.

The immediate problem is the councils will have to make up

accounts and savings than they had expected in the coming year and this

week, they found out the terms of the deal on offer made it far harder

than before to contemplate raising council tax. Cosla describes the

deal on offer as an attack on the democratic mandate of councils. Only

the SNP councils didn't back the motion. Meanwhile, the four councils

that are not in Cosla did hold a meeting and are equally angry and

even contemplating the possibility of a legal challenge over one of the

details of the offer. That will the Government in the end get its way?

Certainly even Cosla accepts that is the likely outcome. Councils are

heavily dependent on the Scottish Government for cash. The Government

accepts the offer is a challenge but also says it is fair. It argues it

has protected councils from the worst of what it calls the

Westminster cuts. It says the money on offer helps maintain the council

tax freeze, provides cash amongst others for maintaining the ratio of

teachers to students. The deadline is a week on Tuesday for councils to

accept the offer. If they do, the issue becomes how do they balance

their budgets locally. We will hear from you then, thank you very much.

A car built by a woman for women. Dorothy Pullinger ran the factory

and 20 years after her death, her death is still unknown.

When engineer Dorothy Pullinger was refused entry into the organisation

of automobiles in 1930, she was told it was for men, not women, but she

never gave up and in the First World War, ended up in charge of munitions

workers. She moved to Dumfries and Galloway and became manager of

Galloway motors, which had a female workforce.

The seat was too low. They were looking through the steering wheel

so she dropped the steering wheel down. She made the gear levers and

the brake levers to the middle of the car. She made it so it fitted

the size of a typical woman of the period. In Guernsey, his son

inspects the creation. She is finally getting the recognition she

deserves. Her legacy was the fact she has helped to change the

attitude of societies today to respect women and their abilities as

much as men's abilities. I think respect women and their abilities as

is nice that the Scottish engineers and rolled her in the roll of

honour. It is nice to know they and rolled her in the roll of

appreciated her with far more respect than at the time of her

engineering, or whatever she was being told by people, you are doing

a man's. The only places can be seen as a Glasgow's beside Museum. 30

years after the death of Dorothy Pullinger, only one in ten

years after the death of Dorothy in the UK are women. The

achievement still stand the test of time.

Andy Murray is through to the final of the Australian Open tennis.

It's his fifth final in the grand slam event

To do that, he'll need to beat the world number one,

Novak Djokovic, who's beaten him three times

But, as Kheredine Idessane reports, Andy is just one of three Scots

They have never known a grand slam quite like it. They came

They have never known a grand slam Andy Murray, who arrived on court

knowing two other Scots had already reached Melbourne finals. Could he

make it a tartan travel? The big serving Canadian given -- did his

best. First set Raonic, 6-4. Andy married picked a fine time to break

his opponent's and level the match up. -- Andy Murray. Raonic was

revelling in the rollerblader arena. Could Andy Murray make it to the

deciding fifth? There were two types of pain for Raonic, the physical

one, and the mental one when Andy married broke again right at the

start of the deciding set. Not the only thing that got broken. Having

sapped his spirit, the Scot soon served for the match. A place in his

fifth Melbourne final assured. With his brother Jamie, they are the

first mothers to make finals in the same slam. It will be something that

is extremely rare. You will not see it very often. We should enjoy and

be proud of it. It is a tough thing to do. The Murray brothers are not

the only Scots in finals. It is a tartan trio, thanks to Gordon Reid

who is in the finals of the wheelchair singles and doubles. Two

days by three Scots going for four Australian open titles. -- two days

and three Scots. The head of Scotland's football

referees is angry at what he calls over the top criticism

of match officials. And John Fleming says

it can get refs down - at a time when the challenges they

are facing are tougher than ever. Jonathan Sutherland has been

speaking to him at the referees Hands up who would be a referee. A

gathering in Spain for an intensive few days honing skills, an upbeat

atmosphere and, according to the boss, it is not always the case.

There are many occasions where referees have been really down. They

have been down because they feel as if the criticism they are getting is

way over the top and I would agree with that. The Scottish cup

semifinal last season and a handball decision not given under mistake

which could lead to a huge amount of criticism. Was it a handball? Celtic

screaming for a penalty. Fleming feels sometimes goes too far. I

would never be destructive in working with the media but there is

a line that can be crossed, and it has been crossed several times. It

is very frustrating. Sometimes you get angry about it, especially if

the comments made not technically sound, especially if they are

personalised, which they have been. That becomes very frustrating. As

well as the practical sessions, video analysis of recent incidents

form part of the winter training camp. The aim, to make sure referees

get more of the big decisions right. When you go back it does not mean if

you go to a winter training camp, all decisions will be correct. What

they will do is practice a situation, be ready for it. They

will be aware of the situations and, on the practical sessions over the

last few days, we should be ready and prepare for them. That should

enhance the decision-making. To that is human and mistakes will happen.

Scottish referees believe they are doing all they can to get things

right. -- to Earth. I'm sure there won't be any

criticism of referees after this That might depend on what these

gentlemen have to say. They're the managers

of the semi finalists. Celtic, Ross County,

Hibernian and St Johnstone. Tommy wright's Saints meet

Alan Stubbs' Hibs tomorrow I do not look upon it as a team

that, all right they are from a lower league, but the strength of

the squad creates an atmosphere of a premiership club and team and it

will be a difficult game. St Johnstone have seen on a number of

occasions they are very well organised in their experience. They

have quality in the right areas will stop anything is possible. We are

very aware of that. We won't be underestimating St Johnstone

whatsoever. You can listen to St Johnstone

versus Hibernian live Then on Sunday there's live coverage

of Ross County versus Celtic in the other semi on

BBC One and on radio. Now this group of skiers

is preparing to exchange Aberdeen's dry ski slope for the real

stuff in the French Alps. They're competing in

the Special Olympics for Team GB. And nearly all the Scots members

of the team train in Aberdeen Are you ready? Let's pop in behind.

Coach Bob taking his team through their paces. Soon they will be

swapping this dry ski slope to the powdered peaks of the French Alps.

One of the biggest winter event in the Special Olympics calendar.

Christian is no stranger to competition. I have been skiing for

31 years and I have been skiing since I was three. What do you like

most about skiing? I enjoyed being with my friends on the mountain and

being on the -- in the fresh air. 11 of the 12 Scottish skiers train here

at the snow sports Centre in Aberdeen. They are part of the

Special Olympics ski group which provides training and competition

for people with intellectual disabilities. As well as the

sporting side, it also gives them a social side. They are getting to

know each other. When we are awake, they are learning to be amongst

others and how to cope with people with different needs. Over the next

few weeks, the group will be perfecting their moves and improving

their speed before the big event. I like to speed and go fast. I like

the slope and I like being with friends and that. The competition

runs over seven days in March and some of these skiers are hoping to

runs over seven days in March and make it all away to the top.

Do we need to go to France for snow this weekend?

What heyday it has been weather-wise with Gertrude sweeping

What heyday it has been weather-wise country. A day.

have seen since the year 2000. Our Weather watcher picture showing

waves crashing on to the runway at Farnborough.

waves crashing on to the runway at done with the high winds just yet.

waves crashing on to the runway at This evening and overnight yellow

warning covering This evening and overnight yellow

for gales and snow and a higher amber, be prepared, warning for the

North and South and high parts of the Central Belt. Very wintry

conditions overnight. We have this band of rain pushing its way

southwards. Behind it the cold air digs in and you can see the showers

turning red lead to snow with thunder in the mix as well. The

winds will remain strong to gale force. It will be cold. Temperatures

for most down to force. It will be cold. Temperatures

conditions on the higher road routes with blizzard conditions at times.

conditions on the higher road routes Tomorrow is windy and wintry. The

showers will be of snow away Tomorrow is windy and wintry. The

the coast, even to low levels. Very cold indeed as well. In the middle

part of the afternoon it is still windy. Let's take a closer look at

around three o'clock. You can see their wind gusts. The snow showers

will continue. There will be drier and brighter slots in between. It

will be cold. Add on the wind and it will feel bitter. Across the

Northeast and up to the far north it will be drier. The showers for

Orkney and Shetland likely to be of rain. Not as windy as we have seen

today. In the hills and mountains some extreme conditions. Wind gusts

around 80, 90 miles an hour. Frequent snow showers and

temperatures well below freezing. Extreme buffeting and civic

conditions with white outs and blizzards, potentially gusts of 100

bars and I through the Cairngorms. The showers will continue this

evening, slowly easing off and the winds easing down. Very cold

overnight with icy patches. Sunday we are trying to

overnight with icy patches. Sunday from the south. With this weather

front, it will from the south. With this weather

across the west and south. But the North and is reasonably dry. The

through the course of the day in a through the course of the day in a

higher ground. The rain will reach the North Coast by the end of the

afternoon. Temperatures starting to come up and the winds are much

lighter. On the charts, it looks like we will do it all again. The

deep area of low pressure in the far north of Scotland. The tension for

further damaging and disruptive winds. That is the forecast.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news...

Storm Gertrude has battered much of the country today.

From Shetland to Saltcoats storm-force winds and heavy rain

have caused transport disruption and damage to property.

I'll be back with the headlines at 8pm and the late bulletin just

Until then, from everyone on the team - right

across the country - have a very good evening.