01/05/2014 BBC News at One

Sinn Feinn leader Gerry Adams continues to be questioned by police

in Northern Ireland over the murder in 1972 of a mother of ten. Mr Adams

denies any involvement in the killing of Jean McConville, a

37-year-old widow who was abducted and shot by the IRA. We'll have the

latest from outside the police station where the Sinn Fein leader

is being held. Also this lunchtime: Police may not

be recording a fifth of all crime. The Home Secretary calls it

"unacceptable". A 15-year-old schoolboy appears in

court charged with murdering Leeds teacher Ann Maguire.

How that funny turn could be more dangerous than you think. A new

warning on spotting the danger signs of a stroke.

Kate and Gerry McCann speak to the BBC seven years on from the

disappearance of their daughter Madeleine. That is the last place we

were with Madeleine and I still walk those streets and try and look for

answers. On BBC London: Poor patient safety, the Berkshire Hospital trust

put in special measures. And after the devastating floods what repairs

are needed to the River Mole? Good afternoon and welcome to the

BBC News at One. The Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, is still being

questioned in connection with one of the most notorious murders of the

Northern Ireland Troubles. He was detained yesterday evening after

agreeing to go to Antrim police station voluntarily for questioning

about the abduction and shooting of Jean McConville in 1972. She was

dragged from the family home in West Belfast in front of her children.

Her body remained undiscovered for more than thirty years. Our Ireland

correspondent Chris Buckler is in Antrim.

Gerry Adams spent the night at Antrim police station and he

continues to be questioned this lunchtime about claims and

allegations linking him to Jean McConville's murder. That is

something he has always denied. He has also accused pleads of playing

politics in terms of the timing of his arrest. Nonetheless Jean

McConville's family say they welcome any investigation into their

mother's murder. In the 1970s divisions were obvious

in Belfast. As was the IRA's influence in the Republic part of

the city. It was the organisation that had the capacity to be both

ruthless and vicious. Among the most notorious murders committed by

republican paramilitaries were those of the so-called disappeared, people

who were abducted and killed in secret. Jean McConville was one of

them. The widowed mother of ten was killed because of false claims she

had passed on information to British soldiers. Her children watched as

she was dragged from her home. You keep thinking and you keep having

dreams about what torture they put our mother through. The current

peace investigations into the murder in West Belfast more than 40 years

ago are based on part on interviews conducted by former republican

paramilitaries. The tapes were recorded to gather and oral history

of the troubles at Boston University. Brendan Hughes was one

of the interviewees. He was once a close friend of Gerry Adams, but he

claims the Sinn Fein's president was involved in Jean McConville's

murder. There is only one man gave the order for that woman to be

executed. That man is now the head of Sinn Fein. That is something

Gerry Adams has always denied, but last night he's placed himself at

this PlayStation in Antrim where he was arrested. I am going voluntarily

because there has a lengthy and malicious time against me. Jean

McConville was killed in 1972, but it is only just over a decade since

her remains were discovered at a beach in County Louth. The bodies of

some of the disappeared have never been found in spite of digging and

searching. They're murderers are part of the dreadful history that

continues to haunt. How long can they hold him? Gerry

Adams was arrested last night at eight o'clock in Antrim and they

have 24 hours to decide to charge or release. However they can extend

that to another 24 hour period. Beyond that they would have to apply

to a court and technically they could question him for up to 28

days, but that is highly unlikely and has never happened in Northern

Ireland. But it is very clear the police are treating this as an

active investigation and it is worth remembering it is only in March they

arrested a man and charged him, Ivor Bell, in connection with aiding and

abetting the murder in 1972. There will be more on that story

throughout the afternoon on the BBC News Channel. A 15-year-old boy has

been remanded in News Channel. A 15-year-old boy has

teacher who was stabbed to death at Corpus Christi Catholic College in

Leeds on Corpus Christi Catholic College in

Danny Savage is in Leeds. It was the briefest of court

hearings today lasting just two minutes. During that time the

15-year-old schoolboy said yes four times as he answered questions about

his name, date of birth and address. He was also asked if he understood

the charge he faces, that of murdering Ann Maguire. Among those

who came to court this morning were Ann Maguire's husband and two

daughters, ushered in by police officers. Also in the courtroom

where the 15-year-old schoolboy's parents who he nodded at as they

came in. The teenager was wearing a plaster cast on his right arm and

Ann Maguire's husband looked at him intently throughout. Don Maguire and

his family have also released their first statement, describing his wife

as they're beautiful, shining light, who brightened the world for so

many. A loving wife, the best mother, a treasured sister, a true

friend. This horrific happening has robbed us of all of this and so much

more. We are devastated. All the tributes and messages outside the

school have not gone unnoticed by the family. They say they are

overwhelmed by the support and it has been a source of great comfort

at this dark time. And this dark time saw them in a courtroom today

face to face with the child accused of murdering a teacher too many, but

a wife and mother to them. The next stage will be tomorrow morning when

the 15-year-old boy appears at Leeds Crown Court by video link from a

secure youth custody suite. That will be in front of a judge tomorrow

morning. A fifth of crimes in England and

Wales, amounting to hundreds of thousands of offences, may be going

unrecorded by police. A report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary said an

inspection of thirteen forces found that fourteen rapes hadn't been

registered by officers. Our Home Affairs Correspondent June Kelly

reports. Affairs Correspondent June Kelly

Recorded crime in England and Wales is continuing to fall, that was the

message from the official figures. But how accurate are those figures?

Today's report says after people have reported crime the police may

be failing to log 20% of those offences. Inspectors looked at 13

forces and they found significant under recording of crime, including

serious sexual offences. 14 rapes were not recorded and there was a

lack of focus on victims. Victims are not being believed. They are not

getting the services they are entitled to and they are not getting

justice and the community is not getting justice. When it comes to

why crimes are not being recorded, the report blames weak management, a

lack of training our knowledge and workload pressures and in some cases

and ethical conduct by officers. It says we will have

and ethical conduct by officers. It figures from all forces to get the

complete picture. Ministers meanwhile I'm focusing on a separate

set of figures, based on people's experiences of crime. We are in no

doubt that crime is falling because we have had an independent survey

which has been going since 1981 which shows crime is down way more

than 10% under this Government. Labour says the Government should

put pressure on forces to improve their systems. Police chiefs insist

they are on the case. We are doing a lot of hard work to ensure there is

consistency across all forces and we are investigating crimes thoroughly

and we will make some mistakes and there are mistakes in this report,

but it is not as bad as the picture paints. But this report will add to

scepticism about what is the real crime story.

A judge has halted a fraud trial claiming the Government's changes to

the way barristers are paid is undermining the legal system.

Barristers had refused to take on the case because their fees for such

long and complex trials have been cut by 30%. Judge Anthony Leonard

said there was no realistic prospect of the defendants getting a fair

trial. Our home affairs correspondent, Danny Shaw, is with

me. It is very unusual for a judge to be this outspoken. Yes, this is a

landmark ruling by Judge Anthony Leonard. He has halted the criminal

proceedings against five men who are accused of a serious fraud involving

land they were allegedly aggressively marketing and selling

under false pretences. He has halted that, so the trial will not go

ahead. He has made clear the reasons for that is because the men could

not get adequate representation in court. Independent barristers would

not accept the complex case because their fees have been cut by 30% and

barristers employed by the state, the judge said there were not enough

of them to be sure that even if the case was put back until next year

the trial could go ahead. He said it would be a violation of the process

of this Court to delay the trial until next year, so the proceedings

have stopped. There will be the possibility of an appeal to the

Court of Appeal. Prosecutors have until tomorrow to decide on that.

The Ministry of Justice which is pushing through all the cuts to

legal aid rates has disputed some of the claims about the cuts and say

barristers involved in this case would earn between ?60,000 and

?100,000. They saying there were enough barristers available to take

it on. The one added point about all this is that this week the

defendants were represented in court for free by the Prime Minister's

brother, Alexander Cameron. Danny Shaw. There's a warning that

thousands of people are putting their lives at risk by dismissing

the symptoms of mini-strokes as just "a funny turn". The Stroke

Association says one in 12 affected patients will go on to have a major

stroke within a week, and it says early treatment could prevent 3,000

deaths a year. Our health correspondent Dominic Hughes

reports. When a stroke strikes, the damage

spreads like a fire in the brain. You have to think and act fast. A

series of adverts has been bringing home the devastating impact of a

full-blown stroke and how fast treatment can make a huge

difference. But thousands of people are missing vital warning signs that

could allow them to the danger they face. Two years ago Nicola knew

something was not quite right, but she was told the tingling in her

arms was probably a trapped nerve. In fact it was a mini stroke and the

next day she suffered a serious stroke. Do not ignore the signs. If

your body is telling you you have got numbness and tingling, a

headache, any form of altered speech, seek medical attention. Each

year around 46,000 people in the UK suffer a mini stroke for the first

time. One in 12 will have a major stroke within a week, but a survey

found one third dismissed their symptoms as a funny turn. The NHS

and the Government have done a lot to put in place clinics people can

go to swiftly to get their mini strokes sorted. About 80% of people

will get help that will make a real difference in terms of avoiding a

stroke. Nicola is well on the road to recovery. The Stroke Association

says a greater awareness of mini strokes can save thousands of lives.

Our top story this lunchtime: The Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams

continues to be questioned by police in Northern Ireland over the murder

in 1972 of a mother of ten. Still to come: After the disaster down under

the England captain Alastair Cook tells his cricketing hero why he is

no longer needed. On BBC London: The battle in Barnet,

elections will test how privatising services has gone down with voters.

And the poster boy of Britpop talks about growing up in east London.

seven years ago while on holiday with her family, three-year-old

Madeleine McCann disappeared from an apartment in Praia da Luiz in the

Algarve. Today, on the eve of the anniversary, her parents gave an

emotional interview to the BBC's Fiona Bruce. They spoke of their

frustration that the Portuguese police had not agreed to a joint

investigation with Scotland Yard. They also talked of their sadness as

their daughter's birthday approaches, a milestone that does

not get an easier for them. To as it makes sense that the two

police forces should work together. To have a more streamlined

approach, to avoid duplication and to progress the investigation at a

faster pace and not -- I am not sure myself and I have not been given a

reason as to why a joint investigation team has been knocked

back. The concern we have and that the Metropolitan Police have is at

the minute there is almost parallel investigation going on does not make

sense. Would you ever go back? I mean, I remember going to Praia da

Luiz along with so much of the media around the time when Madeleine was

first taken. I do go back. I haven't been since last April, but I do go

back for personal reasons. I guess for you it is a chance to be close

to her first remark is that how it feels? It is, that is the last place

we were with Madeleine and I still walk those streets and I guess try

and look for answers or, you know, so it helps me. Most of the time. It

is the seventh anniversary on Saturday. How will you mark that?

Well, usually it is very quietly. We usually have a small gathering in

the village, which we have done for the last so many years will stop we

have always said it is actually Madeleine's birthday, which follows

soon after really. It is a more difficult day. She would have been

11. Yes. How do you mark that? It is hard, really hard. She is not there,

we should be celebrating and it is by far the toughest day of our year,

I think. Every year. Oh yes, definitely. You think, 11, she is

due to start secondary school in September, which is just, you know,

it is a long time. What is your best hope of where Madeleine is now?

it is a long time. What is your best Because you have always maintained

she could be alive. I suppose the scenario, it has not been ruled out,

is that Madeleine was taken by someone who wanted to child and she

has been loved and cared for. That is I think the best scenario. But of

course there are many others. It is a long shot, but if Madeleine is

alive, if she could hear you, a long shot, but if Madeleine is

would you say to her? We love you, Madeleine. We

would you say to her? We love you, we did that very first day and we

are waiting for you. We are never going to give up. We will do

are waiting for you. We are never with Fiona on the

are waiting for you. We are never Doctors and health specialists have

sent an open letter to David Cameron, warning an increasing

number of families can't afford healthy diet. The letter, from 170

members of the Faculty of Public Health, urges the Prime Minister to

set up an independent panel to advise on nutrition and hunger in

the UK. Our health correspondent Arab -- Adam Brimelow reports.

Is hunger and poor health a lasting legacy of economic downturn?

Charities and church leaders point to a rapid rise in demand for

emergency food aid. In the food banks across south London we are

seeing parents, who skip meals so that children can eat, families

living on the edge who are that children can eat, families

to pay for food and are being referred here, so they can eat and

their children can eat. Government figures/purchases of fruit and

vegetables have declined, especially in low income households. The

faculty's letter, also published in the Lancet, says rising food prices

and falling real wages have placed an overwhelming strain on household

budgets. It is worried that could leave the damaging legacy. Are

concerned that if current trends go on and we are going to have a

malnourished generation and you only grow up once. Your development is

for ever. It is the protection, particularly of children growing up

now, that we have to be concerned about. The faculty argues an

independent group of experts could offer reliable and trusted advice

about the state of nutrition on the basis of facts, not politics. The

government says it knows the recession has hit families hard and

that is why it has cut taxes, particularly for low paid

households. But public health specialists say more needs to be

done to monitor and tackle hunger and poor nutrition.

The family of Peaches Geldof has refused to comment on reports that

she died from a heroin overdose. The body of the 25-year-old mother of

two was found at her home in Wrotham in Kent. A postmortem examination

proved inconclusive, prompting further tests to be conducted. A

report in The Times today says the tests showed she died from a heroin

overdose. The inquest will be adjourned later that afternoon and

is expected a cause of death will be given.

A future Labour government would put a limit on rent increases in the

private sector and scrap letting fees to estate agents to give what

it calls a fairer deal to tenants. The Labour leader Ed Miliband made

the announcement as he launched his party's campaign for local council

and European elections. He said Labour would take action to ensure a

generation of people who had been unable to get on the housing ladder

due to spiralling prices would no longer be ignored.

It will be cheaper to rent a home as we ban charges tenants by letting

agents. There will be greater security with three-year tenancies

and we will tackle the cost-of-living crisis. By putting a

ceiling on excessive rent rises. Generation rent is a generation left

ignored and insecure offer to long. Not under a Labour government.

Our chief political correspondent Norman Smith is in Redbridge. There

has been criticism of this not just politically but from when the

housing industry. Why is he doing it? Well, he has announced this plan

for a cap on rent rises because he believes the cost of renting is key

to the whole cost-of-living crisis, which he wants to make the

centrepiece not just of his local and European election campaign but

the general election as well. But today's policy is a policy with some

risks. First, it is easy for the Tories to say it is alert -- a lurch

to the left, to old Labour, to rent controls, vehemently denied. Second,

even some in the industry are decidedly queasy. The Royal

Institute of Chartered Surveyors says it is not a solution. There are

those who feel the whole cost of living attackers running out of

steam as the economy recovers. But Mr Miliband is willing to take those

risks because he believes the cost-of-living crisis is" the

defining issue of our generation" and he does believe that the state

can intervene in the markets and we have seen that, we saw it with the

energy companies, we saw it with the banks and today, we are seeing it

with landlords. Norman Smith, thank you. It is three weeks until the

polls open for the European elections and here in the UK

immigration could prove to be a key issue for voters. But what is

influencing people elsewhere on the continent? Chris Morris and Matthew

Price have travelled to Poland and to Portugal and their reports reveal

very different attitudes from ours. This is a tale of two Europes.

The first, elegant, beautiful and old. Where even those with jobs,

like the tram driver, are barely coping. We suffer directly all the

cutbacks of the economy, or the service for people. It's tough for

everybody? For everybody. The eurozone crisis almost destroyed

Portugal. A bailout from the EU saved it and there are now signs of

economic recovery and yet the huge public sector cuts here mean that

the economy took a massive drop. Whereas Poland still feels like a

place on the up. The EU has helped modernise this country, putting tens

of billions of euros in development aid, not just in cities like Warsaw,

out in Poland's huge rural economy too. The apple trees are in blossom.

Poland is the biggest exporter of apples in the world. This farm has

benefited from being part of the world's largest single market. Just

before Poland joined the EU in 2004, the owner told the BBC he was

sceptical. Not any more. Many good things have happened. We have

modernised, our products are better and we sell all over Europe. The

last ten years have helped. But a huge number of Poles still have to

look for work abroad. Free movement in the EU has been a lifeline. But a

few, like Joanna, are now returning home. Change has been slow but over

time the opportunities here will increase. It's completely different

and it really changed for the better. There are more

opportunities. There is more freedom. It is complicated, average

salaries in Poland will grow most of Western Europe and yet they've

doubled in the last ten years and the differences people here at least

have the hope they will be better off than their parents. Whereas here

in Portugal, many of the unemployed are being supported by the pensions

of either their grandparents or even their parents, or like this lot,

they are looking for work outside the country. It is a big change.

Here, they are hoping to find jobs in the British health system which

is actively recruiting now in Portugal and overall record numbers

of workers are going. I think it's very sad that the young people and

not so young people, the nurses with experience have to emigrate to other

countries. So two different perspectives from new Europe and

old. Portugal is downsizing, cutting back, imposing austerity in order to

stay in the eurozone. While Poland has grown and is in no hurry to join

the single currency. Now the voters get their say.

After the miserable winter, English cricket continues relentless

rebuilding operation, with not even the most famous names safe from the

sack. Today, Graham Gooch has lost his job as England's batting coach,

even though he was the hero of Captain Alastair Cook. Joe Wilson

has been speaking to Cook about that decision and the way back from the

winter's rock bottom. When your new sponsor is a

supermarket in the captain is a Cook, where -- well, where else to

launch a season but the kitchen? Might the most appropriate utensil

may be the axe? You don't make progress without breaking eggs.

Graham Gooch played progress without breaking eggs.

matches for England. Formerly captain until today he was

England's batting coach. It was also Alastair Cook's meant all. The two

could not have been closer. Now Cook has told him he is no longer needed.

To be the guy bringing him up saying we need freshening up in the

coaching staff and he is no longer going to be

coaching staff and he is no longer the match day squad, it was an

incredibly tough week for me personally. Is this Alastair

incredibly tough week for me being ruthless? I don't think so, it

incredibly tough week for me is just making a decision that we

think will benefit the team and when you are talking about an England

legend who has done so much for me personally and for the side over the

last four years, it does make it harder. Cook knows he needs to

assert himself. After humbling England over the winter, Australia

are officially ranked number one side in the world. A

are officially ranked number one England recently held. Is it a

realistic ambition for during your time as captain, the next few

years, that England can get back to the number-1 spot? It is a realistic

aim. We have not discussed it with the yet, so certain people are

motivated by different things. I would love to see an England side

playing good cricket to watch and to conduct themselves in a manner

befitting an England player. Well, Kevin Pietersen has put itself

forward on Twitter to replace Graham Gooch as England's batting coach.

Presumably he was joking. No need for Cook indigestion.

If we are talking about cricket it can mean only one thing. Chris

Fawkes has details of the weather. The bank holiday Monday and the Bank

Holiday weekend is looking pretty good. Today, we are looking at lots

of cloud for most areas of the British Isles with outbreaks of

rain. The radar picture picks up the rain, across Wales and south-west

England. It is damp for the rest of England and southern and eastern

Scotland. Northern Ireland should stay largely dry. As we had through

this afternoon what will happen across England and while since the

winds will rush together in the convergence zone and it will leave a

strip of moist air from south-east England across the Midlands into

Wales. It is along the line of extra moist air where we will see heavy,

thundery showers breaking out. Across the south-west

thundery showers breaking out. showers should clear away to give

brighter spells in the afternoon. showers should clear away to give

The showers turning heavy and thundery

The showers turning heavy and big down pearls ringing water to the

roads, quite big down pearls ringing water to the

conditions -- downpours. It will be cold, temperatures for some only

getting up to five Celsius this afternoon. Dry weather for Northern

Ireland, but cloudy. Extensive cloud for Scotland. The Northern Isles, an

exception, its sunshine, but not warm. Seven Celsius in Shetland.

This evening and overnight, it stays cloudy. Occasional

This evening and overnight, it stays Mist patches over the hills. The

blanket of cloud Mist patches over the hills. The

temperatures up. Overnight lows of 8-10 Celsius. Across the North of

Scotland where we have clear skies, it will be a cold night and in rural

temperatures -- and in rural areas, down to four Celsius. A cold start

for a morning. On Friday, we start the day Friday. Behind this front we

start to see the skies clearing. Buy to weather for Scotland pushing into

northern England, the far north of Wales and perhaps the end of the

day. One showers could be quite heavy. Temperatures, highs of 15

degrees. That takes us into the start of the weekend. The high

pressure becomes established across Scotland, England and Wales. With

clearing skies it will be a cold start to Saturday. Some patches of

frost in the towns and cities. Brobbell areas will be colder. We

could see a few patches of frost across southern England. In

improving picture through the Bank Holiday weekend. A fair amount of

sunshine. As we head towards Bank Holiday Monday, dry, sunny weather,

temperatures into the low 20s across south-east England. Not many Bank

Holiday is you can say that about but decent weather is around the

corner. Our top story. The Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams continues to be

questioned by police in Northern Ireland over the murder in 1972 of a

mother of ten. And Kate and Gerry McCann speak to the BBC's Fiona

Bruce, seven years on from the disappearance of their daughter

Madeleine. You can see the full interview