01/12/2011 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline. The headlines this Thursday

evening: as police outlined plans to close 34 police stations, or we

are in this rural community to find out how they feel about it.

The PSNI policy of re-hiring former police officers is to be

investigated. Millions were spent on this land to

build houses five years ago, so where are they? What other people

in power playing at? An apology from the mayor of Belfast over the

Army Cadet row. I'll have the latest from the City

Hall in the row involving the Lord Mayor and the army cadet.

The local hurler who will rub shoulders with a host of stars at

the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards.

And I hope you're prepared for a chilly night. Temperatures are

going to fall to zero and below. I'll have the details shortly. BP

SNI has announced plans to close dozens of police stations. It says

it has to do it to save millions of pounds. But on the same day BBC

Newsline have discovered that former officers who left with big

redundancy pay-offs have been at the Hyatt. It has led to calls for

an investigation. We will have a report on that in a moment, but

first the issue of station closures. The PSNI have spent a decade

promoting community policing. It could undermine all that good work.

We went to one rural TAM weather station is under threat. -- rural

town where the station is under threat. Some people believed

station closure plans proposed today it will mail -- will make

officers are less available. The closure plan will have 34 stations

going out for consideration. understand that people are

concerned about the last of local facilities. We have to find

efficiencies over the next few years. It is right for the public

to hold us to account over how we use those resources. This police

station is only open seven hours a week. It has for officers to cover

a wide area, and they are known very well in this town. There has

been a police station hair since 1840s. People fear the change will

mean that they lose be easy interaction with their local

policeman. It is not just about buildings, it is about people.

need the facility for reassurance, that if anything happens you know

the police station is there. This school has 700 children on its

books. The principal worries that losing the station means losing the

link with the local officers. cannot see the same office has been

around. I don't know where I would town will be linked to. It or not

at the same community effect it has at the moment. And in the newsagent

in the town square, the owner says ultimately it could undermine the

new form of policing be PSNI I tried to promote. We know at hour

police spent by at first -- we know our policemen by their first names.

It will be difficult if things change. The PSNI says it is about

the kind of policing been provided and not buildings. They also say

that new technology allows them to cut costs and keep more police on

the ground. However, it will be it a hard sell to a sceptical public.

If you want to seek the poorest of police stations earmarked for

closure, you can go to a website. On Tuesday we revealed that a

former senior police officer is back working for the PSNI just

months after recovering with a large redundancy package. We have

discovered the Government's spending watchdog is being asked to

investigate the PSNI a's policy overt reapplying officers who

retire with generous redundancy packages. The packages were offered

as an incentive got older officers to leave. It is understood that

many officers had been re-employed. We have an exclusive report.

Changing the face of Policing here involved a generous redundancy

package. Over 4,000 officers retired with enhanced lump-sum

payments and redundancy packages. Many who retired were later re

employed. They were temporary positions and were not subject to

the 50-50 employment role which was introduced to increase the number

of Catholic officers. But PSNI says it does not have a record of the

number of officers re-employed. They use the services of 399 start

provided by a recruitment agency. Nearly 200 of them deal with

sensitive crimes and intelligence. The PSNI do not know how many of

them are former police officers. Sinn Fein has now asked the

Government's spending watchdog to investigate. There is an issue of

financial accounting. People need to know what is going on. These are

not new questions. We have asked these questions before in committee

and directly to the PSNI. We have not had satisfactory answers and we

need to get them. DUP members of the board said they can understand

why the PSNI might have to recruit former officers. It is fair to say

that in dealing with historical cases in particular there are

skills required to do than that new recruits may not have. They may

have to go to people previously employed by the police force in

order to recruit their skills, but I am confident that the police have

conducted themselves fairly, as far as employment law is concerned.

some critics have described the recruitment policy as it subversion.

But PSNI says it recruits all staff in accordance with current

legislation. The chief officer was asked a series of questions at a

private meeting here this morning. He has promised to come back with

the answers as soon as possible. Protesters had gathered at Belfast

City Hall to protest over the Sinn Fein Lord Mayor's refusal to

present an award to a young army cadet. Earlier today, Niall

O'Donnghaile apologised for the incident. We can now join our

political editor who is at Belfast City Hall.

As you can see behind me, more than 200 protesters had gathered outside

Belfast City Hall, angry about Niall O'Donnghaile's decision not

to present a certificate to an army cadet. They are not happy to accept

his apology. Let's get the details from admire colleague Gareth court

and. This is the continental market

outside Belfast City Hall, a symbol of a city with a bright future.

However, inside the city fathers are at odds. This is the Sinn Fein

Lord Mayor, in trouble for refusing to present a Duke of Edinburgh

award to an army cadet. The row has even made it as far as the House of

Commons. The Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Belfast refused to give a Duke

of Edinburgh award to a young army cadet. His was the response from

the leader of the house. I hope we can move forward in a consensual

way. At lunchtime with the Duke of Edinburgh looking on, the Khmer

apologise. I did not intend to cause any offence. I have no

hesitation in apologising. For people try to turn this into a

political situation is ridiculous. Later, he went further and admitted

that he had caused genuine annoyance. But has he done enough?

A Lord Mayor and prepare to apologise, issues a half apology

and now a full apology. It is a good thing. We now need an

indication to show that this will not happen again. Indie Lord

Mayor's home area, some people were critical of what he had done, but

not those a pair took -- prepared to a pair on-camera. I think beat

DUP are making a big issue would it. It's all right. It up to him what

he does. Another veteran of Belfast City Hall admits it would have been

handled better. We always tried to handle sensitive issues ahead of

time and do it delicately. We did not do it this time and we should

have plans ahead better to avoid the embarrassment. This is another

example of how toxic city hall politics can be.

The protest has been under way here outside Belfast City Hall since

around 6 o'clock. It has been peace for -- peace for. They have heard

the apology from the Lord Mayor. I asked a couple of them if they were

prepared to accept it? He is supposed to be for all the people.

What he did was wrong, she was just a child. He is definitely going out.

This afternoon he issued a statement apologising. It is too

late. So you don't think the apology is good enough? Know. It

never should have happened in the first place. -- No. It is not all

about protest tonight. There was the first a Belfast City Council?

Yes. Beware cameras are on and you can watch what is happening inside

the council chamber. -- v Webb To remind councillors why we are

waiting, we are going live online. Mark, thank you very much.

Since we reported the story on Tuesday, there has been a lot of

debate - some of it quite heated - an-hour Facebook Page. If you would

like to express your views, go to a Facebook profile.

Our journalists are also tweeting on stories as they happen. If you

want to e-mail us, the addresses on screen.

This is BBC News line. Still to come: The Far East is full of

promise for Rory McIlroy in Hong Kong.

And the human side of the BBC's Christmas family appeal.

remembers the family appeal toys that arrived. She remembers the joy

that it brought her mum and she Now to our latest investigation

into how public money is really spend. We have discovered that a

major housing project, funded by the taxpayer to the tune of almost

�10 million, has failed to deliver a single home. Today, nearly five

years on, the site is being used as a car-park, operating without

planning consent. Julian has been investigating.

These plans for a block of 200 homes never got off the drawing

board, yet this project cash to big cheque from the public purse by

acquiring aside. -- cashed a big cheque. This the site in question.

Nearly five years ago, the government gave a housing

association most of the �9.7 million purchase price. But today,

all matters here is a car park. Last year, there has it Association

least the land to a car-park operator which does not have

planning permission. It has been served a notice to shut but is

appealing. Documents at the Land Registry's show there were three

parties to the original land seal. It was sold to a Vendor -- purred

to say in the Isle of Man. We were told that the money was backed up

by an independent valuation report. We understand that the government

has not yet asked for a return of the public money spent, but

discussions about the future of this side are taking place. In

almost five years, the housing association never added -- admitted

rape planning application. -- admitted a planning application.

There is land over north Belfast that could have been bought and

developed with that money. It begs the question - the people that are

empower here, what are they playing at to allow this type of thing to

happen? Earlier this year, the housing association had its

government money suspended. This was just one problem of many, but

perhaps the most expensive. Julian is with me now. Almost �10

million and no houses - is this a write-off? One source I spoke to

questioned the decision to buy in the first place. Was the location

of the site ever suitable for a housing project on this scale? But

a savage job is under way. The housing association could be asked

to repay the public purse with inquest -- interest, but I

understand that some kind of land swap is being log tab. This site

could be given over to roadworks in exchange for another publicly owned

site elsewhere for social housing. I attempted to establish more on

the story from the Department of Social Development. They did not

want to say much and turn down a Freedom of Information request,

saying it would be inappropriate to release information at this time

because it could potentially damage the rare position of the Housing

Association and the wider social housing sector.

The judge in the trial of the men accused of murdering two soldiers

at Massereene Barracks in antrum has allowed the evidence of an

American DNA expert, which is central to the prosecution case.

Colin Duffy and Brian shivers denied the murders of Mark Quinsey

and Patrick Azimkar outside the base in March 2009. The DNA had

been assessed by a new American system, not previously used in the

UK or Ireland. Yesterday, the Catholic Church

published reports into town abuse by priests in six diocese across

Ireland. Today, we have discovered that the second biggest diocese,

Down and Connor, has held its own inquiry, Nikkei up cases from 1961.

-- child abuse by priests. Victors' campaigners met MLAs at

Stormont today to discussion -- discuss an inquiry into abuse in

state-run institutions. Their meeting today was on the back of

the last 18 months of work up, and I think we are down to the terms of

reference of the inquiry, which will take place at the start of

next year, hopefully. We have just 24 shopping days until

Christmas, people are being reminded to make sure the press as

they are buying are the real thing. Police seized about �50,000 worth

of fake goods from a market in County Fermanagh. They also made 12

arrests and took �10,000 in cash. Over 60 police raided a total of

eight stalls. They removed 900 items of clothing, mostly fakes of

expensive sportswear. All this material will be seized, including

the vans and cars it came in, and money that they have taken today

will be seized under the proceeds of crime Act. It can be hard to

spot a good fake, say police brought in an industry expert.

is a tracksuit, the type that we normally sell, but in colours that

we would not normally produce it in. The main giveaway on this is, if

you actually look at the logo on the sales tag, and the logo on the

product itself, we never, ever, it makes a logo is on a product.

total, police made 12 arrests, seized �50,000 worth of goods,

�10,000 in cash and seven vehicles. To Family Focus now and the annual

family appeal got under way this week, and charities x bet they need

to be greater than ever. -- expect they need. Applications are already

flooding in. This family centre in north Belfast is run by the

Salvation Army to help families in crisis or trouble. It is a

temporary home for Stephen, he is rife -- wife and two children.

Stephen spoke to me but did not want his family's faces to appear

on camera. I worked in construction but there is no work about. I had

financial problems, trying to get stuff sorted out for the kids on

the house. Asking for help has not been easy for Stephen but when it

comes to Christmas, he feels he has no option. You see people going

into the shops and buying stuff for the kids. The kids say, "daddy, can

we have this?". You say, maybe next week. The error creme B38 families

like this at the centre and they all hope to receive gifts from a

family appeal. -- there are 38 families. I recently met a young

lady who lived at the centre as a young child of five or six. She

remembers the family appeal toys that arrived, she remembers the joy

that they brought her mum and she remembers feeling happy with a

simple Dolf. It really made her Christmas. She said that she now

contributes to the appeal because she remembered what a difference it

made to her. If you would like to benefit from

the appeal, applications need to be in by 9th December. If he would

like to donate to get copies leave it unwrapped a one of the

collection points by Wednesday 14th. -- donate a gift.

It is hard to keep Rorie McIlroy add to the sporting headlines. He

made a blistering start to the first round of the Hong Kong Open.

He shot a six-under-par browned to share the lead and if he wins, he

is still in with a chance of being Europe's top golfer this year.

It was a day when just about everything went right. Rory McIlroy

has finished runner up Abbey Hong Kong Open on two occasions in

recent years, but if he continues to play like this between now and

Sunday, he could make it third time lucky. McIlroy has a clear agenda

over the next year - to become the world's No. 1 golfer. His

commitment to next summer's Irish open keeps you up tabby, while his

decision to live in Florida for a greater portion of the year is

helping his game further afield. makes it easier to play here. That

is the reason I want to play in America. I feel as if I play well

there, the golf courses will suit me. That does not mean I am going

to neglect my European Tour status. McIlroy is not the only Ulstermen

contending in Hong Kong. This offer is just two shots behind the

leaders after a two under park opening round.

Martin O'Neill is emerging as the strong favourite to replace Steve

Bruce as Sunderland manager. Discussions with candidates are

taking place for the job at the Stadium of Light. He held talks at

the club earlier today, but no deal has been finalised.

Later this month, this man will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of

Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke at the BBC Sports Personality Of The

Year event in Manchester. Sean McGoldrick, a player, mentor and

manager with the Coleraine Owen Roe GAA club, has been chosen as BBC

Northern Ireland's unsung hero 2011. This moment has been 25 years in

the making. A father of eight - six boys and two goals - this is Sean

McGoldrick's other family. When he moved to Coleraine a generation ago,

he sowed the seed which would yield a dupe -- new generation of sports

stars. He is always giving. He is there everywhere from fundamentals

up to seniors. I think he is really a reluctant hero but he should get

every credit for everything he has done to build up this community.

There are number of us who started in the mid- 1980s trying to develop

youngsters and pass the skills on. When you are starting out at that

stage, you know it is a long-term project but you do not know what

the final result will be. The final result was unprecedented success.

Having managed the senior team in the late 1990s, he took over the

role again in 2003, steering the team at all the way to the All-

Ireland intermediate final. For a great years later, he was still at

the helm when Coleraine Owen Roe GAA club won the biggest prize in

senior football. His daughter and may have recently captained the

club. The greatest thing you can say about him is the legacy that he

has left behind. It is a club with serious they strong foundations.

In from the same place as strong, I think he is an incredible guy. --

At a moment, temperatures are around about four or five degrees.

That sets the scene for tonight. Temperatures are going to tumble to

zero and below. Into parts of County Down, we could see

temperatures of minus two. The mist and fog should not linger too long

tomorrow. It will be a cloudy day tomorrow and damper, too, but there

will be some brightness to begin with. It will not be until the

afternoon there we begin to see some outbreaks of grey. Further

west, spells of rain in parts of Fermanagh. It may feel a bit cooler

because of the winds. Into the second part of the day, further

outbreaks of rain but drier in parts of the North and the East.

Overnight into Saturday, most of the rain will clear away. About

five or six degrees as we go into Saturday but are barely on Saturday

morning, temperatures will fall to around two degrees. Saturday does

not look too bad. The thing we will be looking out for is the wind.

That will gather strength during the day with some gale-force gusts.

A chilly day. Aid to Greece for Belfast, but with the winds, it