06/12/2011 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline with Donna Traynor. The headlines:

Families let down by a deeply flawed investigation - police in

the dock over the murders of Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell.

Arguments over fracking for gas generate some heat up at Stormont.

Could jobs be cut and workers re- deployed in the health service

across Northern Ireland? Do you care enough about hens to pay more

for your eggs? It's going to happen soon. We've all heard about phone

hacking, but Big Brother could be watching your every move online.

We'll hear from the man who'll be riding this machine in next years

British Superbike Championship. And not as much ice tonight, but it's a

very blustery one with rain or First to the police investigation

into the deaths of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan - described

today as deeply flawed and an investigation which let down the

families. For decades they had believed their loved ones had

killed themselves, because that was what the police said. Now after the

convictions of their spouses who were having an affair, the families

know they were murdered. Today's Police Ombudsman report paints a

damning picture of the police investigation. It finds bias from

the beginning, forensic evidence not gathered, key evidence ignored.

Our District journalist Nicola Weir has been following the case. It was

at these cottages that the body of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchannan

were found in May 1991. They were discovered after dentist Colin

Howell asked two people to look for them there. The police ombudsman

said this should be have been the first clue that pointed to foul

play. These were the detectives in charge of case, Hamilton Houston

and Jack Hutchinson. The ombudsman said their information was biased,

because any evidence that didn't suit the suicide theory was

disregarded. They have looked for evidence to support that theory.

Everything else what has come along, well that doesn't mat we are, we

can overlook that. They seem to have this tunnel vision, we believe

it is suicide and we get the facts together. An hour to gather

The report says Howell and his former lover, Hazel Stewart was

caught lying about their affair, but they were still treated as

credible witnesses. This police officer, Dave Green, told the two

investigators he was suspicious of the scene and of Howell's story.

And Lesley told friends hourl was giving her medication and had put a

live electrical cable into her bath. One was Margaret Topping who spoke

to the BBC in March. She wasn't suicidal the last day I saw her.

And there were... Things that... You don't do if you're going to

commit suicide. It just didn't fit. But there was a catalogue of missed

clues that would have dispelled the suicide theory. The vacuum cleaner

hose was too big for car exhaust and was obstructed by the boo.

Trevor's leg was hanging out of car door. Injuries to his face and head

were not document and a sweatshirt had blood on it. They were never

followed up. In the last few days we have been briefing the family.

We have talked them through our report and when we put our report

in front of them, item after item, opportunity after opportunity that

were missed, they thought they had heard it all and they were they

were shocked and disa pointed in how they felt the police had let

them down. In a statement, the dauct of Lesley and Colin Howell

said there was huge regret that it Out. The Buchanan family said the

investigation into the murders was in stark contrast to the

professional, competence and meticulous police investigation

which earlier this year led to the The SSNI will carry out a review of

current procedures. -- PSNI. Later in the programme we've an update on

the departure of Al Hutchinson as the Police Ombudsman. Hundreds of

staff who work in administration in the health service could face

redeployment following a re- organisation of services. Four

Centres of expertise are to be created - including payroll being

moved entirely to Belfast and human resources to Armagh. People who

already work in these areas will be expected to relocate. The BBC

understands that around 100 posts will eventually go. Our Health

Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly has the details$$WHITE Proceedings

Short time this morning while a protestor was evicted from the

public gallery. The health union representatives were called at

short notice to alert them that the health minister is due to announce

a consultation tomorrow. Some of those representatives contacted the

BBC. We approached the Department of Health for clarification earlier

this afternoon. And they confirmed the story and said that the

minister is due to release this consultation programme tomorrow.

There are going to be centres of expertise. Why is that happening?

The Department of Health says they want to create centres of expertise,

as they call them, because each department or each Trust has its

own payroll and human resources. Instead Belfast will become the hub

for payroll. Human resources will be in Armagh. Finance in ball Mina

and if you work for payroll in DrY, you will be expected to -- Derry -

to relocate to a post in Belfast. This took a lot of people by

surprise. But according to the department it is about sharing

expertise and improving performance and they hope to save around �100

million. What reaction have you got? Some of the unions

representatives that I have spoken to said it took them by surprise

and even took managers by surprise and of course on top of this it is

about Fahrenheit si savings. We have a report next week and they

hope to save, or lose 100 mosts. Thank you. Proceedings at the

Assembly were suspended while a protester was evicted from the

public gallery. MLAs were debating the controversial subject of

fracking - a process by which gas is extracted from the ground. And

this is how it works. The first step involves drilling down and

shattering hard shale rock with small explosions. Then water, sand

and often chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure,

releasing the gas. It's then sucked up into the well. That's the

science behind it, with the latest on protests at Stormont, our

political correspondent, Martina Purdy, has this report. No fracking

way has become the catch phrase of those who want fracking banned.

Opponent say the price is too high. It is about getting the last dregs

of gas from under the ground. This economic, environmental and health

impacts and we don't want this. protester brought a petition signed

by 2,500 people. Their opposition was backed by a Stormont debate led

by the Green and Alliance Partys. But the debate was interrupted by a

protester. BLEEP. Order. BLEEP. Your own people. Order. You BLEEP.

Order. Suspend the sitting. Suspended. The sitting is suspended.

Police were called and it is believed the man was escorted

through the building before the debate resumed. Later enterprise

minister who has supported the granting of licences to explore

fracking was dismissive of the protester who had personally

attacked her. It is a silly way to make your point to scream

obscenitys at people and I'm glad that the security staff were there.

However, the minister was unable to persuade the Assembly to reject the

alliance and Green Party motion against fracking, that will still

require planning permission to proceed on a wide scale. The former

civil rights leader Ivan Cooper has told an inquest that the IRA left

the Bogside area of Londonderry before Operation Motorman in 1972.

Fifteen-year-old Daniel Hegarty was killed by the army when soldiers

went in retake the Bogside, known then as a no-go area. The MoD has

already apologised for describing the teenager as a terrorist. Kevin

Sharkey reports from the inquest. Almost 40 years have passed, today

the legacy of Operation motor man brings Ivan coop tore a Cor nor's

court N1972 he was an MP trying to hold the political line during

Operation motor man and the Bogside and other face. Mr Cooper was told

about the army plans the day before by the police. Ivan Cooper went to

bogside, where he spotted what he described as an IRA staff car. He

spoke to the driver and told him of the army's plans. After that, Mr

Cooper said, he didn't sigh any IRA men in the city. The IRA he said

left onmass. Where did they go, he was asked. To Donegal, he said.

That was common knowledge. Daniel Hegarty was shot by a sold area

twice in the head. He died with do cousins on his side. Today one

recalled how youthful excitement turned to death. He said that he

had heard a broadcast by the then Secretary of State in which he

appealed to people to stay off the streets. But h said we had to get

out, big tanks were coming in, we couldn't miss that. When asked by

counsel for the Ministry of Defence if warnings were shouted before the

shootings, he said, no chance, that is all lies. It is a myth. A former

priest who was forced to resign from his job with the policing

board has won damages in an out of court settlement. Kevin Kennedy

took a case against the Chief Constable after he was told he

could no longer work for the board because he had failed a security

check. This was based on information the police said they

had on his brother Dermot. Mr Kennedy - whose costs were also

paid - said he felt vindicated in taking the action. It has been

going on since 2004 and it has been difficult and fraught. I have been

close to despair on many occasions. But I'm glad that we have reached

today and I'm very satisfied with the outcome and very happy.

Families represented people who were killed by the army in 1971

have demanded an international inquiry into the deaths. They want

the Government to issue a statement of innocence and make a public

apology. The victims included a priest and a mother of eight shot

by members of the Parachute Regiment. The Republic's Finance

Minister has said he does not expect an exodus of shoppers from

the Republic crossing the border in the wake of Ireland's two percent

VAT increase. It's just one of the austerity measures Michael Noonan

confirmed in the second part of the Republic's budget. Income tax was

left untouched. Instead one billion euro of taxes will be raised via

capital taxes and VAT. A 100 euro household charge was also confirmed.

And Northern Ireland-based owners of homes in the Republic will be

liable for the charge per dwelling. Still to come: The police ommuds

man is leaving, but how long is it going to take to find a successor

and is the man to put fresh legs into Ulster's challenge this

season? It's almost seven weeks since Al Hutchinson announced he

said he was quitting as Police Ombudsman at the end of January.

That followed a BBC Spotlight programme which identified

significant failings in the work of his office. But the search for his

successor is still at the planning stage. Our Home Affairs

Correspondent Vincent Kearney reports. Al Hutchinson is due to

step down as police um buds man in eight weeks. He announced his

desire to take early retirement 47 days ago, following a BBC programme

which identified failings in his office. But the search for a

successor has get to begin. Responsibility for the appointment

lies with the first and deputy First Ministers. 49 days ago,

acting deputy First Minister, John O'Dowd was asked what he thought

should happen. If Al Hutchinson is interested in good policing and to

play a positive role there is only one option left, that is for Al

Hutchinson o' - to offer his resignation. Then the First

Minister said he took a different view. Nobody has come up to me and

said this is terrible, I have no confidence in the ombudsman's

office. Let's not get perhaps drawn into what is politically driven in

these matters. A statement, the office of first and deputy First

Minister said arrangements for finding a successor are at the

planning stage. We understand that the discussion about the

recruitment process are well advanced and the position may be

advertised shortly. While Al Hutchinson has said he plans to

leave office in January, source say it could be next summer brfr a

successor is in place. And if so, the police ombudsman is expected to

delegate his authority to someone else within the office before he

leaves. That Thein means the office could continue to function until

the recruitment process is completed. Acting Chief Executive

Olwyn Laird is viewed as the person most likely to fill the position on

a temporary basis. Phone hacking isn't the only way people find out

information about us without us knowing. Over the next few nights

we're going to look people can spy on or control our lives using

digital technology. Tonight our science correspondent Mike McKimm

focuses on the internet. Just by using the world-wide web on a

computer, strangers can discover private information about us. It's

a big problem that's forced a change in the law. Almost every

time you surf the net, coded messages are hidden on your

computer. They tell web-site owners about you, about your habits and

what you might buy. These message are called cookies and are being

seen as a threat to privacy. But many computer users are simply

unaware they exist. Do you know what a cookie is? No. What is it.

No. I have heard of it before, but I can't tell you what it is. So why

are cookies so widely used? And what can people learn from us about

us knowing? Are they a threat to our privacy? If you're a privacy

conscious person, and you don't want people to know more

information about you, than you want to give them, or you realise

you're giving them, you should be worried, because they can be used

the collect more information about you than you necessarily know about

at this time. If you are not that concerned about your privacy, then

you would not be that worried. new law has been introduced the

make it illegal to place cookies on a computer without seeking

permission and web-site could face a fine of up to �500,000. This man

thinks the legislation is too general and will hit innocent web-

sites. Imagine each time youz visited Google and the first time

you were asked to do, instead of which products to buy, you're asked

if you have if you can down load cookies. That is a hassle for

people. To say that is not helpful. It is claiped some web siepts are

gathering too much personal -- claimed some web sites are

gathering too much personal information. Some gather a lot of

information about sites you visited and which pages you have gone into

it. We don't believe it is always necessary for organisations to have

that information. The amount of information that is going from the

uezer to the organisation to the web-site, to the host, it is

excessive. Mike, what's the best way to control computer cookies?

Yes go into your internet settings and choose cookies. And tomorrow

night I'm going to look at another area that is smarlt phone and why

your smart moan is offering you adverted that Sime -- phone is

offering youed a vers that seem to be tailored to you. Now Gavin

Andrews is next. You'll be hearing a lot about the welfare of hens

over the next few weeks, because by the end of the year the birds must

be given more living space. Local farmers are either investing in new

accommodation or they're quitting the industry. Our rural affairs

correspondent Martin Cassidy looks at the welfare changes and what

they mean for the eggs we eat He's here in studio with one of the

Alastair Seeley who's heading to the British Superbike Championship.

Thanks to European legislation hen welfare will be improved. Here the

new hen friendly cages are being installed to meet a 1st January

deadline. Instead of four hens in a small cage, the new system has 70

hens in more social areas with more space to move around. The first

change is that the bird has a nest into which he can go and lay her

egg. You will find three or four birds in there laying. Then in the

middle of the age there is a perch and this allows the bird to instead

of sitting on wire in the evenings, she can roost on the pench. For

scratching we have the crash area. This is a rubber mat. Some feed

will come out from the trough and the bird then can scratch the feed

and replicate behaviour that you would find outside. The hens look

OK, but are they any happier? Well that is hard to say. Despite the

extra space, they don't actually produce any more eggs. Most

consumers say they are prepared to pay the extra the new cages will

add to the price. If the evidence is there that the chickens are

being kept in more humane circumstances, I would consider.

rblly look for three range eggs. They're healthier and it is more

humane. It cruel, there is thousands of them in a very small

area and they're there to produce. They don't have a life.

producers here but many European countries have failed to respond

and that could mean restrictions on egg imports from those countries.

People on our Facebook page have been saying they are happy to pay

Gavin is here with one of the fastest men on two wheels, Alistair

Seeley and he has brought his new bike. Alistair is moving up to big

bikes. A big chance for you? moving into the Superbike class and

really looking forward to the challenge. It is the premiere class

and I want to move up and take on a new challenge. A local team and a

local rider wha, will that mean for racing here? It will be good. I

want to try and win three Championships within four years

with the team and possibly move on to world Superbikes. Will we see

you on this bike this career? hopefully I will be clocking over

200mph. And you have been doing some boxes. You're working hard?

I'm going to ride a lot of motor cross and keep myself in top

condition and come out gung ho next year and try and take this

Championship. Thank you. From one man facing a fresh challenge to

another. Ulster Rugby's latest signing Stefan Terblanche has been

named in the squad for this Friday's Heineken Cup clash with

Aironi. The South African fullback has been speaking to Nial Foster.

After a five week wait, Terblanche is the centre of attention. It took

a while, as South Africans we need a visa, but I made it. I'm

delighted to be here. I have to find my feet quickly and get to

know the guys on and off the teeld and hopefully I can settle the guys

down and give them a lot of experience and a lot of confidence.

It has not taken long for the 36- year-old to acclimatise. We did a

barbecue on Sunday and half way through it started snowing. It was

a South African barbecue with a bit of Northern Ireland snow! He is a

good friend and the qualities he will bring and the experience that

4 will bring will be good for us. And he hits the ground running this

weekend. Northern Ireland will play the Netherlands in an international

friendly in June in the Amsterdam a' that. The Clifton vil manager is

resigned to losing Rory Donnelly. And Antrim's Mark Allen will face a

disciplinary committee for swearing during a news conference. In which

he criticised world snooker he criticised world snooker

chairman, Barry Hearn. Now the weather. It is still cold enough

for some ice tonight. Not as widespread as last night. But the

wind is the main feature. It is the isobars that we're looking at. They

pack in tightly through tonight. That is a sign of strong winds and

gales. Those winds are picking up sharply tonight. Still feeding in a

few showers. They will come further inland for a time during the night

as the winds strengthen. Gale force gusts are likely, up to 50mph

inland and 60 towards the north coast. Some of the showers could be

sleety later on. Temperatures drop to do or two Celsius that. Is low

enough for some icy patches. But apart from a few showers, it is a

bright start. But still windy. The wind very strong and reaching gale

force in the morning. The wind, the gales moderate a bit as we head to

the afternoon. And then most of the showers confined to north Antrim

and northern part of Londonderry. For many other areas a lot of dry

and bright weather and temperatures around six or seven degree. But

still windy. It is a bright end to the day. But as we head into

tomorrow night the cloud returns, the winds pick up again to bring

some wet weather. We're keeping an eye on the winds. The Met Office

has issued an early warning for high winds causing discorruption

rupgs with -- disruption with gusts up to 70mph. It starts mild on

Thursday. At 10 degrees. But then the winter returns with a vengeance