06/01/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening, this is BBC Newsline. The headlines this Friday evening.

They soldier could be disciplined after it dissident republican bomb

is planted in his unlocked car. Portrush is back in the golfing big

time as the Irish Open and some of the world's biggest arts are set to

come to the North Coast. I hope that as many of the top players in

the world welcome and play here. It isn't always easy to do that. I may

be asking for a few favours if I can. We will ask of the tourist

industry is up to the challenge for hosting the Open's lots of visitors.

Find a way will need deep pockets to buy these amazing items from the

Titanic. And would be a weekend for staying

indoors? Good evening, the soldier found a bomb in his car in north

Belfast made this discipline the -- disciplinary action for ignoring

security rules. It is understood that the device was planted after

he left his car unlocked outside his girlfriend's home in Ligoniel.

It is understood there were some form of military insignia displayed

in the car's rear window. Mid- afternoon and the security

operation was still going on. It was a film 30 hours after the bomb

was found inside the soldier's car. The intended target discovered it

himself as he prepared to collect a child from school. The dissident

republicans who planted it claimed they had tied the trip wire to the

seat belt buckle. The car the subject to forensic procedures to

establish how would happen. It is no doubt about it was intended to

murder or kill whoever was in that vehicle and it was used by more

persons than the actual soldier. Around 30 homes were cleared

overnight during the alert. It meant a major disruption for

families, many of them with young children and none of them are

prepared to appear on camera. have to litter and run. It was a

bit scary. It had to be done. dissident groups, even though they

are small in number, they are intent on creating the maximum

devastation to lives if possible. The need to be thwarted and

defeated and the way to do that is to pass on information. People are

angry. They realise that residents could have been killed. It will

achieve nothing. It is understood the young Scottish soldier was not

based here, but had been visiting a girlfriend in the predominantly

nationalist area and had been staying at the house for a number

of weeks. It is understood that the car in which the bomb was found

have been used to take people to parties in a number of different

parts of the city and had been left unlocked in at least two locations.

It is understood that the soldier made no secret of his military

service and had told a number of people. If all of that is borne out

by the investigation, then it is likely that he will face some kind

of disciplinary charge. Police are now appealing for anyone who saw

the red Vauxhall Astra car between Wednesday night and Thursday

morning to contact them. All this raises issues for any security

force members visiting Northern Ireland. Clear guidance is issued

to soldiers on the security here and it is likely that all of that

will now be reviewed. The it has been the worst-kept

secret in golf, but today it has been confirmed that the Irish Open

welcome to Royal Portrush in June. It is the first time in Northern

Ireland in almost 60 years. Later in the programme we will focus on

the money spin-off that could be generated and further afield. First,

two Portrush and Stephen Watson. Thank you. This is a club steeped

in golfing history and tradition. But last hosted the Open in 1947

and then the Open championship in 1951. Tonight, it is quite rightly

back in the golfing be time with the confirmation of the news that

we revealed to you last night. The tournament which comes here this

summer is going to be one of the biggest tournament ever seen in

Northern Ireland. An exciting day, not just for the club but for golf

in Northern Ireland in general. Up to 100,000 people are expected to

flock to the North Coast this summer to see some of the world's

biggest golfing stars including our own trio of champions. First, it

was Graeme McDowell. Followed by Rory McIlroy. Then at Darren Clarke

brought a third major golfing trophy home to Northern Ireland.

That success was the catalyst for today's major announcement. It is

fantastic for all golfing fans in Ireland. It is coming to one of the

biggest -- best courses in Ireland. It will be brilliant. I hope we get

the crowds and the support. Irish Open will be a fantastic

event and you have promised to open your contacts book to attract some

big names, will that be possible? do not know. The guys have the

schedules and they will take a look at it. Certainly, the fact it is

being played on one of the best courses in the world will give the

guys the chance to add it to the schedules if they can. Like Tiger

Woods? We can dream! Hopefully we can get a strong field. The Open

golf championship is held for the first time in poor rush. It is the

biggest golf tournament to be held in Northern Ireland since 1951. The

man flying the flag for European golf is confident that this

summer's event will not be a one off. I would like to think it would

be back here. I will not say in the near future, but in a reasonable

time that suits both parties. The answer is yes. Today's official

confirmation would not have been possible without funding from the

Executive, believed to be in the region of about �2 million. We have

spent nearly twice as much as ordinary tourists. Demand a people

who welcome here and to the wider Northern Ireland for the week,

spend their money and perhaps come for the first time, it will be well

worth the money that we put in. Portrush's ambassador will be

hoping that the Irish Open will be a forerunner to the biggest

tournament in the world which he won last year coming back to the

North Coast. First things first, take little steps and we will make

sure that everyone involved, players, European tour, everyone

will make this a successful event. Hopefully the RMA will look upon it

favourably and take another little step down that route of trying to

get the Open here. The metal which Darren one for winning the Open

Championship sits here in the trophy Cabinet alongside that of

Fred Daly, another proud man is with me. This is the captain of

Royal Portrush. A great day today. Now the hard work starts to get

this tournament up and running? has been a fantastic day today.

Great news for Portrush and the borough and Northern Ireland. There

has been a fair bit of work, but there is a lot more to do between

now and the end of June. We have heard a lot about one of the

driving forces coming here, the secretary of the club, but she has

been crucial hasn't she to the event coming here? She has been

with us for 27 years and when you come in as captain, you see the

amount of work she doors. She has been fantastic in the effort she

has put in, not just in the last few months, or for the last few

years, to get this event. I could not give her enough credit for what

she has done. Peter Dawson from the RNA has been to Royal Portrush to

see the course, to think there is a realistic possibility that the Open

championship can come here in the future? 2019 has been mentioned

already today. We have set our sights on a major tournament and

this is a stepping stone what we have achieved to date. We would not

be behind the door to say yes we would love to see the Open come

back here. We cannot live on the legacy of 1951 forever. People will

look and see how we perform and I am quite sure that we will perform

and the up to the mark for the Irish Open. What happens after that

is at the RMA. Everyone today has been asking how do you get tickets

for this? They are available if you go to the European Tour website.

And we shall return it to the wider implications of the Open coming

north later in the programme. It 20-year-old Newry man has been

told he must serve at least 11 years in prison for kicking a man

to death. 40-year-old Marek Muszynski from Poland was killed at

Upper Edward Street in the City in July 2009. Adrian Cunningham from

Lisgullion Park admitted the killing.

Work has started to take thousands of tons of oil off the damaged

tanker in Belfast Lough. The Genmar Companion has been sheltering off

the Copeland Islands since 16th December. Previous attempts to

remove the oil had to be cancelled because of bad weather. Tugs helped

bring it alongside another tanker to offload the cargo.

Al Hutchinson will move closer to stepping down as Police Ombudsman

next week when he delegates his responsibilities to newly-appointed

interim Chief Executive. The move means he will cease to function as

ombudsman at the end of this month, but he will not formally retire

until the end of February. Al Hutchinson announced his intention

to quit as Police Ombudsman at the end of this month, following a BBC

Spotlight programme which identified a significant failings

in the work of his office. Responsibility for appointing a

successor lies with the First and Deputy First Ministers and the new

ombudsman isn't expected to be in place until the summer. A Al

Hutchinson will leave his post early as planned, however. An

interim Executive will be appointed by the ombudsman next week. That

person, who is expected to be some are not currently working for the

Police Ombudsman, will take over Al Hutchinson's responsibilities at

the end of this month. That means Mr Hutchison will seize to operate

in his post, but will not formally retire until the end of February.

The Department of Justice says this is necessary to ensure an ordinary

transition and because of outstandingly. The ombudsman will

meet Justice Minister David Ford next week to discuss the handover

of his responsibilities and to ensure that the necessary

arrangements are in place for the Office to function until a

successor is appointed. A spokesperson said that Mr Hutchison

will not receive any additional payment as compensation for leaving

office earlier than originally planned.

Still to come on the programme. Rescued from the depths, but who

could afford the price tag for these Titanic artefacts?

After 1000 games, he is heading for the dugout. Glenn Ferguson takes up

the managerial reins at Ballymena United.

Now, but last year's Irish Open in Killarney attracting a record

attendance of 85,000 visitors, hotels, guest houses in caravans in

the Portrush area will be in big demand for the end of June. The

North Coast is already a popular spot, especially for day-trippers,

and local businesses are preparing to deal with even more people as

our reporter has been finding out. People in Portrush say the Irish

Open will be the greatest event to be held here for decades. It is

about much more than the Golf. Millions of people around the world

will be watching on television, so it is an opportunity to show off

magnificent beaches like this and everything else that the area has

to offer. It is thought up to 25,000 people per day may come here

to see the golf for themselves, perhaps taking in sites like this

castle on the way. This bar is expecting lots of business. The

manager has commissioned these works from a local artist as a

tribute to our golfing heroes. He says this is a huge moment for

Portrush. I think Portrush getting the Open is exactly the same

proportionally as London getting the Olympics. Might comb his hair

red hot. I have had a telephone calls from Santa Barbara and

Australia and Icelandic today wishing us all the best of luck.

All those guests will need somewhere to stay. Many hotels and

B&Bs are already booked out. This man says it is a great opportunity.

It is fantastic. It will be a big boost for the economy, not only for

accommodation, but for the shops in the area. The spin-off from this

will be the amount spent. Even if watching golf is the main event,

hundreds of visitors will want to do something else as well. This

riding school, which also has holiday cottages is getting lots of

interest. We are very pleased and we were not expecting it. A lot of

groundwork had started, but we are very pleased, because anything that

extends the summer season is a bonus for everyone. Portrush

golfers are delighted. It will be a fantastic draw for tourism, that is

the main thing. Absolutely fantastic news, long overdue.

People here feel that they are riding the crest of a wave. If they

catch a momentum, the Irish Open will generate millions of pounds

Will the Open make any difference to tourism away from the north

coast? Ciara Riddell has been finding out. F 2011 was a great

year for Belfast after hosting the MTV awards, then 2012 is predicted

to be even better. And I cannot hide my delight at the prospects

for tourism for Northern Ireland in many aspects, but this is superb.

Irish golf, the Irish Open, going to Portrush. By this stage of the

year, the January blues have set in. But not in Belfast. The ripple

effect from Ireland's biggest golf tournament and the plant titanic

event means the city is excited at the prospect of this summer seeing

business rocketing. There will be a fantastic amount of interest, this

is our year. The Minister has said this, we are supporting it and all

the companies should be ready for this influx of new tourists.

isn't just the ferries bringing in business. When and 40 cruise ships

will, for Titanic 2012. There could be unprecedented numbers.

ripple effect will mean that Belfast will benefit, not just from

occupancy and hotel accommodation but as a gateway to Northern

Ireland. Hotel rooms are already being snapped up, but will prices

rise? Northern Ireland has the cheapest rates in the whole of

Europe. For 2012, they have been published six months ago. There is

a question of jumping on the bandwagon. You heard it here first.

Sorry to correct him! We know that the price of some hotel rooms more

than doubled overnight when the event was announced. Something to

keep an eye on. And people have been discussing the Irish Open

announcement today on our Facebook page. If you'd like to tell us what

you think about the Irish Open going to Portrush, join in. The

address is on your screen. You can also follow us on Twitter. If you

want to email the programme, there's our email address. Back to

Portrush now for the rest of the sport. Michael O'Neill has barely

settled in as Northern Ireland football manager and he has his

first problems. Stephen? Yes... Officially confirmed as a manager

earlier this week. O'Neill will probably be without two key players

for his first international match in charge, the friendly against

Norway on February 29th. Chris Brunt of West Brom has undergone

surgery today on an ankle injury and is now out for up to ten weeks.

And Kyle Lafferty's hamstring injury has proven worse than first

feared. The Rangers striker is now sidelined for seven weeks.

Meanwhile, James McLean, who joined Sunderland from Derry City last

August, has reiterated today that he wants to play for the Republic

of Ireland. McClean played for Northern Ireland at under-21 level

but declared for the Republic last year. Few greater players have

graced the Irish League than Glenn Ferguson, with over 1000 games and

over 500 goals. Tomorrow, he begins his managerial career as boss of

Ballymena United. Thomas Kane has been to meet him. As a player,

Glenn Ferguson was always one of the first names on a team sheet.

Now, it is his job to pick the team. They it will be a challenge but it

is something I will not shirk. Over the years I have had it done to me,

I have been released from clubs. It does not bother me at all. I am big

enough and I have borne the shoulders to tell somebody if they

are not in my plans. There will be changes at Ballymena. Ferguson

played with Ards, Glenavon, Linfield and Lisburn Distillery.

Before finally retiring at the age of 41 last summer. Former team-

mate's have joined his coaching staff at Ballymena. Some one of the

calibre of Glenn Ferguson asking you to be an assistant, I was

delighted. To come to Ballymena, with those resources, it's a great

move. As fate would have it, the first game of the era is against

one of his former clubs, Linfield. These things get thrown against you,

the league champions in your first match. It's a challenge and I have

played for Linfield long enough to know that they raise their game. I

hope our boys can raise their game. Often the match-winner on pitch,

Ballymena United fans will hope he is just as big a success of it. All

the action on Final Score tomorrow. Gaelic football and the season

begins this weekend with the start of the McKenna Cup, a competition

between the nine county sides and three universities. But all three

colleges have lost players who have decided to play with their

respective counties. As Thomas Niblock reports, that's causing

quite a stir. Because several students have decided to play for

their counties rather than College, Jordanstown and Queens will compete

this weekend without five players each whilst Saint Mary's are

missing their captain and vice- captain. A disadvantage for the

universities but good news for the counties. Personally, I think all

county players should be with their counties. We are trying to get tins

ready for the start of the National League and the only have four weeks.

The boys not with their counties at this time of year, it will be

awkward for them to get a starting place. It is a different story for

the universities, who make the Ulster Council next month to voice

their concerns. Could this be the final here we see colleges in the

McKenna Cup. All things are possible, as long as it remains

viable and the counties and the Ulster Council want colleges, I am

sure there will be no danger of that happening. But if things were

to change, we could not grow that out. If a player picks University

of a county, were there be any manager took against their name?

But in my mind. They have to decide for themselves, it might lessen

chances of having came time early in the season which would

necessarily detract or enhance chances. It isn't a choice, I am

asking them to look at what is available and they make the choice

that they are happy with. It is a dilemma for students that seems to

be working for the counties, but not the universities. Derry City

have just named Declan Devine as their new manager. Previous boss

Stephen Kenny has left to manage Shamrock Rovers and Devine, who was

assistant to Kenny, is promoted to the hot seat at the Brandywell.

is a big step and one I am confident that I can do. I have

worked very closely with Stephen, who has been very successful, and I

haven't learnt a lot from him. I would not have put myself into this

position if I did not feel like to do the job. Ulster are away to

Edinburgh tonight in the Pro12. Live commentary on BBC Radio Ulster

medium wave from 7:30pm. That's it from Portrush on a very proud day

for golf in Northern Ireland. Thank you. As Portrush gets ready for an

influx of golfers this June, Belfast tourism is all about the

100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Here on BBC Newsline,

we're keeping across all the different events associated with

the centenary, including a huge auction involving thousands of

objects from the ship. As Julian O'Neill explains, you'll need very

deep pockets. The Titanic rusts on the floor of the Atlantic. Next

April, on the Centre -- centenary of the voyage, a treasure trove is

coming up at auction. Objects retrieved from the wreck will be

sold a New York. They include passenger belongings, this waist

coat belonged to William Allen, a machinist emigrating from Britain

to America. He had since and he had a rather exciting cravat, Paisley

and red and a polka-dot handkerchief. He had fun. We are

trying to find out more about him, that is always the goal. To find

out more about people whose effects we have in the collection. It is a

single collection of 5000 items owned by Premier Exhibitions and it

cannot be broken up. It must also be kept on public display by the

buyer, who might have to pay $180 million. To put the cost of this

into some context, it translates to about �120 million, �30 million

more than it cost to build the Titanic Signature project, which

opens in Belfast in a couple of months. The Belfast project has no

intention of bidding in a New York, it will instead house a small

number of artifacts which originally belonged to Harland and

Wolff shipyard but nothing salvaged from the wreck. It said it isn't an

museum but a more interactive visitor experience, telling the

full Titanic story. You can see more on that story, including a

closer look at some of the items in the auction, on our news website.

When it comes to the Irish Open in June, here's hoping the weather is

kind. And we're looking for some of the same this weekend! Here's

It'll be better than it was at the beginning of the week this weekend

and as fortune, there is no way I will do the forecast! On average,

it is one of the drier, sunnier months. On average... Let's look to

the weekend, not much in the way of rain to come but there has been

some drizzly weather moving through and some still to come this evening.

That by the fund is moving away from us so it will become drier as

the night goes on. Fabrice picking up, quite blustery at times towards

the north coast but no gale-force winds tonight, the breeze will

break up the cloud and it will not be to Chile. Temperatures below

with and five degrees so not as cold as this morning and because

the cloud will be broken up, we can expect a brighter day compared to

today. Not as gloomy. It will not be Sunday all the time, still a

fair amount of cloud on the breeze but the further east and south-east,

the more broken the cloud will be and the more chance of seeing some

sunshine. Some showers coming through on that breeze but they

will be light and a lot of places will not see too many showers at

all. Try by the Camorra, more likely to see showers across County

Antrim, especially in the north. Temperatures down on today, about

eight or nine degrees and with slightly more of a breeze it might

feel cooler and fresher. Put another layer of Clones on and

there's nothing to fear. Enjoy that dry weather when it's around. Those

shares will ease tomorrow evening and we have had some nice

photographs sent in. The water has can't down. But everybody hates the

rain. There will still be some puddles. But make the most of it!

Tomorrow night, rain moving in again from the West. Sunday starts

off on the downside. But the afternoon will be largely dry.

Milder although fairly cloudy and the Sun should be back for Monday.

Have a great weekend. And the nights are slowly getting longer.