10/01/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline. The headlines this evening: puts

Catholic teenagers attacked by a loyalist gang, while working on a

Belfast for location. Sean Quinn defiant after his

insolvency claim that overturned. never had to mislead anyone in my

life. And never misled anyone in 60 years.

Harrowing evidence from the police officer who was with Stephen --

Stephen Carroll. We hear from the family of the top motorcycle road

racer, Martin Finnegan. 3.5 years after his death, the findings of

the inquest into his fatal crash are revealed.

And we can expect a drop in temperatures later this week. I

will have the weather later in the Catholic teenagers have been

reliving the terror of a sectarian beating in south Belfast. They were

attacked by a gang while working as extras on a film location in the

Village area on Friday afternoon. One of the teenagers says he was

beaten, then stuffed into a rubbish bin. He and his friends have been

telling us how they feared for their lives.

This is the face of James, whose one day as a film extra ended in a

century in beating. The 18-year-old Catholic and his friends had been

hired by a production company to work in the loyalist Village area

of south Belfast. But several hours into filming, the mood turned

hostile, as a crowd of locals shouted sectarian abuse the stop

they were shouting, you're not getting out with your lives.

You're getting stabbed to. I did not think I would get out.

James became separated from the other extras, as the film crew

repaired -- prepared to leave the area. The other extras were

attacked in a car, as it was driven away. James Turley was chased and

set upon. He did not want to face the cameras today. He told me how

he was assaulted, but inside of wheelie bin, before he escaped by

flagging down a passing motorist. There is no doubt in my mind that I

was really lucky to get out. I just can't believe it. Can you

understand why people would be driven to do something like this?

No, I do not know why anyone would do this to anyone.

The film-makers had moved location today, to a city-centre bar. They

said they had spoken to the village community before the shoot, and had

not expected trouble. Health and safety is of paramount

importance, so we did everything in advance to make sure. It is very

difficult if you get a bad element turning up on set, deciding to

cause trouble. It was an unfortunate incident, and it was

isolated, Belfast is still a fantastic period to come and make

films. A young lad was left for dead in a wheelie bin. That is a

blight on the city. What we need to do is continue the work to ensure

that does not happen again. community are resilient enough to

pick themselves up from this. This is not reflective of our community,

and these films do not represent us. We want to take lives for a word in

this community. In a statement, the film crew said it was not the

typical positive story of the film until -- film and television

industry. We asked the police for an

interview about this, but no-one was available.

The High Court has ruled that the Fermanagh businessman Sean Quinn

was not entitled to declare himself bankrupt in Northern Ireland.

The southern bank to which Mr Quinn is hugely in debt has already begun

proceedings to have him made bankrupt in the Republic's courts.

Penalties there are much tougher. In a rare interview, the former

billionaire has described the process as a sham.

Sean Quinn has lost his billion- pound business empire. Today he was

on the losing side again, this time in a court case over his bankruptcy.

He declared himself insolvent here in November, over a huge debt owed

to the former Anglo Irish Bank. But the Dublin-based bank challenged

the move. It argued that Mr Quinn was not based in Northern Ireland,

and have no right to go bankrupt here. It wants to us -- pursue him

for bankruptcy. He argued he had workedfrom an office in this

industrial estate in County He said on the balance of

probabilities, they had been prepared to later than Mr Quinn had

declared, and allowed him to bolster his case. He denied he set

out to mislead the court. I have never misled anyone. I

always paid my way, everything I promised I always did. There was

never any question,... Mr Justice found in favour of the bank, and

said Sean Quinn was based in Kent are given, and annulled the

Northern Ireland bankruptcy. What does this mean for the former

billionaire, Sean Quinn? It is likely he will now be bankrupted in

the republic, which will prevent him starting a new business for

five years. In Northern Ireland he would only have had to wait for one

year. He will also be pursued for the money he owes to the Anglo

Irish Bank. How will they get it back? I have grand kids now, and I

have reminded myself that what Anglo Irish Bank has done for the

Quinn Group is like someone taking a sledgehammer to a child's toy.

Absolutely destroyed it. Today is not the last time they will face

each other in the courtroom. The bank has already started other

cases against him, here and in Russia.

The trial of the two men accused of murdering Constable Stephen Carroll

has heard evidence from police officers who were at the scene of

the shooting in March 2009. One of them said when he realised

his colleague was dead he did not know what to do.

Constable Stephen Carroll was shot dead, when he and colleagues were

responding to an emergency call about vandalism here in Craigavon.

Two police cars attended that night, one was driven by Constable Stephen

Carroll, and the other was sent from Portadown. Today the police

officer who was the passenger of that car gave evidence, and was

clearly distressed. He said he heard the shots and got back into

his car, and just sat and looked down the cul-de-sac towards the

other vehicle. He said he store Stephen Carroll's passengers at

crouched at the side of the vehicle, and one was pointing a gun. He said

he tried to move towards them, but the officer who had begun in that

them. He said they obviously forgot we were there, but we spoke to them.

We said, get into the can and we will get out of you. He said, my

driver is dead. He said a bad moment, I was shocked, disbelief. I

did not truly know what to do. Lots of ideas go through your head. Do

you get out, do you stay in? He said, in the end I did not do an

awful lot. The driver said she heard the cracks of the gunshot,

and told her colleague to get in. She said she heard shouting coming

from Constable Carole's car, my driver is dead. -- Constable

Stephen Carroll. Others described how they tried to help paramedics.

Stephen, they said, stay with us. His widow Kate, seen here with a

white handbag, cried in court, as she heard details about her

husband's fatal industries -- injuries. The two men deny the

charges. Still to come: Should he stay or

should he go? Talks on the future of the justice ministry. We have

the latest. Beragh residents plead for urgent

help before the floods come again. These are obviously the wrong

pictures. Also there will be an inquest into the motorcyclist's

death. Now the latest in the quest by Loreto Girls' Grammar in Omagh

to get a new school. It has been lobbying for 20 years

for new premises and hopes were raised by a succession of education

ministers who said it was high priority.

Two years ago, after Loreto refused to be rebuilt on the former

Lisanelly army base in the town, the Department of Education said

the school's plan did not comply with its rules.

As Maggie Tagart reports, an Appeal Court ruling has brought good and

bad news for the school. A new building for the grammar

school was said to be urgent, and money to replace it seemed assured.

But then the idea of a multi- school campus here, won the support

of the Sinn Fein Education Minister. The school rejected the idea, and

claimed the Department of Education had broken promises to rebuild. A

review last year concluded it was justified in expecting the new

school. They said the grammar school had a legitimate expectation,

which was described as the icing on the cake as the board of governors.

The school won backing on his other complaint, that it should not have

been removed from a list of schools that take all the boxes for

rebuilding. We're feeling vindicated, and we have got our

judgment and costs completely covered. The judge said the

Department of Education was wrong to have rejected the plans as non-

compliant, which puts the school back on the list for rebuilding,

but there were only to be a lot of talking between the school and the

Department and tell that happens. We desperately need a new school,

and that is our responsibility, to make sure we get proper facilities

for the children. What are the chances in this financial climate?

The school needs to be built, the money will have to beef found.

Minister for Education says he is keen to move forward and the best

interest of the young people in the area.

The future of the Department of Employment and Learning has been

raised at multi-party talks at Stormont Castle. Although the

discussions have been called to deal with the future of the

Department of Justice, cuts to the number of departments are also on

the agenda. Mark Devenport joins me now from Stormont Castle, where the

That is the department that deals with universities. It is involved

because of the Alliance got enough votes, enough seeds to take that

department back in their own right. That has led to accusations of

unfairness and one of the ways in which the bigger parties are

considering dealing with this is potentially doing away with that

department altogether, splitting up its other functions to other

departments, maybe to the Sinn Fein to control the education, and DUP

would go to another department, and maybe that would resolve it.

How is the Alliance Party responding?

They acknowledge there is a problem injustice that has to be resolved

and that streamlining might be a good thing, but they say they

should not be a short-term fix like this. You shouldn't fix these two

problems up like this because it is convenient, so they are resisting

it, but the bigger parties are considering it. Two options involve

doing away with that Department of Employment.

Going by actor Justus, David Ford was given the job because no one

could be trusted. Nothing is changing there.

He would probably be safe, depending on the system they go for.

That is because when there was those talks on the powers, Sinn

Fein didn't want of the DUP justice minister to have take control, so

that is why he is in that position. The independent Bishop Pat Buckley

has been in court in connection with alleged sham marriages. The

59-year-old, on the right of the picture, sat in the public gallery

during a short hearing at Belfast Magistrates Court. He's accused of

conspiracy to defraud the Home Secretary by facilitating foreign

nationals to gain entry to the UK. There are 15 other defendants in

the case. Pat Buckley says he's done nothing wrong. I have never

knowingly celebrated what is commonly called a sham marriage.

The decision by the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service to prosecute me

is groundless. And is highly suspect. I think it represents an

attempt by the establishment to silence a priest who has been

working with the modernised for 36 years. -- with the marginalised.

The biggest gas users in Northern Ireland could save tens of

thousands of pounds in their annual bills through new price controls

which were announced today by the Utility Regulator. Our business and

economics editor Jim Fitzpatrick has the details.

Tens of thousands of pounds of savings. Thankfully, we don't have

those sorts of bills, but who does? Big industry, and they have big gas

bills and energy prices in general are higher than the rest of the UK.

They are regulating Phoenix Natural Gas by deciding how moderate can

spend and invest and taking millions out of the company. For us

domestic consumers what this could mean is �10 a year saved in gas

bills. So not a massive amount for the domestic user but for the big

industry, they reckon that 50 companies will be able to save

�10,000 a year under these new measures. When will they see that?

Not until 2013 because these will be finally agreed in the following

months. Those will then kick in finally at that stage. The parent

company of Phoenix Natural Gas is not happy because these measures

could take 17% off the value of that company so they are not happy,

and they could appeal to the Competition Commission for.

would they put up an argument against the reductions? They are

making healthy profits. They do have a good rate of return, however

what they will say is that the disincentive for other companies to

invest, we talked about the born market, but one of the rating

agencies has signalled it may have to downgrade Phoenix Natural Gas

because of these regulations, which could push the cost of debt up and

could lead to higher gas prices. Ironic if.

-- ironically. "Make our homes safe." That was the

demand from residents in the flood- prone village of Beragh to Rivers

Agency staff at a meeting last night. Work on a flood prevention

scheme in the Tyrone village is due to begin next year, but local

people say that's too late. Our district journalist Louise Cullen

was there. Arriving for the meeting last night,

people in Beragh quietly about what they wanted. We have been going on

these promises for such a long time and no work has been started on the

ground so we want people to make their commitments, stick to them

and see work starting. They were told about the work going on

already. Early-warning device has been tested and clearing the river.

An old railway bridge is to be removed and there are plans to

widen the bridge over the river but it won't happen quickly. Week are

in the early stages of developing the over all option appraisal for

the alleviation scheme. That is going to take time to be developed

and we are exploring a lot of different ways of solving the

problems it. That wasn't good enough for some. It is just like

the last time. It is a step forward to where we want to get to. With

work on the alleviation scheme expected to get under way next year,

tonight's meeting was about answering some of the questions

what form the scheme will take and what work needs to be done. But

residents will not be certain and they will be watching the river

bank anxiously every time it rains. The inquest into the death of one

of Ireland's top motorcycle road racers concluded today in Belfast.

With more on that, here's Stephen Watson.

Martin Finnegan lost his life after a high-speed crash at the Tandragee

100 road race in May 2008. Today, the inquest into his death found

that in all probability a loose bolt caused the brakes on his

machine to fail. His family, who spoke to me after the findings were

revealed, said they were satisfied and that it was good day in

extremely bad circumstances. As a motorcycle road racer, Martin

Finnegan knew the higher risks involved in the sport. But when he

lost his life after a crash at around 150 miles per hour, there

was simply -- there was simply nothing he could have done. Brake

failure was the reason given for his fatal accident. A verdict

welcomed by his family. Why do you think it took so long to get the

outcome? I am not going to put the blame on anyone but I think

investigations should start immediately when a rider has an

accident and, from there, it should be taken step-by-step, not in bits

and pieces, and no reports written. You shouldn't have to as a family,

as a young widow with children, go and find your own forensic experts

to investigate. That should be done for you. It is their job to do it.

Why do we have to get the truth ourselves? That is a shame, but we

did get it, we are delighted, and the three-and-a-half-year us have

been extremely difficult but today was worth it all. The case has cost

the family thousands of pounds but today they believe the outcome

clears Martin Finnegan of any rider error.

Cliftonville returned to winnings way last night against Dungannon

Swifts and this man had plenty to smile about. Barry Johnston scored

a wonder-goal to give Cliftonville a much needed 2-1 win. Thomas

Niblock reports. You are unlikely to see a more

exciting finish to a football match in quite a while.

After only one win in the last four games, Cliftonville knew their

title ambitions depended upon three points against Dungannon Swifts,

and three points they grabbed. To be fair, our new signing has

just come on. He just let it off, he was lucky enough to touch it and

hit it. Thankfully, it went in. Cliftonville took the lead in the

first half. Dungannon Swifts made it 2-1. Then Cliftonville were

reduced to 10 men. A second yellow card was given. Two minutes later,

they were down to nine. Another player red-carded for this

challenge. The home side held on in a frantic few minutes... Just about.

It is complete chaos! Are Cliftonville good enough to win the

league this season? At the minute, we need to improve

vastly, I would say. We have had three clean sheets the whole season.

That is not League title-winning form. We need to title -- tighten

up defensively. We need to score goals. If we are conceding goals,

we are not going to win the leak. Clean sheets win the league.

Despite there -- despite a no clean sheet last night, there was delight,

after their first win of 2000 well. A dramatic finish indeed!

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has a near full-strength squad to choose

from ahead of Friday's crucial Heineken Cup tie against Leicester

at Ravenhill. Pedrie Wannenburg and Ian Humphreys are both carrying

injuries but have been named in the squad for the Pool 4 clash.

McLaughlin is now looking for his side to maintain the high standard

set by their convincing recent wins against Munster and Edinburgh.

I think that is what we have been trying to do. If you look at the

performance against Munster and the performance last week, it is

crucial that we are consistent. That we keep the same level of

performance up. We do have to tinker with things, make things

better, but when you need to be at your best, you have got if brokers.

We will have more build up to the game later on this week.

Londonderry's Olympic swimming hopeful Ryan Harrison has been

suspended from his US college team. The reason being given by the

University of Tennessee is a "violation of team policy".

Harrison, in the third year of a swimming scholarship in the States,

has issued a statement saying the suspension has nothing to do with

illegal substances. And Swim Ireland have said his hopes of

qualifying for the Olympics have not been affected. Less than 200

days to go until the Olympics. And the torch will be coming soon.

I applied for tickets, I am one of the millions that did not get any.

I will moderate on the BBC! -- I The weather.

To remind you the average for this time of year is 6 or 7 and 12 is

more typical for the middle of April. We are expecting a fall in

the temperature for the end of the week but not tonight. There is rain

and drizzle, breaking out more widely tonight. It is fairly damp

for some time tonight. A lot of that peters out before the end of

the night but the cloud sticks. The temperatures will stay up so 7 or 8

is the lowest, which is more of a daytime temperature. That mild

weather lingers until tomorrow and the cloud hangs around, too. It

will not be completely solid and there will be some breaks in the

cloud. So perhaps a flicker of sunshine. Like today, there will be

thicker patches of cloud, bringing showers, not amounting to much but

can be quite wet. For most places, more dry than wet weather.

Temperatures at around 10 or 11. The winds coming in from the South

West, making it mild, and the wind will not be strong. As we head into

tomorrow evening and night, there will be further rain and drizzle

and a more organised area of rain will head South. This area of rain

separates much cooler air which will be moving in from the North.

The winds become quite strong tomorrow night and on Thursday we

will still have some of that wet and windy weather. This is how the

temperatures are expected to pan out. We are sitting up at 11 at the

moment but it will dive between Thursday night and Friday morning.

It will be cooler and more seasonal for the rest of the week. So mild

initially on Thursday, but temperatures will fall during the

day to around seven and the wind will be from the North West. There

will be sunshine, but the clear sky is overnight may mean frost on

Friday. It stays cool, largely dry, but cloudy, too.

The weather is keeping us guessing all week.

First, hot, then, cold. Finally a reminder of the stories

making the headlines. A group of Catholic teenagers have

been speaking of their terror after being attacked by a loyalist gang

while working on a film set in the Village area of Belfast.

Sean Quinn insists he has never misled anyone, as a Belfast court

overturns his insolvency status. A murder trial has heard harrowing

evidence from colleagues of Constable Stephen Carroll who

attended the hoax call which lured him to his death.

And in the row over a referendum on Scottish independence, the

Westminster government has insisted that only it can decide on the date

for a vote. Our late summary is at 10:25pm. You