27/02/2012 BBC Newsline

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

A story of peace and friendship brings Northern Ireland triumph at

the Oscars in LA. Family and friends of the director Terry

George are toasting his success. I am live here in Killough where the

film was shot. So tonight: The leading hospital ward that shocked

a new grandmother. -- leading. could not understand. One of them

turned around and wondered where the water came from. A judge in a

murder trial is asked to throw out key prosecution evidence.

And a new disease has brought a deadly threat across Northern

Ireland. And Michael O'Neill on day one

proper as Northern Ireland football manager.

And I'll have the latest on the mild conditions and where it's most

Northern Ireland is basking in Oscar glory with the success in Los

Angeles last night of a film made in County Down. The Belfast born

director Terry George made his short film The Shore around his

Coney Island cottage, with a cast of native actors like Ciaran Hinds,

Maggie Cronin and Conleth Hill. Chris Page joins us from a local

hostelry in Killough. There was a huge party last night

when D armload was opened. You might recognise this far if you

have seen the film. Terry George chose this as the main location for

the film because his family owned a cottage just down the road. The

film is about a man who lease during the Troubles and now is back

to make peace with his past. -- who leaves during the Troubles. The

atmospheric tale of lost friendships has won the biggest

prize in the movie business. The Shore was not only shot here, its

director and most of its cast are from Northern Ireland.

And there were plenty more hugs for them last night. It might seem a

long way from County Down to downtown Los Angeles, but George

Clooney was not the only George on the red carpet. The director, Terry

George, from Belfast, carried off the award for Best Live Action

Short Film. In it was an amazing night. We made this short film a

couple of years ago based on peace and reconciliation and little did

we know we would be here tonight. His daughter, who is also the

producer of the bum, says all of the people in the credits should

take credit. -- producer of are the film. We have to think everyone

because we had the most incredible crew and cast and they really got

us here. One of those stars says the Oscar winners still feels so

real. -- so real. I am thrilled, absolutely delighted. I have not

come down at all. I am high on adrenalin at the moment. And the

woman who cast the actors says she is immensely proud. He make a film

and you are never really sure it will go. It has really resonated

with people and it has stripped our wildest dreams. There it is,

Belfast. You can see the old dockyards where they built the

Titanic. Those in front of and behind the camera are not the only

winners. The success of The Shore means that Northern Ireland has a

presence should case to film-makers and movie watchers all over the

world. -- priceless showcase. I am joined by some relatives of

Terry George. This is his brother. He told you the news himself.

I began to wane last night and I was heading off to sleep. The phone

rang and it was Terry and I could hear everyone in the background and

they had won. Why it did you think of your brother being the toast of

Hollywood? I am delighted for him and the whole family that brought

an Oscar back here. Happily we will see them seeing -- hopefully we

will see them soon. This was very much a family movie. Yes, it was.

Everyone in this pub had a role. My sister was the costume designer.

Both as our daughter has a work involved so it was a family fun and

a family affair. Whenever you heard about this idea, did you think it

would be a winner? When it is a film with Terry George, you know it

has an -- a pedigree. He is clearly a global name in cinema. Of course

we knew we were on to something good. He is also making another

film that is coming out later in the year which is about Northern

Ireland. Thank you all very much. This is not a real Oscar statue,

but the good news is that Terry George will be bringing his prize

back here very soon, I am sure. A woman whose granddaughter was

born while water leaked from a roof in the delivery suite, says

conditions at the Royal Jubilee Maternity are antiquated and not

fit for purpose. Janice Austin, who was her daughter's birthing partner,

told the BBC that she was shocked by what was unfolding in front of

her. While water was running down the walls, puddles were forming

next to where the incubator sat. Our Health Correspondent has the

story. As her daughter's birthing parte --

partner, Janice was in the birthing suite when her grand opera was born.

He says it was a memorable, but for all of the wrong reasons. -- her

grandchild. One of the people in the realm asked where the water was

coming from. It was on the floor and coming out from the wall.

Another midwife seemed very upset about the working conditions.

is the delivery room where the child was born on 4th February.

Captured on mobile phone, at the pictures show water coming through

the roof down the wall. There is a rusty curtain hook on the wall and

you buy is an incubator where babies are checked. Nurses use

disposable bedsheets to mop up the puddles. Jess said the crisis was

never far from their minds. -- genet said the crisis was never far

from their minds. During the crisis in January, at

nurses told the BBC that the rift in the maternity unit was leaking.

This building also -- that the roof in the maternity unit was leaking.

The building also houses the neonatal unit. A patient sent an

email saying that a doctor was talking about a smell in her room,

and it was above a -- because of the leak. We were thinking this

could have been the cause of all of these we babies dying. It is

terrible. It's was very unpleasant for the Women and the day before

step -- it was very unpleasant for the woman and the baby. We would be

wishing that it had not happened. We would like to and do it but it

is a building that needs ongoing maintenance. Under the we -- we met

a be a investigation, a regulatory body is investigating the neonatal

unit. The chairperson says that she had the inspection to go further.

The inspectors are need to go into maternity and make sure that they

are going to the clinical standard. I would call the inspectors to go

and have a look. Why maternity services are -- while at the

maternity services are set to go under change, until this building

is content -- completed in 2015, midwives and mothers will have to

put up at the present facilities, which are clearly not fit for

purpose. -- put up with. The judge in the trial of two men

accused of the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon three

years ago has been asked to throw out the evidence of a key

prosecution witness because it is ''unfair''. If he does, the defence

will argue that the trial be stopped due to a lack of evidence.

The legal argument focused on a man known only as we miss them. He took

to the stand anonymously and told the court that on the night of the

murder he was out walking his dog. The defence once this evidence

thrown out on the grounds that it is unfair and they looked at 33

separate concerns about it, including, they claim, that the

winners had lied about his eyesight problems and that he actually came

forward after a year from the murder and that he had changed his

story. But this win this is the key witness and they want his evidence

to stand. -- we guess. He said that he was walking his dog and he

recognised the man who was murdered and he even stopped to say hello.

The judge will make his decision about this tomorrow morning and it

is very important because if he decides to go out the evidence, the

defence team will move to have the trial aborted on grounds of a lack

of evidence. Both men accused of the murder denied any involvement

and I will have the latest on their trial tomorrow.

You're watching BBC Newsline, still to come on the programme: The virus

that has sheep farmers were read. And Rory McIlroy will have to wait

a little bit longer to become world No. 1 in the golf rankings.

The First Minister Peter Robinson says there could be a role for a

new conflict transformation centre on the site of the former Maze jail

in providing a space for people to share stories about their

contrasting experiences during the troubles. The DUP leader was

speaking after discussing the past with the Secretary of State Owen

Paterson. Here's our political editor.

It is 40 years ago, but these families will never forget the day

they lost their loved ones in West Belfast. They came to the gates of

Stormont today to lobby for a meeting with the Prime Minister.

This woman had a relative who died in a hill of but -- bullets. What

would she think it those who were held responsible were granted an

amnesty? She was an innocent person and was murdered. I think MST is MK

in certain cases, but in our case, I believe we would get Prosecutions.

-- I believe Amnesty is OK. South Africa, if perpetrators have

admitted their crimes before at a reconciliation commission, they

have benefited from an amnesty. But that route has been rejected by

Unionists, he delivered a truth commission would be a one-sided

affair, but would put people in the dark. However a new conflict

resolution centre could provide an alternative. I am very clear that

there is a consensus and there should be a storytelling archive

and we have talked about that even at the new centre that we are

building at the Maze site. It is a place where people can tell their

stories whether it is the police or the army. It can be officers or at

victims. After today's tops, there was no sign of a consensus, but

there was a strong hint from the DUP that if the new site is built,

there will be a strong focus on people telling stories about their

Insecurity barrier erected at an interface in north Belfast in the

1980s open today for the first time in a quarter of the century. The

barrier at the Newington Street limestone Road junction will open

each weekday from 7am to 4pm. The development signals improving

community relations in the area. Traffic passing through, this has

not happened here for more than a quarter of the century. Their

history of this area explains why. This was a notorious sectarian

flashpoint. Two communities housed side by side, but unable to live

together peacefully. Change has come in recent years. Nationalists

and loyalists working together to repair relations after years of

conflict. Back in the 1980s. This was a volatile interface. There

were class bombs, paint bombs, petrol bombs, shootings. A bet to

community relations in recent years have helped. Changing geography has

helped to. Families have moved away. Others have stayed and in this old

factory look at -- overlooking the junction, new homes. The new

communities are living here and getting on better elsewhere. We are

in this process for four years. We have built relationships with Arab

counterparts and that is the progress we are seen today. At this

barrier, it will be opened for a week days for the next three months

on a trial basis and all security issues here still have not been

resolved. That is best illustrated by looking across the road at

security cameras still keeping an eye on these two communities.

Northern Ireland farmers have been alerted to a new disease that can

ravaged sheep flocks. Schmallenberg virus first appeared on the

Continent, but has now spread to farms in England. There is no known

cure or vaccine. It is lambing time on farms across Northern Ireland

and shepherds like this man are busy watching over their flocks.

This spring, farms here facing the threat. It is called Smullen there

disease and it is a deadly new virus that can cost up to 20% of

lambs to die. Consequences could be absolutely devastating, not only

for the stock, but for farmers financial situation. The disease

isn't thought to pose any risk to humans, either to those working

with sheep or to consumers, but some cases have been recorded in

adult cattle and sheep. Newborn lambs are most vulnerable. The

virus attacks the nervous system and causes many stillbirths. Many

of the infected lambs will die at birth. Others will survive, albeit

with problems with disfigured front legs and their mouths as well.

Thankfully this little chap is as healthy as anything and he will

lead to grow into a big round. The disease is thought to be spread by

midges. The virus appeared in Germany last year. From an adult

cattle herd there, it spread to Belgium and the Netherlands. Then,

like Blue Tongue disease a few years ago, infected midges were

blown across the Channel. How far north and west the disease will

spread, no one knows. I want to call to anyone who is importing

animals to be mindful if they are in porting from any affected areas.

We call on them not to do that, until we understand the impact of

the disease. Hundreds of new cases are expected to emerge as sheep

flocks lamb down. There is increased surveillance and farmers

have been -- are being asked to be vigilant.

Rory McIlroy has nearly reached the summit of the world golf rankings,

but he will have to wait a bit longer. It was not all about the

Oscars last night, a 22-year-old from Holywood was creating his own

drama. Rory McIlroy had us on the edge of our seats, but he fell just

short in his bid to win a world of golf title and reach number one in

the World Rankings. He lost the final of the WGC World Matchplay

Championship in Arizona. But he remains confident he will be right

at the top very soon. To become world No. 1, Rory McIlroy had to

win two matches on the final day. He came from behind to beat Lee

Westwood in a hotly-contested duel and the desert. For me it was like

my final in a way. I really wanted... I wanted it all week and

that is what I got myself up for. Maybe, it took a bit out of me.

Rory McIlroy with the bragging rights over his former stablemate,

but after winning that hard-fought semi-final, he ran out of steam. He

found it hard to replicate the same form in the final against but

American and Hunter me hand. A have two events coming up and I want to

keep putting good results on the board, trying get a few wins and if

I can do that, ultimately getting to the top of the World Rankings is

hopefully inevitable if I keep playing the golf the way I am at

the minute. Shops like this should see hen there are very soon it. He

will be number one if he wins in Florida this week.

Michael O'Neill took charge of his first Northern Ireland training

session today. There were only two late withdrawals from the Scot,

Craig Cathcart and Warren Feeney are missing through injury.

Northern Ireland face Norway in a friendly on Wednesday at Windsor

Park. As the Michael O'Neill era begins, the last 24 hours have been

an opportunity for the new manager and his players to get to know

which other. Obviously I spoke to the lads and on an individual basis

as well. New lads have come into the squad and some have been out of

the squad for a period of time, so it is important they have time

together. They are ready now to work this morning. After a

disappointing end to the last qualifying campaign, a new manager

also represents a fresh start for the players. He has fresh ideas and

he is probably new school, rather than an old school manager. The

coaching staff as well seem really positive, so first impressions have

been really good and we are trying to taking as much as we can and

take it on to the field. Northern Ireland have won just once in the

last 12 months and it is Michael O'Neill's job to make sure that

record improves in 2012. James McLean looks set to make his

Republic of Ireland debut against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

The former Derry City star previously played for Northern

Ireland, but opted to switch to Giovanni Trapattoni's side. He

earned his collar after stand-up performances for his new club

Sunderland the seed -- this season. There are just eight games to go in

the race to become Irish League football champions. Linfield are

closing in on yet another Carling Premiership title after a weekend

win against Cliftonville. Darryl Fordyce scored twice in the 3-1

victory at Solitude. Peter Thomson was also on target as a Linfield

move seven points clear of their nearest rivals. Best game of the

day was at the Oval were Richard Gibson thought he had given

Glentoran at 3-2 victory over Coleraine, but the visitors secured

a late drop thanks to this goal from David Scullion. Goal of the

day was at Seaview. David Cushley helped Lisburn Distillery to a 2-2

draw with Crusaders. Dungannon took a direct route to a much-needed 2-0

win over second-placed Portadown. Seven -- Stefan Lavery but the

clinching goal. Ireland will fly to France in a

much better frame of mind than they did for the postponed again in

powers two weeks ago. Saturday's 42-10 win over Italy has

reinvigorated the team's Six Nations campaign. Five tries were

scored with one in particular prompting a special celebration.

Long before he took up rugby, Tom caught once came close to

representing Australia at the Olympics as a shot putter. It is

his ability to rumble with the oval ball, rather than a metal one,

which has seen him make inroads with Ulster and Ireland in recent

years. This is his first international try afters 26 caps,

hence jubilation. I had to condense the emotion into one celebration.

For all the recent disruptions and disappointments, there was enough

encouragement against Italy to suggest Ireland may have the legs

to cause another team in look a few problems. There are completely

different matter. Wales presented one type of challenge and back in

powers, we will make sure we're undefeated again. The one key hope

this time round is that it is just the French who feel any chill.

Ulster retain Gaelic football's into provincial tier with a three

to 11 to 1-15 win over Munster in County Armagh in front of a crowd

of 2,600 people. New me the's late goal gave Ulster victory. Falling

attendances in recent years of threat and the competition's

survival. Players and management have expressed a desire for it to

continue, the mood music from Croke Park yesterday was less convincing.

We have tried to take this game away international army have tried

to play at home. It has not been successful in getting our patrons

to come to our games. If they do not come, there isn't much value in

putting it on. A World Superbike Championship

underway in Australia yesterday with mixed fortunes for Eugene

Laverty and Jonathan Ray. Laverty did not finish raise one in 10 a

fit in the second race. But Jonny Rea fared better. After finishing

7th place in race one and full of Ireland, he has them on course for

a podium finish in race two, but dropped to fourth in the final

straight when overtaken by Englishman Tom Sykes. The next

round is in Imola in five weeks' time.

Then ride one of the MSA British Rally Championship, Desi Henry and

Niall Burns bought the Citroen Marholm in second place overall.

A Belfast Giants had a big weekend, following up an 8-0 win over Hull

macro on Saturday with a 5-0 win over Coventry Blaze last night.

With Sheffield Steelers losing one of the two weekend games, the Janos

Kalmar are now homing in on a first league title in six years. A lot of

The emphasis is still on mild weather. A mild start to the week

and a few places hitting the 12 degrees mark. A good five degrees

above the seasonal average. We have not seen that much sun sign, not

much sunshine after the rain this morning. There is plenty more of

that persistent shroud of cloud heading our way. It will remain

over cast throughout this evening, still some patches of drizzle here

and there, not amounting to a great deal and there gusting breeze that

is affecting parts of the North Coast today will continue through

the night. Staying cloudy through the night, further patches of

drizzle particularly in the west, the cloud will tend to lower at it

and that will bring misty and damp conditions over hilly areas. There

will be quite a few spots, particularly towards the east and

South East that will stay dry and for almost it will be a mild night.

Temperatures no lower than ten degrees. As we head into tomorrow,

it could be even milder than today, still a lot of cloud in the skies,

so expect a misty and murky start in the morning. The odd spot of

drizzle, which might affect visibility in some areas. Hopefully

we will start to see that cloud lifting of the hills and there is a

better chance that we may get the odd brighter glens, even a glimpse

of the blue sky in one or two spots tomorrow. Temperatures could be

around 13 or 14 degrees. Inland, more cloud than sunshine, and even

here we should hit 12 degrees again. It is very much a similar story

into tomorrow night, a lot of cloud and patches of dampness. Slightly

cooler air, so temperatures will drop back into single figures

tomorrow night, seven or eight degrees. No frost problems.

Wednesday will have a similar story, the best of any brightness in the

east and it is still mild. That mild weather will hold for the rest

of the week, but the increasing risk of rain is there.

A reminder of our headlines. A tale of peace and friendship brought

Northern Ireland success at the Oscar ceremonies in Los Angeles.

At Belfast Health Trust has apologised for a leaking roof that