26/04/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline. Our main headlines... The trial of

a couple accused of killing their granddaughter hears of the arrest

of another family member. The Vatican moves to rein in Father

Brian D'Arcy. Claims that a schoolboy has been the victim of

anti-Semitic bullying. There is increasing concern over the future

of a major airline at Belfast City Airport. And here at the Giant's

Causeway Visitor Centre, I will be live with the results of a trial.

And we will be joined by two star players from Ulster Rugby. And I

will have the weather details The trial of an elderly couple

accused of killing their granddaughter has been told that

another family member was once arrested in connection with the

girl's death. David and Sarah Johnston, from Glengormley, denied

the charges against them. There granddaughter, Rebecca McKeown, was

a severely disabled 14-year-old, who died in hospital in 2001. Today

the court was told that one of the child's brothers was once

questioned about her death. Evidence today not from the

grandparents are accused of child cruelty, but from her mother, under

cross-examination from the defence team. She was taken through her

daughter's condition once again, including the days leading up to

her death. She told the court how in January 2008, almost seven years

later, the police came to her home and said they were reopening the

case of Rebecca McKeown. She was interviewed for several hours at

the police station. Under cross- examination, she explained how she

was unable to remember everything about the day because she had been

in shock. The barrister agreed that Mrs McKeown had been shocked,

pointing out that the police had just told her that her induced son

was about to be arrested on suspicion of the murder of Rebecca,

that his fingerprint had been found in a nappy she had been wearing

when staying at her grandparents. Mrs McKeown was asked whether she

had changed some of her evidence, to avoid suspicion falling on her

son. She said, I had no reason to protect him because he did not do

anything. The barrister insisted, I suggest she was in the dining room,

out of your view, for around an hour. She replied, and I suggest

that is wrong. It also emerged that in December 2006, Stewart had once

threatened his stepfather with a knife in retaliation for a beating.

But Stewart is not on trial, his maternal grandparents still are.

The hearing resumes next week. One of Ireland's best known priests,

the broadcaster and newspaper columnist Father Brian D'Arcy, has

been rebuked by the Vatican. It has ordered that all church related

material he publishes should be cleared in advance. The Catholic

Church is cracking down on Irish priests it believes are challenging

its teachings. This report from Julian O'Neill. There is another

big festival coming up, around the same time... Father Brian D'Arcy

has been on the BBC's air waves for years, he is a regular contributor

to BBC Radio 2, amongst others. But it is his weekly column for this

newspaper which has grabbed attention in Rome. It is not just

that he has been outspoken against mandatory celibacy. He has also

been a vocal critic of how the Church has handled sex abuse and

its teachings on contraception. But now, it has earned him an official

rebuke. According to the Catholic newspaper the Tablet, this move

follows an anonymous complaint which was made last year. As a

result, one cardinal responsible for church doctrine has conveyed

dissatisfaction with four of Father Brian D'Arcy's newspaper articles.

He is based outside Enniskillen, at the Grand monastery. He was

celebrating Mass here today, and while he confirmed the story, he

said he did not wish to be interviewed. One of the priest's

superiors said that he was co- operating with an edict that all

his writings must be approved in advance. He said Father Brian

D'Arcy had not been silenced, and he remained a priest of good

standing. Both the Sunday World and the BBC were asked today if they

were aware that the material of Father Brian D'Arcy now needed

prior approval from the church. Neither would comment. The mother

of a teenager who was assaulted and subjected to anti-Semitic abuse

says her son has been left badly shaken by the experience. Matthew

Lough was bullied at school after he revealed that his great great

grandmother was Jewish. This report from Conor Macauley. 14-year-old

Matthew Lough started to get anti- Semitic abuse last year when he

told his class his great great grandmother was Jewish during a

history lesson on the Holocaust. The name-calling culminated in two

assaults by separate boys, the latest last month. He has been left

very shaken, he is still very nervous and jumpy. He finds it very

difficult to concentrate, he has Asperger's, so, the fact that it is

not just one attacked for him, his mind replays that constantly for

him. The family say the boy who was altered their son was suspended for

ting -- for two days. Matthew did not return to the college for

around 1.5 weeks. The matter may be closed as far as the school is

concerned, but Matthew Lough's family says the police

investigation into the assault of their son is continuing. Northern

Ireland's Jewish community is small, and it has been shocked. It is

prevalent, yes, for the size of the community, it is really rather

alarming that these things are still happening. Matthew's mother

says they have some concerns about how Carrickfergus College handled

the incident, but nobody at the school was available for comment.

Uncertainty surrounds the future of the airline Bmibaby, one of the

largest airlines flying out of the last City Airport. -- flying out of

Belfast City Airport. This report from our business correspondent

Kevin Magee. The airline industry has suffered in the recession, and

there could be more turbulence on the way. The George Best Belfast

City Airport was dealt a body-blow 18 months ago, when Ryan Lowe

pulled out, taking a third of the business with it. It has just been

recovering from that but now, there are concerns about the future of

another airline, Bmibaby. International airlines group, which

owns British Airways, took it over as part of a bigger deal, but they

do not want to hold on to it. does not form part of our plans are

in the long term. Bmibaby is primarily based on Leger

destinations, no-frills services, which is not one of our focus areas.

Our ambition is to sell it. So far, no buyer has been found. The chief

executive of the group, was not sounding optimistic today. I will

be honest with you, I think it will be difficult to see a deal being

done, but not impossible. We're still in discussions with a couple

of parties who are interested in buying the aligned. We will

continue to see what we can do over the next few weeks. Bmibaby's

domestic routes from Belfast include London Stansted and

Birmingham. It also flies to European destinations, mostly

holiday destinations. In terms of jobs, Bmibaby does not have many

jobs at Belfast City Airport, but it is important in terms of revenue,

accounting for one in five passengers, even more in the summer.

The uncertainty over the future of Bmibaby will be causing concern at

the airport. They will be hoping some sort of a deal can be cobbled

together soon. You're watching BBC Newsline. Still

to come - we are greening the new visitors' centre at the Giant's

Causeway, from the roof down. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of

Cornwall have been visiting one of Belfast's oldest churches, and

getting an unusual gift. The Department of Health has been

told it must not expect voluntary groups to plug the gaps that the

Government will not fund. An increasing number of health care

projects are being funded by grants and charity fund-raising. One

project which was launched today is aimed at helping people cope with

depression. It is entirely paid for by the Big Lottery Fund. As Marie-

Louise Connolly reports, such partnerships could be the only way

to deliver this type of care in the future. Michael O'Neill has found

friends and a purpose in life. After years of battling depression,

it was this community centre, not medication, which gave him the

therapy he needs. Not only better for him, but cheaper for the Health

Service. I have had relapses in the last six or seven years, but they

are minor compared to what it was like previously. It gives us hope

that we're doing something in the community, and not in a hospital

bed. Somebody quoted it would be something like �1,500 a week for a

hospital bed. This is something like �40 a week. It is the type of

approach which the Department of Health wants to encourage. A big

lottery grant, not government funding, means that this service

will be able to be rolled out into every health trust. But the

voluntary sector is warning it cannot be left to fill in gaps

which the Government cannot afford to fund. We need people to put

their money where it is needed. We know from the Banford review that

more money needs to go into mental her services. We know this model

works, so we need the money to roll this out across the services.

who? By government. Standing alongside the charity and the

sponsor, the minister admits his department cannot do everything on

its own. We will want to have partners, we will want to work with

partners. We want to work with our partners on this issue. But for

people like Michael, it is not enough. The Big Lottery Fund

insists that by stepping in, they can help bridge the gap, but only

in the short term. We can help organisers of projects like this to

undertake innovative projects, things which the department might

not yet be in a position to fund, but in time might decide to be

worth funding. If the Department of Health is to meet its targets, and

within the constraints of its budget, it is highly likely we will

be seeing more partnerships just like this one. The question is,

when the grant money runs out, will the Government be able to pick up

the tab to make sure that schemes like this one can continue? On the

subject of government spending, will Northern Ireland be one of the

hardest-hit regions as a result of the welfare reforms being enacted

by the Westminster government? That is certainly the view of the

Children's Commissioner, Mrs the families of at least 6,500 children

will lose money. I have met children who sometimes have to go

to bed on Wednesday night when there is no food in the house, or

when they have no electricity until the next morning, until the mother

gets her benefit. It is already happening. We're saying that this

welfare reform will actually exacerbate that situation. So the

one third of children that we already have in poverty will be

increasing by significant numbers if this Welfare Reform Bill goes

through. The commission's numbers are disputed by the Stormont

minister with responsibility for welfare. How come you dispute those

figures, Minister? We need to have a good conversation about this, but

it is important that stakeholders do so in a realistic way. If you

look at the report that has been commissioned by the Children's

Commissioner, it quotes a figure of 6,500. In fact, when you look in

the document, there is no evidence, no back-up, no explanation as to

where that figure has come from. What number would you put on the

number of families which will be losing out? There are good things

in welfare reform, and things which are not so good. But if you take

the positive side of it for a moment, and this report today

ignores the positive side, the figures which we have from the

Department for Work and Pensions in London suggests that for murder

Northern Ireland, the production of universal credit, the good part,

will actually take 10,000 children in Northern Ireland out of poverty.

But the latest figures show we have 40,000 children in poverty. So, do

you think that no-one will lose out If we can reduce that figure by

10,000 through the introduction of universal credit then that is a

good thing. It will produce a simpler more effective system and

will remove the current benefit trap which stops some people

getting back into employment. has the Executive not grabbed a

hold of this? In Northern Ireland we have more households with

disabilities and mental health problems than in Britain. Why has

this been left as the remit of the Westminster Government? We have

taken charge of it. We are about to introduce a Northern Ireland

Welfare Reform Bill into the Assembly. That will be subject to

full scrutiny. We have made it absolutely clear it will be fully

scrutinised in the Assembly. As we take it through we will be looking

to see what can be done to mitigate against any detrimental effects of

welfare reform. That is why we have a sub-committee looking at what we

can do to make it most fitted to the needs of modern Ireland. So it

may not be as bad as the children's commissioner is making out? You may

make changes which are regional variations? I think there are

things we can do in terms of operational issues which can make

it more suitable for Northern Ireland because there are

differences here from the rest of the United Kingdom. We are entitled

to the same benefits here in Northern Ireland as the rest of the

United Kingdom and subject to the same conditions. Thank you. He will

go head-to-head with the commissioner for children tonight

on Park's and Minds. -- Hearts and Minds. The St Patrick's Centre in

Downpatrick has been saved from the immediate threat of closure. There

were fears that a reduction in council funding would mean the end

of the attraction but now attempts are continuing to secure its future.

Our district journalist, Francis Gorman, has more. Since this centre

opened they have had �100,000 per year for running costs from the

council but that has been cut by �20,000. It has been said they may

have to close their doors. But one MP said they could be run more

efficiently. I think the problem has been the board constantly

asking for more money rather than doing what I believe they should do

which is reduce their costs. I think the centre can be kept going

on the income available to it at the moment. Last night trustees of

the centre met with politicians to try to find a solution. Both sides

issued a statement saying they were committed to finding a resolution

to the problem. On a windy day on the north coast,like today, a

rooftop wouldn't be the best place to be. But that's where our

environment correspondent is, watching people planting grass.

He's up at the new visitors centre at the Giants Causeway where they

are putting the finishing touches to its unusual roof. Mike. Indeed

it is very windy here. We are not in a grass field but on the top of

the visitors' centre, on the roof. They are planting grass here. Let's

find out what is going on. You are a deep cultivation officer, why are

you planting the roof in grass? thought it would fit in very well

with the landscape. Even from a short distance away we can see the

basalt columns and the grass roof. They say is not just any old grass

or soil? His it is local. It is to blend in with the surrounding

landscape. The grass actually has been brought up in batches, we can

see them playing it, it has been grown near by? All a 300 metres

away from here, it has been growing in a field since last autumn which

helps acclimatise the grass to the conditions up here as well. At you

hope that local plants and animals will make this their home? Because

it is sourced locally it is a very similar P.H. To the surrounding

area is so any flora or fauna from nearby will colonise on this site

very well. Finally, briefly, they are still working away, is it going

to be open in time for the big golf championship? The plan has always

been 2nd July but they are working very hard on site so it is possible

we could even open earlier. Things are going on here, these little

bits of grass are being sold do American tourists! The countdown is

on to Ulster rugby's European Cup semi final this weekend. Here's

Stephen Watson. The last time Ulster were in a Heinekin Cup semi

final they went on to lift the trophy. That was back in 1999. 13

years on they've got a golden opportunity to win the competition

again. Standing in their way in the last four is Edinburgh. The Ulster

squad trained today at Ravenhill, without Chris Henry who appears

unlikely to play any part in Saturdays semi final. But Thomas

Kane is live with 2 players who will be on the pitch in Dublin.

Back in 1999 every single member of the Ulster squad were given this

special piece of crystal but let's not get too far ahead of her cells.

These two were only teenagers at that time. What is it like going

into this match? I have not really thought about it to be honest. I am

just getting on with training and looking forward to each match. I

think that is the most important thing. You have played in some huge

matches for Ireland but how does this differ? I just prepare like I

always do for big games. We are playing some good stuff with Ulster

and we will just try and keep it going. 40,000 screaming fans will

definitely get us on the right track. How do you shield yourself

from that kind of hype? 20,000 fans? I do not want it to shield

myself from it. When you walk down the street you bump into strangers

and everybody is your best mate and witches you well. There is going to

be some buzz at the game. I want to be part of that. How difficult is

it going to be against Edinburgh? A lot of people make Ulster

favourites but obviously you will not be complacent? We were

favourites at the start of the season but to be in this position

now is still unbelievable. The more experience you get of this

tournament the more you realise how special it is and the more you play

you want to play more. You do not want it to end. And how will you

feel going onto the pitch on Saturday knowing you are in a

European Cup final? It will mean everything to me personally and I

think for every Ulster fan it will mean everything. The whole balance

will beat the air and we are so excited to be walking off the pitch.

It is unbelievable. Thank you very much for joining us. We will

continue our build up end tomorrow night's BBC Newsline. Lisa Kearney,

who we featured a week ago here on BBC Newsline, has qualified for the

womens judo competition at this summers Olympics. She will

represent Ireland at London 2012. It has been a two-year long

qualification process for the Belfast woman, which ended today

when she secured a spot during the European Championships in Russia.

The local motorcycle road racing season gets underway tomorrow with

the traditional curtain raiser the Cookstown 100. The event is

celebrating its 90th anniversary with one rider hoping to extend his

record breaking run on his home circuit. In his impressive County

Tyrone workshop this man is getting ready for his 20th season of racing.

He has won war times on the roads than any other Northern Ireland

rider. The way I see it I have got nothing to prove. There are a few

of the other riders who feel more pressure to beat me than I feel to

beat them. I suppose it will all depend on the day you who gets the

best start. If you do not get a good start when you go round the

first corner you can have a massive task on your hands. Last year E C

won a clean sweep of races at Cookstown in one of the most

impressive performances in the history of the event. I am not

putting any pressure on myself to go and win five races. If it

happens, it happens. I just hope I can get a good steady run. I want

to get a place in the north-west and BP T. I hope for a bit of good

weather to. The chances of the Northern Ireland Women's football

team qualifying for the European Championship finals next July are

now remote. They lost 1-0 at home to Hungary last night. The winner,

a penalty, came with virtually the last kick of the game. Denise

Watson was there. The Northern Ireland captain cannot be a to look

at the last gap -- last-gasp penalty. It was hut in who conceded

it. The spot kick was converted to the delight of team-mates. Northern

Ireland had been the better side. Miguel came agonisingly close in

the second half. Nelson was denied with a superb goal line clear and

spat in the end it was all in been. They came away with nothing. It was

very disappointing because the girls worked so hard. We are very

proud of them. So, defeat for Northern Ireland in the cruellest

way possible, our last penalty in injury time. The need to go to

Iceland and Norway to get results but next up it is Bulgaria in the

middle of May. From the international ladies to a group of

Northern Ireland school girls hoping to follow in their footsteps.

125 first year pupils from five different schools in Belfast were

at The Dub today where they had the opportunity to play hockey, camogie,

rugby, gaelic and football. The multi-sports day has been set up to

encourage more girls to not only take part in sport but also to try

new ones. It is huge just to highlight ladies' sport in general.

Getting girls of this C Dowd, active and excited about sport.

That there is something out there for girls. There is so much out

there for boys but we want to hone in on getting girls active in this

age group. I'll be live in Dublin tomorrow with all the build up to

Ulster rugby European Cup semi- final against Edinburgh. The Prince

of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have arrived for the first

part of their two day visit. The royal couple were in Belfast this

afternoon visiting the historical St George's Church. Natalie Lindo

has more. The royal couple were greeted by the First Minister and

Dame Mary Peters. The Prince first visited the church in 1991. Back

then it had been badly damaged as a result of the Troubles. Since then

its transformation has mirrored that of Northern Ireland. The

Prince came today to inspect the building and hear about the work

being done in the community. He was presented with an English and Irish

version of the Book of Common Prayer. When he was here in 1991 he

sought the church in its previous State when it bore a lot of the

scars of the bombs that were common in this area. He has seen the

church now after a lot of restoration work and refurbishment

and he has noticed at huge change. The couple ended their visit by

signing the visitors' book and listening to the choir. Now for the

weather with Barra Best. We have had quite an unsettled day,

depending on where you are. Things are beginning to improve now with

much of the wet weather drifting away. Tonight it will become drier

and skies will clear so it will feel cold or perhaps with a frost

in the countryside. It will be a call the start to the rest of the

week but the good news is that Friday will be the best day of the

week. A bore it will feel called it will be bright and sunny throughout

the day. There will be one or two spots of cloud bubbling up and the

odd shower as a result. Temperatures peaking at around 11

Celsius. Cooler towards the north coast with the onshore breeze. The

second half of the day will be largely dry and bright. Overnight

into Saturday the temperatures will fall back once again perhaps even

below freezing in parts of the north-west. Towards the cost it

will be cloudier saw not quite so chilly. A decent start to the

weekend but you will notice cloud beginning to build and with that

there will be more wet weather. Showers at first perhaps merging