06/08/2013 BBC Newsline

Newsline - a loyalist crowd jostles and heckles Belfast's Lord Mayor

during a visit to the Shankill area. The council hit by �300,000 scam, I

have the details. An investigation into the deaths of a man and a woman

in Lisnaskea is continuing. BBC Newsline learns that the SDLP's

Conall McDevitt claimed thousands of pounds in payments made to his

wife's company. Nine matches without a win, the

Northern Ireland football manager names his squad for Russia.

And in the weather. A mainly dry night tonight. A bright start to

tomorrow. But the showers are never Fein's Mairtin O'Muilleoir was

treated in hospital after being jostled during a visit in the

Shankill area. Nine police officers suffered cuts and bruises as a

loyalist crowd threw missiles and disrupted the park's official

re-opening. The Lord Mayor who was not seriously hurt had to be

escorted from the area. Chris Page This wasn't the walk in the park

which was expected. It was billed as a family fun day but it was anything

but for the Lord Mayor. Several dozen loyalists jostled and tackled

and shouted sectarian abuse as the politician left surrounded by

police. Nine officers were injured protecting Mairtin O'Muilleoir

before he was driven away. The day began with a mood of unity, the Lord

Mayor joint the DUP and the Minister and a counsellor. The parks have

been revamped at a cost of �2 million each, the Lord Mayor took

part in rough-and-tumble of a different kind. The reopening of the

park was supposed to be the first leg of a double celebration and

Mairtin O'Muilleoir was at heat. These have great heritage. The

greatest days are in front of these parks. When the Lord Mayor arrived

at the park, the opposite of the welcome was waiting. We don't want

him. As traitors had prepared placards for Sinn Fein. The park is

closed well loyalists and Orangemen have held demonstrations about the

ban on the 12th parade. Last night it was reported to shots were fired

at police from the nationalist side. The crowd built up as the Lord Mayor

was in the garden. The speeches were cancelled and the police and Mairtin

hostility towards police continued, some missiles were thrown, none of

the nine officers who were hurt needed police treatment. The Lord

Mayor opens the park at earlier, he thought by coming to Shankill he

would send a signal about his intentions in the job but things are

not turned out how he'd hoped. A DUP and melee warned Mairtin O'Muilleoir

not to come. The Lord Mayor must understand cannot make statements

and go around doing press interviews calling for our flag to be removed

and then when he has a chain as Lord Mayor expecting people to welcome

him. That is not how it works in the real world. He should have been

better placed to carrying out other duties today. The Lord Mayor went to

hospital but made it to his next engagement. I commend the police who

took a lot of lows, I took some blows but I think you have to do

travel per Hull City to represent all of the people and I am resolved

responsible for the violence which they described as appalling. The

Police are investigating a scam has netted hundreds of thousands of

pounds of money from Belfast City Council.

Sources have told the BBC that about three hundred thousand pounds has

been paid out to fraudsters posing as a legitimate firm. Our political

correspondent Martina Purdy has the story and is at Belfast City Hall.

What happens? Well, I received a tip-off that

Forster is targeted the council and they have lost several hundred

thousand pounds. I made some phone calls and immediately the press

office came back confirming police were indeed investigating an alleged

external fraud. The council declined to answer further questions come I

asked if any employees had been suspended following the incident and

was told it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.

There is no suggestion that any council employees are involved in

criminality. What else are you hearing? Sources tell me of an

elaborate scam, basically �300,000 was owed to accompany which carried

out work to stop the problem arose when someone contacted the company

claiming to be from the council asking for outstanding invoices.

Those invoices within four did to the council seeking payment using

new bank details and �300,000 was then put into the account to pay the

fraudster. Police are now investigating and council sources

say they are hoping to recoup the money through insurers. An audit

committee will receive a report next month. It is not the only council to

be targeted. There are cases in Great Britain and Wales. A council

was targeted by fraudsters who set up a bogus charity. What about the

police, what have they said? Well, police have told me they

received an allegation of fraud and an investigation is under way and

there were no further details. Thank you.

The deaths of two people in Lisnaskea over the past few days

remain unexplained. The man and woman died within twenty four hours

of each other at separate addresses in the County Fermanagh village. One

of the funerals will take place tomorrow. Here's our reporter in the

South-West Julian Fowler. The funeral for Olivia Reilly will

take place tomorrow morning. The 29-year-old was a care worker for

the elderly. She had a nine-year-old son. A parish priest told me he

would remember her beautiful smile. He said there was a deep sense of

sadness in the community but they were doing all they could to support

her grief stricken parents. She was found at the house she was visiting

in Lisnaskea on Sunday. The police are continuing to investigate the

circumstances surrounding her death. Less than 24 hours later, the body

of Noel Riley, who was unemployed, was discovered a mile away. The

police were still at the property this afternoon. His sudden death

also remains unexplained. The two were not related to each other and

it is not clear if the deaths are connected or just a tragic

coincidence. The police issued no new details today but they are

continuing to appeal for anyone with information to contact them. It

could be some time before the results of tests to determine what

caused their deaths are known. You're watching BBC Newsline.

Still to come on the programme - the visually impaired woman who's hoping

to ski her way to gold in the winter BBC Newsline has learned that the

SDLP Assembly Member Conall McDevitt claimed more than 14 thousand pounds

in expenses which were paid to an academic research company set up by

his wife. The politician has confirmed payments were made to JM

Consulting. But Mr McDevitt says his wife did not personally receive any

of the money. Tara Mills reports. The office expenses detail a company

which was paid significant sums for what is described as research and

secretarial work. The consulting firm is Joanne Murphy consulting,

his wife. She is a Queens University academic whose company has

previously advertised for work on the community relations Council

website. The assembly register asks if any family member has benefited

from office expenses, for both years Conall McDevitt said no but the MLA

has written to the assembly authorities informing them public

money was paid to a company set up in his wife's name. The register now

for academics and his wife did not personally receive any payments.

What sort of money are we talking interview but he declined. He issued

a statement. Conall McDevitt said he wrote to the authorities to remove

any question of doubt about the payments to his wife. He said the

checks were made payable to JM consulting which paid each of the

A family of three escaped injury in a shotgun attack in West Belfast

early this morning. A shot was fired at a house at Tollnamona Court.

No-one was injured. The front door, hallway and kitchen were damaged in

the attack. The family say they won't be intimidated from their

As new figures reveal the extent of alcohol abuse, a leading liver

disease expert has called for a minimum price of at least 50 pence

for a unit of alcohol. 266 people died in Northern Ireland last year,

from drinking too much. Sir Ian Gilmore says Stormont needs

to act. The Professor was giving this year's health clebg hurt in --

lecture in West Belfast. We went to meet him. A minimum price for

alcohol really make that much of a difference? Setting it at 50 pence

would mean a 14 unit bottle of cider could jump in price by round �4, the

same for a bottle of wine, depending on its strength. The arguments for

and against is a thing to this year's health lecture, it has been

given by Professor Sir Ian Gilmore. Thank you for joining us. What is

the minimum price you would like to see and why? First I would like to

see the principle accepted. We know that price is up there with

availability and marketing as one of the main driver, how much we drink

and how much harm we see, a minimum unit price is the more targeted and

effective way. So let us get the principle established and 50 pence

would be a sensible level to set it at to start with. Is this something

that affects middle or older age people? The whole age range. When I

was a liver specialist 30 years ago it was a disease of middle age and

elderly men. Now we are seeing it in both sex, men and women, as young as

20, dying of liver disease. The Health Minister is keen for this

to happen. What is causing the hold up? Politicians are nervous, about

the impact it will have on the blels off people. I think people are

watching Scotland, where it is on the statute book, but it is being

challenged in the courts by the scotch bhis I can association. I

would like them to show Westminster it has done a U-turn on this policy.

Nod rat drinkers may describe this as a blunt instrument, penalising

them for what they would December crime as moderate consumption of

alcohol It hits the heaviest drinkers and the underage drinkers

because they grave Tait to the cheapest drink. The moderate drinker

will pay an extra five pence a week or so, that is a small price to pay

for an improved health in our local neighbourhoods.

So all eyes on Scotland and that legal challenge to see what will

happen there. More to come before seven.

We catch up with the Spaniard who has become the poster boy for the

World Police and Fire Games. Friendships have been forged at the

games nanned is what a a summer project is hoping to achieve, with

the young people who live in South Belfast. The emphasis is on boys and

girls from Catholic and Protestant backgrounds, as different ethnic

minority groups as well. In is one way of getting through to young

people. With a ball, and soccer coaches from two clubs, Glasgow

Rangers and Celtic. Aspiring players from both tradition

in Belfast are taking part in this summer project.

It is not just about ball control and scoring goals, it is about

respect for your neighbour, and shared living spaces. It is easier

when you bring the right coaches in and people, and it levels it out a

wee bit. And, kids do grow up, they get on with it. They respond to it.

As I said it works. It breaks down all barrier, you can see they were,

the young lads, and girls, didn't care who they were playing with, but

during the summer time when tensions are running hire, try and bring them

together and this is a positive way to do it. So what do the young

people make of it all? Did you get much chance to meet up with Catholic

kiss your own age? Not really.Were you apprehensive. No I was all right

about. What about your mates?Good. Meeting other people from the other

side. You get to know more people, different communities. It is sweet,

like. What do you think of the Protestant footballers. Decent

enough. Give you a match?No. summer project includes trips to

historical sites, important to both traditions. But this is where it

really kicks off. Two international football -- too

internags football next and David Healy turned 4ied, but there is no

birthday present from the Northern Ireland manager. Austin O'Callaghan

is here with news of that and more. Michael O'Neill has left out Healy,

Chris Baird and Pat McCourt from the squad, for next week's World Cup

qualifier. The trio are without clubs after being released from

their previous employers at the end of last season. The New York Red

Bulls midfielder Jonny Steele is missing despite speculation he might

be involved. He his five appearances off earning

his 100th cap for Northern Ireland, but without a club David Healy may

never reach that milestone. I spoke to him yesterday, think he has

something to offer. He knows last season was disappointing, he had

injury problems, and you know, he is in a struggling team. Hopefully this

season gets a better opportunity, a better club, because he is still

capable of scoring goals and it takes a manager to be brave enough

to see that in him. The same can be said for Chris Baird and Pat

McCourt, who are also on the look out for new clubs. Until they find

one, they won't be involved in Michael O'Neill's international set

It is difficult at the minute for players who are unattached, I know I

have spoken to the players over the last few week, and as I say,

hopefully they get sorted out. It is a case of bringing a player in, who

has not had proper preseason train, not been training on a daily basis

with a club, you are six weeks into preparation period for club player,

it would be unrealistic to have the players to have impact or influence

in an international fixture. Had it not have been for a fixture's clash

this weekend New York Red Bulls Jonny Steele would have been

involved. His inclusion is not ruled out in the future. That match will

be live on BBC Radio Ulster next Wednesday. A 65-year-old man from

Northern Ireland has won the original single-handed transatlantic

race. He sailed from Plymouth to rode islands which took him 58 days

to come plee. . -- complete. He took first place after the other

competitors gave up. They are made of tough stuff here. We are using to

seeing Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth bring home medals from the

summer Paralympic Games but a County Down woman is looking to bring a

place in the blue bottoms Hurd hurtling down here is from Bangor,

she is 27, visually impaired and heavily reliant on her ear, her eyes

come in the guise of the guide working in tandem with her.

We have radio communication so we have microphone that is a two way

communication, he can speak to me, she is basically, help, she is is my

anticipation, she is my eyes on the slope. The type of things she would

be telling me, is there is a bump coming or it has got to the stage

where I can tell if her breathing changes, or if she tenses up and

makes a tiny noise, I am like "Bump coming." It is more verbal than her

being able to see me. It is what I say and how I put it across.

Kelly is the first athlete from the UK to win a Silver Medal at an

alpine Paralympic event. I helps at 22 her guide is a former English ski

champion. Funded by sport Northern Ireland, when off-peak they sing

cases of as Sinai, the University of Ulster's facility for elite

athletes. They have different role tons slopes. Charlotte has to guide

Kelly, not only for speed and to get results, but for safety, and that is

a big thing to have to trust someone to do that. For Kelly it is about

following instruction and being able to take on what Charlotte says and

push. We won our first cup gold. We are continuing by coming back home

and trying to perfect our technique and ski the best we can. We hope for

binge thing, and just, basically, continuing the way we have been in

keying well together. All this week she has been training in the French

resort, the miles put in pay off in Russia, then history beckons. No-one

from the UK has won a gold medal at a Winter Paralympics games to today.

It would seem they have the balance just about right, but then again,

the thin line between success and fail can be a wobbly won.

A woman with sporting ability. We will watch Kelly's progress with

interest. Rory McIlroy defends his US PGA title this week, we will have

the build up to golf's final major of the year on tomorrow's programme.

We will see what form he is in. One of the athletes being used to

promote the world World Police and Fire Games is a Spaniard who seems

to be no ordinary man. Jose Antonio Gomez Milara is a firefighter an he

is in the running to clinch the title toughest competitor alive.

We went to Bangor to meet him. Where ever you go at the games this

week, there is Jose, but the fireman from Madrid doesn't mind the

attention. . The people who recognise me are the people from

Spain, they know me, they say I see you in Belfast, the poster, I feel

really proud. Today he has been competing in one event combining

athleticism with strength. There are eight different disciplines

including the 100 metres dash. It has one of the best names ever.

They are firemen, policemen, they have done the 5 k run, and with this

sprint they are aiming to become the toughest competitors alive.

But there is a bit more work to come yet, to claim that title I did the

Ak, the shot put I did, I did the 100 metre dash, it is not my better

event, I think I really did my best, so, now we are going to start at the

swimming pool, and now the next events for me are really good, so I

hope to be in the top when they finish. He is hoping for a medal but

this poster boy has other plans too. I will take a lot of in my job and

for my wife and child. I am sure he We didn't see a that! The weather is

next. next.

. Never saw a thing. Never saw a thing. Good evening. It has been a

cool and cloudy day today. As we have had a few showers round

as well, this evening and into tonight, most of those are going to

fade away. We will have some rain overnight, but it will be confined

to the far west. For much of Northern Ireland, I think, we have a

dry night ahead. It will feel cool overnight. As we head into tomorrow

morning it is a cloudy start to the day, with a bit of mist round,

particularly on the coast, but we are not expecting that to last too

long. It will burn back quite quickly through the morning

tomorrow. So this is the picture. As I say bright spells round, but also

some showers too, and it will be playing our favourite game of dodge

the shower, where you miss out there are bright spells through the day,

but the temperatures are maybe not what we would hope for for this time

of year, a bit cool on the north coast, a 15.

So that is the picture as we head through the day on werntion some of

those showers could be sharp, particularly over the higher ground.

As we go through Wednesday evening, it is going to be a mainly clear

night tomorrow night, with temperatures down into single

figures in some place, the good news is Thursday will be a bright start

to the day, the temperatures starting to nudge up into the high

teens, a bright morning before, I am afraid, some rain starts to work in

through the late afternoon and early evening. The cause of that is an

Atlantic system, it is working its way in towards us, it is due to

arrive on Thursday evening, into Friday morning. It brings with it

some cloud, it brings with it some rain. As we head through into

Friday. So, you have heard the phrase

before, sunshine and showers, it is a phrase I am afraid we are going to

repeat again and again this week, I think Thursday is going to have the

brightest start to it, and a bright start again on Saturday morning, but

yes, a mix of sunshine and showers. Thank you. A typical summer. Before

we go a reminder of our main stories. Belfast Lord Mayor needed a

police escort to leave a park in the Shankill area of the city as he was

heckled by loyalists. He went to hospital briefly and nine police

officers suffered cuts and bruises, it was condemned by the Justice

Minister who said the Lord Mayor was carrying out his civic duty at what

was supposed to be a positive event for the Woodvale area. Newsline has

learned the police are probing a scam that has netted hundreds of

thousands of pounds from Belfast's City Council.