24/09/2013 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The headlines on BBC Newsline: In the past hour,

Michaella McCollum has arrived at court in Lima to answer drugs

smuggling charges. A family calls for an apology from

the First Minister after claims about a Fermanagh land deal.

A court hears Gerry Adams' brother, Liam Adams, deny he raped his

daughter. Hundreds of primary schools here

face big budget cuts. The Club versus Country debate in

rugby. Ireland's coach warns players must get the balance right.

And disappointingly dull today. We should see some brightness before

the end of the week. I'll be back with your forecast later in the

programme. A Dungannon woman accused of trying

to smuggle cocaine out of Peru is expected to plead guilty shortly.

to smuggle cocaine out of Peru is These are the latest pictures which

have just come in. They show 20-year-old Michaella McCollum and

her co-accused Melissa Reid, who is from Glasgow, being taken from

prison to court. They were put on to a prison van to be taken the hour

long journey to the courthouse. The pair were found to be carrying

one-and-a-half million pounds' worth of cocaine when they were detained

last month at the city's airport. We hope to bring you the latest on that

court appearance live from Peru later

The First Minister, Peter Robinson, has been asked to apologise to the

family at the centre of a land sale row between the DUP and TUV.

Yesterday, Peter Robinson accused the TUV leader Jim Allister of being

prepared to do business with Republicans over the land deal. Now

a member of the Fermanagh family involved has accused the DUP leader

of "besmirching" his wider family. Here is our political reporter,

Stephen Walker. Under the gaze of a former first

Minister, today 's political chatter at Stormont was dominated by the

remarks of the current post holder who said this about Jim Allister. He

chides me for doing business -- with Republicans, but outside this house,

secretly, the member, as the executor of a well, it is selling

land to Republicans in County Fermanagh to benefit his family. Jim

land to Republicans in County Allister denied he was the

consecutive or beneficiary of any will. He said the farm belongs to a

relative and after it was sold, the proceeds with divided between six

beneficiaries, one of whom was his wife. The TUV reader asked the

speakers to investigate the remarks. The standard of the debate yesterday

was below the standard I expect. However, it is clear to me there is

no evidence of unlawful behaviour. The speaker said the matter was now

closed. Today, a member of the The speaker said the matter was now

family involved contacted the BBC and said he wanted Peter Robinson to

withdraw his accusations. The family member, who wishes to remain

anonymous, says he was appalled the first Minister tried to make

political capital out of the death of his late relative. The family

also wants Peter Robinson to apologise. Today, others criticised

him. I thought the words were squalid and set carrying and it ill

behoves our first Minister who has a duty under the student -- under the

ministerial code to have sectarian iced Private business between Jim

Allister and his family. It would helpful if he were to come back and

explain the situation from his point of view. Also to make an apology to

the house. Other ministers say Peter Robinson

needs to explain what he meant. He has to answer the question

quickly, does he leave that when it comes to the sale of property, who'd

you sell it to is influenced now the weather you are Catholic,

Nationalist Republican? He needs to clarify his remarks.

Today, Jim Allister reiterated his position.

My wife has no ownership of any land anywhere. This is another attempt to

continue the scurrilous attack on me anywhere. This is another attempt to

and my family and I really do resent. I am fair game as they

politician in the rough and tumble of politics, but my wife is not in

politics. Once, Jim Allister and Peter

Robinson what political allies. This is the latest twist to a

relationship that has turned sour. Nobody from the DUP was available

for interview, but the party said. In response, Jim Allister said any

attempt to slow him or his family would not be tolerated. He has

written to the speaker and he hopes to make a personal statement to the

Assembly. So is the row merely a political

spat between warring parties or does it raise wider issues? Our political

spat between warring parties or does editor, Mark Devenport, joins me

from Stormont. How serious is this?

We know that there have been tensions between the TUV and the

DUP, over a number of issues, particularly over the maze peace

Centre which Jim Allister was making a point about yesterday. Maybe that

was the intention of Mr Robinson, to divert from the story. It has

brought out this historic memory of supposedly positions were near the

border you get Protestants unwilling supposedly positions were near the

to sell property to Catholics. The DUP say this is not the point they

to sell property to Catholics. The were making, they were talking about

inconsistency. But you heard nationalists charging that

assessment Mr has to distance himself from that sectarian eyes

Asian of the property market. -- charging that the first Minister. He

has been in -- accused of introducing a sectarian element to a

property sale, or the personal element was on of the first

Minister. So you could say it has backfired, but it has diverted from

the business Jim Allister was trying to raise. Talking to DUP sources,

they do not seem to be embarrassed. They say they have to put up with a

tax from Jim Allister and he puts on self on a Unionist pedestal, so they

are hitting back in time. -- puts himself. You are watching BBC

Newsline, still to come on the programme: Why the puffins are

Newsline, still to come on the becoming animated in Londonderry.

A court in Belfast has heard firm denials from a man accused of raping

A court in Belfast has heard firm and indecently assaulting his

daughter more than 30 years ago. 58-year-old Liam Adams, a brother of

daughter more than 30 years ago. the former West Belfast MP Gerry

Adams, is facing ten charges of assaulting his daughter Aine in the

late '70s and early '80s. Will Leitch reports.

Liam Adams did not give evidence in court today but listened while the

jury heard transcripts of three interviews he gave to detectives

after his arrest in February 2007. The allegations made by his daughter

Aine were put to him, and the claim his brother, Gerry Adams, his

ex-wife and Aine confronted him in 1987 in Donegal. He refuted all of

it. He said to a detective... Earlier, his daughter, Sinead, seen

here with her sister Aine, told the court she confronted her father in

Christmas 2002 and said he had confessed. She said she asked, did

you abuse my sister? She said he replied, yes, that happens between

you abuse my sister? She said he me and Aine, this is not about me

and Aine, this is about you and me. Sinead met her father several more

times in 2003 before breaking contact. Defence barristers painted

a different picture and said they were friendly and convivial family

gatherings and they said her were friendly and convivial family

behaviour was inconsistent with a woman who had heard her father

confessed to raping her sister. A defence barrister said...

Liam Adams denies making any confession. The case is expected to

continue into next week. Unionist politicians say they have

grave concerns that state schools are being unfairly hit by budget

cuts. An Assembly debate today has been looking at how hundreds of

cuts. An Assembly debate today has thousands of pounds are being

redistributed, in an attempt to improve standards for children from

redistributed, in an attempt to poorer backgrounds. Our education

correspondent, Maggie Taggart, has been looking at the potential

winners and losers. This school may look affluent,

winners and losers. sitting in North Down, but it says

it it stretched to the limit and the prospect of losing £25,000 from its

budget is daunting. It is in a group of ten primary schools, nine will

lose funds, but they are fighting their corner as they see other

schools getting extra resources. I am not against giving children in

deprived areas extra funding, I am arguing for, why has it been taken

from schools like ours whose budgets are extraordinarily stretched? -- I

am not arguing for giving children. There is an argument to giving more

weight to free school meals. Poverty usually goes hand-in-hand with poor

performance and the money will aim to raise standards. Four out of five

board in Northern Ireland are suffering heavy losses but they are

much better off in Belfast. Saint Peters here in Belfast is benefiting

from 15% of their budget, £121,000. Peters here in Belfast is benefiting

80% of pupils here are entitled to free school mulls so the budget will

increase. -- school meals. This is a piece of social engineering and it

will good in an area like this to benefit from it. It is maybe not

fair for everyone but the Minister has made this a priority and we are

one of the beneficiaries, so we are happy.

The majority of the 832 primary schools in Northern Ireland look set

to see a reduced budget. Belfast fares best with 24 out of 79 schools

facing cuts. Almost all integrated primary

schools will face cuts. Unionist politicians say they have grave

concerns about the way the cuts would take controlled schools

attended mostly by Protestants. 15% will get increases compared to 24%

in the maintained or Catholic sector. Those figures do not add up

in terms of equity, transparency and fairness. The controlled schools are

being graded to ensure money is put fairness. The controlled schools are

into other set does, that is not fair. The DUP are trained to

sectarian eyes this. This is about need and it is important to get that

message across. The funding does not sufficiently target resources in

need and we need to address that. There is still time to give an

opinion on this because consultation continues until mid October.

Interesting debate there. You can continues until mid October.

tell us what you think on our Facebook page. Just search for BBC

Newsline. This is BBC Newsline, coming up on the programme before

seven: She is on board and on her bike, how one Winter Olympics

hopeful is training for success. Nine people have been arrested

following raids on did illegal workers at shopping centres in

Northern Ireland. The operation, carried out a enforcement teams from

the Home Office, targeted mobile phone accessory cards in nine

different locations including shopping walls in Belfast, Dungannon

and Enniskillen. More arrests could take place in the coming days. We

have been trying to get more intelligent from this job. We would

look if we will prosecute these people or remove them to their own

look if we will prosecute these countries, if we can. We could also

look at more intelligence that will help us to get behind these workers

and find out who is facilitating this. You may not have heard of

Puffin Rock yet, but you will soon. The cartoon is going into production

at a new animation studio in Londonderry for Nickelodeon. The

cartoon has a budget of over £2 million and is co-produced by Derry

-based media company Dog Ears. Our million and is co-produced by Derry

reporter has had a look. Puffin Rock follows the adventures

of a family of puffins. They live on an island off the coast of Kerry.

The production is narrated by an Irish film star, Chris O'Dowd. It is

a glorious day on offer in rock. The TV series would be co-produced in Co

Derry. We want to make something very strong that we can be proud of,

so the fact we can make it in Co Derry means it is good for us, and

the factory can develop something in Co Derry and expose it worldwide and

take it to a worldwide market, that is the kind of thing we would like

to do. It is a success story for this company, they are building a

new studio in the city and recruiting new staff. 1 million of

our budget will be spent in the north-western Co Derry, and we are

confident we will create about 12 new jobs, so that is very exciting.

This is not just about the cartoon, Puffin Rock will be a series of

products which will turn it into a growth global round which could be

seen by millions of people. We have been working on this for a long

time, and you hope that this will be somebody's favourite book or

cartoon, and to reach that, it is the most exciting thing we could

cartoon, and to reach that, it is think of.

As it all gets underway, there are still opportunities for fledgling

voice-over artists. Could you be a character? If you would like to get

involved, then get in contact on the website.

Police have arrested a 16-year-old man in east London as part of a

renewed investigation into a 1976 Belfast murder. 26-year-old Paul

McNally was shot dead and another man seriously injured in a sectarian

gun attack outside Sean Graham's bookmakers on the common road.

Methodist College in Belfast has sent all GCSE geography results back

Methodist College in Belfast has to an English exam boards to be

re-marked. It is understood the school is unhappy with the marks

awarded for course work in this year's exams. AQA has concerned it

awarded for course work in this is reviewing these results. -- has

confirmed. Ulster's returning Lions could

feature in the next game, but managing this workload will be the

challenge this autumn. Now, the sports news.

Tommy Bowe and Rory Best are back in contention for Ulster in the pro 12

match against Treviso on Friday at Ravenhill. It will be their first

game since returning from the Lions tour. They are good examples of the

ongoing debate on Irish internationals and have -- how often

they are available to play? This final was the last time that

Rory Best and Tommy Bowe played for Ulster. 125 days later, this Friday

night, they will be part of an Ulster squad back in Ravenhill. It

brings into focus the ongoing debate, when Irish internationals

come play with their problems and when they must rest? Rory Best

believes that Irish players have an attachment to their problems that

are simply unique in world rugby, so when they can and cannot play, this

must be carefully managed. It's definitely does. If you are given

the option, if you have a nickel and you're given the option to come up

here, what do you think, do you want to play? Every time, I will say

yes, because not only is it special to play for Ulster, but you do not

want to let down your team-mates and ultimately as a rugby player, you

want to play me. It needs to be taken out of the hands of the

player. Almost always, the player will choose to play rugby. That is

player. Almost always, the player the problem facing Joe Smith, as a

called for Leinster, he understands the desire to play for the problems,

but as the coach of the country, it is important that they do not. It is

pretty self and evident that by the time the six Nations, round, some

players could be compromised by fatigue. Is it the best thing for

Irish rugby? Is the best thing for any team to overplay a player? It is

not best for the player or the team. He will have a hands-on role

managing the players and when they will become available to the

provinces. One of the priorities for Irish rugby is to redevelop the

resource pool so that the provinces, including Ulster, can

thrive, even when international players are absent.

Noel King has been named as interim boss of the Republic of Ireland

soccer team. He has been working as coach of the under 21 is and will

prepare for the Republic's two remaining World Cup qualifiers away

to Germany and at home to Kazakhstan, as the FAI searches for

a permanent successor to Giovanni Trapattoni.

With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, a woman from banger is

hoping to represent Northern Ireland in the Winter Olympics. Aimee Fuller

compete and trains alone, but in the last week, she met up with the rest

of the Team GB skiers and boarders for a team bonding exercise with a

difference. We usually find Aimee Fuller

hurtling down the ski slopes on her ski board. She is hoping to confirm

her place at the next Winter Olympics. But the woman from County

her place at the next Winter Down has been trying something

different with the rest of Team GB. We are at the Manchester velodrome,

giving it a go, trying a few new skills, going as fast as we can

around a very steep track. It would be interesting. The Olympic cyclists

reach up to 50 mph on this track, and whilst Aimee Fuller isn't

reaching this speed, the exercise proved to be worth it both for

fitness and for some team bonding. We are never normally in the UK

together, we are always travelling together, so it is fun to be on the

home turf and do something different, so this is something we

would never get the opportunity to do. That is seriously intense, but

it is so much fun. You can go so fast on these things. After a

snowboarding career, cycling! Maybe not! Two wheels may be fun, but

Aimee Fuller will be back on her snowboard soon enough!

We wish all of the best of luck. American Le Mans is a sports car

racing series in the United States and Canada and was created in the

spirit of the 24 hours of Le Mans, and there is a man from here doing

well over there. Two cars locked in a battle at the

front of a race in Austin, Texas this weekend. The problem car is

driven by Damien Faulkner, a native of Co Donegal. He is about to take

first place on the podium. He joins of Co Donegal. He is about to take

the Le Mans series two years ago and is now a highly regarded driver in

the United States. I knew that it would come to me if I played it

cleverly and kept out of trouble. Obviously, we were not striving

easily, the lap times were very fast. Eventually, there was no

catching him. It's does his reputation no harm, but like every

good driver, he knows it is not a one-man sprint. Fantastic. I am lost

for words, for once. Just, the team, they were just, they were just

perfect throughout the whole weekend. Next up is a raise in

Virginia, then onto the season final in Atlanta, Georgia. That is life in

the fast Lane, Donegal style. Finally, a local football, it is the

the fast Lane, Donegal style. quarterfinals of the County Antrim

Shield tonight with all of the details on the 10:25pm bulletin.

Dungannon woman Michaella McCollum and Scottish woman Melissa Reid are

at court in Lima. These are the latest pictures. The 20-year-old was

brought thereabouts two years ago. They are expected to plead guilty

having been arrested with a large quantity of drugs at the airport in

the city last month. When her name first tip the headlines, it was

thought she had gone missing. Then she turned up thousands of miles

from home in the most unlikely of circumstances. Alun Jones has been

looking at the background to this case, and to report begins with

pictures taken shortly after the pair were arrested. What is your

name? Michaella McCollum. Far from home and unable to speak the local

language, the 20-year-old was questioned on camera by the police

at Lima airport. She and Melissa Reid were stopped from boarding a

flight to Madrid. Suspected of trying to smuggle drugs out of the

country. They had cocaine worth £1.5 million which is claimed to have

been hidden in these food packages. I was forced to take these bags in

my luggage. You know it contains drugs? I did not know that. They

claim that an armed gang forced them to carry the drugs from EB said to

Lima. -- from Spain to Lima. They run the gauntlet of the media

throughout the judicial process in Lima. A Belfast lawyer takes on the

case of Melissa -- Michaella McCollum. The prison accommodation

is not acceptable, there are no blankets, it is not clean, and the

most important thing is, they had blankets, it is not clean, and the

not been offered any foods today. They have been in jail in the

Peruvian capital since their arrest in early August. A far cry from the

carefree image captured in these photographs taken a few days just

before their arrest. If Michaella McCollum makes representations to

the authorities there, she could serve her prison sentence closer to

home. We will have the latest in the late

summary at 10:25pm. Now, the weather.

What a drab day it has been. It will get quite foggy this evening. There

will be some dampness around and a lot of places are looking like

this. This picture taken earlier today in Warrenpoint. The low cloud

failing to go away. It is here for the rest of the night. Some light

rain and drizzle working in two parts of Co Fermanagh and Co Tyrone

at the moment. It will be damp on the south. Some rain here and there.

Plenty of mist and low cloud. Foggy on the hills. On the plus side, at

least it is still miles. Mild enough to keep the central heating switched

off. Tomorrow, starting grey and misty again. Much of the day would

be cloudy. The drab weather refusing to lift away. Some spots of rain,

not a lot, and many places will stay dry through the day. Especially

across the south and west, that is very you are likely to see some

rightness tomorrow. Part of Co Fermanagh, County Tyrone, price of

Co Armagh later on. In the West, around 18 degrees. The temperatures

are gradually coming down to the average for this time of the year

which is 15 or 16 degrees. Not particularly breezy. Some spots of

light rain and drizzle up towards hearts of the County Antrim coast.

light rain and drizzle up towards Disappointing if you're looking for

some sunshine. Lots of people asking for sunshine on Twitter. Tomorrow

night, some conditions again. Some light rain and drizzle, but nothing

of any significance. Thursday, you might need an umbrella. Some showers

around, possibly, and cloudy conditions would be persistent.

Writer on Friday, some high pressure before some wet weather working its

way north over the weekend. Friday looks like the best day.

Thank you. Join us for the late summary at 10:25pm, you can keep in

contact with us on Facebook and Twitter. Goodbye.