20/11/2013 BBC Newsline

is all from the BBC News at six. On BBC One we

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline: There is a storm of

controversy over the Attorney General's call for an end to

prosecutions for crimes from the Troubles.

The time is come to think about putting a line such that Good Friday

Agreement in 1998 with respect to prosecutions and inquests.

The reaction has been mixed from victims and survivors. We hear their

views at a trauma support centre. victims and survivors. We hear their

Four brothers admit being in the house where a couple suffered fatal

burns. The property market continues its

recovery as house prices edge up again.

And as today's wild winds gradually subside, the outlook is a lot

calmer. I'll be back with all the details shortly.

First tonight, the story that is dominating the headlines. The

Attorney General's call for an end to prosecutions for Troubles related

killings. John Larkin has told the BBC there should be no further

police investigations, inquests or inquiries into killings by

paramilitaries, the police or army that took place before the Good

Friday Agreement in 1998. The comments have prompted a massive

response, from the Prime Minister and the Taioseach, to local

politicians and victims groups. In a moment we'll bring you that

reaction, but first here is home affairs correspondent.

The past continues to cast a shadow over the present. How to deal with

the legacy of the Troubles remains one of the most contentious issues

on the political agenda. The Attorney General has now entered the

debate. More than 15 years have passed since the agreement. There

have been very few prosecutions. Every competent criminal lawyer will

tell you that the prospect of conviction diminishes with each

passing year. It strikes me that the time is come to think about putting

a line set at the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 with respect to

prosecutions, inquests and other inquiries. 11 people were killed

when a bomb exploded at an event in 1987. No-one has ever been

convicted. And no-one ever will if the proposal by the Attorney General

were to be common law. More with soldiers who shot dead 13 people on

bloody Sunday face trial. Any police investigation, inquests or inquiry

not completed by the time any such legislation was introduced, would

end at that point. The historical inquiries team, set up to re-examine

all the Troubles killings, would also cease to exist. So no-one would

be prosecuted for offences related to the Troubles before 1998? That is

right. Many have described the proposals as an amnesty. It is not

an amnesty, it is simply a stay on criminal proceedings. Sometimes that

which is a crime ceases to be a crime. It would simply be that no

criminal proceedings would be possible with respect to those

offences. There is a lot of focus on the use of the word amnesty. We need

to not focus on one single aspect of the solution. In terms of balance to

that, an and to the inquest, because, if you like, the inquest

tends to be the way relatives are able to hold the states to account,

whereas a criminal code -- for medical prosecution does not provide

an even nice. We do not have the ability to bring to account these

offences. If I asked you the question, I want the police to

continue pursuing the person who killed my loved one cannot you want

to draw a line under it. How do you justify that to this relatives who

would say that they believe that you cannot put a price or a time limit

on justice? I have had conversations with people in that very position.

What I have said to them is that I have drawn attention to the logic of

existing legislation and also to the extreme improbability of criminal

proceedings ever taking place. The real test of the acceptability of

these proposals is, how will the Dems across the board respond? John

Larkin has outlined his views to a former US diplomat. He is trying to

work out an agreement that includes how to deal with the past.

The comments and its strong reactions from politicians. The

Prime Minister made it clear the government would not be considering

an amnesty. Here is our political correspondent. The past is always

present for politicians at Stormont. Those are the remarks of someone who

is a convicted terrorist and are shameful. But the attempt to draw a

line under the past is succeeding in one thing today, for once uniting

the parties against him. I think it would have been better if it had

been dealt with in the context of a submission from him as a private

individual. He is the Attorney General who is responsibility it is

to look over legal matters, and in this instance, we had new

conversation with him about this. Given the statement by the Attorney

General overnight, on his own behalf and without consultation, does he

agree that there can be no question of an amnesty for any terrorist

atrocities and crimes, and that all victims of terrorism deserve truth

and justice? The Prime Minister did indeed agree. They are his own words

and not at the behest of anybody else. The government has no plans to

legislate for amnesty for crimes that were committed during the

Troubles. The US to format view is consulting on issues of the past, I

think that to the right forum to discuss these issues. Don Mikan has

shown in the past he has no problem taking on the political

establishment. -- John Larkin. This time, and not for the first time,

his motivation is being questioned. He did not consult the victims for

him. I cannot believe you did not realise the hurt and pain that would

be created. An awful lot of people are hurting today because of the

shock of discovering this is where he is. Ill-timed and ill advised. I

think it was an error of judgment to the overall issue of dealing with

the past in dealing with victims. The Taioseach said the idea would be

difficult for victims, but there was some support from an unlikely

source, and in him Peter Larkin once tried to prosecute. But only one of

the local parties came to the aid of the Attorney General. It is very

difficult. I have huge sympathy for those who have been affected, but we

do have to find a way of moving Northern Ireland from the past and

into the future, and a different way of going about things is essential.

But it does not look like that wait will be John Larkin's way.

Let's get reaction from victims' families now to what the Attorney

General has suggested. Donna is at a centre run by the victims' group

Wave. This is a cross-community

organisation offering support to people traumatised by violence

before and since the Good Friday Agreement. It also has a centre in

Londonderry and it was in that city today that some bereaved relatives

were quick to voice their reaction to the no prosecution proposal.

Emotions were running high as a relatives confronted a US diplomat

in a local hotel lobby over the controversial proposal by the

Attorney General. He is trying to drawn -- a line, and we do not think

that is right. We need justice and accountability. These women lost

their brother, who was shot dead on bloody Sunday. Their father was also

injured in the 1972 shootings in which 14 people died. How do you

draw a line? How do you say it is OK for killers to go free? There is no

peace for us. It is not something we can accept. One man who lost his son

in a bombing also said the idea was a complete nonstarter. I do

in a bombing also said the idea was any merit, and I think that we, as

part of the United Kingdom, we deserve the same just as we would

get in London or Birmingham or Glasgow. The diplomat would not be

drawn on the suggestion. One of the few principles I had it that I tend

not to comment on things before I have a chance to read and write just

them -- to read and digest them. I look forward to meeting with the

Attorney General in getting a better sense from him directly about what

his thoughts are, and then I want to see how the various political and

civic leaders react before I formed my own opinion. It was a busy day

for the doctor. With me is Alan McBride, who lost

his wife and father in law in the Shankill bombing and Jude Whyte,

whose mother was killed by a UVF bomb in Belfast.

We heard there from the relatives you have had an inquiry, but some

are still looking for justice. What merit do you see in the suggestion

of new prosecutions? I think John Larkin reflects the toxicity that is

still going on. The people of Derry Neal within five minutes of those

events that those 13 people who were killed that they were indeed

murdered him and 30 years later, they are still crying out for

justice. What John Larkin said was that many of these relatives groups

and many people who have been briefed by this conflict will never

get justice if a prosecution is what they seek. It simply will not

happen. He is being very realistic about what he said today. Has he

been bold and brave? I totally disagree with him. I think it is a

very strong message for victims to hear that they will never get any

justice, they will never get any prosecutions, there will never be an

inquiry into the murder of their loved ones. I had a trial and a

guide served a short time in jail, and at least I got that. Everybody

deserves what I got, absolutely. There is protection from prosecution

for those involved in the decommissioning of weapons, also,

those who can help locate the victims of the disappeared, so what

is the difference with this? That is a matter for the families to decide

if that is what they would accept in order to get that information about

the bodies of their loved ones. There was no consultation here. John

Larkin has put this on the table to be discussed, but he did not discuss

this with the victims and survivors. I do not know what his powers are

and what sort of things he can comment on. I thought he was

overstepping the mark on this one a little bit. There needs to be a

process for these people to get the answers they are looking for. People

do not like the idea of drawing a line under the past, but for those

who need and want an inquiry, a police investigation, why should

they be deprived of that? He merely suggested that people should start

talking about this on and he based it on the evidence that we are now

over 20 years into a post cease-fire situation. There are statutory

hotties working day and night for these prosecutions and they are not

coming. I asked evil to reflect, -- I asked people to reflect. Look at

the case of my mother. I understand why the man who did it did it. That

is a private issue and I do not want to reflect that on any family. That

is just my opinion. One solution will not fit all. Of course, and

people have will not fit all. Of course, and

through the courts. All John Larkin said was, what we as a society, we

as a society to not want to deal with this issue. This is a template

and we rejected it. Later in the programme, we mark the 30th

anniversary of the shooting at a church near Darkley in County Armagh

when three people were killed. Four brothers accused of a double

murder and arson attack have admitted, for the first time, that

they were the gang who entered the victims' home. They continued to

deny the charge of murder. They are req used of killing, so here near

County Armagh. Nile and Martin Smith arrived at

court last week. They have admitted they were the masked men who entered

the victims' home just just over seven years ago. There was a huge

explosion in the house. Both died from their injuries within days.

Smith brothers required stays in hospital. One of the mast a nurse to

phone his wife, he was convinced he was going to die. The partner of

Stephen Smith said when she arrived at the hospital she was told that

all four were critical and not expected to live. In an agreed

statement of facts read to the jury, the brothers accepted that they had

brought the petrol with them and it had been distributed throughout the

hose. The prosecution case is that the Smith brothers were motivated by

a desire to punish the victim for a sexual assault he had perpetrated on

the youngest brother 16 years earlier. In another statement read

to the jury, the partner of Stephen Smith said he had become

increasingly agitated in the months leading up to the fire about the

presence in the area of the victim. He said he had been obsessive about

protecting their son. He had struggled for years to come to terms

with what Thomas O'Hare had done to struggled for years to come to terms

him and had spent time in a psychiatric ward. The prosecution

has concluded and the defence is expected to start on Monday.

The Parades Commission has imposed restrictions on a loyalist protest

planned for Belfast city centre at the end of this month. The parade

will mark the first anniversary of Belfast City Council's decision to

restrict the flying of the union flag at City Hall. The Commission

says the protest, involving 40 bands and up to 10,000 participants, must

leave the City Hall assembly point no later than 12 noon and pass the

Royal Avenue North Street junction no later than 12:30pm.

New figures show that the housing market is continuing to recover with

a number of house tells higher than any time since 2007 -- house sales.

What do these figures show? We have the residential property price index

which is produced every three months and is thought to be the most

comprehensive look at the market. It shows that in the last three months

between July and September, prices have increased by 2%, which is the

second quarter in a row we have seen prices increasing, which suggests

the market is finally stabilising and perhaps some meant going into

the market. That gives us an average price of ?99,000. Another figure is

the number of transactions which has breached about 4000 which is the

highest number of transactions since 2007, which is suggesting that you

have willing buyers and sellers transacting. There are signs of

recovery, but can you transacting. There are signs of

perspective? You have to be realistic. Northern Ireland suffered

about the worst property crash the world knows. If we got 2005, prices

are still 10% below what they were in 2005, so for a lot of people in

negative equity, there is still a long way to go. What has been the

reaction? The finance minister says this is evidence that confidence is

returning and it is good news for first-time buyers.

On the day that Hull finds out that it is to be the next UK City of

Culture, the minister for culture here has announced what happens when

the Derry/Londonderry year ends. The focus of the legacy from the year

will be on community arts, rather than high profile events.

It has been an exciting year so far with resignations and rose, but also

dramatic highlights and very successful events. It has always

been a concern that the year-long UK City of Culture celebrations would

end and nothing would take their place. Now the minister for culture,

arts and leisure says she is trying to put that right. She says she will

make sure some initiatives can continue for another three years

such as the music promise which gets tuition to young people. -- gives

that tuition. The Minister has provided ?2 million for the next

five months but will be asking the executive for more money. The worst

thing that could happen is everything stops on the 31st of

December. Come January, nothing, that is not going to happen. A new

charitable body will be created to deliver the Legacy programme of

events after the year of culture ends. What is most exciting for me

is that those projects that have been under the radar, that our

long-term Legacy programme based, and the idea that the music promise

has a less by not only in the city but also potentially rolled out

across Northern Ireland, is very exciting. A new group of people will

be drafted in to make sure the legacy lives on.

There has been a lot of debates today about how we deal with our

past. 30 years ago this evening, three gunmen attacked a church near

Darkley in County Armagh. Three people were killed. The shooting was

during a service which was being recorded at the time. The sound of

what happened is in our next report. You may find it upsetting.

A modest place of worship in the sprawling hills of south Armagh.

This is an audio recording of the service that night in 1983. This is

the moment terror struck. SHOTS FIRE. A bullet went through the hymn

book. They did not care. That is what evil men do. 70 rounds were

fired at the building. The men killed, seven seriously injured. The

youngest was six months old up to people older than I am. They were

there to kill anyone. If the men that got killed just happen to be at

the front door. -- the three men. They did not finish there, they went

outside and went up and down the building with a machine gun, trying

to kill everybody inside. The funeral is followed. Strong invoice,

united in grief, families inconsolable. It was sometime later

before the congregation returned to their church. Initially it was very

difficult. For the first couple of months or thereabouts we tended to

difficult. For the first couple of meet in another building quite

locally until I think it was January 1984. 30 years later, the hole is

still standing strong. A memorial to those killed and seriously injured

that cold, dark, November night. This is no longer used as a place of

worship. There was a church built next door in 1990. The congregation

are prepared to forgive the men who were intent on killing many and now

the Attorney General has called for an end to prosecutions of Troubles

related murders, is that a step too far? That is the political martyr

and a matter for the Northern Ireland assembly to determine. As

fun as we are concerned, justice will be done, whether it is in this

life or the life to come. will be done, whether it is in this

as we are concerned. If you'd like to find out more

details of the victims' stories you've heard today and the Attorney

General's suggestion about prosecutions please visit the BBC

News website. The high winds were causing all

sorts of problems today. A Christmas lights switch on had to be was born

is due to damage to the Christmas tree. -- postponed.

It is still very stormy at the moment, with peak gusts of 70 mph.

Trees will fall more easily because there are more leaves compared to

the middle of winter. Still some very stormy conditions around. A

tree has fallen here. Some ferocious seas. Massive waves building up.

Spectacular to look at but pretty nasty if you are out on a boat. A

weather warning up until midnight tonight. Particularly close to the

east coast. After midnight things gradually settled down. Many places

end up drive. A touch of frost or eyes is possible. -- ice. There will

be a notable breeze is specially around the coast but a lot of dry

and great weather. If you can find a bit of shelter tomorrow it will not

feel as bitter as it did today, but temperatures a little bit shy of

where they should be. A little below the average for this time of year

and it will feel rather chilly in the breeze. Things are looking, and

more settled as we head towards the weekend and that means that tomorrow

evening and tomorrow night there will be a sharp fall in

temperatures. A sharp frost to come tomorrow night which will be around

on Friday morning. It might be back to the scraping of windscreens on

Friday, and the day itself will be dry for most with some pleasant

sunshine and fairly light winds. We have had some pretty lively whether

to begin with this week, but things are looking more settled, much, as

we head towards the weekend, largely drive.

Our late bulletin is at 10:25pm. You can also keep in contact with us via

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