27/11/2013 BBC Newsline

That is all from the News At Six, goodbye

Good evening, the headlines on BBC goodbye from me

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline. Liam Adams is sentenced to

16 years in jail but will serve eight in jail. The health minister

orders a year review into complaints about a County Antrim home. Private

tutoring for the transfer test. I am in Larne this evening to discuss the

pros and cons. The Hong Kong deal sees Germany,

Belgium, Switzerald the USA sign up for the North West 200.

Last week, parts of NI were shivering in the snow. Today,

temperatures hit double figures - what could be next? I'll be

temperatures hit double figures - with the latest forecast.

"Too little too late" - the words of Aine Adams today, as her father was

sentenced to 16 years for raping and sexually abusing her more than 30

years ago. 58-year-old Liam Adams of Bernagh Drive in West Belfast will

most likely serve eight years, under 50% remission. Will Leitch was in

court for BBC Newsline. Adams walked into a Belfast courtroom at many

times this year but October the 1st saw his final moment of freedom.

That he was convicted of sexually abusing his latest daughter when she

was less than ten. The jury was and told he fought extradition and

that's a first trial stopped in April this year for legal reasons.

The judge listed the sentence for the offences. It amounts to 16 years

in prison because his crimes were committed so long ago, he qualifies

for permission and could serve eight years. The judge said that only a

Adams simply wanted an acknowledgement from her father that

40 had done was wrong. He has always denied this acknowledgement and

continues to do so and she went on, however she at least knows that the

jury must have found her evidence is compelling as they believed her.

Because Liam Adams is the brother of Gerry Adams, this case has attracted

great interest. There are now investigations into the Sinn Fein

president's role but the police ombudsman and the Attorney General.

In a statement this evening, on your Adams said she sought an

acknowledgement of the wrongs done against. For coming the sentence she

said it is still much too little, too late. For his part, Liam Adams

shockers had and he left the dock and was seen to be laughing.

A former Bessbrook scout leader has been jailed for 11 years for

sexually abusing five children. 44-year-old Colin Finnegan from

Sloan Hill Mews in Lurgan was convicted of a total of 59 charges,

including indecent assault and gross indecency. Judge Gordon Kerr QC

noted that Finnegan started to abuse when he was 12 years old and that he

continued to abuse for a 16-year period, until he was 28. Mr Finnegan

has been put on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

The prosecution has been giving its closing speech in the trial of four

brothers accused of double murder and arson. Toby Hedworth QC told the

jury that Martin, Niall, Christopher and Stephen Smith had "lied and lied

to this court in an attempt to save their own skins". The brothers have

accepted being at the house in Tassagh in County Armagh but deny

murdering Thomas O'Hare and Lisa McClatchey in 2006. The defence

teams will begin their closing speeches tomorrow.

A review into complaints about a County Antrim nursing home

stretching back almost a decade has been ordered by the Health Minister.

The BBC has spoken to a whistle-blower

The BBC has spoken to a home, and first raised allegations

of poor practice and patient neglect in 2005. Our health correspondent

Marie-Louise Connolly has this exclusive report. This is cherry

tree nursing home in Carrickfergus. Eight years ago, a woman who worked

there raised their concerns about the home and to all the relevant

authorities including the home's owner. But the situation remained

unchanged. The whistle-blower who wishes to remain anonymous said

basics like ensuring residents were fired were sometimes ignored. It

concerned me that patients's food was left and not enough staff to

assess the patient's with their food so they were not in courage to eat.

Among the whistle-blower 's allegations are that patients who

couldn't feed themselves were left to go hungry. Patient's dignity was

set aside and residents were forced to endure what was described as a

horrible toileting regime. Patients had to wait for a long time and they

were soaking wet. It was going on to the floor, over them and the pound

could not hold more your own. Others were also concerned about standards.

In 2009, it came to the attention of the regulatory authority. Since

then, it's been the subject of 20 inspections. Normally it's only

required to carry out two per year. But then the authority raised

concerns over patients safety and But then the authority raised

ordered the home owner to tackle protection of vulnerable adults and

lack of leadership. The inspection reports also pointed to a concern

over the care and treatment of residence. A lack of responsibility

by staff, and staff levels and competency, and had to deal with the

risk of fire. In 2012, the Northern health trust carried out a review of

how they had handled complaints and said lessons had been learned. But

last year, cherry tree owner Doctor Dean Haran, a pharmacist was

summoned to a meeting at which a terrace -- raised the potential for

prosecution. The regulatory body said urgent action was needed to

keep patients safer. A year later, inspectors were back at the home and

issued 14 requirements and recommendations relating to patient

medication. In May, Doctor Haran was again summoned to the art to a eight

to attend a serious concerns meeting about cherry tree. Details of that

meeting have not been made public. The BBC asked the owner for a

response but he didn't respond to the BBC. However, a manager

contacted the BBC's Talkback programme and said things have

improved. Things have come up and we are dealing with them. We put a new

manager into position in July and she's fantastic. We are working

closely with the RTI a. In the statements, the RQ IEA said in light

of the ongoing review, it can't comment but it continues to monitor

the quality of the service. 12 months ago, I was contacted by the

whistle-blower. Several months later I began to question the

authorities. Now the health minister has called for a review to provide

an independent assessment but steps have been taken to address concerns

raised back in 2005. And that any poor practices identified. That

review is being carried out by the RQ IEA and is expected to be

published in the New Year. According to the whistle-blower, a majority of

staff or date dictated to helping residents and any of the current

staff are the subject of any complaints. The First Minister

hearts called on the ministers of a loyalist parade in Belfast on

Saturday to put out a clear message they want a peaceful and dignified

demonstration. A group calling itself Loyal Peaceful Protesters has

permission for 10,000 people to take part in what the demonstrators

describe as a human rights march. Chris Page has the story. This city

centre parade in September was organised by a group using the name

loyal pot peaceful at us is. It passed off without incident. They

haven't said to their leaders are all made official public statements

but now the First Minister has said they should put out a message that

they want the demonstration on Saturday to be dignified and

non-violent. Whether they make their views known by coming forward

themselves or they do it by statement to speak on behalf of

their behalf doesn't matter. I just want a clear message coming out from

the organisers as to how they want Saturday to go. And in the House of

Commons, the Secretary of State asked the protesters to consider how

the mass would affect traders. I would urge everyone to make sure

that their protest is not only peaceful but entirely lawful and

complies with the decision of the parades commission. And they should

call again as to whether this is a wise thing to do. It will be

disruptive but despite that, Belfast is open for business and I know

there will be many people out in the city centre during their Christmas

shopping despite the protest destruction. So would shop is going

to the city centre on Saturday? Everybody must do their own thing. I

will stay away from the town, to be honest. It's ruining businesses in

the town. Yes, I will be here. The bonfire will be more scary than the

parades. The last Saturday in November is usually the most busy in

the year here. The parades commission has ruled the parade must

leave the City Hall at noon and must minimise the impact on businesses.

We asked 12 Unionist politicians in Belfast if they would go to the

protest. Only two said they thought they would. We tried to contact

several more Unionist councillors in the city of didn't return calls. The

organisers have permissions for 5000 marchers on 5000 supporters to go

from the City Hall here down Royal Avenue to the Shankill Road but it

isn't clear if the crowd will be that big. Father Alec Reed,

described as pivotal in the in the days of the peace process has been

buried out of a funeral mass. A broad swathe of political opinion

was represented at the service. It was said that whatever your adapter

list priest knew about peacemaking was learned over four decades on the

streets of West Belfast. John Hume of the former STL P leader and Sinn

Fein president Gerry Adams came to Canada today to pay their respects

to the man who helped to bring them together politically. This woman and

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams came to Canada today to pay their

respects to the man who helped to bring them together politically. The

final amount to hundreds of. The Deputy First Minister was also there

with colleagues as was the Ulster Unionist minister Mike Nesbitt.

Others also attended. Among the senior clergy were Bishop Alan

Abernethy of the Church of Ireland and the president of the Methodist

church. Former peace leaders from an earlier era aimed at ending the

balance but it was Father Reid's that was brought into focus. He

sought too soft on hearts and find words to persuade the estranged to

talk to one another and take chance on one another, to common ground. He

believed that the work better than we had become. The records that

father reads invitation to come to Dublin to meet the Queen. You're

invited Father Allen to Dublin to meet the Queen. You're

dinner. One of my fondest memories of Father Alec will be of Father

Alec giving Queen Elizabeth the thumbs up. With the church bell

tolling, Father Reid was born away from Hezbollah led town for the last

time. Next week we will see the last of this years and regulated transfer

tests for primary school children. More than 7000 children have been

involved. The arguments for and against academic selection have been

highlighted before on this programme but today we are concentrating on

private tutoring. Donna was at a private class in Larne this

afternoon. I am in a class in Larne. Those

preparing for the academic I am in a class in Larne. Those

tests get extra help here. You are the teacher, why do those children

need that extra tuition? Sometimes, no matter what goes on in school,

and I work with schools a lot. I work with teachers and I think they

do a great job, but sometimes there are some kids that get left behind a

bit. Sometimes the parent themselves wants do the best I can they can for

their youngster, we provide a range of English and maths learning

programmes geared for the individual, and what we are about is

the development of competence, and confidence, where the kid can, you

know reach their potential. So it is not about the academic test as such,

it is it is about a solid grounding in mathematics principles. For many

it is about the tests and getting it. You are a secondary school

teacher, yet your daughter it. You are a secondary school

one of the academic selection tests. She also was privately tutored. Why

did you go down that route? I suppose I represent the parents who

are against academic selection but when faces the option of getting

their child into their local school, I need to prepare child for that. I

feel the academic selection is fundamentally and woe roly wrong,

again tutors does skew the system. It is weighted against the less

well-off children, however, I fell that my daughter needed to go in,

and be prepared for an exam. It doesn't occur in classes any more,

in schools, since the abolition apparently of the transfer test in

2008, so she needed to be prepared in the same way I would prefer

2008, so she needed to be prepared pupils for an exam. I felt that

tutoring was the only way, but it does, you know, sit, I suppose

awkwardly with me, I feel I have compromised my principles in doing

so. Dorothy, your young son is going do the academic test next year.

Already you are I thinking he is not going to go down the extra private

tuition route. Give me your reasons for that? My son will be doing the

test. I have confidence in him. I feel that if I wasn't happy with him

passing the test, or his ability, it is academic ability, he shouldn't do

it. He shouldn't be put under the pressure that children are put under

at 11. Do you think he would be at a disadvantage if he dud get that

extra help? Not at all. I have full confidence in him at school and

teachers to prepare him for that. confidence in him at school and

Different opinion, different parents with different choice, you can add

your opinion and thoughts on the topic of private tuition on our

Facebook page. Still to come on the programme. Before seven. A treasure

hunt in County Antrim. Find out what this man found in a field.

Organiser of motor cycling's north-west 200 have been on a hunt

of their own to secure some big napes for next year's race. Mark is

here. Yes, that hunt has taken them all

the way to Hong Kong, believe it or not. Not that we ever doubted the

north coast east global appeal but the deal delivered in Hong Kong

Hazard cemented its reputation. Following a recent visit to the

Macau Grand Prix some top riders have been signed up for next year.

The Macau Grand Prix attracts the top ridesers. It is the most famous

street circuit an hour from long con. Now some of the riders want to

try the roads of Northern Ireland. If you see the teams here, the

presentation, if you see the set up they have, there is no better road

racers here in the world. You talk to numerous riders and they have

heard of the north-west 2 hundred. They have seen the DVD. It is good

from our point of view. And BBC Northern Ireland's television

coverage, which is streamed round the world, helped lure European

champion Didier Grams to the north Antrim coast for the first time It

is on German television, they show it from the north-west 200.

is on German television, they show to them, look at this, it is close,

it is like the international road racing, and he was looking at it and

he said, yeah, yeah, let's go, we want to go there. And I looked to

you too. And that is 200 miles an hour. And the riders are autumn

coming next May for different reasons.

I enjoy the speed. Speed is all I am up for, because everybody in Europe,

or in my area knows what is the north-west 200. Coming from

California, history is like not in our repertoire, going there and

seeing castles next to a place you are racing and it is good

experience. We are away. Great start. So after come pee Peting in

experience. We are away. Great the Far East. The north-west is up

next. -- competing. Hope they bring some Californian

weather. A disappointing Olympics and a series of injuries had seen

our top judo player drop out of the top 50 but now Lisa Kearney is

climbing up thing rankings and targeting a medal at the

Commonwealth Games in Scotland. This has been a year interrupted by

injury for Lisa Kearney but on her return to action she won gold and

silver at two World Cup events. I was delighted to come back and

perform bell. It I hadn't been on long, so to come in and be

performing well and to win gold, it was good, it was good performance,

it was good Commonwealth preparation I fought a few of the girls who I

know at the Commonwealth and I beat them, so that was really good.

Especially just being back from injury. Lisa will step up to compete

at bigger competitions in Japan and Korea. My world ranking was 58

before the tournament because I have been injured. I have not been

competing. It went from 58 to 35 in the last two weeks. So it is a good

jump and that will help me get seeded at the other tournaments I

will be doing. It is a good Saturday but I would like to up my ranking

again. The Commonwealth Games is a major target and she will look to

emlate her former training partner Lisa Bradley who won a medal for

Northern Ireland 12 years ago The Commonwealthings are massive. They

are so prestigious. It will be a tough event. Judo is going to be

very strong in these Commonwealth Games. I certainly would like to be

taking a medal. Who knows what is going to happen in sport, but I

certainly will be aiming for a medal, and just to enjoy the whole

experience, it is going to be such a big thing, and I am happy to be part

of it. So Rio and a second Olympics can weight for wait for now. Glasgow

2014 is the focus. She is off to south-east air sha shortly where we

wish her well. It would seem there is no bottom to this man's reservoir

of talents. Enough has captained advertise -- captained his team to

victory and in a few days time he will attempt to go where no Donegal

man has gone before. No matter what age you are Gaelic

football is central to life No matter what age you are Gaelic

Glenswilly. The club might only have backbench established in the early

1980s, but since then it has become the cornerstone of the parish.

People probably outside of Donegal wouldn't be sure where it is. It it

is nestled in the hills. We don't even have a town, we have a tiny

village, and there is three pubs in the village and we have two petrol

stations and the club is perfect location, in the heart of the glen.

It is a real focal point of the community. The club is also home to

Neil Gallacher and Michael Murphy, one of the best Gaelic footballers

in the country. What a start Donegal! What a start!

Just one of your friends, and you don't think, when you go walking

down the street, people turn their heads,

down the street, people turn their it is different for people who see

him every day, he is a genuine fellow. Giving you good advice

throughout the year, and young players, you know, as you say, who,

like myself, never play County, and to play alongside them, it is just,

lifetime moment so it is. Behind every County star is a club where it

all began. And nothing beats winning with the people you grew up with.

And we have been there and bring you that report later in the week.

Finally, snooker Belfast Joe Swail twice a world semifinalist has

suffered a whitewash at the hands of Michael White in the first round of

the UK Championship in York. You might say snookered by his sport of

choice. He will bounce back. They are tiny, hardly the same size

choice. He will bounce back. They one pence piece, but a lot more

valuable. Two items of silver dating back to the Vikings have been

unearthed in County Antrim. More than one thousand years old, they

were found in a field and today a coroner in Belfast declared them

treasure trove. They may not look like treasure, but

these little chunks of silver date back more than 1,000 years. It was

this man who found them. Having got the permission of the landowner of

the field, here on the soldier's town road, he went about with his

metal detector until he struck silver. He returned about a month

later and found another piece. Although only the size of a large

sugar cube, what he had unearthed was a rare chunk of Viking history.

You never know what you might find. 99.9% of the time I dig it is

rubbish. But the 0.1% it is something of historical interest for

me. That is what it is about. Trying to uncover some history, and instead

of those items lying on the ground, rotting away, it would be better for

them to be visible for people, on a display in a museum. A local expert

helped identify them One looks like a sugar cube, it was cut from a bar

of silver. But the other came from an arm ring or we might think in

terms of a bracelet. Although it is tiny, it is decorated, so we are

sure that is what it came from. Today the objects were declared

treasure and will be sent to the British Museum for valuation, but

the long-term hope is that they will be back here on display. So while

finders may not be keeper there's is such a thing as buried treasure.

Great story, the man that found them is a baker. Normally used to dealing

with hundreds and thousand, that is what he will be hoping those are

worth, I have to say. Time for the weather.

It is warmer today? Yes, milder today. Temperatures hit double

figures. Ten and 11 degrees in a few places. It will stay mild tonight.

You might be able to turn the central heating down a nudge. Lots

of cloud round so no good for star-gazing. Will be thicker cloud.

But further south it should stay dry. Now the mild weather continues

into tomorrow, again, there will be a lot of cloud and drizzle. A change

on the way for Friday, colder winds arriving but that will mean brighter

skies and sunshine. arriving but that will mean brighter

So high pressure has been looking after the weather for ages now, it

slips away tomorrow, and this weather front will bring rain,

following that cold, gusty winds for Friday. But only for a while. The

cold air lasts into Saturday, and then during Sunday, the second half

of the weekend, that high is back in place, and the dry weather will

continue into the beginning of December. So tomorrow it is cloudy,

drizzly in places and it will be grey, but one or two spots will see

a blink or two of blue sky. Maybe sunshine, the damp drizzly weather

more likely up to the north coast for parts of Londonderry and the

Antrim hills. Temperatures in most places once again hitting double

figures and the winds will be light. Most of that drizzly weather will

tend to edge away from the north coast later in the day. So tomorrow,

evening, the Lumiere festival gets off in Londonderry. Hopefully it

will be dry by then. The winds mild. Storm night, after midnight, there

will be rain coming south and the wind will pick up, and that is when

we get into the colder, brighter weather for Friday. Much colder in

the winds, strong winds, gales in places and even a few wintry showers

for the hills but then it settles down again. Thank you. Our late

summary is at 10.25 but for now from even on the team, it is good night.