22/01/2014 BBC Newsline

Sunday. Make the most of Saturday because Sunday looks pretty filthy.

Thank you. Good evening, the headlines on BBC

Newsline... The chief constable announces his

retirement - we'll assess the highs and lows of his time here.

And alleged victim of sexual abuse tells a Coleraine court she was

raped every time she visited her father.

Why a last-minute compromise could help the Executive stub out

cigarette smoking. The driving scheme that lets

children as young as ten behind the wheel of a car.

Ireland's bid to host the Rugby World Cup gathers momentum.

And the Irish Cup serves up a classic.

Sunshine and showers today, more of the same tomorrow - but rain is on

the way. I'll have more shortly. The Chief Constable has announced

he's to retire later this year. Matt Baggott has been in charge of the

PSNI for five years. His current contract is due to end in September.

He could have asked for an extension, but hasn't done so. As

our home affairs correspondent, Vincent Kearney, reports, his

decision isn't a total surprise. His report starts with some flash

photography. Hailed as a new man who would

oversee a new style of Pete -- repeating policing, Matt Baggot

found himself the subject of constant scrutiny from when he took

office. I am pleased to be appointed as

chief of the PSNI at this time. I am grateful for this opportunity and

privilege. But events on the streets and

reminders from the past were never far away. The threat posed by

dissident republicans was higher than he had anticipated and made it

impossible to introduce a softer policing profile, with more officers

on the beat. The murder of Constable roving camera was a stark reminder

of that threat. -- PC running terror.

-- Ronan Kerr. One of his successes in his time in office was securing

additional funds from the Treasury to combat the dissident threat.

Another highlight was overseeing what was described as the safest G8

summit ever held. The police are strangely friendly

and armed to the teeth, it is a funny combination.

I want to thank Chief Constable Matt Baggot for working to keep everyone

safe this week. But there were cheers as well as

cheers. Matt Baggot find himself heavily criticised by unionists and

nationalists over the way the PSNI ELT with right protests and parades.

-- flag protests. The chief constable's response to a report

criticising the historical enquiries team and the defence of his leader

David Fox annoyed many on the policing board.

I am told that some board members even discussed the possibility of a

note confidence vote in his leadership. That never materialised.

The fact it was even discussed indicates all was not well.

This is the making of our reputation.

A private man, the chief constable is a committed Christian who spent

many of his weekends at religious events. But he was viewed by some as

aloof and out of touch with officers on the ground. Even fishing from

Comput -- if he had been fishing for continents from his employers in

recent months he would have find them difficult to come by. He could

have asked for an extension to his contract but did not.

Our sources told us that Matt Baggot saw the writing on the wall. My

understanding is that he realised he may not have been able to secure

enough support if you requested an extension to his contract. I

announcing his retirement he has avoided a potentially averaging

public debate and rejection by the board.

-- potentially damaging. Matt Baggot has not said exactly

when he believe. Potential successors may hope he does them a

favour and stays long enough to deal with this summer's marching season.

We will hear more from Vincent in a moment.

During his time in Northern Ireland, Matt Baggott frequently found

himself at the centre of political controversy. Today, however,

politicians from all sides united to wish him well. Our political

correspondent, Gareth Gordon, has been gauging reaction.

He had his share of political critics, but today they showed

understanding for the community policeman who came to oversee peace

but found himself mired in many of the symbol problems.

We had a terrorist threat he has had to control.

-- the same old problems. We have had attacks on his officers and he

has done a good job based on his abilities.

He also had all of the flag protests in the past year, do you think the

adapted to his situation? Was difficult, because no one was

expecting that. He has seen major changes within the

bleeding organisation in Northern Ireland.

There were kind words, too, from nationalists, though no disguising

the reservations they had. He certainly made a grave mistake

when he effectively end the ombudsman's report into one bombing,

and he did not get to grips with the whole issue of retiring and

rehiring, whether there was a revolving door process of officers

retiring and coming back into sensitive roles within the PSNI.

It is no secret there were concerns raised around the police on the

parades and flag protests, and more recently in relation to how the HDTV

unit was being managed. It is still a difficult job, no

matter who's in charge. I think the PSNI Chief Constable, it

is possibly the most challenging job in the UK. It is inevitable you will

attract controversy from those not prepared to look at the big picture,

those who don't recognise the job that needs to be done, and I think

we have seen significant increasing satisfaction levels in how people

see the local police as a good example of the work he has been

doing. It could be said Matt Baggot's time

in Northern Ireland was the -- bedevilled with the same problems

that proved insoluble for Richard Haass - flags, parades and the

past. Where Our Home affairs

correspondent, Vincent Kearney, joins me.

Have we seen that before? Viewers tonight may be surprised to

hear that some of the senior PSNI officers cannot apply for this post?

Indeed, that is because of a rule the policing board has, and you must

have served as assistant chief constable or higher for at least two

years in a police force outside of Northern Ireland. That rule is going

to be changed but not in time for this process. That means some

high-profile candidates are out of the running, for example Deputy

Chief Constable Judith... -- Judith Gillespie. I understand that was one

of the factors in her decision to retire last year because she could

not be Chief Constable. Also, assistant chief constable will care

and Drew Harris on the right are also out of the running.

Who are the strong candidates? The only PSNI officer eligible to

apply is Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton on the left. Former

PSNI officer Mark Gillmor has also been referred to as a contender.

Both have served as police here but have also served as well. --

elsewhere. George Hamilton served three years as assistant chief

constable in Scotland. Mark Gillmor is currently Chief Constable in

Yorkshire but was only appointed in February last year. There is a

feeling he may not want to apply for another senior posting at this

stage. Will it attract other candidates?

I think it certainly will, this is one of the most high-profile jobs in

pleasing anywhere, so it is likely to attract other candidates from

other police forces in the UK and potentially elsewhere. On the

downside, many of the problems we heard in the report. The successor

will have the same problems Matt Baggot had to deal with. That is to

try to please politicians, the public and the police officers he

believed. Many potential candidates may look at the experience Matt

Baggot had and have second thoughts.

Plenty to come on the programme, including good news on the jobs

front as the economy continues to look up in some areas.

The second day of the trial of three men charged with serious sex

offences against two children has heard from another of the alleged

victims. She told Coleraine Crown court that some assaults were

recorded on video. The men face over 56 charges including multiple counts

of rape. Here's our North East reporter, David Maxwell, and you may

find some of the details in his report disturbing.

The brother and sister who allege they were seriously sexually abused

when they were children both took the witness stand today. The woman

told the court her father started the abuse when she was six years

old. She said the abuse court worse over the years and after her parents

separated she was raped every time she visited her father, sometimes on

multiple occasions. Her voice broke with occasions as she relate

specific incidents. She also told the court that on occasion her

father and uncle would use a video camera to record themselves

assaulting her and then make her watch it. On one occasion she said

she attempted to run out of the house naked but was stopped, choked

and hit with a belt. Her brother took the stand for a second day.

A defence lawyer questioned why he had not given more details to social

services when he was interviewed in 1997. He said he did not because it

became clear the social worker did not believe what he was saying. He

also denied suggestions flashbacks could affect the right ability of

his men marry and he recalled an episode where he was abused by more

than one man. -- the reliability of his memory. The trial continues.

Police in Dungannon are investigating allegations of abusive

comments sent via Twitter to footballer Stan Collymore. The

former England player has accused Twitter of not doing enough to stop

users sending abusive messages. Twitter says it takes action when

content breaks its rules or is illegal and has a clear process for

working with the police. The son of a farmer accused of

murdering a man two years ago near Comber has testified against his

father today at Belfast Crown Court. He accused him of being at the scene

of the crime with a shotgun. Andy West was at the trial.

37-year-old Philip Strickland's body was found in his car in 2012. He had

been shot in his leg at a yard just outside Comber and bundled into the

boot of his vehicle. He was driven on to Ballydrain Road where he

escaped and was then shot again in the forehead. Today at Belfast Crown

Court, 29-year-old Ian Weir testified against his own father,

55-year-old Jimmy Seales, who denies murdering Philip Strickland,

claiming to have been at home at the time of the Ville ice killing. His

son told the jury he saw his father at the scene of both shootings and

he believed he was holding a shotgun, and that he heard too loud

bangs. The defence implied that Jimmy Seales's son was an unreliable

witness pointing to a history of cannibal addiction.

Ian Weir admitted smoking five cannabis joints on the day of the

murder but he maintained that despite initially lying he was

telling the truth. You can believe what you want to, he told the court,

but my father was there. He added his father had told him to live. If

my father said jump, I would say, how high. He added I love him today

and always will. Ian Weir and his youngest son, Jason

Weir, have already pleaded guilty to the murder. A fourth man, Stephen

Charles McCaughey, denies murder. The trial continues.

Car brakes were allegedly tampered with and a bullet was sent through

the post to intimidate a key witness to the loyalist murders of two

catholic workmen in north Belfast 20 years ago. The claims were made

during a High court bail application. The court was told a

significant witness had come forward claiming the accused had been in the

killers' getaway vehicle. A relative of this witness was sent a bullet in

the post, and a few days later the witness's partner discovered her

car's brake pipe had been cut. A last-minute compromise has paved

the way for Northern Ireland to be included in a new UK law hich would

force cigarette makers to use plain packaging. There had been concerns

that the Stormont Executive was going to miss the deadline set by

the government. With the latest I'm joined by our political

correspondent, Martina Purdy. First of all, remind us what is the

point in this new law? In Northern Ireland, around 2000

people die of tobacco related illnesses every year, and research

shows more and more young people are taking up smoking, despite health

warnings. There has been an idea it is the packaging that is part of the

problem, in other words tobacco companies should be stripped of

branding and the health warnings should come in a package that is

very plain or unattractive. This is done in Australia, where there is

evidence to show, according to Cancer Research UK, that the

packaging is unattractive to young people and they are less likely to

smoke. Westminster wanted to pass a law to make cigarette packaging very

plain and they asked Northern Ireland that these laws should be UK

wide and to let Westminster take the lead.

What was the problem? The health minister liked the idea

and Martin McGuiness signed off on this but Peter Robinson had not. The

problem I am told is that Westminster was asking for a blank

cheque, in other which they would design the laws and in a few months

if they passed and northern la Ireland didn't like the law it was

too bad. After some legal consultation it was agreed that

Westminster would design the laws, and if Northern Ireland liked even

the good opt in. Do you think we will get this law

here know then? There are still opposition to this

law. The tobacco industry says it could pave the way for

counterfeiters. We will have to see of Westminster has the will to

follow through, but at least Northern Ireland has the option to

agree to a UK wide law. Still to come before 7pm. Mark

Sidebottom is life in Londonderry. A matter of weeks ago he was in a

wheelchair. Now he is doing this. We're live at City of Derry rugby

club. Official figures have provided more evidence that the economy is

continuing to pick up. Unemployment keeps falling, the manufacturing

sector is thriving and even the construction industry is making a

comeback of sorts. Our business correspondent Julian O'Neil has

more. Things are looking up for the

economy. Optimism is on the horizon, figures out today paint a

picture of improvement in many key sectors. Take construction. Output

increased and jobs with it. Still, like economy overall, for the

recovery is a long way off. Business for local service companies recorded

strong growth. This package career organises pick-ups and deliveries

all over the world for holiday-makers and others looking to

make savings on airline fees. In spite of the economic climate,

people are still making an effort to travel, that's a great thing for us

and other travel sector businesses. Jobless figures keep on falling.

December saw 600 fewer people claiming unemployment and related

benefits. The overall total stands at 59,500. Our unemployment rate is

7.3%. 11 successive monthly declines is positive, if not without lips. I

think of the people who have been made redundant here, I know people

will have been thinking of that, while it is good news and I welcome

that, there is always more work to be done. There are some downsides.

Youth unemployment is higher than it was a year ago, and our overall

unemployment rate is higher than the UK average, which is now standing at

7.1%. It is a mere fraction above the threshold at which the Bank of

England has said it will consider raising interest rates. Although

that standpoint may change in the weeks ahead.

Would you allow your ten-year-old child to drive a car even under

strict supervised conditions? That's the project currently running in the

North-West to give young people more driving experience. And today the

Environment Minister paid a visit to see how one youngster got on behind

the wheel. This project was set up to give children the chance to be

taught how to drive. The cars are dual controls there is plenty of

reassurance for youngsters, like this living -year-old. It just

started, you do get quite nervous about speeds, but once you get into

it, you get used to it after a while. Michael, and the instructor,

is also her father. He had no hesitation allowed into the driving

seat. They have a lot more experience so whenever you're coming

to do 17-year-olds, you have a limited amount of hours. If you are

coming to a project like this first of all, you learn to become a really

good, secure, confident driver and a new test is a test of your ability.

In the first 15 days of 2014, seven people died on our roads. Prompted

by an increase in red fidelity is, people are being warned of

dangerous. -- dangers. As part of my road traffic amendment goal which I

hope to bring before the Assembly, I will be looking at introducing a

graduate of learning programme which will be about teaching young people

how to pass the -- how to drive instead of how to pass the driving

test. Those behind this project believe research underlined its

value in preventing death and serious injury. While that debate

continues, the minister wants everyone to focus on exercising care

and caution on the roads. Rugby's Six Nations Championship kicks off

in just ten days time - but could the rugby world cup be staged in

Ireland in ten years time? Here's Gavin. Well that possibility moved a

step closer today. At a North-South ministerial meeting in Armagh this

morning details of a potential bid were outlined. And Belfast venues,

Ravenhill and Casement Park, could play an important role. Nikki Gregg

reports. This is the line-up hoping to bring rugby's greatest tournament

to these shores. A working group made up of representatives of the

Northern Ireland executive and Irish government, both tourist boards has

been setup to provide a framework for the potential bid for the 2023

World Cup. The joint venture would see matches staged across the

island, including Ravenhill and Casement Park. A decision will be

taken this summer in order to proceed, so this is a work in

progress but ministers are confident the project is gathering momentum.

Details will follow shortly. But we have been working towards the idea

of this for a long time. As governments, we have come together

to make this happen. We have all the transport infrastructure we need,

the stadium improvement is already happening, Ravenhill is being

renovated, there are big plans for Casement Park in Belfast. These

venues could face stiff competition, South Africa, France and Argentina

are expected to be in the running with bids due to be submitted in

2016. Now to the story of a 15 year Rugby

player who's defied the odds. Last summer Ryan O'Hagan broke his back

while playing for his club. Surgeons told the teenager he'd be

wheelchair-bound for at least six months. Well he's surprised everyone

- six months on and he's back playing the sport he loves. Ryan and

his father Paddy are live at City of Derry rugby club with our reporter

Mark Sidebottom. It is a truly remarkable story. As Ryan's Dancy

with his mum and dad and his mates, all of them are expecting the man to

still be in a wheelchair. The freak accident in training happened in

September, you broke your back. Initially, a great period of

uncertainty, you didn't know if you would ever walk again, but you must

feel like you are one of the luckiest 15-year-olds around! I'm

grateful just to be even walking. It's crackers that I am back this

quick, compared to what I was told. How long I would be lying on my

back. It's great. Remarkable powers of recovery. We could take a look at

that period, your mates were a big cock to you, so too were the

hospital staff. There are lots of people you want to thank. All my

friends and my school, everybody would be as helpful as they could, I

was never left stranded and everybody was great in helping out.

Paddy, your dad and a coach of the under 13 is here. You refer to the

initial couple of months as the last months, did you ever think you would

see this day? I hoped for it, I never thought I would, but it is his

own determination. There was no pressure from us whatsoever. He is

actually going to play again in March. This really is a remarkable

story. Q what do you put it? Was at his own fitness? 90% of it, and 10%

determination. He was the buffet, he was at the top of his game. Every

match, he came out. Let me ask you the difficult but obvious question.

As parents, we know these accidents happen and many have not been so

lucky as you, how do you as a family decide to allow him back? It is his

passion, and to be fair, to stop him would take his passion away from

him. His determination to get backers been fabulous and the fact

this is what Ryan wants to do, he would love to be a professional

rugby player. The meats take that away from him I would just be

destroyed him. -- for me to take that away from him. The support from

your mum and dad and mates has helped, but for you, I know it is

number ten new play, what does the future hold? Hopefully just to get

back out here, I would be training every week. Just to get back as best

I can. We wish you well, this truly remarkable story of recovery and

athleticism. Back to the studio. Coleraine are through to the last 16

of the Irish Cup where they'll meet Dungannon Swifts. In last night's

fifth round replay they beat Cliftonville 4-3 at the showgrounds.

This is a classic cup replay. Coleraine took persist the league

duty persistence. -- took the lead you to persistence. They then got

three goals ahead, he picked himself up to drill from the spot.

Cliftonville pulled one back through oh Carol. The ten men then made it

four. But the champions came back. Caldwell scored their second.

Gormley with a third to set up a thrilling finish. Despite a late

barrage, Coleraine held on and the fans breathed a collective sigh of

relief. And that's the sport. Work has started on the restoration

of a signal box, that was lost in Fermanagh for almost 60 years. The

Bundoran Junction North cabin spent years as a garden shed in

Ballinamallard, before being saved by the Downpatrick and County Down

Railway. They've just received a ?10,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant

to restore the box - and are appealing for photos of the men who

worked in it or for anyone who remembers it in action to contact

them. There must be a few pictures out there. What will the elements

like for the rest of the week? It was a fairly typical winter 's

day, tomorrow will be like that as well. Scattered showers and

sunshine. We do have a few showers lingering this evening, most will

die away but we will have this band of rain, perhaps some thunder and

lightning. Behind it, it will turn quite chilly, a few showers, could

be wintry. Where we have clear skies, the risk of some ice forming

on roads. Otherwise, like today, largely the same, sunny with some

scattered showers. The big difference will be the temperatures.

Even at some low levels, we may see the odd flurry of sleet or snow.

Through into the afternoon, most of the showers will fall as rain but

not by a large amount. For five degrees typically, feeling quite

cold. It will turn largely dry for a good while, as we go towards the

evening, the crowd is going to roll in, because we have a low pressure

system pushing in from the Atlantic. You can see a fair amount of rain

for us all. Tomorrow evening, the wind is picking up, the rain

reaching the West first, moving eastwards. Temperatures feeling a

bit colder weather rain. Not a great start for rush-hour on Friday.

Temperatures may be above what they should be for the time of year, but

with the wind and the rain, it will feel much colder than that. Most of

it will clear as we go into Saturday, some scattered showers, a

few of them could be thundery, but Sunday is the next big weather

picture. Rain, strong winds, we have a weather warning in force.

The Chief Constable has announced his retirement. Matt Taggart has

been in charge of the PS and I for almost five years. Our late summary

is at 10.25. See you then. your family and hard-working

people in your area,