27/01/2014 BBC Newsline

colder. It could be short lived. That is all from the BBC's News at

six. The headlines on BBC Newsline. 150

jobs are lost as Mivan goes out of business. The Sisters of Nazareth

order is criticised for its slow response to the historical abuse

enquiry. I am live at Newtownabbey Council where a band play about the

Bible may get a reprieve. The controversy around e-cigarettes

continues to grow with calls for them to be banned here to under 18s.

Why there's a happy ending for these puppies who were found malnourished

in squalid conditions. Cliftonville retain the League Cup and North

Belfast bragging rights after a thriller against Crusaders. The last

week of January continues the unsettled theme to the weather but

it won't be raining all the time. I will be back with the details.

The County Antrim construction firm, Mivan, is to close. Almost 150

people are losing their jobs. That's on top of the 98 people who were

made redundant two weeks ago when the firm was put in administration.

Until today, it had been hoped that at least some part of the firm could

be saved. Our economics and business editor John Campbell is in Antrim

this evening. The end came quickly? Yes, there was hope right through to

the weekend that one of a number of people entrusted in buying Mivan may

do a deal but that could not be done.

Mivan was a trailblazing company, from its factory in Antrim, its

workers did work that was exported all over the world. The specialist

joinery produced here was used in projects in EuroDisney and Saddam

Hussein's palaces. Soon these workshops will fall silent for good.

It was to projects in the mania that weakened the firm. -- in Rumania. A

third of the workers lost their jobs a week ago and there was some hope

that jobs could be saved and the business saved. Their work refitting

cruise liners was thought to be particularly attractive to companies

but today, hope was lost. The administrators said, we received a

number of offers but unfortunately no purchaser was able to complete.

This is the biggest local construction company to feel since

the pattern group went into administration in 2012. It

illustrates that although the economy is improving, some firms and

construction continued to struggle with debts run up in the years of

boom and bust. Mivan is a large employer in this area, they have

been here for over 30 years. We have been gauging reaction. It is very

sad to see it close. But it is up to the government to keep the business

here. We are in the middle of a recession and any job losses have a

detrimental effect on the local economy and there is a lot of people

they are and families who will suffer as a result of this

announcement. It is very sad for the town. Terrible. Employment is hard

and local jobs are scarce. A depressing picture, any hope at all?

One thing I have picked up tonight is that those companies who were

interested in buying a van are still interested. What is putting them all

is the cost of taking on Mivan as a truly business. That would mean they

were stuck with large costs such as staff and existing contracts but

they are still interested in Mivan's assets. I am joined now by

the area's MEP. -- MP. You hearing signs of optimism? It is devastating

news and my heart goes out to those people who are left unemployed. They

are feeling devastated by this and so am I as their elected

representative. However, there is some news and that is first of all

that there is a number of employers in the area who are interested in

the employees because of their skills so that is helpful. Also, the

potential buyers have not gone away and therefore they are still there

but they did not want to take on the liabilities. I want the

administrator and those potential buyers to really get into serious

discussions because we want to get these people back into employment as

quickly as possible. Some people who have contacted me says Stormont are

not doing enough to help in situations like this, Stormont is to

focused on flags and emblems. What would you say to other parties about

this? As far as the jobs here are concerned, Stormont has been

actively engaged. I have just been with the Minister Arlene Foster. We

have discussed this and also we have discussed it with invest NI chiefs.

We have got to get the potential buyers and the administrator

together to really get this business back on the go again. We have a

skilled workforce and we want to back them all the way. It is a grim

night here in Antrim that there is perhaps a little bit of hope that

something can be saved. Nuns who ran two children's homes in

Londonderry have been criticised for the haphazard and piecemeal fashion

in which they have given evidence to the inquiry into historical

institutional abuse. Its inquiry is examining allegations of abuse at 13

homes across Northern Ireland but today started looking specifically

at two Sisters of Nazareth homes. This was one of the biggest care

homes in Northern Ireland. The sisters of Nazareth ran the home

until 1982 and today the enquiry was told 49 former residence have

submitted statements saying they were sexually or physically abused.

The enquiry was told ex-residents had made statements outlining

extensive sexual abuse, carried out by peers, visiting priests and in

one case, a nun. The sisters of Nazareth apologised to the enquiry

last month and today Banbridge court was told that each nun who has had

allegations made against them denies that appears. On top of the sexual

abuse, serious physical abuse has also been alleged. Ex-president is

say they were hit with straps and sticks, beaten for wetting the bed

and made to stand in front of the other children with the wet bed

sheet on their heads. There are also reports of being locked in

cupboards, children need to go hungry and even need to eat their

own vomit after being sick. The enquiry was told the nuns had

overcome -- lost their temper. They made it difficult for the enquiry

team to gather relevant documents. A first request for evidence was

needed in November 2012. When none was forthcoming, the enquiry

initiated legal proceedings. Despite countless meetings, much of the

necessary information is still missing and two statements were

delivered just last Friday. Official inspections are few and far between

as the home was church and not state run but official who made a rare

government inspection in 1953 said, I find these films utterly

depressing. Tomorrow sees the first of the witnesses to give evidence to

the enquiry in person. The justice minister has removed the

rule that anyone applying for the Chief Constable's job must have

served as an Assistant Chief Constable level for at least two

years outside Northern Ireland. The change will widen the pool of

potential internal applicants. Last week when Matt Baggott said he was

retiring in September, only the Assistant Chief Constable George

Hamilton was eligible to apply. A forensic medical officer has told

an abuse trial she found no evidence of one of the alleged victims being

raped 1,000 times. The claim was made by a woman last week whose

father, uncle and family friend stand accused of sexually abusing

her as a child as well as her brother.

The alleged victim told the court last week she was raped 1,000 times

as a child. Today, and medical scientist who examined the alleged

victim many years later was asked if there was anything to suggest 1,000

rapes. The doctor said, no, there was not. She said, an injury would

have had to be very serious to have lasted for ten years that she did

say she found scorers and she added that other injuries could have

healed over the years. Alleged victim 's mother told the hearing

she contacted social services and her daughter confided in her that

she had been touched sexually by her father. She said her son also told

her his father had touched him. She said the fathers access to the

children stopped at that stage. She was then asked about the state of

their marriage the end. Were you always arguing, she was asked. Yes,

she replied. Did you put him out of the house? Yes. The trial continues

tomorrow. Still to come: He may not be the Six

Million Dollar Man but his County Down man comes pretty close. We will

meet up with him later. Councillors in Newtownabbey meet

within the next hour to discuss a play by the Reduced Shakespeare

Company. It was cancelled last week after some DUP members claimed it

was mocking the Bible. Conor Macauley is in Newtownabbey for us.

The play was cancelled last week following complaints and allegations

that the content could be seen to be blasphemous. That led to an outcry

and people said these councillors were censoring the arts. Tonight

there is a full council meeting in which the matter will be discussed

and there is a motion up for debate. One Councillor joins me now.

What is this motion? Emotion is nothing to do with the actual play

that we are discussing. The motion is about reaffirming the artistic

and management of the theatre to be completely independent of

councillors and political interference of any sort from

anybody. We have a very, very successful theatre here. It played

to packed houses all the time and it has international acts on it.

Clearly, some things people like and some things people don't like so

what this motion is about is to reaffirm that it is only for the

artistic board whom Ceredigion County Council devolve the powers

and authority to do with matters relating to the theatre many years

ago. It is only when we cross that wire last Monday night potentially

to let members of that board think that council might intervene in some

of the decision-making that the situation has arisen. There are 12

DUP members, do you have the support to get the motion passed? This is

not a party political motion, it is a motion to say to colleagues, and I

am hoping for support across the chamber, this is a motion to

reaffirm the operational independence. Can you imagine if

every single thing that management want to put on, if it has to come

through the council chamber? It has never happened in my years on the

council. Clearly our job as councillors is to build wealth to

create jobs and opportunities, to look after services. We don't have

the skills or the expertise to manage a multi-million pound

world-class artistic value. The council meeting starts at 7:30 and

this item might be on the agenda as the last item. More on our latest

news. For smokers trying as say it is encouraging youngsters to take

they come in all shapes and sizes, from starter kits to this collector

's item. In every flavour under the sun. But the controversy around

electronic we are not too sure about what the heating process does in

terms of producing other chemicals. We do not sell them to anyone under

18, we do not sell them to pregnant women or nonsmokers. It is for

people trying to get away from tobacco. The UK trial watchdog is

committed to regulating all electronic cigarettes by 2016. Now

the government is planning to ban their seal to underage teens. It is

said we too should follow suit. Tobacco is more addictive than

heroin and we need to get that message across to young people. As

the debate continues electronic cigarettes have helped this women

kick her tobacco habit. I was on 100 every two days for 30 years and now

I am down to one of these per month for the last year. It costs me ?12

per month which is ideal for my situation. I have grandchildren and

health-wise it has lifted me. As the law stands it is usual and legal to

use electronic cigarettes in arms and restaurants because you cannot

like them and they do not produce smoke, but they have been banned by

some restaurants. Generally anybody who has banned them his confusion

between normal cigarettes and electronic cigarettes. The

Department of Health is keeping a close eye on developments. Coming

up, we discovered what fans of the country star Garth routes are

willing to endure for a ticket. Is this scarf and poncho all that you

need to call for the next few days? I have a change of clothes in the

car! Stephen Lodi has been called The Bionic Man and not for no good

reason. His hand was blown off in a nightclub and he has now been fitted

with the bionic hand free placement. Our reporter went to meet him at his

home. For anyone unfortunate enough to have lost a limb over the years,

some end up with a prosthetic hand or arm. That is the sort of thing on

the market at the minute, this is the old version. This is the new

cutting-edge version. It is the bionic hand, the first of its kind

in Ireland, we understand. Sitting alongside me is the man whose hand

it is. Thank you. Do you know how many different applications there

are four it? There are dozens, there are so many things you can do. So

many things I have done already. You can hold soldering irons. For years

I had to get shoes with Velcro but being able to tie your shoes again

is like being a child again. Is that the greatest kick? Now, the greatest

kick from this was the fact I was able to hold a steak knife and cut

my meat. It will not squash things. It will stop. It will not crush

things. You cannot hurt me. No, I could argue with that one! I cannot

do that. That is as tight as it will go. That is reassuring. It is. It is

simple how it actually works. The sensor is bare, you can see them. It

is amazing, it has totally changed everything. It is hard to describe

just how much it changes things. You would really need to be in the

position where you have lost a limb, I would not wish that on

anybody but it is hard to describe how it changes absolutely

everything. An amazing boost for Stephen, we wish them well with his

amazing new hand. Now 30 dogs, most of them Springer Spaniel pups, his

County Donegal owner initially voluntarily handed over 11 of them

to animal welfare officers, more were taken into care in a follow-up

inspection. The rewarming centre has been helping get some of these pups

back to full health after they were found malnourished and in poor

physical condition. Initially they were petrified of people and

withdrawn. We were trying to bring them around because they had not

been socialised and were quite shy. One in particular was quite

withdrawn but we are doing our best and they are coming down -- coming

around slowly but surely. Initially they were contacted by the elderly

dog owner. You were 11 dogs in total, six of them were pups. They

were in a poor state. Our first port of call was to get them to the

groomers to get them cleaned up a bit. They had no socialisation

whatsoever. The peas would run to the corners of the room and bury

their heads in the corner. He contacted the arrest PCA who sent

out their representatives. The 19 dogs in total are now being housed

on both sides of the border. Those who run the shelter say some of the

dogs are still stressed and need good homes and plenty of clear and

attention. Buying tickets for concerts is easy with Internet sales

but for some fans of Garth crooks, you have to go the extra while --

extra mile. -- Garth Brooks. Tickets for Croke Park do not go on sale

until Thursday but fans have already been camping out to get a ticket.

They were standing up better to the wet weather than our camera. The

words of the song say you will never hear me complain. The rate is! These

than Dan and fans do not seem like they are complaining. You are

wrapped up with the poncho and scarf, is that how you will cope for

four days? I have a wardrobe in the car, a change of clothes in the car.

It is for my boyfriend. He should be here instead of you surely? Here's

making the money at work. To pay for the tickets? Absolutely. I have

never seen a queue for tickets for Garth Brooks it is amazing. There

are 16 new robes who were not born the last time he was in Ireland.

This is an opportunity for them to go along with their parents who have

been raving about him since the last time he was here. Here's an older

man now, do you think he will still have it? I do not think he will let

us down, you will put on a massive show. From Saturday night and Sunday

morning if we do not get tickets, VIP passes for backstage! You could

not refuse hard. -- refuse hard. Now sport, and the Irish League Cup

final survived the atrocious weekend weather and ended up something of a

thriller. Here's Stephen Watson. 90 minutes of normal time and then

another hour of extra time couldn't separate the teams. It all came down

to a dramatic penalty shoot out. And it was Cliftonville's players who

were left celebrating. They retained the Wasp Solutions NI League Cup,

defeating North Belfast rivals Crusaders for the second final in a

row. Nikki Gregg's report contains flash photography. These are

becoming familiar scenes. It was not a match for the purists but the

final returned in terms of drama. This man took the spoils. Receivers

took the chance is but could not find the finish. The Cliftonville

strikeforce was also left frustrated by the keeper who was on form. The

game went to a penalty shoot out. The captains missed the opening spot

kicks. Devlin saved Jordan Owen's effort. And there's call got the

advantage. In this mess gave the team the trophy. Ten penalties

against Linfield to get here. Thankfully they were silly enough to

go the same way. Solitude are set to welcome Linfield next weekend.

Ulster's Heineken Cup quarterfinal against Saracens at Ravenhill will

be played on Saturday fifth April with a 6:30 kick-off. Munster face

Toulouse on the same day at 1:30, while Toulon-Leinster is 5:30 on

Sunday sixth. Meanwhile, Ulster's Craig Gilroy and Munster's Simon

Zebo have failed to make the Ireland squad for the opening Six Nations

games against Scotland and Wales. But Iain Henderson and Dan Tuohy are

retained after impressive performances for the Irish

Wolfhounds against the English Saxons on Saturday. While Rory Best,

Chris Henry, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson. Luke Marshall, and Andrew

Trimble are also in the squad. Aimee Fuller, the snowboarder from Bangor,

was in action on the slopes at the weekend in her last competition

Ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. She was competing in the

Women's Slopestyle Snowboard final at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado

and finished in seventh place overall. Meanwhile the Belfast

Giants won 2-1 in overtime away to the Braehead Clan on Saturday to

remain 17 points clear at the top of the Elite League. Snow and ice to

finish, pretty suitable as it was freezing today. The weather forecast

is next with Cecilia Daly. Not much of the white stuff, we have been

lucky so far this winter, a lot of rain but no really cold weather just

yet. It is not surprising that many of our fields, parks and roads are

looking like this, waterlogged. Even though it was raining a lot of the

time over the weekend, yesterday some people were able to get a few

hours dry weather at the country park. This weather has been with us

over the weekend. There is the big band of heavy rain across mid-Ulster

and the West. That will cross over the East in the next few hours so

they will be lots of showers which might of towards morning. The good

news about these big areas of low pressure is big areas of Swale and

so big surf. The showers will continue in the East tomorrow but it

will improve in the West. It might start cloudy and damp tomorrow but

should not be too cold. There will be some showers through the course

of the day, especially in the east, but not so intense as today. It will

be drier and brighter in the West. Tomorrow night will be cold with

some frost and ice around. It will get cold this week but also sunnier

for Thursday. That is all from us for

This is where modern Belfast was born.