04/02/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. Jail sentences of six years and 21 months have been handed

down to two men over the death of a police officer last year. Constable

Phillipa Reynolds was killed when a stolen car crashed into a police

patrol in Londonderry. One of the men was convicted of her

manslaughter. Filippo Reynolds was described as a popular and friendly

officer committed to serving the community. Her police car was hit on

the night of February last year. This man admitted a series of

charges, including manslaughter. This man, who has a lengthy criminal

record, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, causing death. Both men had

been drinking heavily and had consumed a large amount of drugs.

The judge said nothing he could say would take away the terrible loss

suffered by the family of Philippa Reynolds. He said that the

defendants did not care for what they had been doing. One of them was

driving at 80 miles an hour before the fatal crash. The judge described

it as an act of recklessness. He said afterwards they behaved like

how words by fleeing the scene. The family of Filippo Reynolds, which

included her father and my mother -- mother sat in the public gallery as

the sentences handed down. Filippo Reynolds.

A man caught with ?1 million worth of cannabis has been given a

six-year sentence. 50-year-old Matthew Tyrie from Knockleigh Walk

in Greenisland will spend three years in prison and three years on

bail. Tyrie was caught with 210 kilos of cannabis resin when police

stopped a car outside Hillsborough last year. It was the biggest

seizure of cannabis resin for five years here.

A shift in planning policy will create greater challenges for

out-of-town shopping developments to get approval. The Department of

Environment move will be welcome news for town centres, as our

economics and business editor John Campbell reports.

Our town centres have been suffering for years. New figures suggest

Carrickfergus has suffered more than most. It has been suggested that

more than one in five shots are empty. The recession and Internet

shopping have definitely played a part. There are also large

superstores nearby. One retailer is bucking the trend. He is risking

opening a new shop, but is aware of the problems. It is difficult, but

we have got to try. Now, it is hoped it will be harder for large retail

chains to get fanning permission. The new planning reform suggests:

So, does this mean a blanket ran on out-of-town developments? It is

important that any policy should look towards how we can revitalise

our town and city centres which are suffering badly and have been for

some time. The move today could throw bleak plans into doubt. --

throw these plans into doubt. Last year John Lewis withdrawal --

withdrew its plans to move into and out of town area. There have been

questions over local councils applying the plan and with our local

councils getting their hands on running control, the focus will be

on their decisions as well. A woman has been robbed and kicked

in the face by two men as she pushed her child in a pram in Belfast. It

happened at Roden Street this afternoon. She was pulled to the

ground and her handbag taken. The woman was taken to hospital for

treatment to her injuries, which are not life threatening. Her child

wasn't hurt. A bill to make major changes to

public sector pensions has been passed by the Assembly. The Public

Service Pensions Bill aims to move pensions to a model based on average

earnings with the pension age linked to the state pension age. The change

will affect up to 260,000 workers. This is bad news for almost a

quarter of a million public servants today. They have been paying more

for their pensions and it has been confirmed that they will have two

work longer to get that pension. If they have to work up to an extra

eight years, that is a fifth of their working life and it will deny

young people opportunities. The Presbyterian Church has elected

a new moderator. A former schoolteacher, 63-year-old Reverend

Michael Barry, has been the minister of Sandy Street Presbyterian Church

in Newry for 28 years. Dr Barry will take up office in June in succession

to Dr Rob Craig, who will continue as Moderator until that time.

A petrol bombing in County Fermanagh knocked out telephone and broadband

services to hundreds of people. The attack was near the headquarters of

the former Quinn Group in Derrylin. Another attack, apparently aimed at

the communication network of local company. These cabinets were

opposite the headquarters. A number of men were seen on this road at

about 9:15pm last night. It appears that the boxes were pushed over

before petrol bombs were thrown. Significant damage has been caused.

The people who carried this out may have wanted to attack the company,

but once again the consequences of their actions have been felt in the

wider community. Several hundred customers in the area have lost

their telephone and broadband. It is the latest in a series of attacks on

properties owned by the Queen family. Their business empire

recently collapsed. Sean Quinn has condemned the attacks, saying those

responsible are not acting in his name.

A Japanese car parts firm has announced an expansion in the

workforce at its factory in Carrickfergus. Ryobi Aluminium

Casting is investing in new machinery to expand its product

range. The ?32 million investment will mean an extra 100 jobs and this

expansion will bring to 386 the number of people working at the

plant. 2014 we will increase our output by 25%, which is a big step

in one year. We see that continuing to increase within the next five

years. Certainly our volume is increasing over the next five years.

Football, and in the Danke Bank Premiership tonight Cliftonville

beat Ballymena United 3-1, while Coleraine drew 1-1 with

Ballinamallard United. Parts of Cork city are flooded tonight. The bad

weather is now heading north. Here is the weather forecast. Another wet

and windy night ahead. We have warnings for strong winds. Another

area of low pressure is brewing to the south of Ireland. Rain across

Northern Ireland and winds will touch severe gale force along the

north coast. The combination of strong winds, the heavy rain and the

high tide could mean a risk of flooding. Probably not so badgering

the day tomorrow, but not as bad as Monday, but it will be a bad day

with strong winds and heavy rain in many places. Unpleasant tomorrow

morning. Heavy rain with strong and gusty winds. There will also be an

area of heavy rain across the Grampians in Scotland. Wet weather

across southern Britain and the Republic of Ireland. There will be a

risk of coastal flooding. By tomorrow afternoon there will be a

fair bit of rain across Northern Ireland. Things gradually easing

later in the day and tomorrow night. On Thursday, showers in the

north and west. Bright and breezy, but not a bad day. Friday will be

better with some sunshine. Most places will be dry. That is it for

now. Good night. Aren't police meant to keep us safe?

Isn't that what they do?! and prove it,

or let me go back to work.