21/02/2014 BBC Newsline

Independence Square tonight, despite a

Hello and welcome to BBC Newsline. Tonight's top stories. Over 200 jobs

under threat after this firm goes into administration in Dungiven. 30

years after the body of the dead baby boy was found by a river bank,

the police had a DNA profile. More trouble at the Odyssey as glasses

and other objects are thrown during a darts competition. Can Ireland win

the Triple Crown at the home of English Rugby? And there is more

rain to come this weekend, a warning has been issued. I'll be back with a

full forecast. Two hundred workers face an anxious weekend after the

firm they work for went into administratioin. KPL Contracts is

based in Dungiven, but its vans are a familiar sight across Northern

Ireland. They work for utility companies like BT and NIE, but it

was property development that got the firm into financial trouble, as

our Economics and Business Editor John Campbell now reports. The fans

are lorries of the company are a familiar sight across Northern

Ireland. They install and maintain water pipes and street lights, but

they got into property development as well. There were plans to build

homes here in Ballyclare, but only the first phase was delivered, the

property borrowings amounted to as much as ?50 million. The firm's

founder said they had been in discussions with the lender in order

to restructure the company and despite are structured that sugar

are restrictions of the property debt, it could not be helped.

Administration was the only option and workers were called together to

hear the bad news. There are futures are now uncertain, all were

reluctant to speak. KPL Contracts is a significant employer in Dungiven

and there is a network of subcontractors who are likely to

lose money. A lot of the work that they would carry out would have been

through subcontractors, most of whom are local here. I do know that a

small number of those have secured contracts with other companies, so

there might be some relief in that, what for the most of them, it will

be a case of getting out there and trying to re-establish themselves.

Probably as well as being paid for work that has been done up to now.

Administrators are talking to the main customers of the company and it

is those discussions which will determine the future of this

business and the workers. By now this is a familiar tale, a solid

trading business up an done by boomtime property borrowings. It may

not be the last as banks continue working through their bad property

loans. Police investigating the suspicious death of a newborn baby

found 30 years ago say they've established a DNA profile which may

help them find the parents. The child was found in a bag by a river

near Lisburn. Detectives have used advances in forensic science to help

them revisit the case. Conor Macauley reports. The discovery was

made on the banks of a river near Lisburn 30 years ago today. It flows

by a road outside a village, a sparsely populated spot. It would

have taken those responsible only minutes to carry the tiny body along

the river and dump it. This police photograph shows the scene at the

time. The child had been born alive, but a postmortem revealed he died

from head injuries. On the 21st of February, 1984, woman walking her

dog along the banks of the river, not far from village, found the body

of the dead baby boy. He had been placed in a plastic bag and left

amongst the brambles. This is the bag he was found in. The image

released today as part of a wider appeal. Using advances in forensic

science, police have extracted a DNA profile at which they believe they

can use to match the child to its parents. He did survive after birth

and he had sustained head injuries. The cause of the injuries is a line

of enquiry, I am keeping an open mind. We are appealing to the

parents who have been thinking about this for the last 30 years and we

appeal for them to come forward. The death of the baby boy shocked people

living nearby. Edwin Poots remembers the incident well. The loss of a

baby in such circumstances is hugely tragic. Irrespective of the

circumstances, we really need to know what the truth was and to get

to the truth and it is better for everyone involved that the truth is

identified and that justice is done. Police say if anyone suspects that

they know the parents, they should speak to police who will carry out a

DNA comparison. The family of a Londonderry man who was killed by a

speeding drunk driver in 2009 say they want the legal system to review

the sentences handed down by the courts. Martin Gallagher's family

believe the sentencing policy appears to be inconsistent and

leaves families confused. Here's our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

Martin Gallagher's parents regularly visit his grave, a poignant moment

when they can reflect on a life so full of joy and good humour. The

25-year-old was walking home from Halloween celebrations in 2009 when

he was killed by a drunk driver. He served three years in jail. We had

no trouble with him. He ran and raised money for charities. We miss

him a lot. The family believe the sentence was unduly lenient and

raised their concerns after the recent case of a police officer who

was killed. A man admitted her manslaughter, he was given an

indeterminate sentence but must serve at least six years before

review. He had been drinking and was on drugs when he drove through two

red lights before the fatal crash. It was string can drugs and

speeding, exactly the same as Martin. -- drinking and drugs. How

can there be a difference? There is no difference. A lot of people were

watching the case to see what the sentencing would be, because they

were similar. He did not get an off. Life is a life. It hurts us more.

How can one get six years? I would like to see something change. It

will not help us. When you get that knock to say that your child has

been killed, I think all sentencing should be reviewed. There is no one

to tell you how to cope when you lose a child. You are torn apart.

Martin Gallagher's parents say they are -- they are concerned about the

legal system which they feel is confusing for Brive to families. The

department of justice says it is down to the individual judge, having

heard all the evidence -- but relieved families. He is confident

that measures are in place to address concerns about Anju

leniently. There is no doubt that some people believe sentences were

not stiff enough. Judges have a difficult job to do, they need to

look at the individual issues. Taking into account things like a

victim impact statements. The family say a review of sentencing is too

late for them, but longer jail terms may act as a deterrent in future.

For now, they are left with only memories. Still to come on the

programme. Why, after last year's wash-out, a top ploughing contest IS

going ahead in County Armagh tomorrow. Darts fans have called on

the organisers of Premier League Matches at the Odyssey Arena in

Belfast to do more to control drunken supporters. Thousands of

people were at the arena last night when the event was marred by Fights

and other incidents. Big names and big scores providing a big night of

entertainment. This is magnificent! Sizes were in the Odyssey for all

the action in the darts. This is what fans come to see and towards

the end of the event last night, this is what they got. They are

fighting in the corner. As television cameras brought coverage

around the world, glasses were flying around the arena. Hundreds of

fans were showered with drink. Diets has a huge following here, but it

seems the behaviour of a minority of fans taints the atmosphere. --

darts. It is a great night out, a family occasion. I have been to the

Odyssey for the last few years, but I did not go this year because of

seems I have witnessed in the past. Cried control has been an issue. Two

weeks ago, and major incident was declared following a concert. --

crowd control. Regular darts fans are ask in the Odyssey to do more to

control the small number of fans spoiling it for the majority. We

asked for a response and they said they are making no comment, so fans

will have to wait until the next big event to find out if darts are all

that will be thrown on the night. Meanwhile, a review of a major

incident at Belfast's Odyssey Arena has made a series of

recommendations. More than a hundred young people attending the DJ

Hardwell concert earlier this month were treated for the effects of

drink and drugs. The proposed changes include appointing extra

staff to liaise between the Odyssey's own paramedics and the

emergency services. The Odyessy arena's medical team will also

undergo training by the Ambulance Service. After 40 years, some of our

biggest leisure centres are set to be run as a nonprofit making trust.

Belfast Council says the idea is to save ratepayers money. But unions

fear it will mean jobs losses or changed contracts which will leave

workers worse off. Here's our business correspondent Julian

O'Neill. Outside City Hall, trade unions gathered in protest. Soon at

300 leisure centre workers will have a new employer, a not-for-profit

trust which is set to take over day-to-day operations at ten council

owned facilities. A new organisation which is running leisure services

will be able to make reductions in staffing levels and will be able to

change terms and conditions of employment. There are no guarantees

and staff cannot rely on any guarantees. The council will retain

ownership of centres and have a say in opening hours and admission

prices. The move is ahead of a major refurbishment programme. This is the

vision for one leisure centre and in all, ?105 million will be invested

to upgrade facilities in the years ahead. Aside from that investment,

the council wants to make a ?2 million saving on just how much its

ten leisure centres are subsidised by ratepayers. The idea is that the

trust will make savings and that makes the unions nervous. It will

also try to improve customer numbers. It is a fresh start and one

that comes with being able to outsource staffing levels. This is

about re-energising staff and the service we provide for the people of

Belfast. We want our staff to be proud and to be incentivised to make

sure they are giving the city best they can give and up until now, we

have had difficulties. Sinn Fein was against this, but despite

opposition, the move looks set to be endorsed at full council with

implementation predicted in the autumn. Twelve men have pleaded not

guilty to killing Kevin McDaid in May 2009. The Catholic community

worker was attacked by a loyalist gang outside his home in Somerset

Drive in Coleraine. At a pre-trial hearing today in Belfast, a High

Court judge criticised the length of time the case has taken to reach

trial. Two other men face lesser charges in relation to the incident,

including threats to kill. Plant machinery worth around 100 thousand

pounds has been damaged in an arson attack in Ballyclare. It's the

second attack on the Lagan Construction Group. A similar attack

at a site in Lisburn two weeks ago caused over two million pounds of

damage. A paramedic has been struck off for allowing his ambulance to

run out of petrol. David Hope, a paramedic with 34 years experience,

had been warned by a trainee that the tank was only a quarter full,

but carried on driving. It ran out of fuel on the way to an emergency

call and another ambulance had to be called, resulting in a 20-minute

delay. He then asked a mechanic to lie about the reason for the

breakdown. You're watching BBC Newsline. Still to come tonight. The

latest from the Ireland camp as they hope to beat England to win the

Triple Crown. If you have ever fancied having a go, tomorrow could

be your chance. One of the highlights of the ploughing calendar

takes place in County Armagh. The Mullahead ploughing match was

cancelled because of the weather last year for the first time in

almost a century. But it's back in business this year and, as our

South-East reporte r Gordon Adair found out, beginners' classes are

part of the attraction. You have to get the right width and depth. You

have to get it straight. It is high pressure staff. We are heading

away, that is good. We will see how you go. Tomorrow, the ever patient

Dermot will be helping novices to turn their first furrow. I am

supposed to keep looking around and judge where my front wheel is. Now,

in its 99th year, the ploughing match has shaken off the

disappointment of last year's cancellation due to bad weather. The

organisers say that the ground this year is surprisingly in fantastic

shape and they expect a record-breaking entry on upwards of

10,000 visitors. A big part of the attraction, is it. We can claim to

be the biggest in the world. We have eight teams this year. 17 teams

coming from across the water and the rest from throughout Northern

Ireland. It must be ignored this and sight to see those horses. When you

see a row of 20 or 30 teams of horses in a line, being worked and

turning the ground, it is amazing. Back to the not so amazing, how did

I do? I am happy enough with that. It is very enjoyable. That is the

main objective, to turn the green into the Brown. That is what good

ploughing is all about. With the food village and crafts, there will

be a lot more on show than pretty ploughing. The Sochi Winter Olympics

finish up on Sunday after more than two weeks of events. Team GB have

equalled their best medal tally at a Winter Games, while the Irish team

sent more athletes than ever before. So, could we see a new generation of

skaters, skiers and snowboarders who will bring home medals from the 2018

Winter Games in South Korea. Our reporter Ita Dungan is live on the

slopes. Hello. I am here in Craigavon and unfortunately we do

not have the blue skies and mountains in Sochi. It is slopes

like this that British and Irish athletes train on. Has the spectacle

that was Sochi, the kickers, the tumbles, or the slopes, done

anything to bring in new talent? You have been an instructor here for

decades, have we seen an increase in the number of people coming to learn

to ski? Yes. We have doubled hits on our website, put on more courses and

we are really busy. Can you see natural talent? Yes. We also have a

lot of ramps that we are introducing and hopefully we will start a new

club in the near future. You're hoping to get new slopes as well. We

would love that. It would be nice if we could move to a new slope. You

are 14 and have won medals for Ireland. I am skiing here all the

time and I keep improving. You are fearless. I do not think so. You

have been in the Special Olympics. I1-macro two bronze medals in South

Korea and they did the giant slalom. Both of these are going to win

medals for Ireland in the future, but what we will need to know is

whether be more talent because of the events of Sochi? From

Craigavon, back to the studio. Sport now and in the Six Nations, Ireland

can lift the Triple Crown tomorrow. But they'll have to do it at

Twickenham. Gavin's here. Joe Schmidt's side trained at the home

of English Rugby this afternoon. Ireland will be fuller of

confidence. Thomas Niblock is at Twickenham with two former

internationals from both sides who And good luck also to Ireland's

Women, the reigning Six Nations champions, who also take on England

at Twickenham tomorrow night after the men. There is always something

that special when England play are in particularly when the Triple

Crown is on the line and especially when you take into consideration

that England must win if they harbour ambitions of winning the

Championship. Joining me now are two former international is. They are

playing a charity match. -- internationals. Are you confident

that England will win? Not massively confident, but they are improving

and developing. They are getting together young guys that are getting

blooded and they are really impressive. These guys are so

experience, right through the team, it will be a tough battle. If

Ireland are to win, what must they do? As long as they get their basics

right, I believe the back row are better than the English back row and

I think Johnny Sexton has the edge. The defence is a massive thing.

There are a lot of young English guys and this is the first time that

they are playing, Ireland have come back with the confidence they had

against Wales. They have got a few injuries. It will be a test for the

younger players playing in Six Nations. Ireland have the all-round

game to take. You think Ireland will win? I believe so. I am not so sure.

Ireland brings so much experience and if the boys can get Twickenham

to be a fortress, then we have a chance. Thank you. The game is on

BBC Two tomorrow. Golf, and Graeme McDowell is through to the last 16

of the WGC World Match Play event in Arizona. But Rory McIlroy is already

out of the tournament, after losing on the first play off hole in his

second round match. Thomas Kane reports. Graeme McDowell's qualities

have been showcased over the past two days. Two down after 14 holes,

the Portrush man recovered brilliantly to set up a shoot out on

the 18th hole. Right in the middle. You would have backed him all day

long. He held at this part on the final green to book his place in the

next round. -- ten macro -- putt. That is a chance he has taken.

Coming from behind, Rory McIlroy produced some outstanding shots to

leave him in pole position against Harris English. The club is rapped

over. Level after 18, it all went wrong for the 24-year-old on the

first play-off hole as he exited the competition. There are three matches

in the Danskebank Irish Premiership tonight, with Linfield's visit to

Glentoran the standout game. A win would see Linfield go back to the

top of the table, two points clear of Cliftonville. And, visiting the

Oval for the last time as Linfield boss, David Jeffrey appears to be up

for the challenge of another title charge. There have been some people

who have been doubting my players and the club and making all sorts of

silly statements, this will be a battle I will relish and my players

will relish and we are looking forward to each and every single

game and if we end up being successful, that is fine, but at

this moment in time we are focusing on getting as many points as we can

so that we have a crack at taking the title. The Belfast Giants will

receive the Elite League trophy tonight at the Odyssey. They won the

title last weekend and receive the silverware after the game against

Coventry Blaze. Now here's Cecilia with the weekend weather forecast.

There has been a lot of rain and there have been terrible showers

across Northern Ireland. Severe downpours. That is all to do with

this cloud. That will move away in the next few hours and think should

become a little less wet and we are looking at more cloud and that is

the next area of low pressure which will be moving across the Atlantic

to bring wet and windy weather this weekend. It will not rain all the

time, it will be at its worst on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

We have a warning for rain as well. There is likely to be flooding over

the weekend in County Fermanagh. Scattered showers, chilly if you are

out because of the breeze, but the breeze will keep temperatures above

freezing. To begin with tomorrow, it is try and the morning will be the

best part of the day. -- drive. The rain is coming in from the west, so

at midday it will still be dry in most areas. The wind will pick up as

well, but it will not feel as cold as it did today, temperatures up to

10 degrees and although it looks wet on the map, the rain will be fairly

sporadic. Still a few dry spells until tomorrow evening. Leading the

damp and cloudy skies in Belfast, moving into the Midlands, the sun is

shining and the temperatures are about 12 degrees. The rain will not

spoil things in the Six Nations match. Back to Northern Ireland, wet

and windy is the name of the game, the winds could get up to 50 mph and

the rain will be heavy and persistent in the West. It is still

wet and windy on Sunday morning, but the winds will ease on Sunday

afternoon. Raining a lot of the time, but not all of the time. Our

late summary is at 10.25. You can also keep in contact with us via

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