26/02/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The First Minister, Peter Robinson,

has given the Government a deadline of this Friday to give their

response to the on-the-runs controversy. Tonight, he met the

Secretary of State at Hillsborough Castle and afterwards asked for the

Assembly to be recalled also on Friday and claimed the Royal

Prerogative of Mercy had been used to grant amnesty to republicans.

Let's speak to Martina Purdy who is outside Hillsborough Castle.

Martina, Mr Robinson seems to have set a 24 hour deadline?

Yes, I think it is clear that the First Minister has given the

Government a deadline. He had a very frank meeting tonight here at

Hillsborough Castle hours after he threatened to resign. There is two

things he wants. He wants the letters of comfort to those

on-the-run to be rescinded. He want a judicial inquery and he told the

Secretary of State that he wants to hear from the Government. Depending

what he hears, that will inform what happens on Friday. He told the

Speaker to recall the assembly on Friday. It is clear that Friday is

going to be a key day in our political calendar. I have... I have

talked to the Speaker for recall of the Assembly on Friday and we will

place before the Assembly a motion which I hope we will get widespread

support and we are happy to talk to other parties about the content of

that. In the course of that, I will make remarks are dependant on the

outcome of the meeting that I've just had. What else has the First

Minister been saying this evening? Well, the First Minister said he had

information that this issue goes beyond letters, assuring Republicans

they are not going to be arrested and prosecuted that it involves the

Royal Prerogative of Mercenary. He didn't go into detail, but he did

say he had information on this and the Secretary of State, that he was

more confident of that information and it appears that this crisis is

likely to deepen. There have been developments with the policing board

with on-the-runs tonight? That's right. We have the minutes of a

policing board meeting from April 2010 at which the issue of

on-the-runs was discussed. Now, at that meeting, the DUP MLA asked a

question to Drew Harris and the Assistant Chief Constable answered

by outlining the process by which the OTR process was dealt with. He

made no mention of a letter, but I think it is clear that this is going

to be something our politicians will be arguing about in the coming days

and you will have more on that developing story on Good morning

Ulster. Thank you.

Tonight's developments come after Mr Robinson earlier threatened to

resign if there wasn't a judicial inquiry into the issue, but Sinn

Fein said his threat was foolish. Chris Page has more.

The court case involving this man, John Downey, revealed he was one of

187 Republicans who were sent letters about whether they were

wanted by police. On the day after the case against Mr Downey

collapsed, the political fallout has deepened. The First Minister has

said he wants a judicial inquiry or he will quit. I am not prepared to

be the head of a Government that's kept in the dark in this way. I the

want there to be full disclosure. I want the people of Northern Ireland

to know what's gone on. If Ian Paisley had been told that this is

what the Government was going to do, we wouldn't have entered into

Government. That would not have been an acceptable basis for us to enter

into Government with Sinn Fein. A former vice chair of the policing

board said that board members including representatives of the two

main Unionist parties were briefed about the scheme for on-the-run

suspects. I am surprised. Not alone was there a briefing to the policing

board, if you read the report, it is referred to there. It is in the

public domain and it is well described. The TUV leader is

questioning what the DUP knew. Well, I hear what they say, but I'm

surprised, if they didn't, given that they were in very close

negotiations with the Government then it seems to be a failure on

their part to fully integrate the issues that lay at the heart of the

negotiation to get Sinn Fein and the DUP into Government. And now it is

all coming home to roast. Sinn Fein says it shouldn't be a resigning

matter for the First Minister. We have had difficult times on the

streets. We have had severe disorder on our streets over the last year,

but any talk about resignation misses the point. What we have got

to do as parties, we need to get to implementing the Haass policies. It

wasn't just in Northern Ireland that the issue was top of the political

agenda. It was raised in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's

Questions. We should be clear the man should

never have received the letter that he received, John Downey. It was a

dreadful mistake and a mistake that we need to have a rapid factual

review to make sure this cannot happen again. But whatever happens,

we have to stick to the principle that we are a country and a

Government under the rule of law. At Westminster, and Stormont, one

court case has raised numerous questions. The next few days will

show how far-reaching the consequences might be.

A man has been shot in North Belfast. It happened in Norglen

Parade shortly before 7pm this evening. The man, believed to be in

his 40s, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs and elbows.

An Omagh councillor says the community is stunned after the death

of a woman which the police are treating as murder. The woman was

taken to hospital, but died the following day. The police are

appealing for anyone with information on the 36-year-old's

death to contact them. The families of 11 vulnerable adults

have received an apology from the Western Health Trust. Some endured

horrendous episodes of physical and verbal abuse. Some staff and

including management remain suspended.

Ulster Rugby has confirmed that they are holding an internal

investigation into Nick Williams' alleged unauthorised absence. The

player will not be considered for selection for Friday night's match

against Newport Gwent Dragons. Thomas Kane reports. It is

understood that Nick Williams asked Ulster if he could return home to

New Zealand for a personal matter. It is believed that request was

declined, but Williams travelled home and made himself unavailable

for last weekend's game. He has returned, but the breach of contract

could have serious consequences. The union put out a statement about the

processes of how it will be handled and what's happening. We'll, you

know, we'll leave it at that. It will go through the process that

needs to be taken. Have you any idea how long the process will take and

how disruptive it will be? It doesn't take long at all. For all

parties for whatever the outcome, these things are dealt with

immediately and we can move on. Previously viewed as an integral

part of the squad, the big question is now whether or not Williams will

be part of that moving on process? With the weather forecast. Here's

Barra Best. It is a wet and windy end to the day. Low pressure brought

with it strong winds with gales along coastal areas. This evening's

rain is going to clear away. Turning drier for many of us. Chilly too.

Temperatures in towns and cities falling to three or four Celsius,

but in countryside areas, it will be colder than that. Tomorrow morning

there could be the odd stretch of ice, possibly frost as well.

Otherwise that rain will leave behind scattered showers tomorrow,

but not all the time. There will be plenty of dry, bright and sunny

weather on the cards. Many of us tomorrow morning will get off to a

bright and sunny start. One or two showers here and there, but not for

everyone. Elsewhere, across Britain, it will be a descent start too after

tonight's rain clears away towards the east. Brightening up nicely.

Good spells of sunshine, but through the afternoon, we will see more

unsettled weather coming into Wales and central areas and into the south

with rain. Adross Ireland, it is -- across Ireland, it is a a mixed bag.

Dry and bright weather with good spells of sunshine. The showers will

be hit and miss. They won't be for everyone. You may manage to escape

them, but prepare yourself just in case. There is a the threat of the

shower during the day. Temperatures tomorrow six or seven Celsius so

feeling cooler with the south-westerly winds. Friday will be

a chilly start. After that, it will be a day like that tomorrow.

Scattered showers. Saturday is shaping up to be the best day of the

week. Sunday, are not a bad start, but it will go downhill later.

That's it for now from everyone on the BBC Newsline team. Good night.