07/03/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The controversial On The Run scheme

is over as far as the Government is concerned. That was the message

today from the Secretary of State Theresa Villiers. Her words were

welcomed by Unionists but dismissed by republicans as meaningless and an

act of bad faith. The issue of on the run is has left many victims

with a sour taste in their mouth. The Secretary of State offered them

a sweetener. In total, of the 200 or so cases under the scheme 38 have

been that since the general election in May 2010. 12 received letters

saying they were no longer wanted. No letters have been issued by the

Northern Ireland office since December 2012 and as far as this

government is concerned this scheme is over. But what does it mean? What

will happen to the case is currently in the system? What happens to them

will be a matter for a judge lead in quarry. We have no plans to issue

letters in relation to these cases are any others. What you are telling

me is not new to date. You could have told us this earlier. What has

changed? The UK government seized this scheme as being at an end and

we recognise the concerns that have been felt and I have made clear that

these letters do not offer immunity. If anything emerges in relation to

terrorist activity, these will be reviewed. I think it is very

important to ensure that the public is aware and the recipients are

where that they are not get out of jail free cards. They are a

statement of fact as to whether or not an individual is wanted. It is a

reason understood that if fresh evidence emerges due process will

operate in the normal way. Her words were welcomed by Unionists. But Sinn

Fein says the comments smacked of a partisan approach. More often than

not, when they make an intervention, it is unwelcome. It does not change

anything and it is pandering to Unionists and as a sign of bad

faith. You'll act the case of John Downey and the fallout nearly led to

the resignation of the First Minister. Now he wants more

information from the police. One area that is still left to be

dealt with is further there are ongoing investigations were letters

have been issued. That is a vital issue. Without these, then largely

this is immunity and cases are closed so we want that clarification

from the police. It is more than one week since the judge lead inquiry

into the Danny case was announced and no judge has been appointed. If

the Secretary of State's intention was to bring clarity to this issue

she probably has not succeeded. As the parties head to Washington next

week it is clear that on the run is still have the capacity to

destabilise the political process. -- that OTRs. The emergency services

are searching the River Lagan in Belfast. They are responding to a

report of a man entering the water in the city centre area. The

operation began around 6:30pm this evening. There were eyewitness

reports that a man was seen and the fire crews carried out a search. We

are following that up. The First and Deputy First Ministers

have condemned those who sent letter bombs which were intercepted by

Royal Mail staff in Londonderry and Lisburn. It's understood the

packages were addressed to Maghaberry Prison. Chris Page

reports. For the second time in 24 hours the army and police were

called to a postal office. This morning in Lisburn Royal Mail staff

waited inside as the security forces dealt with a letter bomb. Yesterday

there was a similar operation at this sorting office in Londonderry.

Workers intercept did another explosive device. The local MP says

the people who sent it were reckless. If they have any cause

that they want to talk about they have an open and democratic society

in which they can do that. If there is a case they want to make, let

them talk about it and do soap. This will not advance anything. It is

understood that staff reported the package after they had received a

briefing about the incident in Derry. It is understood both devices

were dressed to Maghaberry prison. The First Minister and Deputy First

Minister have condemned the incidence and in a joint statement

they said the people who sent the packages have no respect for postal

workers, the wider community or the future.

The DUP is expected to field just one candidate in May's European

election. The party had been considering running a second

candidate alongside MEP Diane Dodds. However, Peter Robinson said there

was a danger the move could have split the Unionist vote.

A couple who were married last week in Belfast City Hospital are

appealing to the public to sign the organ donor register. Ciaran Murphy

needs a double lung transplant and doctors have told him the operation

is now critical. With two separate organ donation bills now being

proposed in the Assembly, Mr Murphy is calling on politicians to

remember what's at stake. Married just over one week ago this Hubble

are cherishing every moment they have together. He needs a double

lung transplant. -- this couple. I need a transplant. It is not nice

and it is not pleasant. It is in a state of limbo at the moment. It

makes everyday such a struggle. The wedding was brought forward when his

health deteriorated in January. The ceremony took place in the ward at

the hospital. Organ donation is a contentious issue was too political

bills being proposed. One offers a soft ad system file the other

maintains the current opt in organ register. Like most things this

country -- in this country, things become political. But people must

consider what it is we are discussing. It is peoples lives. It

is the chance for someone to live and having life. There have been

difficult conversations including telling their daughter her daddy

might die. For Ciaran's sister, the reality is stark. This is the

reality now and he could die. I would appeal for people to put

themselves in our shoes. This is right here in Belfast and we appeal

for people to have the conversation. The couple remain at the beat and

they say without hope, their lives would be shattered.

A machine used for laying roads which was owned by the Quinn Group

has been destroyed in a fire in County Fermanagh. It's the second

night in a row that property once belonging to the bankrupt

ex-billionaire Sean Quinn has been targeted by arsonists. The machine

which was parked in the village of Donagh, was worth about ?150,000.

And two results from the Irish Premiership tonight - Coleraine have

beaten Crusaders 1-0, while Glentoran won 3-1 against Ballymena

United. To Belfast boxers were in action in Dublin this evening. Paddy

-- Paddy Barnes triumphed for his seventh Irish titles while Michael

Collins took their bantamweight title.

Time for a weather update. -- Michael Conlon. We have rain

arriving overnight. The skies will start to clear overnight. It will be

chilly night with lows of two degrees. -- chilly tonight. This is

the picture you will be waking up to. There is a great deal of rain

around. It will clear and become a drier afternoon but it will be

breezy. There will be a north-south split in the weather. Look at the

difference in temperatures. The high pressure is very much in charge

across England and Wales. Looking ahead to the rugby tomorrow

afternoon it should be cloudy and mild but a little bit easy. It is a

similar picture for Northern Ireland. Still out of the wind it

should be around 12 degrees. This low-pressure system will dominate

the weather over the weekend. It will bring rain in overnight on

Saturday and the early hours of Sunday morning. It will be a damp

start on Sunday. The best of any brightness will be across the North

West. The high pressure will slowly start to extend its influence and

this is the general picture for next week. We can expect settled

conditions and drier weather. That's all from the BBC Newsline

This beauty will make you as fast as a frog...