18/03/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The headlines on BBC Newsline.

A grandfather who died after hospital delays. His family say they

were failed by a system under too much pressure.

Undoubtedly... For somebody who was so loved, I find it very difficult

to reconcile. We'll be asking the Health Minister

if his latest plan to tackle the problems at the Royal is just a

sticking plaster. A woman admits causing the death of

her friend's baby in a car crash. Also on the programme: As she heads

home with her gold medal, Kelly Gallagher gives us some surprising

revelations. I used to ask my mum for notes to

get out of PE at school. I didn't see myself as a sports person. The

new technology helping Ireland's cricketers to World Cup glory.

And, it's going to be a dry night. But will it stay dry for tomorrow?

More nurses are to be employed in the Emergency Department at the

Royal Victoria Hospital. It's one of a series of measures being

introduced, to try to address the ongoing problems at the Belfast

Health Trust. That announcement from the Health Department comes just

ahead of a BBC Spotlight investigation to be broadcast

tonight, In it, a UK charity for patient safety and justice calls for

a review of patient safety here. Action Against Medical Accidents

says it has been contacted by a family, after an investigation into

their relative's death which revealed a series of failings. With

more, here's Declan Lawn. Charlie Paterson died in January 20

13th in the Royal Victoria Hospital. He had Brune brought to

the Emergency Department after hitting his head. There were long

delays in getting his treatment. An instant report uncovered by

spotlights revealed Charlie Paterson was failed by a system that was

under too much pressure. All in all, this report outlines a litany of

errors. What runs through it is the problem of delays. The reason given

here for those delays is the system was under pressure because a large

number of patients in the department that night needed to be admitted to

hospital and there were not enough beds. The Emergency Department was

simply fall. The family say they were not told he was even in the

Emergency Department until seven hours had passed. Charlie had

already lost consciousness. He would have been confused as to what was

happening around him. He would have been afraid. I find that just, for

someone who was so loved, I find that very difficult to reconcile.

What upsets them most of all is that they were not told anything had gone

wrong with his care until three days after a programme on the failings in

emergency care was broadcast. A year after Charlie had died. By anyone's

standards, that is shameful. The first time we knew anything what had

occurred. The programme tonight reveals how this case is not unique.

It also uncovers disturbing new documentary evidence which shows, as

recently as three weeks ago, the department was considered by a

number of senior consultant to be unsafe for patients. We showed that

evidence to Peter Walsh, one of the leading patient advocates in the UK,

when he came to Belfast. In our experience, a hospital that fails to

be open and honest, is likely to be a dangerous hospital. As new

evidence emerges, there are now serious questions over the true

extent of the systemic problems at the hospital and the harm which may

have been done to patients. That Spotlight programme is at

10:35, here on BBC One tonight. The Health Minister Edwin Poots joins me

now from Stormont. What you say to the family about why

they were not told Charlie was in that Emergency Department until

seven hours had passed? I think that is wrong. One reason for this report

is the series of errors. Our report is being used to vindicate those

errors. That was exacerbated by the fact the family were not informed.

They weren't informed until after a BBC investigation revealed failings

in the system. A couple of days after that, it was revealed not

everyone had been informed. As it now stands, many other families, are

they in a similar position? As iron stand, there isn't any. If that

isn't the case, then let me make it clear they should be informed

immediately. Despite many assurances from yourself and health officials,

it seems to be that there is a fundamental lack of confidence in

the system. We have listened to programmes where people are fearful

about going to the Emergency Department. How can you restore that

confidence? That is one of the things consultants and senior

nursing staff in the Emergency Department raised with me. That they

believe they are providing a safe service albeit under a lot of

pressure. They want to get the message they are providing a safe

service, that is not political speak, that is the doctors and

nurses providing the care at the coal face. They are concerned

attention is of a negative nature and consequently people are not

aware of the really good but that does happen and the many lives being

saved on a daily basis at the Royal Victoria Hospital. No doubt there

are lives saved. How do you dress documentary evidence which will be

revealed tonight that, three weeks ago, some senior consultants were

describing the Department as unsafe, that was just three weeks

ago? I had my conversations if you weeks ago with the staff at the

Emergency Department. They indicated they believed they were providing a

safe service and it was detrimental for people to be saying otherwise.

These are people who are very skilled. Who know what they are

doing. And to do save many lives. All of the evidence indicated to us

is there is a small number of instances where care has fallen

short. We are looking at a situation where it is very sad that is the

case but we need to reflect many people who use these services are

getting excellent care. Going back to the danger and lack of

fundamental confidence in the system.

Last week, we reported a senior medic at the department, and a

patient, are seeking legal proceedings, looking for a public

enquiry into what is going on, how do you respond? I sent letters to

every single person working in the health service in March 20 12th,

indicating it wasn't just something they should do, it was a duty to

report where they noticed things which were not right, particularly

where it affected patient safety. And I would give them cover for

doing that and ensured there was no victimisation. The medic had that

opportunity. Why they have chosen to take a different route is something

that amazes me. We don't know if that consultant has gone through the

internal system, they may be frustrated that they have to go

through the legal route. They received that letter along with

every member of staff, saying we want to hear whenever things are not

being done right. We can only correct those things when we are

made aware of it. Going down a legal route will be long drawn out, it

will be a period of time before we get the issues. If it involves

safety, we need to hear it now, not in a court case. Listening is one

thing, action is another. Absolutely. On all of these things,

we have taken action. We have an independent reporting group,

including the vice president of the College of emergency medicine,

giving us support. We are reported, Chu appointing 48 nurses to the

Emergency Department -- we are appointing. Action is being taken to

ensure we can meet the needs of the public.

We have been speaking about this problems for some time. No one is

still being held accountable for it. In terms of what we are doing, we

are responding to the problems being identified, and dealing with the

issues. Carrying out the report in

mid-January has led us to establishing this team to ensure

that we can take appropriate actions to support people who are working in

the service and patients get the quality of service they should

expect. A 33-year-old woman has admitted

causing the death of her friend's baby girl, by driving carelessly.

Natasha Irish now lives in England. Her address was given as Crosshill

Grove in Crumlin. David Maxwell was at the court in Antrim.

Natasha Irish, seen here wearing sunglasses, wet during the short

court appearance. She spoke only to confirm her name and plead guilty to

causing the death of the one-year-old in September 2012. The

baby girl died from her injuries after a crash on the Dublin Road in

Antrim. Irish was driving the car at the time. There were no other

vehicles involved. Another child and woman were in the car but they only

sustained minor injuries. The judge told I wish she could expect

substantial credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity,

meaning that the parents of the baby would not suffer further by sitting

through a trial. No other details about the crash were mentioned in

court. The judge asked for a victim impact report on the parents of the

baby who now lives in England. Irish will be sentenced in

A man has been injured in a crash in County Londonderry. The collision

was on Broad Road, between Limavady and Coleraine, shortly before two

o'clock this afternoon. A car and a lorry were involved, and the road

was closed for a time. You're watching BBC Newsline. Still

to come on the programme: Calling time at Casement.

The bar that's at the centre of a row over the redevelopment of

Belfast's main GAA ground. The Paralympic champion Kelly

Gallagher met the Prime Minister in London today, and was congratulated

on her success. The Bangor woman and her guide, Charlotte Evans, were the

first ever UK winners of a gold medal at the Winter Games. Ahead of

the journey back here, BBC Newsline's Tara Mills spoke to them

in London. Congratulations. Thanks so much. Has

it sunk in much? Not really. Yesterday, we arrived in London.

There was so much support, so many people standing there. That was

cool, that was for us. And getting acquainted with the medals? They

have been in the Cabinet until now. We were showing the air

stewardesses, the captain came down. It was really cool. Coming into

Heathrow, even today, assured by mum and that her hold it, my nephew and

brother. Kelly, most people watching think that looks terrifying even if

you could see everything in front of you. What can you watch the sea down

the slope? Very little. We stand side-by-side at the start gate. She

can't stand, and I chased her down. She is really talented, telling me

what is going on under her feet so I can experience that. She is looking

ahead, slowing and speeding up. Telling me where the snow is steep

or flat or with undulations, communicating that to me. We do this

at 110 kilometres per hour. It is really enjoyable, the rush you get

after in really good run which is technically smooth. Perfect. Kelly,

your mum was cheering you on in Sochi. Sadly, your dad passed away

in 2012. How big a role model was he? He was at the World

Championships at our first race. Really good to have them there. For

my mum, it is difficult. In Sochi, it didn't matter how we did, because

he wasn't there. My mum being there, we did our best. We had so

many nice messages and cards from people wishing us luck. Quite

emotional. What people want to know is when you are coming home? Coming

home on Friday. All of my friends, and two of them are getting married.

I have been quite a boring person for the past four years. Kelly, are

you aware you are such a role model for people generally, the kids with

disabilities, particularly children with visual impairment. Not at all.

I used to ask my mum for a note to get out of PE at school. I never

thought of myself as a spokesperson. I was encouraged to do whatever I

wanted. I dreamt about winning a gold medal. Sometimes I thought it

wasn't possible. I don't think of myself as a role model. But I have

had people around me in my life to keep me going. Dreams do come true.

Our Paralympic champion, home very soon. Now for some of today's other

news. The 77-year-old man arrested in West

Belfast in connection with the murder of Jean McConville is

believed to be veteran republican Ivor Bell. He was part of an IRA

delegation that took part in secret talks with the British government in

London in 1972, along with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. Mrs

McConville, was murdered by the IRA in 1972, after being abducted from

her home in Divis Flats. A pipe bomb's exploded at a house in

Tobermore. The device was thrown at the rear of the property, shortly

before one o'clock this morning. Two adults and three children, who were

in the house at the time, escaped injury. A window at a house nearby

was also damaged. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested,

after it's claimed a 13-year-old girl was the victim of a sexual

assault in Londonderry this morning. It's alleged to have happened in

Rathkeele Way in Creggan. Another row has erupted over the

GAA's redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast. This time, it's about

the members of a social club based at the stadium. They've received

solicitors' letters, on behalf of the association, demanding they pay

more than ?35,000 which the GAA says is for running costs dating back to

last August. The club members say they're disgusted that such letters

have been sent. Eunan McConville has the story.

It is the biggest venue for the Gaelic games in Belfast, and it is

to undergo a massive development to turn it into a 38,000 seater

stadium. Those plans have already run foul of some local residents.

This was the scene last December at the launch of the plans at the

Casement. This latest bout involves the social club. It has its premises

in the existing stand which is due to be demolished under the plans for

the new stadium. For their part, social club members don't want to

move, and there is a fight between the club and the GAA which has ended

up in the court. Now, around 300 members have received letters from

solicitors on the half of the GAA, saying the club has been occupying

the premises since August last year, and bills of ?35,000 have

accrued. The club members don't agree. Outrageous is the only word I

can use to describe it. It is basically threatening all of our

members, both individual and collectively, that they will have to

pay ?36,000. Which is not on. The board says it has -- this is an

ongoing legal issue. The social club have an application before the High

Court due to be heard later this month.

They are seeking an injunction and, if they are successful, that could

mean the work to redevelop Casement Park could grind to a halt.

Time now for the sport. A Heineken Cup quarterfinal is

looming, and the race for the Pro 12 title is hotting up. Ulster, along

with fellow Irish provinces Leinster and Munster, are three of the

in-form sides in Europe. Add that to the Six Nations Championship

triumph, and Irish rugby seems to have found the recipe for success.

Gavin Andrews reports. On the eve of Ireland's big win in

Paris, Ulster sent out a message, leaving the scholar 's red-faced at

Ravenhill, the game here in a good place. A good group of players, the

development programmes are in place, the academies are strong.

They are well managed. There is a vibrancy within Irish rugby at the

moment will stop the sport has grown bigger than it has been. Now, it is

about translating that international success to the provincial run in.

The teams are really well placed in the Heineken Cup, and in the Pro12.

It is one of the challenges we have extended to all of the players. But

when they go back as international players, and continued their form. I

have nothing but respect for him. It is good for Irish rugby. You want

coaches of that quality in your system. For a young coach tried to

learn, it is good to have that experience, to tap into. Ireland are

in a good place. The Six Nations trophy might not be the only piece

of silverware these players will list this season.

The countdown is on, ahead of what is being billed as the one of the

biggest boxing nights ever to come to Belfast. The Odyssey Arena will

be sold out, as Carl Frampton is the star attraction, as he takes on Hugo

Cazares, in a WBC Final Eliminator contest. But the occasion will also

showcase some of our best local fighters. Thomas Kane reports.

When the gloves are on, there aren't too many opponents to catch a

Frampton off-guard. -- Carl Frampton. I know a lot of these guys

personally. But it is a job. People have bills to pay. We are a team. We

share the same bedroom, there is great camaraderie and banter. To see

how relaxed he is, how good a boxer he is makes me up my game. There

will be for title fights on the night. I want to invest in these

kids and speculate. There is a host of kids who are world-class amateurs

who want to turn rational. Now, we want to provide that path. It seems

the Frampton factor is in full swing.

Ireland's cricketers got off to a winning start at the World Twenty20

Championship yesterday, with a win over Zimbabwe. Eglinton batsman

Stuart Thompson scampered home for the winning run on the last ball.

Before the squad went out to the tournament in Bangladesh, BBC

Newsline took Stuart to a lab at Queen's University, to try out their

state-of-the-art batting simulator. Mark Sidebottom reports.

Creditors are used to padding up but not like this. State-of-the-art

technology takes Stuart Thompson into into a virtual world. This

simulation is designed to analyse anticipation of pace bowling. It is

as accurate as can be with the ball flight at Test match speed. This is

the only now in the world tried to do this research. It is looking at

how the brain uses perceptual information to make decisions. The

cricket we saw is how does Stuart use the bowling action of the bowler

and the ball release, to use that information to anticipate. Watching

the release point, it does help very much. Can these stimulate --

simulator give players an edge? With the way the game is, it can only be

good. We are looking for pointers from the burner, the release, if it

is going to be short. -- the bowler. Watching the bowler run in.

It helps that the engineering student working on this has played

the game to a decent standard. With my background, I am looking for new

ways to bring technology to the forefront of understanding sports

performance. We are able to give the players the chance to analyse

performance. We have used video -based performance but here it is

visual -- virtual reality. Overall, his perception of the bowling

improved although, in this simulation, the bowler doesn't give

you any verbal abuse. At least, not yet.

Time now for the weather. Here's Barra Best.

Last year, we saw some horrendous snow in March. Thankfully there is

none in the forecast. It will be mild for the time of year, no lower

than seven degrees. There will be some clear skies developing through

the night. For many of us, a bright and sunny start to the day. The

cloud will roll in and it will be quite windy. Tomorrow, the winds

will pick up, up to gale force. A fairly dry start. As we make our way

into the afternoon, cloud will roll in from the West. Some of that card

will be thick enough to give us if you spots of damp weather, light

rain and drizzle. Not an awful lot. Parts of County Down staying dry all

day. Temperatures tomorrow are very mild, 15 degrees will stop we will

have south-westerly winds making it feel colder. One or two spots of

light rain or drizzle tomorrow evening. Many places will be dry for

a good part before we see rain tomorrow night. The winds will be

quite gusty. Tomorrow night, they will pick up, as we see this next

cold front, bringing some heavy bursts of rain, overnight into

Thursday. Thursday will be a very wet and windy start. Treacherous

driving conditions are possible around rush hour. By the afternoon,

the rain Bull clear away, temperatures, 14 degrees. Thursday,

back to normal. And south-westerly winds will continue. Friday and

Saturday, very little will change, scattered showers, good spells of

sunshine.