22/03/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. An alleged former IRA leader has appeared in court in

Belfast charged in connection with the abduction and murder of Jean

McConville in 1972. Ivor Bell was refused bail, as Mark Simpson

reports. Ivor Bell did not speak in court but he nodded when I asked if

he understood the charges. The case against him is back in 1972 he was

involved in the murder of Jean McConville. She was abducted and

later killed by the IRA. Her body was found 30 years later, buried on

a beach. She had ten children. Do you know why your mammy went away?

Some of her children were in court today as Ivor Bell appeared, charged

with aiding and abetting the murder of Mrs McConville. It is based on an

interview he allegedly did for the Boston College tapes. Mr Bell denied

any involvement in the murder and could prove his innocence, it was

said. Ivor Bell was described as a frail, elderly, 77-year-old

grandfather. It's a frail, elderly, 77-year-old grandfather. His

solicitor told the court he had suffered two heart attacks and had.

Back in 1972, Ivor Bell was part of a Republican delegation which held

secret talks with the British Government. In court, his solicitor

said he was a threat to know one and should be released on bail. A police

officer Todd the court there was evidence linking him to the murder

of Mrs McConville and bail was refused. Later, supporters of Ivor

Bell held a protest close to Belfast city centre. The search continues

for an angler from Portadown who is missing after a boat sank on Lough

Ree in County Westmeath. Tributes have been paid to a member of the

fishing party who died in the accident and another man is in

hospital. Claire Savage reports. In the air, on the water and along the

shoreline at Lough Ree, the search continues. The 30-year-old landscape

gardener from Portadown was on a fishing trip with two friends when

accident happened. The man who died on Thursday was David Warnock on

which Hill. He was a former club captain of Armagh hockey club. He

was engaged with a four-year-old son for the P had been due to play in a

league Cup Final next Saturday. It is likely to be postponed as a mark

of respect. Team-mates at his club have described him as a superb

player. Someone of his stature and ability is irreplaceable, both as a

friend and Perth. He could have played for, I will go as far as to

say, any team in Ireland if you chose to. It was not in his nature.

This was his home club. It is said the rescued man is in a stable

condition in hospital and his injuries are not life-threatening

will stop The Alliance MLA Anna Lo says she won't be labelled as a

nationalist after telling a newspaper her personal preference

would be for a United Ireland. The party's European candidate rejected

criticism of her remarks, claiming it came from people incapable of

seeing beyond sectarianism. Here's our political editor, Mark

Devenport. Anna Lo got a standing over Asian from Alliance activists,

after being described as a one-woman publicity machine. -- a standing

ovation. Was this good publicity or bad publicity? She said she would

not be reduced to a label. When I decided to get involved in politics,

I did not join Sinn Fein or the SDLP. No, I join the Alliance party

because my motivation is not a united Ireland but the United

Northern Ireland. It was argued that Alliance is not just in

middle-of-the-road party, splitting the difference between unionists and

nationalists. We are not the more drugs -- moderates in Northern

Ireland politics. We are there to smash the mould. There is only one

way we will smash it and by convincing more and more people to

step forward and to step forward and two boat Alliance. The message of

Alliance is that they have no need to worry about the fallout from the

remarks of Anna Lo. It will only become clear once voters have given

their verdicts. And now here's the weather with Bara

Best. We still have a few scattered

showers. During this evening and overnight, many will begin to die

away. As temperatures fall close to freezing tonight, any showers that

to remain will fall asleep and snow, especially over the high ground. --

as sleek. It will be chilly to start on Sunday. There will be fog and the

odd patch of ice. There may be some slippery surfaces. Sunday is not

going to be too bad. More in the way of sunshine and fewer showers in the

forecast. To begin with, a few showers here and there as we go

towards the afternoon. It will brighten up nicely and most of the

winds will die out. It will die out. It'll be a mixed bag across Britain

and Ireland. Tomorrow will be a much better picture for us all. Some good

spells of sunshine to enjoy. Temperatures will be held back into

the high single figures for many of us. One or two places will reach

double figures by the afternoon. There will be the odd shower. Many

of us will stay dry with highs of seven, eight Celsius. Largely dry

conditions tomorrow evening and overnight into Monday. It will not

stay the same for long. More rain on Monday. There will be southeasterly

winds. On Tuesday and Wednesday it will be an improving story. That's

it for now. BBC Newsline will be back tomorrow.

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