11/04/2014 BBC Newsline

bombing. The Co-Op Bank has said sorry

Good evening. The headlines on BBC Newsline: A

dissident republican appears in court charged with the Omagh

bombing. As her parents and four men are jailed, a sex abuse victim tells

of her years of torment. As a child, they were bad people in

my eyes. As an adult, they are monsters and it was evil what they

were doing. A row erupts as preparations get

under way for an Eleventh Night bonfire.

It's one of our most breathtaking views - now there's a new way to

enjoy it. We find out more. There should be plenty of scope for

getting outdoors this weekend. Join me for a full forecast.

Nearly 16 years after a bomb exploded in the centre of Omagh, a

man from County Monaghan has appeared in court charged with

murdering the 29 people who were killed. In a civil court case, the

same man, Seamus Daly from Culloville, was found liable for

bombing and ordered to pay damages, but no-one has been convicted of the

murders in a criminal court. Chris Buckler is in Omagh this evening.

Chris. It has been nearly 16 years since a

bomb exploded here in the centre of Omagh. For all of the families of

the people killed, coming back into the centre of town brings back

memories. Engraved in stone artefact is that have become all too

familiar. It was the largest single atrocity in 30 years of violence. It

took place four months after the Good Friday Agreement was signed.

What is most important are the names and ages of those killed, all 29.

Today, Seamus Daly appeared in court charged with causing all of their

deaths. It is something he has always strongly denied, but it is

not the first time that he has been identified as a suspect. We were in

court in Dungannon. Seamus Daly arrived at court shortly

before ten o'clock. There were a number of armed police officers

inside the courtroom as the charges were read. The majority are in

connection with the Omagh bombing. The worst single atrocity of the

Troubles. They include the murders of 29 people, killed when a bomb

went off, devastating the town centre. More than 200 others were

injured in the blast. It was just four months after the signing of the

Good Friday Agreement. No one has ever been conflict did. He was also

charged with an attempted bombing in Liz Burns in April of the same year.

14 years ago, at BBC programme named him as a suspect in the bombing. He

has always denied any involvement. A police officer told the court today

that he could connect into all the charges. The detective inspector

said the case against Seamus Daly is based on forensic and buttons and

telephone evidence. A defence lawyer argued that some of the evidence

would not be admissible. We also heard that Seamus Daly would not

comment when questioned by police, but has made a statement denying any

involvement. Seamus Daly was arrested in the car park of this

hospital in Newry on Monday. His wife was due to give birth to their

second child today. He was positively identified by fingerprint

analysis after giving his brother 's name. A defence lawyer said his

client had been living openly in South Armagh for a number of years.

The judge refused to release Seamus Daly on bail. The detective

inspector said there were fears he might not appear for his trial and

could run across the board into the Republic. There was also a fear that

a number of witnesses could be affected by him being released.

Because of the person that he was, we can't walk away and say it was

one of those things. We have to know the truth about what happened. We

have to see those responsible being brought towards the courts -- in

front of the court. These mirrors are a feature of the

memorial garden, there function is to cast light towards the town.

There have been the civil prosecution, a criminal prosecution

against another man that field. There have been many enquiries. They

the prospect of another trial. -- they now face the prospect of

another trial. A father and mother who admitted to

the abuse and neglect of their four children have been sent to prison

for up to five years each. The woman was described in court as "a

heartless tormentor". Sentences were also handed down to four others, who

admitted sexually abusing the children in the late 1970s and early

1990s in County Down. Claire Savage has spoken to one of the victims,

who is now an adult and you may find details in her report upsetting.

Today at Belfast Crown Court six child sex abusers sat side-by-side

in the dock. The victims, three girls and a boy, suffered sexual

abuse, cruelty and neglect over several years, all when they were

very young. The court heard they suffered arrested mental and

physical development, often left unwashed for days, living in

squalor. The mother, a prostitute, was described as being always drunk

and having sex with different men, sometimes even her two brothers. At

times she made her children watch. One of the big strings to speak me

anonymously. They would have got drunk together and had intercourse

in one of the front rooms. We were expected to watch. The abusers, who

are related, can't be named to protect the identity of their big

is. The mother was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison.

The judge described her as a heartless fermenter, interested only

in her own pleasure. The father subjected his children to savage

beatings, once with a poker. He got four years in jail. The other child

abusers, Baker from Newcastle, got sentenced to 12 months in prison. A

former police reserve list got 18 months. Of the two uncles, one got a

prison sentence of two years and nine months, and the other got a

six-month suspended sentence. They know what they did. I just hope they

suffer. The judge referred to" , he said the hearts of young children

are like delicate organs, a cruel beginning in this world can twist

them into curious shapes. The big ones want to move on with their

lives. -- the victims. The police have told BBC Newsline

that children may have been in a car which had a booby trap bomb

attached. The device was only found in Londonderry last night when it

fell off the vehicle. Our North West reporter, Keiron Tourish, reports.

Army bomb experts spent several hours dealing with the device which

was found near a car in the driveway at Tolbert Park yesterday afternoon.

They confirmed it was a crude, but viable bomb. This was a booby trap

style device. It is a viable -- was a viable. Clearly, it posed a

greater risk to the lady in the car whenever it dropped off. One

resident spoke to the woman who picked it up. She thought it was a

toy. She picked it up, then realised it was something more sinister. She

was badly shaken, as you could imagine. Thankfully, she wasn't

hurt. It is very worrying that people could be so reckless as the

board at bomb in a car were children are being driven around. It is at

its -- a disgrace. At this stage in the investigation, detectives say

they are keeping an open mind and have ruled out any link to the

police or prison service. One senior officer described it as an

unconventional attack. Detectives want to hear from witnesses who

might have seen anything suspicious. Coming up later in the programme: We

meet the pupils who are learning the skill of solving disputes.

It may be three months until the Eleventh of July bonfires, but in

some parts of Northern Ireland wooden pallets are already piling

up. In Newtownabbey, there's a row about council plans to spend ?30,000

on a site where a bonfire will be built. Chris Page reports.

It is Eleventh, but it is not time yet this site -- to lead the

bonfire. That is because it is three -- still three months to go. Some

feel it is too early for things starting to be stockpiled. I have

had a number of phone calls with people being concerned about things

being gathered to make their homes. The toxic fumes that come off tyres

are lethal. Burning tyres is also illegal. This community worker says

the reason why people are gathering them this early is because pallets

are hard to come by. People have to go out that that earlier to get the

pallets. We have the pallets stored elsewhere, after negotiations with

the collect yours, and the Housing executive has taught us to move the

stuff. The Housing executive says it is working with the local community

to resolve the issue. A couple of miles away there is another

controversy. Last year, the bonfire was moved after residents expressed

safety fears. This is currently on a slope, which causes problems when

building a bonfire. The council has voted in favour of the scheme for

this site to be levelled to make it more safe. It will cost ?30,000. We

are going to build a feature wall, nice brick. This is something that

will be here permanently. Alliance and nationalists politicians voted

against the plan. There are no guarantees with regards to this

solving the issue. It is weird error money and I think it is the wrong

way to be spending it. In three months, all of this will go up in

smoke, but the issues shown no sign of burning it.

A farmer has been jailed for 15 years for murder. Jimmy Seales, of

Ballykeel Road in Hillsborough, killed Phillip Strickland during an

attack near Comber two years ago. He was helped by two sons and a friend.

One son, who testified against his father, was jailed for four years

yesterday. The second got nine and a half years. The friend, Stephen Mc

Caughey, was today given a 10-year sentence. Kevin Sharkey reports.

Jimmy Seales, described by the judge today as a farmer of considerable

wealth. Hearing was protesting at their Department of agriculture

office. He was the man who directed the killing of Philip Strickland. It

it's all because they blamed him for writing comments on Facebook that

they thoughts was offensive to his family. The victim was shot in the

leg, driven a short test on the way, and shot dead. During the

trial, Jimmy Seales consistently denied the killing of Philip

Strickland. He said he wasn't here on the night of the killing. He

claimed that the time he was at home watching a programme on TV. The jury

did not believe him. The judge today told Jimmy Seales that you were the

prime mover, director and controller of these wicked events. The judge

said it of these wicked events. The judge

your family and friends into it. Outside the court, Philip

Strickland'stwin brother Andrew told me that he arrived at the scene of

the murder and is haunted by what he saw. The mother said the family is

struggling to cope. I will never forgive them. Never. How has this

ledger family? Devastated. People think that after two years you are

OK. No, you are not. Jimmy Seales leper prison today knowing that he

must serve every day of the sentence.

A man and a woman have been arrested by police officers investigating

dissident Republican activity in Craigavon.

They're aged 49 and 52. It's understood a gun was also seized

during a search of a property in the Drumbeg area.

Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr says the police have credible

intelligence that the South East Antrim UDA is planning disorder in

Carrickfergus tonight. There was trouble in the area last night after

searches and an arrest relating to recent disorder in Larne.

The police are treating an attack on a house in South Belfast last night

as a hate crime. Breezeblocks were thrown at the front windows of the

property on the Donegall Road. No-one was injured.

A system which began as a way of bringing victims and offenders face

to face is now being used in schools.

Restorative justice uses praise and negotiation, rather than shouts and

threats, as a way of improving behaviour. So, now, instead of

raised voices and aggression, a chat from pupils or teachers goes to the

heart of the problem. Our education correspondent, Maggie Taggart, has

been to see the method in action. So, how do we introduced this? A

team of 18 pupils volunteer to act as mediators in disputes. They deal

with things from name-calling to bullying. Both sides get together

and agreed the solution. We come and talk, say you are a lovely person,

but you have let yourself down. We don't say, you are in the wrong. Is

it letting them off GEC? No, if it is severe we still have sanctions we

can put in place, and that one go away. -- won't go away. Lessons from

an Australian former policeman opened the eyes of the staff here to

new forms of improving behaviour. I don't point the finger is to much,

or clench my teeth so much. It is more of a smile, you are a great

fella, but just make sure your tie is fixed. In the past that would

have been short, sweet, and not so pleasant. The approach now is to

discuss and agree a resolution. I put a picture on Facebook the other

night, and when I went on a comment had been put under the photo that

really upset the. I thought it was funny, I didn't think she would

react like this. Serious issues need the teachers involved, but minor

spat between pupils can be dealt with by the pupils themselves. This

imaginary argument was all it an apology. A lesson learnt.

Still to come on the programme: Geoff Maskell takes a new high road

to sample the delights of Divis Mountain.

President Michael D Higgins is returning to Dublin at the end of

the first Irish state visit to the UK.

He visited Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry on this final day of

engagements. Mark Simpson has been looking back at the ground-breaking

event, which the President has described as "so positive, so

uplifting and so hopeful". A fond farewell, after a four-day

stay at Windsor Castle. A sign, perhaps, that Britain and Ireland

are not just good neighbours, but good friends. For most of the week,

the focus was on the future. But the past was not forgotten. The people

of Ireland group we cherish the political independence that was

secured in 1922. An independence which was called for by my father

and many of his generation. Significantly, the Queen said that

when it comes to remembering conflict, Britain and Ireland can

remember together. My family and my government will stand alongside you,

Mr President, Anja ministers throughout the anniversaries of the

war and the events that led to the creation of the Irish free State.

Invited to the dinner at Windsor Castle was Martin McGuinness. He

also met the Queen yesterday afternoon at another reception. Two

meetings in three days. Less than three years after he refused to meet

her in Dublin. Afterwards, he said he was pleased to have been invited.

The invitation to her home, effectively, clearly sends a

powerful message that she, I suppose, of all of the elements of

Britishness, whether it be unionist political parties or organisations,

she is a way ahead of everybody else. Everybody else needs to catch

up. This was no ordinary state visit. President Higgins was left in

no doubt about the affection felt for Ireland's in Britain. Of course,

it is not just the Irish people they like about the music. -- that they

like, but the music as well. A little bit of Dublin came to London

for a final night party at the Royal Albert Hall.

Rory McIlroy is due to tee off in a few minutes' time in the second

round of the US Masters. It would be premature to say Rory's on a roll,

but day one did go well. He's three shots off the lead. Out on the

course is Graeme McDowell, while Darren Clarke has completed his

second round. From Augusta, Stephen Watson reports for BBC Newsline.

There is no doubt he is the biggest draw at the Masters. Rory McIlroy is

the centre of attention every step he takes. The turn on favourite has

strolled into contention. He started with a confident, impressive opening

round. I am feeling good with my game. I

feel relaxed and trying to enjoy the week. There is not much not to

enjoy! Just go out there, try and play the shots and if I can do that

and not get ahead of myself, hopefully I will give myself a great

chance. Graeme McDowell has plenty of support as well. He is relishing

the challenge of Augusta. I have always said, for me to win this

competition I needed to be firm and fast. We might get that this

weekend. The top of the better for me to have a chance. Bring it on!

The very fast greens at this famous course also proved tough to conquer

for Darren Clarke. I have heard the stories about people practising by

putting on a snooker table! It is tough to describe how fast they are.

All in all, it is pretty tough. With the temperatures set to rise over

the weekend, the sporting surfaces are going to get even faster.

Winning the Masters is about to get even more difficult for the cream of

the golfing world. Just on the left of this window is

the Cave Hill. It's described as the best view in Belfast. On a clear

day, from Divis Mountain you can see as far as Scotland and the Isle of

Man. Now, a new 12-mile network of paths has opened some of the best

vistas. The new Ridge Path which has cost half-a-million pounds was given

its official opening this week. It's all part of a ?5 million investment

programme being overseen by the National Trust. Geoff Maskell has

been exploring. Most grand openings involve a bit of

dressing up, but forget the smart suits, it is more about Wellington

boots and waterproofs. The dog and I are here to explore this new network

of paths. What would you trying to achieve with this? We are trying to

encourage more people to get it and enjoy the countryside. Some of the

parts are easy, some difficult. You can see all the way up to Donegal on

a good day. You can see Strangford Lough, the Ards Peninsula and

everything in between. It is the proximity to Belfast that makes this

such an important investment for the National trust. It is only 15

minutes from the city centre. It is hugely important to open up outdoor

spaces like this for local is and our members. It is all about free

access to open countryside. At an altitude of more than 1,000 feet,

this is a place of extreme weather and it an all change very fast. It

is not like visiting and National Trust garden in one of the big

houses, this is a very open environment with no shelter. You

have got to be careful and take sensible precautions. Today has been

a lovely day for a walk, and whether on four legs were just two, there is

plenty to explore. There is quite a bit of scope for

getting it or this weekend. It will get off to a damp start. It will be

quite easy, too. Once the rain moves away tomorrow, I think many of us

will get a lot of dry weather. Plenty of that around today, as

well. We had some lovely sunrises. The clouds have been piling into

light today. There have been one or two showers, but generally it is

dry, and that is hardly continue into the evening. Conditions will be

pretty ideal for the rugby this evening. Through the night, the

breeze will continue to pick up. Eventually, the cloud could be thick

enough by the end of the night to produce some patchy rain and drizzle

in the north and west. Elsewhere, it will be dry and miles. Into

tomorrow, we have a weather front moving south eastwards. Things will

brighten up through the course of the day, but it means we have a damp

start. Those spells of rain in the north and West will be edging their

way across the country all morning. The brighter skies will follow. One

to light showers, but they will be the exception rather than the rule.

Highs of 12 degrees. Tomorrow, there will be more of a breeze, so it will

feel fresh. Tomorrow night, the clouds will gather up and there is a

greater threat of showers in the north and west. Some of the showers

will linger into Sunday morning there, but they will taper away. The

emphasis again is for more dry and wet weather.

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

Facebook and Twitter. From BBC Newsline, good night.