23/04/2014 BBC Newsline

three of her children are found dead at their home

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline.

A former IRA member says Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness ordered him to

transport explosives to Britain in 1980.

Three people appear in court charged over an attack on a loyalist protest

camp. And there may be a rumble or two of

thunder just 17 days to go until the start

of the duo. How will the traffic cope?

And there may be a rumble or two of thunder mixed in with the sunset

this evening. I'll have a full forecast later in the programme.

Gerry Adams' denial that he was in the IRA and Martin McGuinness' sworn

testimony that he left in 1974 have always been controversial, and have

been met with disbelief by many people. Today, for the first time, a

living former IRA member goes on camera to say the two men are

telling lies. Peter Rogers, who was convicted of murdering a Garda in

County Wexford, has told the BBC that Gerry Adams and Martin

McGuinness ordered him to transport explosives to Britain for a bombing

campaign in 1980. The Sinn Fein leaders say his recollection is

untrue. Our Dublin correspondent Shane

Harrison has more. For Peter Rogers, it's a long way to

Wexford. Some of the key moments in his life are a long way off. At one

time he was regarded as a local hero -- and IRA hero after he escaped

from the Maidstone Prison Ship. He alleges that in 1980, around the

time of the first tiger stripes, he was summoned to a meeting with Gerry

Adams and Martin McGuinness. The reason was that he claims he was

reluctant to move explosives to Britain for a bombing campaign. The

liquid substance which gave off a strong spell of marzipan posed a

risk to the bombers and their security.

Gerry wanted to know what the delay was. I told him it was because of

the explosives. He and Martin stood back out of earshot and Harry talks.

Gerry said look, we can fix replaced that explosives. You will have to go

with what you have. -- we can't replace the explosives.

I had to go with this very unstable explosive.

Gerry Adams said he was never in the IRA and Martin McGuinness says he

left the IRA in 1974. He swore an oath to that effect.

That maybe so. I know that over the years there have been that many lies

told in order to get to where we are at the present day in the peace

process. If the men said they had no

recollection of this what Trevor, what would you say?

I would say they are suffering from Alzheimer's. They definitely worthy.

Peter Rogers says he has every reason to remember the meeting. A

short time after, his van with the explosives was stopped by

detectives. There was a gun battle and he murdered a police officer.

Peter Rogers was initially sentenced to death but then given a 40 year

sentence for capital murder. Nine years into his sentence, he

left the Republic and moved after writing to the family of the police

officer, apologising for what he had done. He was released under the

terms of the Good Friday Agreement. His polished -- his apologies were

not accepted. The quiet family were very unhappy.

They had a plaque temporarily removed for the duration of the

conference. When asked about it by local reporters, Martin McGuinness

said he was prepared to meet the Quaid family. He said the police

officer was an innocent man. It is absolutely appropriate that

Republicans should apologise for what happened to him. The Quaid

family did not accept that apology either. Peter Rogers was also

unimpressed with the offer of a meeting.

I'm telling the truth. We were the ones to give them explosives. Tell

them about the part that they played in this person's death.

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness declined to be interviewed for this

report. Sinn Fein released a statement saying there is no proof

to the allegations and that Gerry Adams has already publicly refuted

them. The allegation made by Peter Robinson shows that, in the wake of

the cast talks failure, the past is still murky and unclear that still

has the power to raise issues. -- the Haass talks.

Two men and a woman have been in court after flags and banners were

damaged at the loyalist protest camp in north Belfast. The three accused

were all remanded in custody. Our reporter Mervyn Jess was in the

court. The charges arose from an incident

early yesterday morning. At the city's Magistrates' Courts, the

three defendants appeared separately in the dock. Kerry O'Hara, 20, was

charged with damaging banners and flags. She waved and Irish flag with

intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Patrick Anthony Quinn, 22

years old, was charged with damaging a flag, waving a tricolour and

stealing a flag. Sean Highlands was charged with damaging banners,

removing flags and banners and waving a tricolour. Bail was opposed

for Sean Highlands. This was not a no-go area for police but it was

still highly volatile. The district judge told the defender that he

should seek accommodation in another hostel, and that he should stay away

from the protest camp. The other two defendants were remanded in custody

to appear in a week's time. Both lanes of the A1 dual

carriageway have been closed between Dromore and Lisburn because of a

serious crash involving three vehicles. There are no further

details at the moment. One lane of the southbound

carriageway is open at the moment. A heart defibrillator has been

stolen from an ambulance parked at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

The Police say the vehicle, which is privately owned, has now been put

off the road. Last night its owner reported that two mobile phones and

a Sat Nav had also been taken, and there was damage to the driver's

window. You're watching BBC Newsline, still

to come on the programme: We ask if Flybe's new London route will offer

a boost for local business. Preparations began today for road

closures for The Giro d'Italia cycle race. Signs have started going up

warning motorists of disruption across more than 200 miles of road.

The only other time we have seen traffic management on such a large

scale was during the G8 summit last year.

As BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson reports, the starting stages of this

world renowned event promises to be a challenge for the cyclists and

motorists. 17 days to go. The first of 1,700

road signs go up. For the Road Service, it is not their usual

colour but it is not every day that the Giro d'Italia comes to town.

We normally wouldn't put up signs for an event like this but we accept

that the public need to be fully informed. We are putting up 1,700 of

these posters over the next ten days to give the public plenty of time.

Along with last year's G8 summit, this will be the biggest events we

have ever had to deal with in Northern Ireland.

Day one of the race is from Belfast city centre. Day three is from

Armagh to Dublin. For cycling fans, it really is the

chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to see some of the best

riders in the world. That's what about people who want to avoid it? A

road closures are going to be spread over three days. For 200 miles of

racing there will be a lot of traffic disruption.

You should inform yourselves of the routes if you do not want to see the

cycling. Try to give that is wide a birth as possible. But be reassured

that emergency services will continue as usual.

It is a huge event organised with more than 100,000 spectators

expected. The Giro d'Italia of -- always produces some thrills and

spills. This is going to be trebled the size

of the MTV awards. It promises to be a colourful

weekend. But getting around in a car could be an uphill to ask.

-- an uphill task. To find out exactly which roads are

affected - you can check out the website Trafficwatchni.com. It has a

Giro d'Italia section with a full list of road closures, and the times

they're shut. Yesterday, we had a report on war

graves and a memorial being vandalised at the City Cemetery in

Belfast. But it wasn't a one-off attack. Other families whose

relatives are buried there say vandalism is a continuing problem

with all the graves. Louise Cullen reports.

This is my mother-in-law's grave. I went to keep it tidy. You can see

the burnt area and where it has been smashed.

It is more than 30 years since Victoria Brown varied grandfather.

He was buried at the heart of the Troubles.

She and her husband have several family members buried at Belfast

cemetery. But the graves have been a Peterlee vandalised.

We go there to keep the graves tidied. Every time we go there is

damage to the graves. I believe that the dead is the dead

and they should be left alone and was acted. It is sacred ground. I

have had this conversation is 15 years ago, ten years ago, five years

ago, last year. I have spoken to all the political parties involved.

Nothing has changed. In the last week, war graves and

memorials have been vandalised. That is just the latest in a long history

of vandalism here at the cemetery. It is thought that most of it is

done by young people using the cemetery as a drinking den. The

council says that the graves that have been vandalised have not been

vandalised before. Cemeteries are very special places.

They are places of dignity. When a grave is desecrated it runs against

that idea. Communities around the area will be distraught at the idea

of any graves being desecrated or vandalised.

Graves can be repaired but the family members simply want them to

be able to rest in peace. Still ahead on the programme before

seven: Why has cafe culture bucked the trend during the economic

downturn? Flybe is to resume flights from

Belfast City Airport to London this October after signing a five-year

deal with London City Airport. Earlier this year, Flybe ended its

flight between Belfast city and Gatwick. Our Business and Economics

Editor John Campbell reports. Flybe has been an airline

experiencing turbulence in recent years. It has had to cut costs,

cooker roots and cut jobs, including more than 50 in Belfast. Now it is

attempting to revive its fortunes, signing a five-year deal with London

City Airport, meaning three flights every day from here. The boss says

it is part of a broader strategy. The big idea is boosting regional

connectivity, so providing access to the capital for customers in

Edinburgh, Belfast, Inverness, Exeter and Dublin. But with

competition on the routes to London, how sustainable will it be?

When we serve our customers, it is always in one of the top three

destinations they wish to see starting, so I am convinced it will

be successful. It is a great point-to-point airport. London City

Airport is in great proximity to the centre of London. So this route is

likely to be attractive to business customers. The airport is in

London's financial district and could mean less hassle than an

increasingly crowded Heathrow airport. Today's announcement is

welcome news for Flybe and Belfast City Airport, but they are facing

intense competition from Dublin, which is adding new routes all the

time. Flybe will also be flying from Dublin to London City Airport.

Seamus Heaney is being celebrated this evening in Dublin. Resident

Michael Higgins and international singing star Paul Simon are amongst

the guests commemorating the poet at the National concert Hall. A Dublin

airport tapestry was unveiled earlier for the poet who died in

August last year. It was paid for by a group of the poet's admirers.

Now, there's something brewing on our High Streets. You've probably

noticed there are more coffee shops than ever. Money may be tight, but

the cafe culture has been flourishing. Chris Page has been

finding out why. Our caffeinated cravings and know no

bounds. Economic hard times might have hit the bridge and Baker, but

not the cappuccino maker. Coffee shops have been a growth industry in

recent years. Clements is about to open its 13th branch. It was founded

by this man 15 years ago and he says there has been a lifestyle

revolution, as cafe culture has taken hold. We have taken the place

of the licensed premises. Traditionally people will have gone

to the pub to meet friends. People now have business meetings in coffee

shops, or on dates. It really is a different place for many different

people. This street shows just how cafe culture has grown so

massively. Let me show you how many coffee shops there are within 100

yards of this branch of Clements. There is a Starbucks, cafe rent

while, and outlet of Cinnamon, and others. They all seem pretty busy,

but is the demand strong enough to sustain this number of shops? A

retail expert believes the market is limited, but there is a reason that

coffee shops have been proofed against recession. What was

interesting is that the survey says there was a low percentage of

respondents saying that the recession spending at Mac affected

their spending in coffee shops. They might not be buying big investments

like a sofa or a holiday, but they do value the smaller things. So our

caffeine fuelled lives are fuelling new businesses. Research has shown

that compared with the rest of the UK, more people in Northern Ireland

were further independent coffee shops to international chains. The

owner of this cafe in Belfast are planning to open their second shop.

There are markets that we find are not well catered for. We turned

business away every day. The larger companies, Starbucks and Nero might

have driven the way forward, but once people have got to know all the

speciality coffee that is available, they are coming out to look in their

own independent areas. From city centres to suburbs, the relentless

march of the coffee shop has been a 21st-century phenomenon. It is a

good time to be a coffee connoisseur.

Wake up and smell the coffee! In this afternoon's sunshine, it would

have been lovely to take a walk along a beach, that is if you had

access to one. A stretch of coastline in County Down that is

always popular is Cranfield Beach, but months after the winter storms,

people are angry at the State of it. There is only restricted access,

because sections damaged by bad weather had not been Jones reports.

We all like to be the height -- beside the seaside. This is Northern

Ireland's only South facing beach. But access is restricted at

different points. Why? Winter storms and tidal surges. But that happened

back in January. We need to get this sorted. We have asked for it to be

sorted, and nothing has been done. I expected that it would have been

started, but all I know is that a meeting has been called on Monday

next Monday coming. Local councillors will be discussing the

plan. I understand the position of the caravanners and the people that

come here from the general area who come out here for the beach. It has

got to be sorted out 30 soon. It is down to funding. You cannot widget

for natural erosion, but this is the area's Julian McCrann, and

caravanners are not happy. It is dangerous for children. I would like

to see this fixed before the summer. You don't have to comb the

beach for too long to see the damage caused by the high tide. This ramp

is cut in two. There is a hole in the middle. The sea defences took a

battering. Bits of wire, this is dangerous. Cranfield is like a

village, and it just keeps growing. In the vicinity, you are looking at

possibly 1000 caravans, so that is a lot of families and a lot of people

coming into the area. It is an important economic driver for our

local economy and our local businesses depend on caravan people

coming to the area for their survival. The tourist board here is

keen to promote Northern Ireland as a place for holidays. The council

has its work cut out, with the summer season just a few months

away. I think the weather is still a bit

cold for a dip in the sea! The weather confused me today. I left

the house thinking it was going to be cold and wet, and where big

sunshine come from? It was a miserable start, and then

the temperature jumped up when the sun came out. But those high

temperatures have sparked off a few showers in the last couple of hours,

and there have been some thunderstorms as well. If you are

thinking about having a barbecue this evening, Steve and I on the

clouds, because if you see a dark one coming your way, it could

indicate quite a significant downpour. This is how the radar

looked a short time ago. We have a cluster of heavy showers in the

manner and Tyrone. This narrow line between Dungannon and Armagh is

quite intense. The whole lot should gradually drift eastwards, and maybe

a little bit towards the North in the next few hours, but otherwise

there will be some nice sunsets this evening. Outside the sunsets, there

will be some heavy showers, which will drift northwards tonight. The

second half of the night will be try and clear. It might be a bit misty

in places and quite chilly, especially in rural areas,

temperatures dip into three Celsius, so possibly even some frost on the

grassed. If you are still on your Easter holidays, you are lucky,

otherwise, at 8am tomorrow morning, any missed should have gone and the

sun will be shining strongly. You will need the sunglasses in the

morning for the drive to work. A good part of Thursday is looking to

write Mac and bright with a lot of sunshine around. Temperatures will

be similar to today with the odd shower around, but they will be few

and far between. And I stay to come tomorrow, and Friday is not looking

bad either, so you should be able to get out and enjoy the countryside.

Things are going to change. Tomorrow night should stay dry and Friday

will be largely dry at least until the afternoon, then in the Atlantic

we have an area of low pressure that is coming our way for part of the

weekend. Not great news, I know, because it will mean some rain and

blustery winds, especially for Saturday. On Saturday, temperature

is cool with temperatures dropping to 12 Celsius, and there is a brisk

easterly wind for most of us. Sunday will bring some drier weather and a

bit of brightness as well. Enjoy the sunshine tomorrow.

The headlines: A former IRA member has said that Gerry Adams and Martin

McGuinness ordered him to transport explosives to Britain in 1980.

Three people have appeared in court charged over an attack on the

Loyalist protest camp in North Belfast.

And motorists have been warned to expect serious traffic disruption

during next month's d'Italia cycle race.

Our late summary is at 10:25pm when we will have the latest on the

vehicle crash that has closed part of the A1 carriageway between

Dromore and Lisbon. We're always keen to get your views

on our stories and hear about any issues you would like us to

investigate. That is all from BBC Newsline. Thank you for watching and

enjoy the rest your evening. Goodbye.