30/05/2014 BBC Newsline

Bombers who attacked a hotel in Londonderry last night have been

called cowards by the local police commander.

He also said staff at the Everglades undoubtedly saved lives with their

quick response when a fire bomb was thrown into the reception area.

Here's our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

A masked man left a holdall containing the device

In the foyer of the Everglades Hotel. He said he was from the eye

are and shouted a 40 minute warning. Staff to the building of people as

Army bomb experts arrived. As an officer was dealing with the

firebomb, it exploded into flames at two a.m..

I say this to them, they are cowards.

It was a reckless, dangerous attack that put innocent lives in danger.

When you attack one person in this city, you attack us all.

Guests involved in the drama paid tribute to

It's amazing they got everyone out and I am glad they did.

If they had not given the warning when the guy put

a bag down and if he had not said anything, it could have been

Northern Ireland needs employment, money, confidence.

This sort of thing is likely to knock that, but I hope not.

I don't think it can change a thing, I don't understand what their motive

is. One dissident republican supporter

recently elected to the new Derry and Strabane Council,

who was attending a protest outside the courthouse this morning,

refused to offer any condemnation. You know,

the politics of condemnation will What I will condemn is the scenario

that has made people feel the need to carry out actions such as this.

Do you justify it? No, nor will I run out

to condemn the people. Other political parties

were scathing. Like everyone else I am appalled

by this, this is a throwback to These people have to understand

this is not going to work. It did not work then, it will not

now and will not in the future. Ironic that the Northern Ireland's

tourism awards were going on in Belfast and the city won a number of

wards in connection with city and culture and at the same time some

mindless people were throwing a firebomb into a hotel.

a place looking to the future and would not be held back

The police say they have devoted a considerable amount

of resources in trying to track down those responsible for this bombing.

It is understood up to 40 detectives are now actively working

Those detectives have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

The Police Ombudsman is investigating the death

of a 28-year-old man in a cell at Lisburn Police Station.

David McGowan, who was from Lisburn, had been arrested after

an incident on the Beersbridge Road in east Belfast late last night.

Officers took him to Lisburn Police Station, but he died

A four-month-old baby and an elderly couple were among nine

an arson attack in Downpatrick in the early hours of this morning.

It happened at a block of flats on Saul Street,

Safe in the arms of her grandmother, just hours

A bin in a hallway set on fire and pushed against a door of one

of the flats. The damage clear to see.

During what relatives described to me as a terrifying experience, there

were efforts to get people out of the window last night. A policeman

who arrived soon after the alarm was raised at to smash a window to get

the man out, and above, the young baby's mother and her partner had to

make their way through thick smoke to get to safety.

The child was taken to hospital for tests

but was soon back with relieved relatives, happy and doing well.

When I walked into the hall and saw all the flames,

Whatever was there exploded and my door blew off.

I live in the very top flat and I could not get out through the smoke,

I had to wait for firemen to come up and get me.

Support came today from throughout the community.

The society we live in at the moment, this is symptomatic

of it, with parental control and so on, it has got out of hand.

I feel that, you know, it is terribly sad and that we live in

-- sign of can happen.

As investigations continue, there is relief there was no loss

The new Chief Constable designate, George Hamilton,

has been speaking about his hopes for the future in his new role.

He says the PSNI needs the support of all of the community

It was all smiles from the man soon to take

on what's regarded as one of the most difficult jobs in UK policing.

George Hamilton described it as a challenge and an honour. I care

passionately about this place. I have a stake in it,

I have family there. I have lived here for most

of my life and I believe it is important that

we all work together and everyone makes the contribution they can to

make Northern Ireland a better place the police service to deliver that

in isolation. Therefore we will be seeking to do

that under my leadership with communities, in partnership with

PCSPs, the policing board, other structures that were put in

place as the building blocks of the Peter Robinson was heavily

criticised for voicing support for Pastor James McConnell's

comments about results. I asked him if he believed political

leaders have a role to play when we take the hate crime issue

very seriously and we want to work with committees and minority groups

to tackle that. As for the politicians, of course they have a

responsibility to give literature, to create the legislative framework

in which we operate and to show that the at community level that helps

reduce tension rather than razor. -- that leadership at community level

that helps reduce tension rather than raise it.

He will take over as Matt Baggot steps down over the summer.

Our next story contains some graphic images,

Two men accused of setting a pet dog on fire are to face trial.

A judge refused an application today to dismiss

the animal cruelty charge against 22-year-olds Jamie Downey and

The attack on a three-year-old collie called Cody took place

The animal had to be put down a week after the attack.

Both men pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and

It was confirmed last night by Republic of Ireland boss

Martin O'Neill that Celtic had asked for permission to speak to

his assistant Roy Keane about their vacant manager's job.

And today, Celtic confirmed that informal contact had been made.

The club's chief executive, who was in Belfast this evening visiting

a supporters' club, said Keane was one of several candidates.

No leading candidate at the moment. Martin was accurate last night, we

have asked permission to talk to Roy. There was a brief informal chat

between Dermott android and now we are going to sit down, have a think

and see where we go next. Now for a look at what

the weekend's weather has in store. It has been a lovely day across

Northern Ireland. Tonight we could see temperatures dip down to four or

5 degrees, a little more miles than that where the cloud persists but

tomorrow is a cracking day on the cards. Dry and warm, a little cloud

around but where are the breaks appear, it will be very nice. That

will really help the temperatures on the rise. What is causing all this

is this high pressure system, protecting us through the day,

meaning we have nice light freezes and temperatures across the UK and

Ireland will feel very respectable. 20 degrees quite widely across both

the South of England and Ireland, north and south. A very nice day,

plenty of breaks in that cloud and where you see one of those, a very

nice afternoon. Make the most of it, because those high temperatures of

19, 20 degrees were a lot persist. We have a change coming in Saturday,

to Sunday, that rain starts to work its way in, signalling a shift in

our weather. We get more at Lamprecht low pressure working its

way in from the west, so make the most of Saturday because it's all a

bit unsettled by the time we get into next week. That's it for now.

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