06/06/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:

The Belfast Pastor who called Islam "satanic" publicly apologises and is

The son of a murdered RUC Officer backs the Police Ombudsman in his

I heard past has been toxic. That is my

experience of dealing with the police to get the murder

get the murder investigated.

The deadly drugs that are being sold here for as little as two pounds.

A local D Day veteran remembers comrades who lost their lives

on the beaches of Normandy seventy years ago today.

We have a warning of heavy rain overnight tonight.

It's a weekend of sunshine and some very heavy showers.

For weeks James McConnell has been at the centre of controversy

Today the Belfast pastor who called Islam "heathen" and "satanic"

His solicitor said Pastor McConnell had gone to the station voluntarily

Pasta McConnell and his team emerged after two hours of questioning. He

attended voluntarily, there was no question of an arrest and we wanted

to make sure that any equivocation was removed from the situation he

finds himself in at a welcome the opportunity to attend.

He says it was a stressful morning and the apology was read by a

solicitor. I wish to emphasise I had no intention of causing any offence

or insulting any member of the Muslim community or to arouse fear

or stir up hatred towards any member of the Muslim community. I wish to

apologise publicly for any distress I may have unwittingly caused on my

part. If Lance is he then. Islam is Satanic. If Lamb is a doctrine

spawned in hell. These remarks delivered in a set and a sermon

other source of the problems. It caused an international controversy

which engulfed the first minister who first supported him but later

apologised for remarks he made. Why was McConnell apologising? I am

saying sorry to those who may have been harmed because that was never

my intention. My intention was to preach against the Islamic doctrine

and that has been blown out of all proportion. McConnell, are you

genuinely sorry? At that point, she was ushered off leaving more

questions than answers. One other thing, your assistant has resigned,

what do you say? No more comments. Sorry, boys. A long morning. The man

has a health condition. The legal teams stressed he wasn't arrested,

this police investigation is still continuing, the outcome

outcome is far from certain.

The son of a murdered RUC officer has accused the PSNI of deliberately

blocking efforts by the Police Ombudsman to investigate claims that

the killers were protected because an IRA informer was involved.

Gavin Larmour is backing Michael Maguire's legal action aimed

at forcing the Chief Constable to give him access to information

Our Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney reports.

John was off duty and working in his brothers ice cream shop when the

killer struck in October 1988. No one has ever been charged with the

murder. His son, Gavin, was 13 at the time. Years later, she

complained to the police ombudsman about the investigation into the

murder. He claims no one was charged because at least one IRA informer

was involved. Yesterday, he attended a public meeting of the Policing

Board to hear the police explain its reasons for not giving information

he requested. It included his father's murder. The shock -- the

shop is no longer there but Gavin Larmour's search for answers

continues. He was far from satisfied with what he heard. Matt Baggott

said dealing with the past has been debilitating and toxic. That is my

experience of dealing with the police to get my father's murder

investigated. It is nearly 26 years since he was murdered. It is for

life sentence. I am still having to chase to get any resolution, truth

and justice. They seem to be actively blocking the investigation

and prosecution of those responsible. The only reason I

believe is to protect informants. The police say any reluctance to

hand over information has nothing to do with sensitivity or desire to

protect informants. They say it is based on legal advice that they

could be making -- breaking the law by making the information available.

That argument has been rejected by Michael McGuire and one of his

predecessors in the role of police ombudsman. The law is clear, there

is no room for any negotiation or anything. The law says the chief

constable shopper by the ombudsman with such information as the police

ombudsman requires. The summaries and the police have stopped

providing information. It is very simple. The police say they hope

they can come to an agreement with the ombudsman to avoid the issue to

be settled into court -- settled in court.

providing information. It is very simple.

The role Northern Ireland played in the D-Day landings has been

commemorated at an event in Co Fermanagh.

Crom Castle was used as a base by US troops as they prepared

Today the Stars and Stripes flew once again above the castle,

More than 200 people came to remember those who passed through

the county on their way to the front line.

Amongst the guests were second world war

veterans, local school children, and also the son of a GI who'd travelled

from America to find out more about his father's wartime experience.

My father came here May 20, 1942, we have photos of him in front of the

castle. I know he was stationed in northern France at one time, I know

not the specifics of the battles. He had campaigns in northern France. I

don't know which ones. One of the British war veterans,

living in Dundonald near Belfast, has attended the commemorations

in France today at the age of 94. John Leishman was an infantry man

in the 51st Highland division - part of the support team

for front line soldiers. Before he left for Normandy this

week I spoke to him about And there's more on D-Day

and memories of the war in Normandy Some of the lads said... The whole

place was alive with landing craft. It was black. The whole scene was

covered. There must have been thousands and thousands of boys

landing. We never realised Normandy which have been... It is not nice to

say that it was hell. What do you mean by hell? Explain that. To see

the wounded soldiers lying mean by hell? Explain that. To see

beach and to see what happened and you are getting shelled by the

Germans. I was shaking like a leaf on a tree. I was trembling very much

and I was just hoping that I wouldn't get caught like some of the

rest of the boys had been caught. I was scared out of my wits. I was

scared of something happening and I couldn't get back to Florence. That

was always my worry. The horrors that you saw, the death and the

wounded man around you, very few young men nowadays would experience

such a thing. Oh, yes. Some horrible sights, yes. To see young fellows

lying bleeding and the medics could not get to some of them. The medics

had a terrible job. It still comes into my head. We were on the beach,

they were chasing a Spitfire and it started to smoke and we thought it

would try to land on the tarmac road. As soon as it touched the

tarmac it exploded. That Pilate must have suffered a terrible... So near

and yet didn't make it. We weren't fighting the Germans as a nation,

really, we were fighting the Nazis and that was the regime. It wasn't

the German people, really. They would just like ourselves. Only

human beings. And some of them were only young lads. And they had to

join the Army, they had no choice. Did it change you much? Do you think

you would have been a different man had you not been in the war? I do

not think I would be any different. I am not a great man, even now. I am

just a wee lad. When I go to the cemeteries and see the crosses, 16,

17, 18, young lads, their life was just starting. I thank the Lord that

I could have been one of them. They are the heroes. There is more on

Normandy and D-Day on the website. You're watching BBC Newsline

and still ahead on the programme. An exhibition on the Artworks

of the Troubles is proving to be Potentially lethal drugs are being

sold for as little two pounds - less than a pint of beer - according

to a doctor in Londonderry. His warning follows the revelation

yesterday that the deaths of 20 people across Northern Ireland

were linked to the same drug. The police have renewed

their appeal for anyone with BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson reports.

A night out which ends in hospital treatment or worse, because of

drugs. It is a familiar story and this doctor, Simon O'Hagan, is

hearing it all too often. Apparently some of these drugs are

available for as cheaply as ?2. When you compare that to the cost of a

pint, some people are tempted by the whole thing off, for a couple of

pounds I can take this thing and apparently have the best night of my

life. You may have the best night going, but at the same time you may

potentially dive from it or be risking severe psychological

problems. My message about all of them is, please, avoid all of this

stuff. Do not take the chance, do not play Russian roulette with your

life. The deaths of 20 people have been

linked to a new unregulated drug which appeared last year. It has

been described as a serial killer, and is still on the loose.

The police investigation is focusing on organised crime gangs, and

already they have detected a number of different supply chains. For

those involved in combating drug use, that is the key. The best way

to prevent any more deaths is to cut off the supply at source.

But the reality is there are still plenty of drugs out there.

You do not know what is in them. You get them last week from one source,

get them again and it may not be the same thing.

Drugs are illegal because they are bad, do not take them.

There are some signs the message is getting through, especially in the

wake of the recent spate of deaths after deaths -- as a result of the

-- drugs like these. We have had intervals coming in for

support. Only nitty dealt with 3000 people

last year through it. Taking drugs on a night out is the

aim, but everyone knows it is a lot easier said than done.

A 72-year-old musician accused of having sexual relations with

an under age girl has spent a second day in the witness box

Francis McPeake denies 12 charges. Martin Cassidy reports.

Francis McPeake denies having sex or inappropriately touching the

schoolgirl. The young woman, now 20, claims the

relationship began in 2009 and took place at school, and trips to music

events and in his car. The musician was asked about taking

the girl and her friend to Bangor in 2010. This was after her family

warned her not to seek -- want him not to seek her again. He told the

court it was the girl who insisted on getting into his car.

He said he stopped at a supermarket where the girls went into a toilet

to change out of their school uniforms. Francis McPeake was

questioned at length about his relationship with the girl and a

confrontation with her family. Francis McPeake claimed, following

treatment for cancer, his sex life was nonexistent, but the prosecution

pointed to medical records that showed he had been prescribed Viagra

and a doctor noted his libido was strong and his sex life was

satisfactory. The veteran musician denies all 12

charges. The case continues. A 65-year-old man

from Belfast has drowned in Malta. He apparently got into difficulty

while swimming yesterday. He was airlifted to hospital having

been pulled from the water by other The boyfriend

of an Irish woman found dead The body of the 48-year-old woman,

who it's thought was from Northern Ireland,

was discovered in a flat in Athens. Her remains had been there

for 20 days. It's understood she had been living

in the Greek capital for some time. A plane had to make

an emergency landing at It had just taken off for the Isle

of Man when it turned back to land Its five passengers were able to

get off safely and the runway The Police in Londonderry have

insisted that people were not frightened off from attending

a recruitment event at a hotel The hotel owner told BBC Newsline he

had been greatly heartened by the reaction

from the vast majority of people Here's our North-West reporter,

Keiron Tourish. Security was fairly low-key at the

Everglades Hotel Security was fairly low-key at the

recruitment event got underway. Security was fairly low-key at the

The police said there had been a good attendance, despite the fact

The police said there had been a the hotel after a similar event.

They have been well attended and we have had

They have been well attended and we across the community. I am courage

we have had a lot of local people from the city attend the sessions

this morning. The Hotel owner said he had no doubt

the PSNI event would go ahead. We take bookings for everyone.

We take them from of all sorts, charities of all

sorts. We take beginnings and we do the

best we possibly can to please the booking and all that it requires.

Not for one second would we turn around and say, you cannot have

that. The PSNI say they have held three

recruitment drives The PSNI say they have held three

and one in Strabane, and one are planned.

-- two in the city. An exhibition on the Artworks of the

Troubles is doing a brisk trade and has inspired a conference exploring

the impact of creative works. As our arts correspondent

Maggie Taggart reports, the Ulster Museum exhibition has

inspired deep feelings. The bombing of a bar in Belfast in

1972. These doors are from the women's

prison in Armagh and the salt around the base represents the tears shed

by the women. The museum is delighted that a

massive 18,000 visitors have been moved by this show.

Normally with a three-month exhibition we would have made the

100 or 150 responses. At the moment we are having around 90 per week in

the art of the Troubles. People are really taking time to write what

they feel about the exhibition, particular artworks they have had an

emotional response to. Face picked out in accordion buttons

as it a plaintive moan. From then lets to a burnt door, the

images Arthur Miller to anyone who lived through the Troubles.

Artists have been going a step further and finding out the effect

of other sources of art on the people who live here.

We're looking at literature, theatre, comedy, murals, and

explores them. Amin three concept art culture, conflict and

commemoration. Some of the things have been major in here already and

have been tackled and we're going to explore that further.

The exploit -- exhibition runs until the beginning of September and there

are a series of talks by artist and BBC archive film linked to it.

The Isle of Man TT Festival has come to an end with yet another win for

It's been a another record breaking week on

He won today's senior race at the TT - his fourth victory in seven days.

It's a repeat of his his feat last year and an

eleventh career win, elevating him to fifth in the all-time standings.

But it was a bittersweet victory as his brother William crashed

in the race, sustaining a suspected broken leg.

As long as he is all right, that is my main concern at the moment.

I have spoken to William 's girlfriend and he is conscious, he

is awake. He is all right, just a suspected

broken leg, but he will be all, which is the main for me.

People thought I was mad, when I left Honda.

BMW is fantastic it has done wonders for me, the team looks after me

well. There is the one the team... Even my own team have been fantastic

and to have the bike improving is good for me.

As I said, the big bike was not the way I wanted it today, it was a bit

of a handful, but I made it work for me and got the bike home.

This weekend in the Ulster Gaelic Football Championship

Armagh and Cavan go head in the penultimate quarter final.

Having dominated the Under-21 provincial competitions in recent

years, Cavan are hoping to translate that success to senior level.

Their young players are certainly getting used to celebrating.

Those three consecutive all but asked Michael Ulster 21 titles

suggest they are one of the up and coming forces in the game. -- those

three consecutive Ulster 21 titles. The Championship is all about...

It will not be easy to play Armagh. We will probably not get as easy a

run as we did last year. We were probably a bit of a surprise last

year for them. If Cavan 's said is built on youth,

Armagh's backbone is experience and it includes the county's only

Ireland -- all Ireland winning captain, Kieran McGinlay.

It is what he takes to the table, you know, as players we are

delighted to have that. -- Kieran McKeever.

The challenge for Armagh is to bring that training positivity to the heat

of Championship battle against Cavan's Young guns.

Ireland's rugby team are in action tomorrow

for the first time since winning the Six Nations championship in March.

Joe Schmidt's side to face Argentina includes seven Ulster players.

South African-born flanker Robbie Diack is the only new cap

Celtic have appointed the successor of Neil Lennon as manager to the

club. Ronny Deila has taken over running

of the club on a 12 month rolling contract.

My philosophy, first of all, is that I wanted to play offensive football.

I watched how the game under control with ball, possession, and create

chances. Especially at the home games, we will give the fans

entertainment for their football. Finally Ireland's Olympic

champion boxer Katie Taylor is She will box

for a record sixth lightweight gold medal at the European Championships

tomorrow in Bucharest. Let's take a look at the weather

forecast now for the weekend, a lot of wedding was happening in this

month of June. Jeff is here with the latest.

Well, despite a reasonable day today commit all goes downhill little bit

overnight. We have a warning for heavy rain in place a cross Armagh

and County Down through the early hours of tomorrow morning. This

evening there are a few showers around, gradually dying out through

the evening, but it is this band of heavy rain that comes through in the

early hours we will have to watch out for. Because of all the cloud

coverage committed quite a mild night overnight, but as we go into

tomorrow morning, the heavy rain could have a little bit of hail and

thunder in the mix. We could see up to an inch of rain in an hour during

the heaviest downpours. On Saturday morning it is all being driven by

this low-pressure system to the west of Ireland. It will send in rain in

our direction. On Saturday morning that could have real intensity to it

as the band tracks slowly north. It is not wall-to-wall rain through the

weekend, they will be some breaks come in the afternoon I think there

will be drier spells, and the temperatures up to

will be drier spells, and the even 18 through the day on Saturday.

will be drier spells, and the even 18 through the day As we get

into the afternoon can even even 18 through the day As we get

temperatures could set off even 18 through the day As we get

and they could have intensity to them as we go through

and they could have intensity to Saturday. The good news is that

Sunday is Saturday. The good news is that

warm, as well. We are Saturday. The good news is that

This is the picture for Sunday, still

This is the picture for Sunday, chance of brighter skies and drier

weather. chance of brighter skies and drier

off more showers through great deal of intensity to them.

That mix of sunshine and showers is one that continues into the early

part of next week, as well. Monday is a very similar set up, and to

cruise around 17 or 18 Celsius as we go through Monday. -- temperatures

around. Into the early part of next week, it is not until the middle

part of the week we started to get high-pressure becoming more firmly

established. If you are getting married this weekend, sorry!

They will have to keep their umbra ice umbrellas -- thereon Bell is

handy. Our next news is at 10:25pm, check

out our Facebook page if you can and leave your thoughts on the stories

and we are also on Twitter. From BBC newsline, have a great

weekend, thank you for.