16/11/2015 BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline is in Paris - a city still in shock following

After the weekend attacks, I have been speaking to people from Belfast

who lived close to hear, the scene of one of the shootings. There is a

notion of sadness, of dismay, a notion of helplessness.

Here at home, a minute's silence is observed

in many places in solidarity with the people of France.

A new younger leader for the SDLP - we ask Colum Eastwood what he can

After a year without a top ten finish, Graeme McDowell is back in

And I'm live in Dublin, where Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland

side take on Bosnia for a place in the European Championships.

And we had more than enough rain at the weekend.

Now there's more on the way, with Storm Barney heading in tomorrow.

The Chief Constable says security at local sea and airports have been

what he described as "hardened" following the attacks in Paris.

Across Northern Ireland people have been expressing their sympathy

and solidarity with the people of the French capital, signing

books of condolence, standing for a minute's silence at 11am.

129 people from 19 countries were killed in the terrorist attacks

One Irishman is among those seriously wounded.

We have a series of reports on the programme this evening.

First, BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson is in Paris for us.

Yes, good evening. I am in the centre of Paris and this has become

the focus for today's day of mourning but it is not where the

shootings took place, they were a short distance from where I am

standing, towards the east of the city. There were other attacks, one

in the north at a sports stadium many people at home would know well,

the Stade de France, but here close to the centre of Paris has been the

focus of attention. Tens of thousands of messages, thousands of

people, and among those messages was one which perhaps sums up the mood

and the message, it says don't pray for Paris, pray for the world.

Everyone in Paris know someone affected by this shootings. If you

nine people were killed at the Bataclan rock concert. Tom Megane is

originally from Bangor and works in Paris as a photographer. He

originally from Bangor and works in at Friday's did but his best friend

went. He was shot but survived. He crawled over the backs of dead

bodies that surrounded him. He managed to get

bodies that surrounded him. He screamed for help, I think he was

one of screamed for help, I think he was

and to raise the alarm. Once he got onto the street, so thankfully he is

OK, but close. Tom says life here will never be the same again. I work

above a live music venue and we are figuring out how security

above a live music venue and we are work, will it get to the point where

there will be metal detectors outside bars? We will have to see

there will be metal detectors how it goes but now there is still

optimism we can get back to normality. What shocked people was

the random nature of the shootings. normality. What shocked people was

An ordinary restaurant on normality. What shocked people was

ordinary street but on Friday this normality. What shocked people was

was a scene of carnage. Across Paris people came together for a minute's

silence, and then applause. It is a cosmopolitan city with people from

all over the world, but you don't have to stray too far to see a

familiar accent. My name is Julie MacDonald. I'm from East Belfast and

I have lived in Paris for 21 years. When the news broke, my family from

Belfast were saying, are you all right? My first feeling was relieved

that my son Sam was out of town and my daughter was safe on the sofa

beside me. I am feeling pretty dreadful, to be honest. There is a

notion of sadness, of dismay, a notion of helplessness, but there is

also a kind of throwback to a way I felt many years ago in my own

society in Belfast. Also living in Belfast is Father Aidan Troy, who

used to be based in North Belfast. Giving his parishioners hope that

this time isn't easy. I have never found it is difficult to get away at

the end of mass. People just wanted to talk because a lot of them were

going back to lock the door inside and I think that is sad.

going back to lock the door inside on but normality here is still some

going back to lock the door inside way. -- some way off. Those troops

you just saw our not a one-off, they are all over the place and the

French government is thinking of extending the state of emergency of

23 months, well into the New Year. And describe poorest the atmosphere

in the city. -- describe for us. People are still in a state of

in the city. -- describe for us. shock, just not at the number killed

but where they were killed, a sports stadium, a restaurant, a bar, and

one Frenchman said the only way the rest of us who don't live in France

can't get our heads around this is to think, what happened if this was

our city, if the bar we do to, the concert hall we go to work all

attacks on the same night and more than 100 people were killed? It is

only in that sort of context that you can grasp the enormity of what

happened here on Friday. The daughters of Declan McCavana,

who you saw in Mark's report, have been telling us about the terrible

uncertainty they felt as they waited for news about family in Paris. BBC

Newsline's Tara Mills has been talking to some French people living

here. One man lost a friend Olivier D'uzes is from Paris but has

been working at this French restaurant in Belfast since the

beginning of the year. He didn't know until Saturday that a

group of his friends were at the Bataclan for the concert on

Friday night. There were ten of my friends there

and three of them were shot. One was missing, so the day after, they

recognised the body so we knew it was that. One of your friend has

died and others have been injured. Do you know their condition? We know

they are in hospital, they have to have an operation, so I am sad for

that but people here in Belfast are really nice, the customers of the

restaurant came to shake my hand, to tell me support, so I feel not alone

here. Traders at Belfast's continental

Christmas market were only setting up their stalls as the scale of what

had happened became clearer on for friends and family hundreds of

miles away. Very terrible about France, it is

strange, I don't know quite, I have my other in Paris, he is all right,

so... Some people I know in Paris, something happened to them. I have

people working on a Christmas market, everything is closed, all

the events in Paris. We feel very sad. It's a difficult time for

France. These French sisters watched events

unfold on the news, feeling very far We were panicking because we have

relatives there and might that friend, so we kept trying to contact

them and it was difficult. One of the streets is familiar to me

because my mum and dad used to live on one of those streets where the

attacks were, and it is just terrifying.

announced the country would remain in a state of emergency for three

months. Tough new counterterrorism measures will also follow, along

with further military strikes against Syria. For one French

academic at Queen's it's the mood within France

It is worrying for the social cohesion of France. It is the

European country with the highest Muslim population and these are

people who were French, so when they talk about immigration they are

talking about people who are already French, so that would stigmatise

people who are not migrants but our French.

time to heal, as well as the terrible injuries

There was a great sense of relief among those who were in Paris

They recalled their experiences as people in town centres,

factories and government buildings observed a minute's silence to

For us people today were reflecting, one man, a university professor from

Northern Ireland, was caught up in the harbour of that night.

You don't know what you're running to or

running from, and then these two ladies beckoned me into this gated

There were about six or seven of us there.

Workers lay down their tools at the stroke of 11, lost in thought.

Across Northern Ireland, people paying their respects

And in Belfast, they came from all over, signing books of condolence.

Even if no one reads it, at least you have said the message. It could

happen to anybody anywhere. My husband and I attend rock concerts

so we felt an affinity with those are affected. There has been a

stream of people coming into City Hall to join a cube and sign one of

three books of condolence. Some of the messages are simple, praying for

Paris to stay strong. Hands across the divide, all

in support of the people in Paris. Relieved to be home, these

passengers were among the first I was out with my girlfriend, who

lives out there. Me and a few other friends were out

for a few drinks and we had one person message saying something

had happened and we didn't think anything of it, we thought

it was a few fights at the football. Then the next event happened.

Luckily we had a few friends so could go into the house.

Our taxi driver was a lady driver and she cried the whole way round.

It was reported on the news here quite quickly so before we knew

anything about it we were getting calls from family at home, worried

for our safety. The Islamic Centre in Belfast was

quick to respond with a statement We share

people, so we wanted to tell them our message is that we are against

what happened, those those criminals, are not

representing us, none of us would condone or would agree with such

terrorism. Once the books of condolence

are completed, they'll be handed A simple gesture

of solidarity with the people One MLA described how his daughter

was just down the street from the attack on the Cambodian restaurant

in Paris on Friday night. She has been able to tell me about

the atmosphere in Paris, how frightened people are, but also how

resolute they are, and to date her boyfriend's friend was

resolute they are, and to date her one friend has a close friend still

missing. can remember family and friends

being in the city centre, bombs going off before the days of mobile

phones, not knowing the position and waiting and watching the door

for someone to come home. One can imagine that multiplied out

so many times during the course The people involved in Isis are

clearly people who are in all probability beyond negotiating with

and that represents a real challenge IB member on the 26th of June last

year I had the chance to go to a concert in the Bataclan and it was

year I had the chance to go to a place of happiness, of celebration,

a place where people of all different creeds and colours and

races gathered together to enjoy an event. One of the founding

principles of France was the principle of liberty, of freedom.

This was an attack on freedom. The South Belfast MP Alasdair

McDonnell has said he will give his full support to the new leader

of the SDLP, Colum Eastwood. After losing the leadership of

the party at its annual conference at the weekend, Mr McDonnell

thanked those who had supported him during his four years in charge and

said he would continue to work for I have been very proud to lead this

party for the past four years. The project was never about me or indeed

any other individual. It's about the SDLP and the project that began 45

years ago. To create his, prosperity and a new future for this whole

island. -- peace. The party's new leader has been

speaking to our political editor, Mark Devenport, who asked

Mr Eastwood if he had been surprised We were very confident all along

that people were responding to a was it of message for the future of the

party. I was happy with the responses I got from members across

the North and I think it worked out in the end. You paid tribute to

Alasdair McDonnell, you said he had given his all for the party. What

does your leadership mean? Is it a fresh face on the same policies or

will there be a complete overhaul? The SDLP's values are things we all

believe in, Alasdair McDonnell has been a fantastic stall Ward and will

continue in his role as MP for South Belfast. Talks are pure to be

reaching the conclusion, we might have a deal soon at Stormont. From

what you have seen of these talks, argue in Klein to back it ought to

go against it? We will look at the detail when it arrives. We have a

high standard for a deal, we don't want to see negotiations happening

next week or in a month's time, issues have to be resolved properly.

Welfare was the issue on which the last deal fell so what is your

bottom line on welfare? What would it take for the SDLP not to veto any

welfare changes? Our bottom line will be discussed during the talks

process but we do not think we should sign up to a half its deal.

We want to see a deal but can deliver the best outcome for the

public so we do not have to keep going back to the table. At the next

election Sinn Fein is likely to argue that with Unionism fragmenting

there is a big chance they could be the biggest single party, every vote

for them is a vote for Martin McGuinness as First Minister. How do

you counter that? He has been First Minister for the past eight years

and there has not been much delivery. People want to see an end

to bickering, they want delivery and I don't think anyone would tell you

that the DUP and Sinn Fein have delivered for the public.

Tomorrow night's Spotlight programme will be assessing

the challenges facing Colum Eastwood as new leader of the SDLP.

That's here on BBC One, after our late news.

A man and a woman in their 50s were rescued by firefighters

after their car became trapped in water near Castlederg yesterday.

Large areas of the West were affected by flooding as half

of the average monthly rainfall for November fell in just 24 hours.

Here's our South West reporter, Julian Fowler.

Driving through flood water can be risky.

But Fermanaagh care worker Patricia Maguire had little choice

in order to reach the homes of five people she helps in Boho.

I just looked at it and thought, no way, can't do it in the car, so I

went home and asked daddy if he would bring me to work. Daddy being

daddy, he just went on. Some people weren't so lucky and

had to be towed out of the water. These country roads are prone to

flooding and when the floods arrive It wasn't just rural parts

of the west that were affected. In Omagh two bridges in the town had

to be closed when the Strule rose The flood defences had done

their job in protecting large areas In Drumquin the GAA pitch and club

house had been submerged, but here But people are still having to cope

with floods, although it was an opportunity

for fun some couldn't resist. There's been sunshine today as well

as a fuel heavy showers and with more rain to come, people will be

keeping a close eye on the forecast. I thought Julian was going to jump

up and down like the little lad before him!

A big night of international football again

tonight but before that, a big win for one of our golfers.

Yes, we'll be heading to Dublin shortly ahead of tonight's Euro 2016

play-off, but first, Graeme McDowell has won the OHL Classic in Mexico

The Portrush man hadn't finished in the top ten in any tournament

in over a year, but held his nerve to clinch the victory.

This part on the 16th green looked like ending Graeme McDowell's hopes.

He walked off the 18th, leaving the leader to falter, and he did.

Russell Knox dropped a shot on the last, with Mick there will watching

on. The tournament went to a three-man play-off. On the first

extra hole, he seized his chance. With this stunning approach. It was

enough to secure the win. What a golf shot! It gives me something to

grab onto. You go through a deer like this, you think I finished, am

I not good enough, you ask yourself all the questions. This is the game

of golf, it is very difficult but I have been dreaming of this day and I

said I would appreciate it when it came, and I will appreciate this

because the year has been a growing and this is a step back to where I

want to be, I want to win more championships, so this is special.

Martin O'Neill's Republic of Ireland face Bosnia tonight in the second

leg of their Euro 2016 play-off tie. It's 1-1 after Friday's first leg.

A tense night in prospect as the Republic seek to join

Northern Ireland in the finals in France next summer.

Yes, there is a nervous energy among supporters around the ground. It is

expected to be a full house for this encounter. Martin O'Neill's meant no

a victory would send them through to the European finals. We will have

views of his team selection for a moment but earlier I spoke to Mark

Lawrenson, who said it is a difficult position for the Republic

to be in. Do you set back and try and get a goalless game or do you

attack? Bosnia know they have to score at least, I think it is

difficult and it is a mental thing. If you get a draw, how would you go

about it, you have to cause the opposition a problem, you have to

pen them into there have so it is a difficult draw. How big a boost is

to have the likes of John Walters, John O'Shea? I think if you were a

more experienced players you think, they will be OK, but the fact they

are at home, the crowd arbour sufferers and that will make a

difference but you cannot afford to let us near score the first goal.

How significant would be for both Northern Ireland and the Republic to

qualify for a major tournament? Michael O'Neill when he started

couldn't win a game so they have done brilliantly. The Republic, we

always thought they had a good chance, they have taken point of

Germany, and Wales, England were always going to get there but it

would be great. That is what year head tells you but what does your

heart say? It will be by hook or by crook, we don't do anything simple.

And we have just been given Martin O'Neill's starting line-up. John

O'Shea doesn't start the game, after suspension. Now Murphy is

O'Shea doesn't start the game, after action on our late bulletin. By the

Republic of Ireland going to win? Yes!

Crusaders have now opened up a five-point gap at the top

of the Irish Premiership, after a slip-up at home by Linfield.

The champions beat a nine-man Glentoran 3-0 at Seaview,

Jordan Forsyth's volley the pick of the goals.

Cliftonville's 2-1 win at Windsor Park saw them leapfrog

Linfield to move into second place in the table, while Coleraine remain

fourth after their 4-0 defeat of bottom club Warrenpoint Town.

Scotstown of Monaghan will play in this year's Ulster club final after

Ulster's most successful side ever, Crossmaglen.

In front of over 10,000 people the Armagh champions defeated Down

winners Kilcoo and booked themselves into their 11th provincial decider.

We'll have a report on the Republic of Ireland against Bosnia

And if they win, we will have more people kissing cameras. We saw the

flooding earlier. Let's get the forecast. Plenty of rain at the

weekend and flooding across parts of the West. Today has been a little

drier but the rest of the week still looks changeable. There is more rain

forecast, it will feel chilly except for the middle part of the week when

temperatures pop up a little. Chilly today in the gusty winds, not drive

because we had showers, some sunshine as well, still some showers

on the breeze this evening but elsewhere it is largely dry with

clear spells and that is how it should stay tonight. It will be

quite cold tonight, temperature potentially down to two or three in

the countryside. Tomorrow week that the next area of low pressure as

Storm Barney comes in, for Northern Ireland the wind is not quite as

strong but we will be getting more wet weather with the risk of

localised flooding. The dry to begin with and there could be a few bright

intervals but they will not last, clouds thickened with spells of rain

moving across southern counties by mid-morning, that then moves north

and will get to the north coast by midday or shortly after, but then it

is going nowhere for the rest of the day. It will be heavy at times and

feel chilly beneath the cloud, highs around 7 degrees but feeling

chillier than that. It clears away tomorrow night, then we get a batch

of wet and windy weather on Wednesday morning, followed by

bright spells and showers at temperatures digital Wednesday.

Still quite showery for the rest of the week, temperatures in double

figures on Thursday but colder again on Friday. Our next summary is at

10:25pm here on BBC One. Good