22/12/2015 BBC Newsline


22/12/2015

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Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline: A family flee their home

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as a fire spreads from a nearby recycling centre.

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I just wanted my family to be safe. That was all that mattered to me.

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A court hears more details about what happened the night

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the West Belfast man Christopher Meli was killed.

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Claims that this undercover officer from Scotland Yard targeted

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The pioneering surgery which it's hoped will help improve the life

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Also on the programme: Our Christmas carol this evening comes

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from Willowbridge School in Enniskillen.

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An early Christmas present for our top rally driver -

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And, the next few days will be colder but still very changeable.

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Three days before Christmas, this is all that's left of a family

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The police are treating the fire that destroyed

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It broke out and spread from a nearby re-cycling centre.

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Our reporter, Catherine Morrison, is in the village this evening.

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Yes, the fire reduced the family home behind me here to little more

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than a blackened shell. It is only when you are standing here that you

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really get to see just how close the house is to the recycling centre

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next door, where the blaze broke out in the early hours of this morning.

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High winds fanned the flames to this family home just a few metres and a

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flimsy wooden fence separates the two. The family had to flee in the

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middle of the night wearing just their pyjamas, and it was a lucky

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escape. A neighbour told me that less than ten minutes after the

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family left, the entire house was engulfed in flames. Earlier, our

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reporter spoke to the family. This was home to Rebecca, Andy and

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two and a half -year-old Daisy. Its brief now gone, its walls are

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unstable, and all their treasured belongings lost. Having left in any

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of them nightwear, they sat this morning at a relative's in borrowed

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clothes. As soon as I opened the door, the embers and the heat just

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met me at the front door. I knew I had to get out. I knew the fire was

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going to spread. My immediate reaction was to grab the child. I

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took Daisy. She was just in her pyjamas. I grabbed her tight and

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bolted through the door. Rebecca followed. The reaction was to look

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back. It seemed as if the house was on fire. But I just want my family

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to be safe. That was all that mattered to me. We have only been in

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the house about two months. It was a struggle even at times because I

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have just recently lost my job a month ago. Between struggling to

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find a new job and to keep the house, maintain the house, and

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coming to Christmas and buying the present, which we struggled to buy.

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When I say we struggled, friends and family. We could not have done it

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without friends and family. We are saying that even more now. Safe and

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sound, all thanks to the neighbours across the road. I just run to the

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door and I hammered on it to get them out. The man came out with the

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girl. And this is the recycling centre where the fire started, a

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fire that police are now treating as suspicious. At its height, there

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were seven fire appliances here, and 40 firefighters from across

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counties, and down. The high last night and that several houses were

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also at risk of catching fire. If the fire has been a malicious act, I

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just want whoever has done it to understand and believe... We have

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lost our home at Christmas. We have nothing now. No toys. No presents to

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each other. All our photographs, our wedding photographs. A family

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together. Things could have been very, very different.

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I am joined now by the camps like Carla Lockhart. There has been a

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real sense of shock in this street. The people I have spoken to my

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neighbours, what has the reaction been like in the wider community.

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There is a real sense of shock and sadness for this little family who

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have suffered great loss. You can see behind us that their house has

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been absolutely gutted with flames and fire damage. The family,

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thankfully, escaped unharmed. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers

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are with his family. I have known them for many years, and it is so

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disheartening and so sad to see a family left without any of their

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belongings. There has been a real sense that people are rallying

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around the family. Has been a real outpouring of generosity and support

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for them. Absolutely. This morning, when Andrew's daddy contacted

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myself, we decided to coordinate a campaign to help the family. We have

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been overwhelmed by the amount of money that has been donated. Has

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been over ?5,000 given to the family, and the officers have been

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inundated with the amount of Christmas presents and gifts and

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presents going towards the family. Perhaps a small comfort for this

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family. Thank you for joining me. This is an ongoing police

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investigation, and they want to hear from anyone who may know what

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happened here last night to contact them.

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Tributes have been paid to an elderly farmer who died

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It's thought Pat Curran was killed in an incident involving a tractor

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at his farm near Kilclief yesterday evening.

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He was a person who was particularly supportive of his neighbours, of the

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local farming community. A very good, upstanding, dead member of our

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local community, and he will be sadly missed by all.

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The police have apologised to a former officer

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who was seriously injured in a dissident republican bomb attack.

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Peadar Heffron was the victim of a booby trap bombing

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A Police Ombudsman report found that four officers failed to pass

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information to detectives investigating the attempt

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A meeting of the Policing Board heard today that two of the officers

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had not been disciplined as severely as the Ombudsman had recommended.

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This is BBC Newsline and still to come on the programme

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we'll hear about the life changing pioneering surgery that this

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seven-year-old girl from Ballycarry has had.

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The High Court has been told that a young father was beaten to death

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in retaliation for an earlier fight in West Belfast.

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20-year-old Christopher Meli was killed near houses in Twinbrook

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Today, a judge granted bail to a one of three teenagers charged

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Christopher Meli's family and a group of friends were in court for

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today's bail hearing. Stephen McCann, 18, denies involvement in

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the murder. He appeared at the hearing to a video link. Prosecuting

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barrister outlined how police believe events unfolded after a

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fight at a local kebabs earlier in the evening. Christopher Meli was in

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one of the groups. The barrister said his group then left the scene,

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and the other group went off and told friends that they had been

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jumped on, and the bigger group was formed to get revenge. They said

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they then confronted Christopher Meli's group with the intention to

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cause serious harm. Hearing heard that Stephen McCann admitted to

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police that he was involved in a fight with Christopher Meli earlier

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on the night of the murder. Stephen McCann told police, "I was in the

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fight last night. I was fighting with the wee man who was murdered".

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However, Stephen McCann denies involvement in the murder of

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Christopher Meli. The hearing heard that three people have been charged

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in connection with the murder and seven others have been released on

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bail. The defence barrister told the hearing that none of the witnesses

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so far had implicated Stephen McCann in the murder. The barrister added

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that Stephen McCann is prepared to be a witness during the hearing

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Christopher Meli's mother left the courtroom. As she worked out --

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walked out, "Look up", she told him. The judge has ordered Stephen McCann

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to live at an undisclosed address 30 miles from Belfast.

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Environmental campaigners claim surveillance was carried out

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in Northern Ireland by one of the police officers at the centre

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The undercover officers tricked women into sexual relationships.

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Environmentalists want the inquiry into what happened to be

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Our investigations reporter Kevin Magee has more.

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He looked every inch and environmental campaigner, but Mark

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Kennedy was in fact a married policeman, one of a number who

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infiltrated green groups in England by tricking women into intimate

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relationships. Here is how Scotland Yard was forced to apologise for

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their actions. We have accepted that those relationships should not have

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happened, and we have been through a process and now agreed settlement

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with the women. Part of that process of settlement was a desire on our

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part to be public about the apology that we make. According to

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environmental activists, Mark Kennedy, here on the left, also

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travel to Northern Ireland to carry out surveillance. When Mark Kennedy

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was here in 2005, it was around the time that the anti-globalisation

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campaign was at its height. One of the events he attended was a meeting

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of activists, held here at the menagerie bar on Belfast University

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Street. He also went to another meeting of green activists and

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environmentalists held here in the city Church, and while he was here,

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he had his photograph taken. The PSNI say the special undercover unit

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that Mark Cody was attached to did not work it, but those who

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accompanied him to Northern Ireland say this picture shows that he did.

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A judge that inquiry is underway in England to investigate the role of

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the undercover officers at Scotland Yard. I don't think there is any

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question that this public inquiry that is already looking into the

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activities of this unit in infant and Wales should now be extended.

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People in the environmental movement and the third World movement are

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questioning why they should be spied on. When asked if Mark Kennedy's

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secret undercover unit ever operated in Northern Ireland, the

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Metropolitan Police said they neither confirm nor deny.

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Plenty more to come, including the latest on the controversy involving

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an Irish show-jumper at the London International horse show.

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A little girl from Ballycarry in County Antrim has had pioneering

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Sophie Mathers, who is seven, has cerebral palsy.

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That means her legs are stiff and awkward, making walking,

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But doctors at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool decided Sophie

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was suitable for a complicated operation and they cut nerves

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in her spine to alleviate the problem.

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Sophie Mathers and her parents played together on the morning of

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her operation at Alder Hey. Sophie was eight weeks premature, and has

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cerebral palsy. That means her legs are stiff and rigid. She is affected

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in her legs, so her legs are very stiff and the muscles are very

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tight. Day-to-day living is a struggle for her. Sophie can walk

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with a frame, but the stiffness makes it hard. Doctors call it

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spasticity. This morning's operation is aimed at loosening her leg

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muscles. This will relieve the tightness. Give her more confident

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in herself, a wee bit more freedom. It is not a miracle cure that will

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mean she can walk unaided, but doctors say it can be life changing.

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Just to be made more comfortable, and hopefully gain more independence

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about the house, and do more for herself. Sophie knows how she once

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the surgeons to make her legs. Not tight. Alder Hey is the only

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hospital in the north-west where this operation is available. It

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involves cutting nerves in the spine to relieve stiffness. It is complex

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surgery. We were nervous, yes, really nervous. But we had to do it

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because we have tried other solutions and nothing has took.

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Preparation for the operation takes an hour or more, and that is because

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Sophie has to be fitted with monitors said the doctors can see

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how her body is reacting as they operate on her nerves. The surgeon

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uses a powerful microscope to carry out the delicate work. She

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stimulates the nerves in Sophie's back. Another doctor can tell her

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which nerve roots to cut, and which ones to leave alone. We know that

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those routes are involved in the spasticity circuit, and if we cut

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some of them, the spasticity will get better, which is what we have

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just done on Sophie. The operation takes several hours. When I see the

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parents, when they go home if he wants after, and they come to me and

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it is a different child, and they can't even say why, it is just

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better. This is what we want. Tomorrow, we will see how Sophie is

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progressing after the surgery. Yes, we will have another report

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tomorrow. Stephen Watson's here with the sport

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now, and he has a special guest. World rally driver Kris Meeke has

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had an early Christmas present. He's signed a three year deal

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with French manufacturer Citreon to drive at the very

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highest level in his sport. Fantastic news for you. It has been

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a roller-coaster season. Just how big a deal is it to get three years

:16:31.:16:35.

with this manufacturer? It is something I have been working

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towards all my career. Opportunities have been thin on the ground. Some

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years I did not have any drive, but over the last two seasons by

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opportunities have allowed me a full season this year, but to get that

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three-year deal, citron have thrown their full commitment and next year

:16:52.:16:58.

we will develop a new car, so it is a big opportunity. Some exciting

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pictures here from the rally at Argentina, York first win in the

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world Rally championship this year. Just how big a deal was this for

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you? It's incredible. I always wanted to be part of a world Rally

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team, but to actually win your first rally at that level is something

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very special. For sure, lots of emotions ran high at the finish

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line. I would like to repeat it. Everyone says the first one is

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special, but for me, the best one is always the next one. After that you

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had a topsy-turvy season, crashed here and there, a lot of pressure on

:17:31.:17:34.

whether you might retain your drive or not, so to get that use before

:17:35.:17:38.

Christmas must be great. Yes, we battled through mid part of the

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season my performances were still strong, but we did not bring home

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the results on some occasions. The last three or four rallies, we

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really knuckled down. Formerly in particular in the last rally in

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Wales, we got our best ever performance, finishing second behind

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the world champion, and that was a strong way to finish the season and

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begin negotiations. The 2016 team is a development team, could you be

:18:03.:18:07.

back here as a world Rally Champion? That is the thing that gets me up

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every morning and drives me on. Certainly, for me, it is the

:18:13.:18:16.

ultimate ambition. I am in the best place now on citron have produced

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the strongest team over last decade, and this is just fantastic for me to

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be part of it. Briefly, I am sure you have got a nice blacks and

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Christmas adequate amount I have an 18-month-old and a two-month-old, so

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it will be busy! Happy Christmas and thank you for coming in and talking

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to us. For most of us, this time

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of year is a time to relax, but many top athletes have to keep

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focused through the festivities. Boxer Carl Frampton is putting his

:18:45.:18:47.

family first over Christmas, but is also preparing

:18:48.:18:50.

for the biggest fight of his career against Scott Quigg

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in Manchester in February. Nial Foster looks back

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at the champion's eventful year and the challenge

:18:55.:18:56.

that now lies ahead. It is the season to reflect on a

:18:57.:19:08.

successful year for Carl Frampton. He defended his belt against Chris

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Aber lost in February. Then, after a trip to the wild, wild West in July,

:19:15.:19:18.

after hitting the canvas twice, the 28 your old Fort back. I feel like I

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want to say sorry. It was an amazing performance. And, so he was, not to

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box, but home for Christmas to present an award and spend time with

:19:35.:19:45.

family. Local boy, Carl Frampton! I want to take Christmas Day as it

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comes, really. I want to be with my family. I love being around my wife

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and kids. Carla is five years old now, she loves Santa and everything

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about Christmas. I do something that not a lot of people have to do you

:20:03.:20:06.

stop I go away and train away from home, and I missed them all the

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time. That is a bit different from a normal athlete. I am going to enjoy

:20:10.:20:15.

myself. There is still ten weeks until the fight. And preparations

:20:16.:20:18.

for that title battle against Scott Quigg are going well. I have been

:20:19.:20:23.

training for six or seven weeks. It has been hard. I have already

:20:24.:20:28.

started sparring and have a view bumps and bruises on my face. I just

:20:29.:20:33.

want to put this to bed. A lot of people think that Scott Quigg is a

:20:34.:20:38.

better fighter than me. I know he is not, I just need to go out and prove

:20:39.:20:40.

it now. The countdown is on. The London International Horse Show

:20:41.:20:45.

ended in controversial Irish rider Bertram Allen

:20:46.:20:47.

was announced as the winner, but then disqualified

:20:48.:20:51.

on a technicality. Wexford Rider Bertram Allen posted a

:20:52.:21:08.

stunning jump off time last night to destroy a world-class field, at

:21:09.:21:18.

Olympia in London. But then, drama behind the scenes as Bertram Allen

:21:19.:21:26.

was disqualified. Blood was spotted on his horse's right flank. A rider

:21:27.:21:31.

is automatically disqualified if blood is found. Utterly devastated.

:21:32.:21:37.

My horse jumped to fantastic rounds, he tried his best, I tried my best,

:21:38.:21:45.

and my spur slipped and so there was maybe that size on him, it was a bit

:21:46.:21:50.

red, it was not even bleeding. Something has to be done about it.

:21:51.:21:59.

Everyone here can't understand. The British rider who was promoted from

:22:00.:22:04.

runner up did give the young Irishman his winner's rosette, but

:22:05.:22:07.

that was not quite the present he wanted. It is now a case of get back

:22:08.:22:09.

on the author again. Sean O'Brien has signed a new three

:22:10.:22:13.

year contract with the IRFU which will see him remain

:22:14.:22:15.

at Leinster until after There is a lot of talk about a new

:22:16.:22:30.

storm heading across the Atlantic towards us. Your lovely globe shows

:22:31.:22:39.

snowdrops! Well, storm Eve are, storm five,

:22:40.:22:42.

will have an impact on our weather tomorrow night. There aren't no

:22:43.:22:48.

weather warnings issued at the moment for Northern Ireland, but

:22:49.:22:52.

severe weather warnings have been issued for the Republic,

:22:53.:22:55.

particularly the West Coast, so bear that in mind if you are travelling

:22:56.:23:00.

during tomorrow. It'll be cold and blustery tonight, lots of showers

:23:01.:23:03.

coming in, and as the night gets colder, those showers will turn

:23:04.:23:07.

wintry. That is the future of our weather over the next couple of

:23:08.:23:11.

days, it will get colder. Cabbages dropping low enough for some frost

:23:12.:23:14.

and ice tomorrow morning, and there will be some wintry showers --

:23:15.:23:19.

temperatures. Tomorrow night storm Eva will start to come towards cars,

:23:20.:23:23.

bringing severe gales and heavy rain to the west coast of Ireland and

:23:24.:23:27.

many areas including parts of Northern Ireland. We will be

:23:28.:23:34.

monitoring that. First thing tomorrow, nasty on the road with ice

:23:35.:23:39.

and frost around, but the wintry showers ease away by the morning. If

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you are heading to the shops, a lot of dry and bright weather around.

:23:44.:23:47.

Colder than today, so do wrap up warm because the wind will make it

:23:48.:23:52.

feel quite chilly tomorrow. Not too much in the way of rain or snow to

:23:53.:23:56.

come during tomorrow. Here comes the first of tomorrow night's wet and

:23:57.:24:00.

windy weather. It is coming in tomorrow evening and it will get

:24:01.:24:04.

increasingly wet and windy tomorrow night. No warnings out at the

:24:05.:24:07.

moment, but we may have wins strong enough to bring a future ease down,

:24:08.:24:12.

gusts up to 60 miles an hour. At the end of the night it is all over and

:24:13.:24:16.

temperatures are back down again. That is how we start Christmas eve.

:24:17.:24:21.

Christmas Eve will bring a feud snow showers, particularly to the hills.

:24:22.:24:26.

Lots of crisp, dry weather, but in between there will be some wintry

:24:27.:24:30.

showers and it will feel cold. Maybe a bit more festive, and you will

:24:31.:24:33.

need to wrap up. Christmas day starts off dry and cold. Rain is

:24:34.:24:39.

expected to go northwards, and as it arrives, it will get milder. For

:24:40.:24:43.

Saint Stephen's day, temperatures back up into double figures.

:24:44.:24:51.

Finally, a Christmas Carol, when a child is born, and it comes from the

:24:52.:24:54.

choir at Willowbridge School in Enniskillen. Good evening.

:24:55.:25:03.

# All across the land dawns a brand new morn

:25:04.:25:25.

# This comes to pass when a child is born

:25:26.:25:33.

# The winds of change whisper in the trees

:25:34.:25:48.

# And the walls of doubt crumble tossed and torn

:25:49.:25:56.

# This comes to pass when a child is born

:25:57.:26:04.

# A rosy hue settles all around

:26:05.:26:12.

# You got the feel, you're on solid ground

:26:13.:26:20.

# For a spell or two no one seems forlorn

:26:21.:26:28.

# This comes to pass when a child is born

:26:29.:26:37.

And all of this happens because the world is waiting.

:26:38.:26:40.

Waiting for one child, black-white-yellow, no one knows.

:26:41.:26:44.

But a child that will grow up and turn tears to laughter.

:26:45.:26:50.

And misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten forever.

:26:51.:27:07.

# It must come true sometime soon, somehow

:27:08.:27:13.

# All across the land dawns a brand new morn,

:27:14.:27:24.

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