05/01/2016 BBC Newsline

The headlines on BBC Newsline: Walking free from court -

the evangelical pastor accused of making grossly offensive

I'm very happy, very happy at today's verdict.

All hands to the pumps in the fight against the rising

Only for the banks and the pumps, it would be here.

How the crisis in the care sector is putting our

We're live at Belfast City Hall as the council kicks around

a controversial plan to honour two football teams.

100 years after the Battle of the Somme, reports from the trenches of

the 32nd Ulster Division here in France.

World champion cyclist Martyn Irvine tells us why

And a welcome break from wet weather is on the way, but for how long?

Find out shortly. The evangelical pastor

James McConnell has been found not guilty of making "grossly offensive"

remarks about Muslims. The 78-year-old from Newtownabbey

was charged 18 months ago following a sermon at

the Whitewell Tabernacle Church. Today the legal process

came to an end as Pastor McConnell at the end

of his trial, a free man. The judge, Liam McNally,

ruled his comments were offensive, but not "grossly" offensive -

the definition required For a while there I thought

the judge was going to put me down because there was two policemen

sitting behind me and I thought this is it, and then he turned around

and I was amazed he said twice not It was this sermon in 2014 that

landed Pastor McConnell in court. Now people say there

are good Muslims in Britain, that may be so, but

I don't trust them. But it wasn't just what he said -

it was the fact the sermon The judge accepted Pastor McConnell

thought he was preaching to his congregation and not

the whole internet. But he said he words caused him

to lose the run of himself and he should be more

careful in the future. That was one particular message I've

preached. Look at the thousands of messages

I have preached and I listen to and I have even said worse things

than that and it has gone out. Elsewhere in the sermon,

Pastor McConnell's criticism Is Lamb is heaving, say tannic, a

doctrine spawned in hell. -- is Lamb is heaving.

And while the judge said he was absolutely entitled

to criticise another faith, he'd not set out clear reasons why -

instead he said he'd indulged in nothing more than

Judge McNally said if a Muslim had described Christianity in the same

way there would have been such a tornado of abuse it would make

the reaction to Pastor McConnell's words look like an April shower.

Members of his congregation have supported him throughout.

his solicitor said the trial had taken its toll

You can only expect justice in the next world,

but on this occasion the law and justice have come together,

this gentleman has taken a principled stand,

he has carried the can for this to the detriment

of his health for nearly two years and he is to be

congratulated, we are greatly relieved that justice was done.

The judge, I believe, he didn't do it lightly,

he took it over the holidays and he came

with the decision that he saw nothing that would be

A statement from the Belfast Islamic this afternoon said:

As he left, Pastor McConnell thanked his supporters and said

he would continue to spread the word of God around the world.

The Rivers Agency says the level of Lough Neagh is at a 30-year high

They're pumping water away from a number of homes along

the shore in an attempt to save them.

And the Agriculture Minister went to Fermanagh today to see

for herself the impact on communities isolated

Our Agriculture and Environment correspondent Conor Macauley reports

Several rivers converge at Derrytresk near Coalisland before

That's a lot of water and much of it has backed up

That's meant misery for the people living in a few houses who've relied

on the sandbags and pumps provided by the Rivers Agency

No water has got in yet, but it has been close,

as 72-year-old Jimmy Quinn explained.

Only for the bags and that pumps, it would be. It's not looking well when

the Swans are going by the window, watching Coronation Street.

Further west and in Fermanagh, the Agriculture Minister took

to a tractor to navigate flooded roads that have isolated around

a dozen homes at Inishroosk, near Lisnaskea.

This has been the only way in and out of this community

Among the people she met, Gerry McManus, whose 87-year-old

And that's a big problem. She's 87 and needs care for times a day.

Can't get in, so I take time off work and look after her. Hope

difficult hazard in getting access? Tractors every day. To give you a

sense of the scale of flooding, this is Upper Lough Erne, it is normally

about 45 square kilometres but is now twice that size. It is clear to

me there are other things we need to look at like roads being raised. In

the past some roads were raised by about a metre, now two metres in

some instances but you can see those roads are underwater again so has it

being raised high enough? Those are questions for another time

- for now, the people of Fermanagh and around the shores of Lough Neagh

must pull together to get And with the prospect of more rain,

there's not much sign of the roads The pressure on hospital emergency

departments is being linked to the difficulty in getting care

packages for elderly people either They cannot be moved out of hospital

unless there is One care company told our

reporter Maggie Taggart Another predicts a lack

of finance will put it out The care sector complains that

funding has steadily reduced and the prospect of soon having

to pay a higher minimum wage will be Already it is not seen

as an attractive job to many and there are problems recruiting

care staff, so some say they can't Senior doctors say there's

a knock-on effect in hospitals. If elderly people are ready to be

discharged from hospital but cannot look after themselves at home, there

are two main options. Around 9000 people are in residential homes,

around 23,000 get domiciliary care. If those are not possible, they have

to stay in hospital and that is part of the reason for the current

logjam. The issue in the hospitals relates to delayed discharges due to

unavailability of care packages to support people when they come home

and also the issue of releasing people from hospital to care homes.

Pauline Shepherd has her finger on the pulse -

she represents more than 250 care providers.

One company owner told me the system is imploding and another predicted

he would have to go out of business within months.

There have been a number of domiciliary care providers who are

looking to sell their businesses, if that happens the impact back to the

hospitals will increase. The care sector is to meet

the Health Minister next week to plead its case but it fears

no-one is listening to its concerns. Allegations of abuse at a Protestant

children's home have been revealed The home was run by a mission group

within the Church of Ireland The Historical Institutional Abuse

Inquiry has opened public hearings into allegations of sexual

and physical abuse Children were shipped to Australia

in the middle of the last century Among those sent to the other side

of the world - two young boys They are among a number of people

who say they were abused there by some staff,

visitors and some other children. The focus on a former Church of

Ireland home illustrates how this inquiry continues to unwrap the

history of society in Northern Ireland, and the narrative is a

broad one. Previously Catholic state-run institutions, Barnardo's

charity and today a former Protestant children's home.

One of the former child migrants gave evidence to the Inquiry

He claimed that he became a teenage prostitute after suffering abuse

at Manor House and further abuse at a Presbyterian church

farm training home, after he arrived in Australia.

Another man alleged that he was tied with a rope, attached to a brick

and tied to his bed at night, to prevent him from

Public hearings at this inquiry are now into their third year and will

continue until the summer. Then the chairman will write his report and

he must presented to the office of the First and Deputy First Minister

by January. A memorial service has been held

to remember ten workmen who murdered in Kingsmills in County

Armagh 40 years ago. The victims, who were all

Protestant, were shot dead when an IRA gang

ambushed their minibus. Here's our south east

reporter Gordon Adair. With their faces set

against the bitter January cold, those who lost loved ones

at Kingsmills paused In my memory's eye I can see

the uncontrollable grief of families whose loved ones had

been so cruelly taken, sons, husbands, fathers,

decent hard-working men. He was only 19 when he

was killed that night. His mother and sister-in-law

say their desire to see justice done

has never dimmed. They killed three of my family,

not one, because my mother My mother was putting dinner

out for him and forgot, things like that, you know,

so we're just looking for justice. And for Mrs Lemmon, wife

of Joe Lemmon, 93 years of age, very unwell today, would love to be

here but it isn't possible, she has always asked

the question - why? A number of statements were read out

on behalf of those now too elderly or infirm to attend services

like today's and it's very clear that even four decades on,

people still struggle to come to terms with what happened on this

lonely stretch of road. Belfast City Councillors have been

debating whether to host a joint civic reception for

the Northern Ireland Both sides have qualified for this

summer's European Championship Our reporter Rick Faragher

is at the City Hall. The debate is ongoing although we

expect a vote shortly. The question is, should a joint Civic reception

for both the old teams on this island be held at the faster the

whole? In November a reception was held for Northern Ireland after they

qualified for Euro 2016. The Republic then qualified by play-offs

and this is what put forward the SDLP motion of a joint reception,

supported by Sinn Fein and Alliance, although unionists have argued

against this, saying it would take away from the reception already

posted, discredit it and make the council looked disorganised,

although all worst the Republic of Ireland the best of luck.

Nationalists say a joint reception the presents both main traditions

and affects allegiances of football supporters. This is the first time

Northern Ireland and the Republic have qualified for the same major

tournament, fantastic news for the managers, both men from Northern

Ireland and both who will attend a reception at Dublin City Council

after the tournament, but it remains to be seen if a single event will be

held here in Belfast. We will see shortly.

A prominent SDLP politician will not be putting forward his name

for re-election to the Assembly in May.

Alban Maginness has represented North Belfast since 1998.

He says he believes it's the right time for him to leave.

Here's our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.

After more than 30 years as an elected politician,

Alban Maginness says it may now be time to consider his memoirs.

He certainly wrote his own piece of history in 1997

when he became Belfast's first nationalist Lord Mayor.

I reject that criticism of me as chairman of this council. You can

reject it. You produce the evidence of that.

He has other hair-raising moments as well, like the time

he had his famous moustache shaved off for Children in Need.

Is there a doctor in the house? Where is Alasdair McDonnell? No,

please, I want a real doctor! Alistair, for give me.

Like Alasdair McDonnell, Alban Maginness will soon be gone

I think it's the right time for me to move on and allow somebody to

take up the leadership in terms of being MLA for North Belfast and I

have complete confidence in any of the people I have suggested to you,

that they would be very good as MLA 's, so I have no qualms about

leaving the Assembly, it will be in good hands. And Stormont is set for

a major changing of the guard before the next elections in May. Of the

108 MLAs, 30 will not be standing, and that number could rise. Only in

Lagan Valley and North Antrim May voters have the chance to stand

again. As of now, only one sitting MLA will be putting their name on

the ballot paper this time around in South Belfast. Already the hot

favourite to succeed all but McGuinness is Nichola Mallon, like

him, a former Lord where. -- mayor. Three weeks ago today a group

of Syrian refugees came to Northern Ireland -

part of the UK government's response 51 arrived in Belfast

from camps in Lebanon. 11 of the children are

under the age of five. Ten Syrian families arrived in

Belfast on a dark December afternoon. They spent their first

few days at a Welcome Centre. Three weeks on, one person who knows them

is Michelle James, who has been working closely with the families.

Things are busy, we moved families out of the Welcome Centre after a

few days, into communities and we are completely overwhelmed with the

support our communities have offered the families. They have been

welcomed, neighbourly it was Christmas, people were at doors with

presence, gets, offering help, children are now making friends.

English is not the barrier. Very humbled to be involved in this piece

of work. We were brought in a few weeks before the families were due

to arrive and we are learning a lot, working closely with partners in the

community and in the wider voluntary sector because we want to make sure

these families feel welcome and that we can meet their needs. And they

have specific needs, coming from dreadful circumstances. We don't

know the full story yet and I don't know how long it will take for some

families to share their full stories. We are starting to get some

information and offer the support families need and will post them to

special support if needed. And there is a second group of refugees due to

arrive here before April, expected to settle up in the Northwest.

Next, the first of our special reports this week marking

the centenary year of significant events in our history.

The Battle of the Somme claimed tens of thousands of lives -

many of them from the 36th Ulster Division.

Recently our reporter Mervyn Jess visited the Somme

in northern France and the memorial tower built to honour those who died

in one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War.

At 20 past seven on the morning of the 1st of July 1916, men of the

36th Ulster Division were among the 100,000 Allied soldiers who went

over the top to face the German army on the slopes of the Somme. It was

to become known as the bloodiest day of the British Army. It is only when

you climb into the trench that you start to get a sense of what it was

like for those men fighting in them during the Battle of the Somme. Just

over the top was the full horror of war and a few hundred yards that way

is the final proof of that. The day after the battle began, 60,000

Commonwealth soldiers have become casualties of war with 20,000 of

them killed. Among the dead more than 2000 Ulster men, but the battle

raged on and insert timbre, the 16th Irish division, made up of soldiers

from Southern counties, suffered nearly 4500 casualties with nearly

1200 killed, more Irishman died I think with Allied divisions. People

from Ireland North and South regularly visit the War graves, some

of them for the first time. W forever. -- love you forever. It's

very moving, no matter how many times you do it, it still affects

you. You were in a cemetery with a lady who had never been here, we

both came out in tears. An Armistice Day each year, a ceremony at the

Ulster Tower is attended by people from France and reverent Ireland. It

is very moving because when you think of those junk lads leaving

home, smiling and they just walked into hell. TRANSLATION: We realise

as you get older all these men came here freely to help us hold onto our

freedom in France and in the world, but particularly in France. It

showed union between the countries to keep our freedom and our

fraternity. The attack was at half past seven across the track up to

the German wire, and few men but any further, but to Victoria crosses

were one over there, and one was the only surviving the sea in the

battle. Stories about the battle continued to be told, such was the

slaughter that the memory was seared into the communities the soldiers

came from. Tomorrow we have another special

report marking events in 1916 The end of the competitive road

for a great cyclist. Yes, Martyn Irvine has announced his

retirement from competitive racing. A World Track Champion in 2013,

the Newtownards rider also won two world silver medals

in a fine career. But he hasn't made it

to the Olympics in Brazil this year, and now has decided to stop

cycling altogether. It was little under three years ago

in Belarus that Martyn Irvine created are cycling history. Can

Martyn Irvine do it? My word, he can! Martyn Irvine is the world

champion. But injuries and failure to qualify for the Rio Olympics

means has decided to retire. It's massive beak has I was never a

professional but an amateur who rode professionally, and then when I

missed the Olympic slot, it was like if you are not even an amateur in

the Olympics it is impossible, so that was a big swinger, and then the

motivation, the dream was to bury the Demons of underperforming in the

last game, that is why I took so long to make my mind up, but I think

it is the right season. But his place in sporting history books is

assured, the first man from Northern Ireland to be a world track cycling

champion. I regret not soaking that up more because looking back it was

easy because I trade under Andy Sparks, I trained so hard that

racing was easy and I needed that to give me a bit of confidence and kept

winning things after that, I have a lot of medals that could never have

happened, so it is a good story, it is up to me to keep reminding people

it can be done, so I am happy. A maverick who will long inspire

future Irish cyclists. Yes, let's hope so.

Tonight's game between Carrick Rangers and Dungannon Swifts

in the Danske Bank Irish Premiership has been postponed.

The game will be rescheduled in due course but it's the seventh

successive time Carrick have been unable to play at their ground.

They now haven't played at home game there since October 31st last year.

Finally, Royal County Down has been declared the current number one golf

course in the world by a panel of nearly 2000 experts.

It even finished ahead of Augusta National,

venue for the US Masters of course, which ended up in the number 2 spot.

I'm sure the Irish Open had a lot to do with that.

We have seen a lot of flooding, people need some dry weather. We

have some promising weather for the next 24 hours but one figure that

will not surprise you, December was almost the wettest in a hundred

years, beaten by 1919 by three millimetres. Today we have one or

two patches of wet weather tonight but it will clear away and turned

chilly, especially for the sky clears, allowing temperatures to

fall below freezing. Some pockets of mist or fog developed but if you are

heading out tonight, to cut some night skate photographs like this,

you may not need the umbrella but you will need warm clothes. Tomorrow

will be a chilly start, there will be more rain later on, for the

beginning of the day it will be dry for most of us although a little

chilly, taking a while for fog to clear away and then into the

afternoon dry weather and sunshine, temperatures about normal with light

winds and it will stay dry until the middle of the afternoon. Towards

evening it will turn more unsettled, we will see rain creep up into

Fermanagh and tyrants and slowly moved east through the night, some

of that rain heavy and persistent as lasting for a few hours, so the Met

Office has issued a weather warning. There may be further disruption and

flooding in some areas and surface spray on the roads. As that rain

leaves colder air behind, we will have sleet and snow for hill is

elsewhere wet and chilly on Thursday. Overall it is not too bad,

largely dry, more sunshine with the old scattered showers and it will be

like that again for Friday and Saturday. More flooding, difficult

times for many people. You can also keep in contact with us

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