15/02/2016 BBC Newsline

Our health editor Hugh Pym will be taking questions live this evening

The headlines on BBC Newsline: The long delayed inquest

into the death of Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson hears

the 15-year-old thought she was pregnant.

Police return to farmland near Comber as they resume

their search for Lisa Dorrian's body.

Farmers say falling incomes are forcing their children abroad

The row over MLAs expenses continues.

The funeral is held in Dublin for the man shot dead

And it was a lovely start to the week but tomorrow is looking

Ireland six Nations campaign is all but over the defeat in Paris.

And it was a lovely start to the week but tomorrow is looking

very different and more unsettled again.

The inquest has begun into the murder of Castlederg

The 15-year-old went missing in 1994 after going to a disco

Their bodies have never been found. Today was the start of the inquest

into the death of the teenage Arlene Arkinson.

She was last seen in a car driven by a convicted killer. He was acquitted

in 2005 but was always the main suspect. He died in prison last

Last week, the Northern Ireland Office approved a request

from the police to withhold documents linked to the case.

22 years after she disappeared the family were looking forward to

finding out what happened. She was a blue-eyed girl of the

family. She was brilliant. She was good at school. I want people to

know the real Arlene. In court, the coroner heard that Arlene was a

bribe of honourable girl who had been sexually abused by a

brother-in-law when she was 13. On the night when she disappeared she

told them she might be pregnant. Witnesses say that night Arlene was

elastic group of friends to be dropped home after a night out in

Donegal. The driver was Robert Howard, then in his 50s. He was

acquitted of her murder in 2005 but that jury could not be told his

history. The court heard that he was an extremely dangerous man capable

of causing harm to Arlene. He had a string of convictions for rape and

serious sexual assault, was out on bail at the time of her

disappearance was the last person to be seen with her alive. All the

information about the police investigation may not be heard. The

PSNI have asked for a immunity certificate to Roofe hold details

from the inquest. There are usually only issued in terrorism cases. The

family can't understand why one would be in issued into this

inquest. It's bizarre in the extreme. There's absolutely no

reason for it whatsoever. As far as can see, unless some justification

that can be brought before the court, because ultimately the judge

will have the final say. The police say these applications are made in

all kinds of cases and although they're committed to transparency

that must be balanced with our obligation to maintain the integrity

of the methods I which police conduct complex and challenging

investigations. The full court papers were served today so the

judge hasn't yet made a decision about whether or not to withhold

information the police has requested. Robert Howard died while

serving his prison sentence for the murder of a girl in England years

after her disappearance. As this continues, the family carry their

questions with them. The police investigating the murder

of Lisa Dorrian 11 years ago have returned to farmland near Comber

in County Down to resume the search 25-year-old Lisa Dorrian from Banga

hasn't been seen since going to a party at a horrible day -- holiday

caravan park 11 years ago. It is believed she was murdered but her

body has yet to be found. This morning the police cordoned off an

area of farmland on the outskirts of Kaunda and specialist search teams

moved in to begin a sweep. In a statement, the PSNI 's serious crime

Branch said that this latest operation as a result of new

information being provided to them will stop detectives say that

information has been provided by someone who is not interested in

publicity. The police say a searchable involved a significant

range and resources. This in the first time this piece of land has

been searched by police involved in this case. In 2012, hydraulic

diggers were brought here as police search for a car believed to have

been used in her murder. At that time, there was no sign of a young

woman's body. This morning the police and search teams arrived here

in numbers and began a fresh surge of the farmland. This operation

which are expected to last several days is the latest in a long-running

and extensive investigation. It will include the use of search teams,

body recovery dogs, ground probes and other specialist equipment.

While this general area was searched in 2012, when police were looking

for a vehicle, this time the search is concentrating on a different

section of farmland and research teams are looking for human remains.

The children of farmers are going overseas to find jobs

in agriculture because their parents can't pay them to work

They're milking cows in the Middle East and helping

Northern Ireland farm incomes are at their lowest in a decade.

Our Agriculture and Environment Correspondent Conor Macauley

Some heads the shed to his herd. He has a contract with a major

supermarket and isn't in debt to the banks but the two are seen as income

to get humble. He says his profit from each of these animals is down

by one of incentive I pounce. That means their belts tightening across

the board. It also means you can't afford to pay a decent wage to his

20-year-old son who like many of his friends is leaving to look for work.

There are lots of people I know whose sons and daughters have left.

I know one guy who wanted to milk cows. They're in New Zealand. They

come here because the boys can work. At home Robert might make ?100 a

week, in England working long hours in silage in the harvest Hill make

1000 a week. It is a no-brainer from a financial standpoint but that

doesn't make the decision any easier. I want to go. I want to go

and get experience doing all different things. Bigger farms, but

I have to leave my dad and he might struggle. The income figures show

just how tight it is on family farms. Mixed farms where people have

a couple of different interest going very best. The average income is

?28,000. Still back at a quarter last year. Beef and sheep farms like

here, they are getting by on a roundabout ?14,000, back 8%. And

dairy farms, people there are struggling to get by on an average

income of around ?10,000. A drop of 70% on last year 's figures. That's

reflected in farm families looking for help. This money to work in the

bank, now he's debt adviser. It's helping 200 families in crisis.

Whether it's 30,000 over graft or 2000 overdraft, we're finding

across-the-board lots of problems. And in an election year, this will

be a key issue in rural consistencies. There's no question

they will be on the lip is of every farming family. The art deeply

concerned. There's lots of apathy and despair about the downturn in

farming. The industry believes it has a long-term future. It's finding

solutions to cash flow challenges that are the immediate problem.

Still to come before seven: A look back at Ireland's ancient past

The Assembly authorities came fighting back today over claims

Questions were raised in a BBC Spotlight investigation last year

The Assembly Commission has found the party did nothing wrong.

But the chair of the watchdog body says some of the money

for a nine-month period in 2012 should not have been handed over.

Our political correspondent Gareth Gordon reports.

The assembly authorities decide Sinn Fein MLAs had nothing wrong by

claiming ?700,000 in expenses for up research from a company run by the

party finance managers. Storm and pay watchdog says at least some of

the money should never have been paid because it changed the rules in

April 20 12. It appears from information we have that payments

have been made up to the end of December of that year. That is

contrary to the determination and the commission if it thinks these

were OK is quite wrong. The sum was ?150,000 but this former member of

the assembly commission says it's Mr McCartan who is wrong. In the

emission of the termination was made, that referred to contract on

or after the 1st of April 2012, that mistake was noticed by the panel who

issued in December 2012 in their own words a fresh determination to quote

deal with the apparent ambiguity of the first one. The assembly Speaker

joined the criticism. What is significant and is of concern to me

is that the Chief Executive was working directly with the panel on

these issues. I am extremely disappointed at the publicity that

has been generated. At the behest of the two senior members of the

independent panel. If the McCartan is thinking by his version of events

says happy the issue has given a public airing and is investigating

further expenses claims made by up to 14 MLAs. They're from a number of

parties, not all, but they're relatively small in comparison but

nonetheless significant because each individual MLA has a certain amount

to spend and does seem to be a trend which is to try and circumvent the

rules and regulations which we have let down. It's no surprise to

Stormont biggest critic. One of the problems in these institutions is is

no accountability and it will get worse because this panel will be

neutered and removed. The panel still has one job to carry out

before it stands down in around a month. They will set and blaze pay,

expenses and pensions for another five years.

A grandmother has been charged with the murder of a man who died

after a gun attack in the Divis area of Belfast.

Edward Gibson was a 23-year-old father of one.

He was shot in the stomach and thigh in an alleyway

at Clonfadden Crescent in October two years ago.

In court today was 56-year-old Margaret Goodman from

She is also accused of possessing a firearm and ammunition

The funeral has taken place in Dublin of the man murdered

at the boxing weigh-in earlier this month.

It's believed David Byrne's death was part of a gangland feud

and that it led to another Dublin man being shot dead a few days later

Our Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison reports.

Crumlin in South Dublin this morning. A major Gardai security

operation in place for the first of the two gangland funerals. David

Byrne who live near here was a 33 rolled partner, father, brother and

son. Hundreds attended his funeral Mass a few miles away in the centre

of Dublin. He was murdered by at least six gunmen at a boxing weigh

in at the Regency airport hotel earlier this month. He was believed

to have been carried out by it and is of a rival criminal gang linked

to the hutch family. David Byrne was a major player in the kinetic and

drugs gang. Several members of the Spanish -based family were present.

There was also a heavy security residence at this church but no

trouble was reported despite the tension with the media kept a

distance away. The murdered man was buried this

afternoon in the presence of family and friends at the cemetery. The

funeral of Eddie hutch senior who is believed to be an shot dead in

retaliation has yet to take place. It is expected to happen on Friday

with a similar Gardai operation. A ?14 million advertising contract

with Tourism NI is the subject of legal action after a government

website froze out one A Belfast company is bringing

the case after missing a deadline. This report from our business

correspondent Julian O'Neill. Places are made and measured by the

people that live there. Liam Neeson is the voice of this 2014 tourism

advert made by the Belfast agency A.D. Brown. A contract for years of

new work worth ?40 million has been thrown into chaos. The agency has

started court proceedings against Tourism NI after it was disqualified

from the running. The problem arose last October when it was going

through a second stage of beard information which needed to be

uploaded onto the government run procurement website. A lawyer for

the agency told Belfast High Court that the government's Wes Portal

site froze as a 3pm deadline approached kneeling a figure could

not be entered into a box. It resulted in AV Brown's application

for this contract not going forward. The lawyers said the agency was

disadvantaged by using an Apple Computer as the instructions on the

tendering website were for operators of PCs. And the window system. He

argued Tourism NI could of exercise they distraction as the agency had

met the deadline in a more important first round of bidding. Several

other firms are in the running but selection has been halted. AV Brown

wants to be reinstated with the case scheduled to last two days.

Now, if you're interested in ancient treasure,

you won't want to miss a programme here on BBC One Northern Ireland

Ireland's Treasures Uncovered tells the story of some of the most iconic

Irish artefacts with some interesting narratives,

as Kevin Sharkey has been finding out.

History mythology, Christianity. The programme travels back to Ireland's

ancient past. The brooch is probably the single greatest treasure in

metalwork that survives in Ireland. It is the equivalent of the book.

And a connection to a seminal moment in Irish history. During the Easter

rising, it was literally a badge for certain rebel groups. There's also

Ireland's most famous golden treasure, found in Ulster, claimed

by Britain, deposited in Dublin. It is the Ford. It was quickly bought

by the British Museum in London. Ireland fought back. The royal Irish

academy with their advocate in Parliament William Redmond met Aiken

crusade to bring the hoard back. The key weapon was a fiery lawyer named

Edward Carson. The programme tells how shortly after the gold was

successfully repatriated to Ireland, there's a twist. Ireland was

partitioned. Leading the gold on display in Dublin and not at the

Ulster Museum in Belfast. There's also an artefact of agent

Christianity. Also located in the province of Ulster, and again last

to Ulster. Annex treasure is not in Ireland. It is in London. The

treasure is the bell. The programme brings viewers on a journey from

Christianity in Ireland to conflict. These do skin gauntlet so

beautifully made to actually worn by William Prince of Ireland. Another

lasting impression. This manuscript, the story of Ireland written in the

Irish language in the 12th century. There was no love lost

on Valentine's weekend in Paris. Now Ireland face an uphill struggle

to make it three consecutive Mathematically, Ireland

are still in with a very slim chance but, after a bruising 10-9 defeat

in the French capital, Joe Schmidt has confirmed that

Sean O'Brien is out of the next game with England because of a hamstring

injury, with Mike McCarthy, Dave Kearney and Jared

Payne all doubtful. It was a day of frustration for Rory

Best and his Ireland team-mates. Despite controlling large portions

of the game, they struggled to take advantage in the scoreboard. Against

a physical home defence. Dave Kearney and Johnny Sexton

feeling the full force of the French. Their case wasn't helped by

injuries to the influential Sean O'Brien and Mike McCarthy who

suffered concussion following this clash of heads. Sexton's penalties

had put Ireland in front for most of the game. Only for the home side 's

late try to prove the decisive score.

We have to assess how we can be better and how we can be more

clinical in those killer zones and that is a big strength of our land.

We create opportunities, especially away from home you have do take

them. We respect that level of physicality from these guys when you

play them and you the match that and we did for a large part but we lost

composure occasionally. It's an uphill battle from here. Ireland are

edged out in Paris and their six Nations titles hopes now hang by a.

Already, the depleted squad will be stretched further with a growing

casual to list. Next by a trip to Twickenham.

Cliftonville made a little bit of local football history

They won the JBE League Cup for a record fourth time in a row.

Cliftonville beat Ards 3-0 to lift the silveware in North Belfast.

And let the celebrations begin. The champagne was flowing, the ticker

tape was blowing. Why not? There was a very special occasion for

Cliftonville. Incredible. Our boys today from start to finish at the

professionalism, desire, hunger, everything. I thought we fantastic.

What a shot! What the college-macro the lead at half-time by one goal in

ill and would have been further in front but for a fine Ryan Brian

says. Despite a valiant effort in the second half, Cliftonville scored

two more. First my days, then Stephen Garrett with the goal is to

seal a record-breaking win. It's great. The final to make history,

it's great. Unbelievable achievement for the club and players. It's

brilliant. See how happy they are. It means so much. Long may it

continue. Now Cliftonville will focus on the league campaign and a

showdown with the holders Crusaders on Saturday.

Crossmaglen are out of Gaelic football's All-Ireland Club

They lost to Castlebar, the Connacht champions,

who had their most famous fan, Irish Taioseach Enda Kenny,

Defeated by a single point, it was a frustrating way

for Oisin McConville and John McEntee's side to bow out,

From the off, Crossmaglen were a step ahead of Castlebar. Jamie

Clarke was the focal point of their attack and could have given them a

significant lead in side five minutes. Despite the missed

opportunities, the Ulster champions took a comfortable lead. Somehow,

Castlebar reach the interval just three points adrift. The tide turned

in the second half, much to the frustration of the Crossmaglen

management team as the Connacht champions group books their place in

the final by a single point. Defeat hurts today because for 30 minutes

we were out playing them. We didn't take our chances and when you don't

take the chances you get punished. As far as our boys are concerned,

they can't give us more. They give is everything. On the day, it wasn't

enough. It's back to the drawing board. I hope we won't go anywhere,

we'll be back fighting again next year but next year is a long way off

right now. With a young squad, they'll be back as hungry as ever.

At just 17 years old, schoolboy Ross Hancock became

the youngest ever player for the Belfast Giants.

The sixth former from Sullivan Upper in Holywood made his debut

in the match against the Italian side Cortina on Friday night and,

in the number 21 shirt here, he even had a hand in the Giants'

It's a huge honour. Something I never expected to get. I expected it

in a couple of years. The guides are supportive and they're there if I

need anything. That helps. Nerves were there, the warm up was nervy

but I held it together. Kris Meeke was forced out

of the second rally in a row while lying in second place

in the latest World Championship But he did take away some

consolation in a rally that features Meeke made the longest ever leap

in his car, with his 43 metres Finally, Mark Allen

is through to the second round of the Welsh Open after a 4-0

win over Sam Craigy of England. We've had a dry but

chilly day so far. Here's Angie Phillips

with the latest forecast. Not a bad start the week. Lovely

sunshine today after the coldest night of the winter so far. -5.2

earlier on this morning. We have changes in the forecast once again.

A couple of wet and windy spells heading our way this week. The first

of those is tomorrow. The second one towards the end of the week. In

between, not too bad. It will be quite chilly. Not the warmest today.

With that sunshine, it was a great day for a romp along the beach.

Through the course of this evening, we will get a touch of frost

developing. Temperatures are likely to dip down to freezing. It's only

temporary cup occurs through the night we have an increasing cloud,

the breeze picks up and that will have the effect of lifting those

temperatures. Tomorrow, we have a weather front of the Atlantic.

Strengthening winds. Really from the word go tomorrow we are looking at

fairly windy conditions and eventually it will turn wet. Mainly

dry to begin with tomorrow morning, maybe some patchy rain in the West.

Further eased a deceptively bright start but the clouds will gather. By

late morning, we will see rain moving to parts of the West and it

is moving in across the whole of Ireland. Turning to snow over the

Scottish mountains as well. There is a risk of some travel disruption.

Not reading the east of Scotland until late in the day and for much

of England and Wales it is mainly dry and bright. For Northern

Ireland, come the afternoon, it is not a pretty picture. Wet and windy,

heavy and persistent bursts of rain. Not pleasant and about on the roads.

Surface water and spray. Height of a degrees, better than today parts

part it will be feeling cold in the wind and rain. That rain eventually

moves away later tomorrow night, then Wednesday and Thursday apart

from the odd win showers try a bit chilly.

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