26/02/2016 BBC Newsline

That's all from the BBC News. It's goodbye from me and

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:

The alleged former IRA chief of staff Thomas Slab Murphy

is jailed for tax evasion in the Republic.

His border farm is widely believed to have been the centre

of a multi-million pound smuggling operation for decades.

Shot through the head in front of his nine-year-old son -

police say last night's murder victim may have been killed

The former Ballykelly airbase has been bought for ?1 million,

and will initially provide 100 jobs in a business fitting

It's polling day south of the border,

as voters get to elect their new TDs.

Also on the programme this evening, a big weekend for sport.

I'm in Manchester ahead of the much anticipated showdown between Scott

went down Carl Frampton, both world champions although one will much on

the ring undefeated. I'm into it in a heads of the six Nations clash

between Ireland and England and will be hearing from Ulster and Ireland

captain this evening. And winter is almost over -

well in meteorological terms - the sun will be back for the weekend

and I'll be back too Thomas 'Slab' Murphy was jailed

today for tax evasion. He's also alleged to have been one

of the most powerful figures Following his conviction

in December, the 66-year-old from Hackballscross in County Louth

was sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Special Criminal Court

in Dublin this morning. Our first report is from our Dublin

Correspondent Shane Harrison. He walked into court this morning,

but Thomas Slab Murphy would later leave in a prison van. He evaded tax

upon his cattle dealings between 1996 and 2004. Even though he

received state grants. When officers from the criminal assets bureau

raided his family farm right on the border in 2006, they found cash and

cheques hidden in Black plastic bags covered by Hay. Over 250,000 euros,

over ?110,000, and cheques and drafts totalling over 670,000 euros.

A detective had told the court the bureau estimated Murphy's tax bill

to be over 5.3 million euros with the farming income upon which he was

tried coming to nearly 190,000 euros, when interest and penalties

were added. In adding up to the centres, the court to begin a number

of factors including his age and lack of previous convictions. But

the three judges also noted there have been a lot of media coverage

about his alleged past, which they said would have had just a jury.

That, they said, was not a matter for them and so was not taken into

account. Shortly after his sentencing, a statement was issued

on Murphy's by half in which he maintained his innocence and said he

would appeal the verdict. Chatting to two journalists in court while

waiting for proceedings to begin, Murphy was asked weather he would

consider writing a book about his experiences. He replied, sure, you

have it already written. After that, he had said that he had never been

in prison before. The criminal assets bureau has described the

outcome as good not in any way politically motivated. The bureau as

I said has established independently, it conducts its

independent business in that particular way,

Times after they claimed he was a IRA leader who directed a bombing

campaign in written and directed weapons from Libya. He lost the case

and also lost an appeal eight years later. The entire British -- the

retired British armour Colonel surged many tours in Ireland. He

recently told the BBC brass Spotlight programme that he had no

doubt that Murphy was a senior member of the IRA. He said his role

as an intelligence officer gave him act access to information about the

IRA figures operating in south Armagh. He was asked if Thomas Slab

Murphy was on the list. Thomas Murphy was one of the main people on

that list were in fact he was as we understood it, he was the head of

the provisional IRA in south Armagh. For years, is the police and

security services have said Murphy was a leading member of the IRA as

well as the head of a huge smuggling operation. In 2004, the BBC named

him as a wealthy smuggler in the UK. They guarantee amassed up to ?40

million through smuggling oil, cigarettes, and pigs. He has never

been convicted for any events links to the IRA but now has a criminal

conviction for failing to pay on almost 190,000 euros in taxes and

interest. Thomas Slab Murphy's conviction marks the culmination of

years of work by law enforcement agencies on both sides of the

border. He used to be viewed as untouchable until now.

The police believe the murder of a man in Belfast last night

28-year-old Stephen Carson was shot through a door in his house

His partner and nine-year-old son, who were with him, are said to be

severely traumatised by what happened.

It was a quiet family meal that ended in murder. Stephen Carson was

at home with his son and partner when a gang of men carrying hammers

and a shotgun forced their way in stop as he ran to the bathroom, he

was shot through the door in the head. In front of the terrified

nine-year-old boy. Police say his family have been left traumatised.

They believe he was killed as part of a criminal feud. He had

previously involved in drugs and other criminal activity and had a

conviction for robbery. This is a cold-blooded and brutal murder, and

those aren't just convenient labels to describe it with, that is an

honest opinion about the horrific events taking place last night.

Police are also investigating a possible link to the murder of

Ciaran McManus, seen here on CCTV, in west Belfast. The pizza delivery

driver was shot dead an Kennedy Way in 2013. Stephen Carson had only

recently moved to Walmer Street, but today the community there was chocs

to wake up to and a murder investigation led doorstep. I can't

believe it. I know most of the vote down the bottom half of the straight

and I as I have heard there was a new resident just moved into the

house and it is disgusting. He had just moved in, and that to happen to

the family... It's disgraceful. Earlier today, a house on Sunnyside

Street just yards from the murder scene was searched by armed police.

No arrests were made and the PSNI say their investigations continue.

Police say Stephen Carson was known to them, and he had only recently

left prison. Setting up home here in south Belfast, they say yet hopes to

Still to come on the programme: has now come to a violent end.

As the largest teachers union here holds its annual conference,

all five teaching unions say the offer of a 1% pay rise

from the Education Department is an 'insult'.

A man has died following a road crash in County Down.

It happened between Kilkeel and Rostrevor on Killowen Road

at around half past six this morning.

Two other men were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries

A man stabbed following a row with the driver of a car

in Craigavon is in a critical condition in hospital.

The pedestrian was attacked in Clanrolla Park last night.

A 26-year-old man's been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Northern Ireland's second biggest energy supplier,

SSE Airtricity, is to cut bills by more than 10%,

saving its gas and electricity customers an average

Gas tariffs will reduce from April with electricity following in June.

The company has more than 300,000 domestic and small

There are big plans for the former Shackleton military

A Newry firm has bought the site for ?1 million,

and will initially use it to fit out private planes.

It aims to create 100 jobs and has ambitious plans

which could see those employment numbers grow dramatically.

Here's our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

It has the potential to transform the economic fortunes of the

north-west. The vast 621 acre site which was the former Shackleton army

base. It was transferred to the Executive from the MoD and over the

past seven years, several different proposals were put forward to

develop the site. It has now been bought by the Newry based MJ M group

for ?1 million. They currently specialise in the refurbishment of

ships and yachts. It has just begun another job fitting out luxury rail

carriages. In now intend to use the new base to fit out private jets. It

was ideally suited because it was a military base during the war with a

runway and hang-up. It is prebuilt. The hangar is there, the runway is

there, obviously with a huge investment and the group has planned

in the year is going forward of the massive investment in the area, we

will create a lot of jobs. With the Department of agriculture due to

transfer its headquarters to the site, eventually bringing around 600

jobs, it's a timely boost. MJM is a family with huge ambition, and they

have spelt hundred million pounds on the development of a site. They

believe they can create new jobs. It's a great story. This is welcome

news of the recent devastating job losses in manufacturing, but the

development of the site, over over 600 acres, will take time and

patience. We get a preview of a BBC

Northern Ireland programme which follows one of the Vietnamese

refugees who came here in the 1970s "An insult" and "derisory" -

that's how the teaching unions have described the offer of a 1% pay rise

from the Department for Education. The NASUWT, which is one

of the largest, begins its annual Our Education Correspondent

Robbie Meredith has been This is the result where the

education minister will be speaking to teachers who are members of the

NASUWT union the scene opening. It is likely to be his last few months

in office and I suspect he will have wanted to talk about the time on the

job but instead he is likely to face some questions about teachers pay.

Justin Campbell from the NASUWT, teaching unions have rejected a 1%

pay rise was what do you want? We want a pay increase that match the

axis inflation. Give me a figure? If it's not 1%, how Heidi wanted to be?

Get a macro if you look back over the six years, teachers pay has

fallen behind inflation by at least 13 percent. We aren't going to

address how much we once now, but we want to know whether we can get

teachers pay back to where it was six years ago. But 13%, if you're

going to rise anywhere near that, as three quarters of the school budget,

more than that perhaps it's all spent on teachers pay, schools

should perhaps cut back on other things, services will fall. Talking

about this like this is in the best way to do it. Talking about a

number, we need to follow inflation. Strikes are an option. We are

looking at escalating action, and I'm sure delegates here and tomorrow

will want to talk about the possible strikes. They give very much. The

education Minister might have an interesting evening here this

evening when he faces teachers. If it isn't sorted out before the

election then whoever succeeds John O'Dowd is going to have a really big

problem to do with in his intro. Our education correspondent

Robbie Meredith Voters in the Republic have been

going to the polls to elect 158 Polling stations across

40 constituencies Our political editor

Mark Devenport is in Dublin. Well, Donna, it's been described

here as brisk with many places reporting turnouts of above 3040%.

Even before the traditional tea-time rush got underway. Political leaders

of course but there vote in the ballot boxes early this morning to

stop Michael Higgins, the Irish president has with accompanied by

his wife. The Taoiseach voted, the Fianna Fail leader cast his vote

with his family, down in Cork, whilst Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams cast

his vote in Ravensdale near the border with County Louth. In Dublin

on Wednesday, I was told no party would have a clear overall majority.

If that still the case? 'S absolutely. It would be a great

surprise if anybody came out with a majority because this country has

been ruled by a series of coalition is now for a series of decades, so

we aren't really expecting anybody to get an overall majority, instead

with lengthy counts over the course of the weekend and even with the

results in that won't be the end of it because that will then be a

lengthy process negotiation where parties try to establish coalitions,

or whether one party formed a minority government and some

commentators aren't ruling out the possibility of calling on the voters

at some points to do it all over again. If there is no overall

outcome. A long weekend ahead. For now, Mark, thank you. We have

coverage on BBC newsline tomorrow evening with an extended Sunday

politics programme live from Dublin beginning at the earlier time of

11am here on BBC One. Bringing refugees from war torn

countries to Northern Ireland is not In the 1970s, they came from Vietnam

to escape hardship. One tiny lone refugee is the subject

of the BBC series True North As Maggie Taggart reports

the programme charts his quest Sadly seen, sadly familiar. The

horrors of Vietnam. In 1975, the war in it now was leaving children

without parents and in danger. North Vietnamese troops were making their

way south to Saigon, being about to take over by the Communists. The

plight of the children inspired the Daily Mail to organise an

evacuation, and among the 100 was advanced McEldowney. He ended up

adopted by a family in Lurgan, and has no memory and little information

about his birth and stop 41. 42. The majority of people will be able to

pin but every spot in this year at this time, and I can't even pinpoint

let alone a time but a year. We have no birth certificate, we have no

name. To have nothing like that must be pretty hard. Barnes had a settled

childhood but a trouble as lessons, and freely admits he has

relationship problems. I feel I'm not an absent myself here. I need to

go back to Vietnam for the first time to know what is like to be

Vietnamese, a probabilities person. The programme, a place to call home,

followed advance from Lurgan to Vietnam using little real evidence

to find his home and perhaps as blood relevance. Relatives. This is

the only funny I have of me in Vietnam. Tracker photo I have. The

search took him to the orphanage where his journey started. You can

see the result on BBC One at 1045 on Monday evening.

It's Super Saturday for many sports fans tomorrow.

Ireland play England in the Six Nations Rugby

championship tomorrow - and following that it's

The weigh-in for the much anticipated world superbantamweight

world title showdown fight took place today.

The IBF and WBA champions both made weight but there is still plenty

of tension between the two fighters' camps.

There's no love lost between these two camps. Even before taking to the

stage, their security staff clashed briefly. And as Carl Frampton

prepared the way in, both backroom team got involved once more. I'm

pretty confident that Shane was within half a second of chaining

him, I'm telling you, that's how it annoyed he was, but he backed off.

Then what he was doing. This is typical of brig frights. Big fights.

They are all trying to get a little edge and tragic people riled. Scott,

that wasn't a normal way in. No, I enjoyed it, I'm ready. I'm in a

fighting mood. It's been edgy guitar work through, how do you separate

yourself from that? I wanted it for so long, I can't get too excited and

to involve, I need to keep my head clear and level-headed, sit back and

relax and smile and wait till it's right time-limit showdown. What

about the reaction for a way in? I can believe it. Half of them have

even flown in. A lot more are arriving on Saturday morning a lot

more arriving today. It's unbelievable. The invasion is here.

He is going to be in for a shock. Tomorrow could change your life. It

will change my life. This is not a big things, massive things, and

after we get rid of Scott Quigg it will snowball, I will take off, and

we will see that the Maronites. The stage is almost set. Ahead of the

most eagerly awaited contest for a while. Thousands of fan will pack

the arena and all eyes will be on the ring for a career defining night

between Brandon and quick. Frampton and Quigg.

Before the boxing, the rugby heavyweights go head to head

Ireland take on England at Twickenham,

looking for their first win of the campaign under their new captain.

In the middle of it all, for a 92nd time tomorrow, will be Rory Best.

His two predecessors have lifted the six Nations. Slim aspirations of

raising a trophy may disappear. It will be a big day for Rory, but

that's bigger for one of the island 's debut dons. Pressure, nerves, he

isn't really bothered. The thing you get with youth and a little bit of

inexperienced is that they have no fears, they go out and play and just

wants to play, they want the ball, they want to make tackles, and that

can be very much infectious. If they can be wearing in Ireland shirt for

now turn or 12 years, if they take their hand up and grab it, and that

is their opportunity, that's a great challenge for them. Rarely does a

sporting occasion between Ireland and England need more hype. That is

exactly what is received. Jonny Sexton is due to be targeted

apparently. He says he is frustrated by questions of his fitness. Even

the Ireland coach this day many people think they are doctors. We

have to look after our own stuff. We have to make sure that we are close

to perfect as we can become because that is where we need to be against

England. Everything else about the rugby for us is a sideshow that we

don't want to get involved in. We know about Johnny is that is a key

player and a quality player for us. For Ireland to win they will need

Sexton on top form to carry them home.

Last season, Jonathan Rea became Northern Irelands first motorcycling

Tomorrow he starts the defence of his World Superbike crown

in Australia with the opening race of the campaign.

Yes, it's where all my motivation is, I tried to back it up as well

because there hasn't been too many successful title defences in the

2000 is, really, so I'm under no illusions how difficult it will be,

but we have... I have the best guys around me, and incredible

motorcycle, so I just need to do my bit and hopefully we can these same

type of results. Gaelic football, and Derry manager

Damian Barton has been given an eight-week ban as a result

of his involvement in an on-field The ban was handed out

by the Ulster Council earlier this month but news of it only

emerged this morning. Barton was sent off

during the game in January. Rory McIlroy looks unlikely to make

the cut in Florida after a second round left him four over par,

although Graeme McDowell on level par is safe.

Cecilia Daly has the weather forecast.

I've still got a croaky throat. I'm getting there, yes. Just a few days

of February left, much officially starting spring in weather turns

that is stop and just in figures from the Met Office saying this

winter is the wettest on record for Northern Ireland, those records

going back over 100 years, 21910, and not a big surprise for lots

families. Farmers. This area of low pressure will move away with the

rain, looking at mostly dry weather for the weekend although it will be

mostly cold and some sharp frost around on Saturday night. Despite

the lack of sunshine we still have some is pretty decent pictures from

weather were weather watchers here of the Copeland Reservoir. A little

bit of rain still watching in the west, and was the night looks

largely drive. Some breaks in the cloud mean that temperatures in some

areas may drop to around freezing and maybe just below was up a touch

of eyes and frost may be an first thing on Saturday. Brighter than

today as well. Good news for park runs tomorrow morning, no worries

with the weather, sunshine around will stop if you're heading to the

shops around lunchtime before the big match kicks off later in the

day, it will be largely dry, temperatures around 6 degrees, not

too breezy, bits of cloud, bits of sun. A reasonably cheery day. Just

possible later on in the afternoon the cloud will thicken up to bring

one or two light showers over parts of the manor and southbound as well.

They will move away tomorrow evening, tomorrow night 's

temperatures will fall quickly. Lots of blue on the map tomorrow night, a

fairly widespread frost away from the east coast, and quite sharp in

places too on Sunday morning. Remaining very frosty first thing on

Sunday but there will be lots of Lansley went to -- lots of lovely

winter sunshine. Temperatures tomorrow mean you wrap up warm.

Sunday nine the rain comes in so for the last day of February it will be

pretty wet but with that rain, eventually we will seek temperatures

back in double figures on Tuesday. Our late summary

is at half past ten. You can also keep in contact with us

via Facebook and twitter.