08/03/2016 BBC Newsline

That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me,

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline: Parents' anger over a big

cut in nursery hours for children at special schools: Sadness

They need to give these children who need it the most a chance.

Sadness in Londonderry at the closure of one of Europe's

One home destroyed and six others damaged in a deliberate fire

A top Northern Ireland businessman wants the UK to leave

Executive of Sunderland football club is forced to

milder weather en route for the end of the week.

The Education Authority is to review a decision to reduce the number

of hours for children in nurseries in special schools.

The move is due to come into effect in September.

We'll hear from the Education Minister John O'Dowd shortly,

but first our education correspondent Robbie Meredith has

been finding out what impact the cut is likely to have.

It is home times for these nursery pupils at this special school in

Dundonald, but they are leaving school long before midday and much

earlier than their teacher once. All of our pupils are in nappies and

require intimate care. Being able to train men to use the toilet is not

feasible in a 2.5 hour programme. That has had to be put on hold. The

other programme like feeding programmes but children are not hear

for lunch time so we are not able to help with feeding skills. The

schools already have to cut hours from 4.5 22.5 hours a day and now

all special schools face that in terms of this strategy. Children

like ours to attend our nursery group have complex needs. They need

intensive support from an early age. They need that to be connected up

and they need a longer time at school to help us to do that. Staff

year and at other schools are concerned they will not have the

time to deliver the specialist help these vulnerable children need. To

-- parents are also worried. This period has a three-year-old son who

is due to start nursery in September. These children need more

help, not less help. They need more help in every aspect, in relation to

feeding, everyday activities that we take for granted. These children

might have learning difficulties but they can learn, it just takes them a

bit longer. A possible breakthrough this afternoon. The Education

Minister wants the strategy reviewed. This period and many

others hope this means a total rethink. -- this mother.

The Education Minister John O'Dowd joins me now from Stormont.

You have asked for a review of the decision, why not a reversal? They

have to come forward with a decisive position in relation to the future

of special needs education in the nursery sector. Their current

decision is flawed. The made the decision based on a learning to

learn policy which is not based on special needs. We have made the

decision without consultation. It is important to consult with schools,

parents and pupils about the future of education in the special-needs

sector. As Minister, Wendy June -- learn about this decision? I learned

about the decision on a BBC programme this morning. Is that not

unacceptable that you were not informed by the education authority

about something like this? It is not acceptable, I will raise that with

them but the most important issue is to make sure we make correct

decisions around special-needs education. I have said this decision

is flawed, they need to go back to the drawing room. This is not the

first cut that the education authority has implemented, do you

have confidence in their decision-making? Like all sectors of

political service, they are facing constraints. This decision has

direct financial consequences. They seem to have misinterpreted the

learning to learn policy... But they are operating under a budget you

have given them so who is responsible for the cuts, education

authority or you as Minister? I am operating out of a budget which is

given to me by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer so if

you want to follow that, we have to back to the Conservative Party. What

I am hear to talk about proper services and facilities are in place

for our own society. We are sending the authority back to the drawing

board to restart this process so is we can come to the proper decision

to fit the needs of those children. You say you have asked for a review,

had he set a time frame for this review? -- have you. I understand

the board will be meeting this month and there has to be eight weeks

consultation regarding any proposal. I would like to say the education

authority carry out an internal review based on the correct policies

and then go out and consult with the sector to find out what the teachers

and the parents and pupils think. Then come forward with a proposal

based on that information. It will shock people to know there has not

been that consultation already, you say it was a flawed decision so how

Kimi have confidence in that review and that the ultimate decision will

be the right one for vulnerable children? The reason I have sent

this back to the authority is because of the reasons I have

outlined and I can understand why people would be shocked. I am

disappointed that we have reached this point. The education authority

has to learn from this and make sure the consult with the relevant

people. Can you ensure that this will be settled before you leave

office? I do not think it will be settled before I leave office.

Whoever the minister is next time, he will want to make sure the proper

decision is made and protect vulnerable people in society and

that the education authorities has followed the proper procedures.

Regardless who is imposed, I believe the education authority has now

received a clear message that this has to be carried out properly. We

will await with interest. Thank you. The Arlene Arkinson inquest has been

told that the man suspected of killing the Tyrone schoolgirl

once boasted to workmates Statements given to the police

about Robert Howard He told co-workers that he knew how

to dispose of a body The fifteen year old's body has

never been found. She disappeared in 1994

after a night out in County Donegal. The Public Prosecution Service says

it has decided not to prosecute a soldier who killed an unarmed

teenage boy in Londonderry in 1972. 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty was shot

twice in the head during an army operation to clear no-go

areas in the city. An inquest in 2011 found

that the teenager posed no risk and dismissed claims that soldiers

had shouted warnings before firing. After a review of the evidence

the public prosecution service said today there is no reasonable

prospect of proving that the soldier did not act in self -defence

believing that he was The soldier genuinely believed he

was going to come under attack and they have to respect that decision.

It is important to recognise that the victims were completely innocent

and did not pose a threat but we have to assess the circumstances in

the light of what the soldier did believe.

One of Europe's oldest department stores, Austins in Londonderry,

has closed with the loss of more than fifty jobs.

The store did not open for business this morning.

Staff were called to a meeting and told that the company had been

Here's our north-west reporter, Keiron Tourish.

It is one of Europe's oldest department stores but today

It is an institution in the city which was first opened

But the business has now gone into liquidation with the loss of 53

jobs across a range of home furnishings,

It is understood that staff received a letter saying the company had gone

into liquidation. The liquidator has been meeting members of staff to

discuss their next move. In some cases it was a big shock. Some of

the others had been aware of difficulties. It did not, is that

much of a shock but for all of them, Austins was very much like a family.

They are treating it in many ways like a bereavement. Austins had been

under pressure for a number of years. Traditional department stores

right across the UK in the retail sector have been struggling. The

sector has had to remodel itself to meet the needs of the modern retail

offering so it has not come as a surprise.

That is a shame, it is a good shop. It is a local shop. Austins has been

your lifetime, everybody knows it. It will be devastating. People

working in the will have young families and mortgages. It is just

to ensure they receive all the support they need

A woman and her daughter have been rescued from a house fire in south

A bungalow in the Belvoir estate was destroyed and six

The Police are treating the fire as arson.

That's what the residents of Kirkistown Walk

woke up to after wheelie bins were set alight beside an oil tank

Alwyn Crawford lost 24 pigeons in the blaze.

I have a bad back and a bad heart. It is just relaxing for you to the

the alarm just before five years. round and try and

But it was too late to save the family's much loved

It is a tragedy what has happened. They were part of the family.

Another elderly resident had just replaced his garden after a wheelie

bin fire at his property destroyed at last October.

This morning he lost his new mobility

I have lost everything but I still think we are the lucky ones because

those bungalows are completely unlovable now.

It is sick to target pensioners. We would like to find out who is

responsible. But the damage done means these

residents cannot return Despite what they have been through,

they agree it could have Coming up, the 15-year-old who is in

touch for a place at the real Olympics.

The founder of one of Northern Ireland's most successful

manufacturing companies hopes the UK votes to leave the European Union

William Wright is the first prominent local businessman

to endorse what's being called a Brexit.

Our business correspondent Julian O'Neill has more details.

William Wright makes fewer headlines than his buses.

Only seldomly does he step into the limelight, like during this

But today he was front-page news, becoming the first major business

figure to openly endorse a UK withdrawal from the EU,

They are major employer. For this organisation and the chief Executive

to come out and Neil his colours to the mast and say this to his

employers -- employees, it is a very powerful statement.

but Wrightbus is a global business, selling much more

into markets like the Far East than Europe.

Speaking to the Ballymena Guardian, Mr Wright said, the bureaucracy

of Europe is not conducive to the UK's

Others are less certain a so-called Brexit would be a positive step.

One business leader today quoted research suggesting an out vote

could take the edge of corporation tax production.

We need economic stability in which to grow. We need market access and

we need to take advantage of corporation tax which is a

fundamental opportunity for Northern Ireland, the greatest opportunity in

Northern Ireland has had for a long time. Other major employers have

recently been speaking in favour of the UK maintaining its membership of

the year. But we've can in northern Ireland has lacked a high-profile

supporter in big business on at least one prepared to say so

publicly, until now. -- at the leave camp.

The political parties are considering what tactics

will deliver them the best result in the Assembly election.

In the general election last year, several news stories came out

But the DUP leader has said the party aren't going

Our political correspondent Chris Page has been asking

what place hustings have in modern politics.

Election campaigns have changed since the 1970s but a lot of

politicians would still say you cannot beat shaking as many hands as

possible. A smartphone generation has brought a different edge to

campaigning, hustings events. Jim Wells made controversial comments

about same-sex marriages last year but denies he did anything wrong and

says he will not take part in hustings now. His priority will be

canvassing, not hustings. Hustings are very specialised events. We want

to talk to people on a one-to-one basis and that is my plan. Are you

ruling out hustings events? That is not where our focus is going to be.

It will be on engaging with individuals, on the street or at

their doorstep. Hustings produced several news stories in the run-up

to the general election. One candidate made remarks about

homosexuals which many in the audience found offensive. Do

hustings generate more heat than light? You can get audiences which

can be a bit lopsided. If you are coming at it from one perspective,

it is a major turn-off for politicians when you could be

knocking on doors to get undecided voters. Other politicians relish

hustings. People ask genuine questions and they want the answers.

Various groupings from my constituency in particular I

attended. There are questions which need answers and you do your best to

answer. Sometimes things could get heated but that is what politics is

about, if you cannot stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Politicians

may differ in how they deploy resources at the have the same aim,

to get as many MLAs returned hear in me. -- hear in the month of May.

Margaret Byrne, Sunderland football club's chief Executive,

resigned today in the wake of the sex scandal involving one

of the premiership side's players, Adam Johnston.

The County Armagh born woman, who last year was awarded

the honorary degree by the Ulster University

in recognition of her services to sport and business,

issued a statement admitting she'd made a 'serious mistake' in allowing

Adam Johnston to continue to represent the club.

Earlier I spoke to Olly Foster, BBC Sports correspondent

and asked him first if the announcement was a surprise.

She admitted in her statement that last year she was privy to

information that Adam Johnston did kiss the victim and communicate with

her although he said to her he was going to defend himself against

those charges and plead not guilty. She said the legal process would

take its She said the legal process would

was the right thing to do, to let him play on and he was innocent

until proven guilty. Today she has accepted that was a serious mistake,

realising the damage that dead to accepted that was a serious mistake,

the reputation of this club and to the victim. She was distraught to

see Adam Johnston, with charges the victim. She was distraught to

against him, play against -- play in his club. Was Margaret Byrne popular

in Sunderland? She was young women, in her 30s, she was credited with a

lot of what the club has done right of few years, landing good deals for

sponsorship. She has had some difficult times with how she dealt

with Paolo Di Canio when accused of making fascist

statements, that was a tricky period for her but she came through that

and was felt to be a good thing for this club. But with these serious

errors in dealing with the most serious incident

errors in dealing with the most deal with, the Adam Johnston case,

errors in dealing with the most she has paid the price and also

promised -- apologise seriously for any distress she may have caused to

the victim. David Jeffrey is the new manager

of Ballymena United. He'll take his first training

session at the showgrounds tonight - and there for BBC Newsline

is Thomas Niblock. That first session starts in 20

minutes. Welcome to Ballymena United, the brand-new manager,

congratulations on the appointment. Why come back? That is

congratulations on the appointment. question because I had not planned

to. I was not looking for an appointment. Why would I come back?

I was contacted by Ballymena United, John Taggert, their chairman and we

had several discussions and then I thought, why not? It was a fresh

challenge, a different type of challenge. Then I had to be very

clear with myself, was I in for that challenge? Would I be motivated? I

concluded that I would be doing it. Over 30 trophies in your career, you

are taking over a club which is just five points above relegation, is

that a different pressure? It is a different type of pressure and

challenge. A lot of time, the greatest pressure came from myself

and the situations you find yourself in. I am not used to this situation

but it is all about winning games of football, players giving their best,

people striving to be the best they can be so that is not a lot of

change. At some stage as manager, you will have to play midfield where

you wear as a manager -- as a player? When I said I was stopping

down -- stepping down, I was in stepping down from football. I

played as a boy. But now I am the manager of Ballymena United and that

is who I represent and the will be getting my best. Your first game you

will be playing the leading team, the Crusaders. Yes, the most

impressive team in the country without a shadow of a doubt. I have

watched them several times this year. They are extremely good. They

have an outstanding manager so it will be tough but a nice challenge

to begin with. We wish you all the best. Thank you. Back to you in the

studio. A teenage swimming star

Conor Ferguson will be sitting his GCSEs at

Belfast Royal Academy in a few months' time but while his friends

will then be enjoying their summer holidays, Conor only has one

destination in mind - The pain at the end of competition

which saw the young swimmer break eight Irish records at miss out on

the Olympic qualifying time by just three tenths of a second. Not all is

lost, he will get and other opportunity to further his dream and

the Irish Championships at the end of April. Maybe if I had gone a bit

quicker, I would have got it but it is done, you cannot dwell in the

past. I know what I have to do now. is done, you cannot dwell in the

I will be training towards it. I did not expect to go that fast so it is

a good indication, it shows the process is working. I will be

interested to the why can do in a couple of months at the nationals. I

have to work really hard for the next couple of weeks for the

nationals and C what happens. Ferguson has a radio show and he has

the right temperament for the big occasion, winning medals. Tokyo 2020

was the target but now he appears to be format years ahead of schedule.

It has been a big year. I didn't expect it to go that fast. 2016 is

now a more realistic goal. I am going to train so hard in the next

couple of weeks. I have to trust the process and if that happens it

happens, if it doesn't, it is not meant to be. If he makes it, he will

become one of Northern Ireland's youngest ever Olympians.

The weather forecast is next with Cecilia Daly.

We have rain coming in. Still drive for an hour so. A few heavy bursts,

perhaps even sleet or snow on higher ground. That is towards the end of

the night because cold air will be hiding in behind that from the

north-west. By the time most people are up tomorrow, most of the rain

will be gone and a chilly winds will be mounting from the north-west. It

will help move that Greenaway quickly. A little dampness over

County Down first thing. -- that rain away. Temperatures could be low

enough in 12 sports, especially in the West and it will be chilly in

the breeze. Not too much weight weather tomorrow. Keep out of the

wind and you should enjoy some marts warned. Temperatures up to 9

degrees. A lot of dry weather and perhaps even dry enough to put the

washing out on the line. It will stay dry tomorrow night. Breaks in

the cloud. Temperatures will fall a couple of degrees but more cloud

comes in towards morning. That is the start of the milder weather

coming our way from Thursday onwards. Temperatures will gradually

rise towards the end of the week. Yellow is on the map. We will reach

the lower or mid teens by the end of the week. Wet tonight, bright

tomorrow with a chilly wind and eventually milder air arrives on

Thursday and worse. Some sunshine in the east but it will be cloudy with

dampness moving and later in the day, temperatures up to nine or 10

degrees. No frost on Thursday night. Quite a rainy day on Friday with

temperatures of 11 degrees. Mostly drive for the weekend with

temperatures at least reaching 12 or 13 degrees. Spring is he!

Our late summary is at half past ten.

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