15/03/2016 BBC Newsline

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:

The prison officer injured in a dissident republican bomb

He was always active, making Northern Ireland a better place and

it is a tragedy we lost him so young.

Sixth form pupils walk out of a West Belfast school

because of concerns about their education.

The scale of a Dublin crime gang's global

drugs empire is revealed, including plans to buy

This is the Hotel where Northern Ireland's team will be staying

during the Euros. How children are helping

to introduce salmon into a river A great day for the Irish

on Day One at Cheltenham - especially jockey Ruby Walsh

with a hat-trick of victories. And after another stunning day

with temperatures in the low teens, find out if the sunshine

is here to stay. Adrian Ismay, the prison officer

whose van was blown up by dissident The 52-year-old had been recovering

but was re-admitted It's unclear whether his death

is related to injuries he sustained It also emerged today that some

dissident republican inmates in Maghaberry Prison celebrated

in front of prison officers Our home affairs correspondent,

Vincent Kearney, reports. Police believe these cars were used

by dissident republicans who put the bomb under Adrian Ismay's van. Yards

from his home today, floral tributes were placed in memory of a man who

was a prison officer for 28 years. It was here that the bomb exploded

as he drove to work 11 days ago. He was said to have escaped death

because the device was dislodged as he drove over his bum. He was

released from hospital a few days later. His death has come as a shock

to family and friends. -- over speed bumps. His injuries were described

as neither life-threatening or life changing and he was expected to make

a full recovery. It is understood he suffered a heart attack this

morning. He was taken to hospital where he suffered a further seizure

and died a short time later. It has not established whether his death

was a direct result of the injuries he suffered in the bomb attack.

There will be a postmortem, investigations will be ongoing.

We shouldn't lose sight of this human tragedy,

the deep grief and sadness that has been visited on this family,

yet another family unnecessarily traumatised and grief

brought to bear on them as a result of people using violence in this way

One man has a ready appeared in court charged with the attempted

murder of the prison officer. The officer leading the investigation

today released CCTV footage and photos of two cars believed to be

used by those least thing carried out the attack. I am keen to hear

from anyone who may have information about a red Citroen C three which I

believe was used by those planting the device around 2:30am on Friday

4th of March. The second vehicle has a silver Skoda. It is my

understanding that a male was dropped off by this vehicle in the

pilot Street vehicle of El fast, in the docks area, around 3am on Friday

4th of March and I am appealing for anybody who saw this or nosed the

edited the of the mail to come forward. The Justice Minister spoke

of his shock at news of the death. We thought he was making a recovery,

he actually went to Hydebank to meet the most recent group of recruits

passing out on Friday and today our thoughts and prayers are with his

family and friends. Prison sources say some Republicans in Maghaberry

celebrated his death and taunted cards by smoking cigarettes in the

exercise wing of the prison. The Prime Minister, David Cameron,

has said he is deeply saddened There's been reaction too

from the other side of the Atlantic, where the First and Deputy First

Ministers have been attending St Patrick's week events

during a trip designed to boost Our Business and Economics Editor,

John Campbell, This morning I was at the Northern

Ireland Euro St Patrick's breakfast, an annual event where politicians

and leaders come to gathered to renew links made in Washington, and

it was as guests arrived that news of this tragic death began to fall

so through. This trip was all about the new

Northern Ireland, the promotion of a forward-looking investment location

but then a dark echo of the past. The First Minister said she had been

texting Adrian Ismay, wishing him a speedy recovery. His wife and family

have my deepest sympathy and condolences. I had been in touch

with him after his trauma and he had indicated he was doing well and it

is so sad to hear this morning he has passed away. There is nothing

but determination on our part to move forward. The Deputy First

Minister said those who attacked Mr Ismay was not stop political

progress. This symbolism of the Chief Constable and Arlene and

myself standing together in solidarity with the family, with all

those who support peace, sent a clear message to those who were

still committed to violence that it is absolutely futile. Almost all the

local party leaders have travelled to Washington for St Patrick's day

events and all were shocked and dismayed by news of the prison

officer's death. I remember being there 20 years ago when Rosemary

Nelson, this list was Brown up and murdered, and that took the edge off

what was happening and that has taken the edge off this trip -- the

solicitor, was blown up. The idea these people are fighting the

British state is a nonsense, they are fighting the people of Ireland

and that is a battle they will never win. The Secretary of State added to

the chorus of condemnation. I am shocked and saddened to hear the

news, Adrian Ismay had a long and distinguished career of service and

my thoughts are with his family at this sad time. The First and Deputy

First Ministers seem determined that the purpose of their visit will not

be derailed. They are due to have meetings at the White House this

evening though they would have hoped for those to be happening in

different circumstances. This trip will continue. The First and Deputy

First Ministers are due to meet Barack Obama this evening. Martin

McGuinness will remain in Washington for a series of events while Arlene

Foster will fly to Silicon Valley for meetings with investors.

Still to come before 7pm: A look back at the highs and lows

of the Assembly as it meets for the final time

To Dublin now, and a gangland feud has left the authorities in the city

Garda investigations into last month's shootings are ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau is targeting

the financial activities of a Spanish-based Irish crime gang.

Tonight, Spotlight will reveal new evidence about the Kinahan drugs

cartel run by an Irish gang that stretches across the globe.

The recent spate of gangland killings in Dublin has focussed

attention on the Kinahan cartel - a drugs trafficking operation based

on the Costa Del Sol set up by this man, Christopher Kinahan,

and now widely reported to be run by

Tonight's Spotlight programme reveals for the first time files

from a Spanish police investigation into the cartel.

The documents reveal a vast network of properties,

businesses, and bank accounts around the world,

all of which are considered by Spanish police to be a network

used to traffic drugs and launder the proceeds.

The files also contain transcripts of recorded phone conversations

in which members of the gang discuss taking delivery of guns.

The files also reveal how the cartel became so wealthy,

they were able to invest heavily in their global

It says that at one point the cartel considered

And on tonight's programme, at a meeting with Spotlight

in Spain, representatives of the Kinahan gang,

for the first time, issue a public statement about

The statement will be shown in full in tonight's edition of Spotlight.

And you can see that Spotlight programme on BBC One this evening

Around 50 sixth-form pupils walked out of De La Salle school

in West Belfast this morning in protest at the number of teachers

The BBC understands that over a third of the teaching staff

in the school are off for a second day in a row.

It's alleged that there have been delays in the implementation

of an action plan to address some of the problems in the school.

Our education correspondent Robbie Meredith reports.

An extraordinary sight in the middle of a school day -

sixth-formers leaving their own school due to concerns

There's not enough teachers in to cover classes

and it's affecting everyone in the class as we are all

falling behind, it's not just some, it's everyone

I'm studying three A-levels, I have substitutes in place and I'm

grateful there is someone teaching me but at the same

time there is not the emotional connection and a friendly connection

as there was with the original teachers.

Earlier around 20 parents had also gathered at the school gates.

My son is doing the as part of his coursework and they are not getting

to do a lot of PE. Yesterday that the whole was cordoned off and the

boys had to go to study hall. He needs the two grades to get

into Queens, so I am very concerned and at one point

he was talking about dropping out I understand at least 24 teachers

out of a full-time teaching staff of around 70 were

absent again today. Two parents did go in for a meeting

with the principal. I asked if this situation would be

resolved any time soon and she didn't say

yes or no, and I said this was nearly a year and I don't

feel it will be resolved I have been into the school briefly

this morning, but no-one A member of staff did tell me

the school was fully functioning. But given the high levels of staff

absence and the walk-out by some pupils, it's hard to see how

there can't be some disruption. The pupils later returned to school,

but there's no sign that the ongoing industrial problems will be

resolved so quickly. The INTO union said it would ballot

its teachers for further industrial action.

And a short time ago, the Education Minister,

John O'Dowd, has said he's concerned about what's happening

He told the BBC that the stand-off needs to be resolved quickly

as the quality of education is being impacted.

He said he's keeping the situation under review but only the board

of governors and CCMS have the power to act.

Northern Ireland have made one of their most important selection

decisions ahead of this summer's European Championships -

They've chosen a luxury four-star chateau, Le Chateau de Pizay.

With all the travelling the Northern Ireland team will do, it makes sense

for them to choose a hotel somewhere in the middle and that is what they

have done. Their hotel is near Lyon and I have been for a look.

The hotel manager showed me around. There is a leisure area and bedrooms

for the players, so you have 48 rooms and a swimming pool, tennis

court, and a beautiful view. The players all get their own room and

do not have to share. The rooms come with all the luxuries you would

expect. You have a huge double bed, and upstairs and downstairs, two

televisions, a prince cabinet with soft ranks. You are spoiling them!

We don't spoil them. The word in French is chouchoutter, we take care

of them. Northern Ireland team management have already told the

hotel what they expect. They said to very important things for them, very

fast Wi-Fi connection and TV channels, BBC sport, Eurosport. What

about food? Have they made any specific requests? Vegetables for

all the meals, low-fat, margarine, not after, and dressing and sauce

always on the side, never on the food. What about alcohol? No

alcohol, just fruit juice and water, never alcohol. Never? For the

moment. Maybe after success, why not? If all goes to plan for

Northern Ireland, they will be in France for three or four weeks and

here on BBC Newsnight we will follow them every step of the way.

The leader of NI21, Basil McCrea has said he is leaving politics.

The MLA told the Belfast Telegraph he would not contest the Assembly

election and was seeking a new career in business

The party imploded on the eve of the elections two years ago

when Mr McCrea fell out with deputy leader John McCallister over

whether the party should define itself as unionist.

Earlier this month, the Assembly Standards Commissioner dismissed all

complaints of misconduct brought against Mr McCrea.

MLAs are meeting at Stormont for what it's thought will be

the last sitting of the Assembly before May's election.

The DUP and Sinn Fein trumpeted the achievements of the last five

years during which the very future of the institutions were threatened

by rows over welfare reform and alleged IRA activity.

But others warned that the mere survival of the Assembly was not

Our political correspondent, Gareth Gordon, reports.

This Assembly met for the 337th and final time, a journey which often

looked like ending before it was meant to. Allegations of IRA

involvement in the murder of Kevin McGuigan last year were a reminder

of the pressures which have made devolution difficult but it was

welfare reform which provided the greatest threat. Then came the fresh

start agreement. It failed to properly address the needs of

victims and survivors, it had Sinn Fein and the DUP handing welfare

cutting powers back to Westminster and not resolving it. We need to

move on from Saint the end to choose are surviving and that is good to

the point we can genuinely say they are delivering. What has this

Assembly achieved? Corporation tax is to be reduced from 2018, paying

for sex has been banned, the number of departments will be reduced and

they tax and carrier bags, but there is still no agreement on dealing

with the legacy of the Troubles, abortion in the case of fatal beetle

abnormalities and same-sex marriage. It also saw the election of the

first Sinn Fein speaker, who is now retiring. I am relying on change

because I think many MLAs in the current and past mandates are people

who have been hurt worker from ties to buy the conflict but the risk a

new generation coming through, children of the peace process who

are now voting age, they will become politically active in this mandate

or the next one and will bring different politics. Curry might

yoghurt... The man responsible for want of this Assembly's most

difficult moments is also leaving. Who knows what next year might bring

in terms of something resurrecting itself, those things happened in the

past and I am sure they will happen again but we have to deliver for

people and that is why these institutions I hear, not as a

stand-alone body for politicians to make careers out of, they have to

deliver for the public. With a third of us politicians alike had in 2011

not standing this time, the next Assembly will look different but if

public confidence is to be restored it will have to do things

differently as well. Almost ?2 million is to be spent

inspiring the next generation The money will provide environmental

projects that will be made available One such project has seen Atlantic

salmon being raised in a primary school classroom and released

in a Belfast river. Our Environment Correspondent,

Conor Macauley, reports. On a lovely spring day, school is no

place for nature lovers. So these pupils from

Ballymacward Primary near Lisburn They're at the Colin River

in Belfast to release hundreds of juvenile salmon they've been

baby-sitting for months. I love watching nature grow and

watching how they survive and learning more about them. We know

how we grow but how do they grow? They are living in the wild, how do

they hide from predators and stuff like that? It's fascinating.

While looking after these fish, the children have been learning

about them, bringing their life cycle alive.

And now the day has come to say goodbye.

I think the children, having nurtured the animals in the room

here, will take a very close interest in all things to do with

Rizzo -- River conservation in the future. The water in the tank is

water from the colon ref and we think salmon used the chemical

composition of that to guide them back to their spawning spot after

years in the Atlantic Ocean. This is part of a new project

which will see 15,000 young people encouraged to develop

a love of nature. The lottery money will fund

environmental schemes by Ulster Wildlife and

the Belfast Hills Partnership. It's all about the next generation,

to encourage young people to learn about the environment and to be

excited about it, so they are the people who will be standing up,

making the policies and making a difference.

They've been taught too about the harsh side of nature -

the risks these fish will face like predators and pollution.

They know that only 3% of them will return to the Colin to spawn

in a few years - and that is just five adult salmon.

Very enthusiastic young nature lovers there.

Now sport, and day one of the Cheltenham festival saw

a great day for the Irish but gloom for the bookmakers.

It couldn't really have gone much better.

Yes, a treble victory for jockey Ruby Walsh on horses trained

by Willie Mullins gave the Irish punters plenty to cheer on day

And plenty for the bookmakers to ponder, with Walsh's success

on the opening day of the festival costing them

In 2015 the horse Annie Power was a big favourite to win

The watching and retired AP McCoy said it's the best

In horse racing terms, today was something special.

The first mare to win the Champion hurdle for 22 years.

The reaction said it all - only the first day at Cheltenham,

but it belonged to the Irish, it belonged to Ruby Walsh and,

not for the first time, trainer Willie Mullins became

Ruby had already tasted succcess at this year's festival.

And there was more to come for Ruby Walsh.

He took part in four races this afternoon and ended up winning

It's only day one of the festival, but from an Irish perspective -

and specifically a Ruby one - it couldn't really

Derry City made it back-to-back wins in the League of Ireland Premier

division last night away to Bray Wanderers.

Derry took the lead during the first half, former Sheffield United

defender Aaron Barry scoring a header to make it 1-0.

Derry doubled their advantage after the break.

The ball was pulled back to Rory Patterson, who rolled it

Then Patterson scored Derry's second and his third, rounding

The win leaves Derry with six points after three games.

The former Northern Ireland captain Neil Lennon has parted company

He had been the club's manager for the last 17 months.

Bolton are currently bottom of the Championship.

The team had also failed to win in their last seven matches.

Finally, world champion boxer Carl Frampton has been presented

The Belfast fighter was granted the award in the Queen's New Year's

Honours list in December, with the formal presentation

He's described it as "a very proud day."

It's been a beautiful day out there, Cecilia is here with the weather

Indeed, another great day, temperatures up to 14, well above

average for the time of year and we are loving our sunsets. This was

taken last night in County Tyrone and you have kept them coming,

probably because we have been starved of sunshine recently. This

is close to one of our weather stations in the Sperrins and this is

from last night, so we have had some amazing sunset and tonight the risk

a chance of a week or because there will be clear skies. It will get

cold over parts of Tyrone and Fermanagh and that could lead to one

or two patches of fog first thing tomorrow and it will not start right

or sunny everywhere, there will be green us in the skies so don't be

surprised if first thing it is not beautiful, it should improve. Quite

cold initially, especially in the South West, mist and low cloud

especially towards East Antrim, towards parts of Belfast and County

Down vote temperatures here will be higher, but a fine and dry dates and

it will brighten up, the best sunshine in the West. Temperatures

to date were up to 14 degrees, the average for this year is nine or ten

so 12 is still above the average though it may not be as sunny

everywhere as it was today. This was Belfast Zoo today, if you were lucky

enough to have a day off tomorrow for our off on Thursday, things are

still settled with light winds, high pressure but we expect skies to turn

cloudy in the latter part of the week. St Patrick's Day should be a

dry day, still decent, temperatures falling back a little but still

sunshine in the West and that is key as we head towards Friday and the

weekend, West is best, so dry unsettled weather to come, it looks

like it will stay dry into the beginning of next week, lots of

clothes from Thursday onwards in the east so not as sunny or warm.