07/06/2016 BBC Newsline

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline.

A lightning strike at a Lisburn primary school leaves a man

and his son in a critical condition and his daughter seriously injured.

An independent panel says criminals are using paramilitary labels

The baby with spina bifida who had pioneering surgery performed

Train and bus fares may be linked to inflation in future,

As Kyle Lafferty hobbles out of Northern Ireland training

here in France, I'll have the very latest on the striker's injury.

In a special interview for BBC Newsline, manager Michael O'Neill

reflects on making it to the Euro finals for the first time.

And today's thunderstorms will ease away this evening.

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a pretty decent day.

First to that lightning strike just outside a primary school in Lisburn,

which has left a father and his two young children in hospital.

The man and five-year-old boy are in a critical condition.

The seven-year-old girl is said to be seriously injured.

Our reporter Barra Best is in Lisburn this evening.

Incidents like this here at Killowen Primary School in Ms Browne are

extremely rare. One member of staff at another school described the

noise as an almighty bang. It is believed that the strike, which --

it is believed that was a strike which had the man and two children.

Thunderstorms and heavy downpours were still happening sometime after

lightning struck the school just after two p.m.. There are still some

details about exactly what happened but it is understood the man was

picking up the children from school. Seven ambulances and police

responded quickly, bringing three to hospital. It is understood the

children suffered burns. It has emerged the man was resuscitated at

the scene and a defibrillator was also used. He was at a critical

stage, so our thoughts and prayers are with them. They are well known

in the local community. A lot of people are talking about it.

Understandably, have caused upset with children and parents at the

school. It is just terrible. The children are all upset. He's even

scared to go to school tomorrow. Just awful news. It is a big shock.

You just think, do I know this person? You just don't know. I was

in that Ringo and my father's, it could happen to any of us. One local

politician said he hoped the council could do all it could to help. It is

just tragic news, it is unbelievable. The father had just

come down to pick up his children will stop the emergency services

responded quickly. It is just tragic. But we as a council will try

to do our best, whatever we can do to try and help. Today's storms

followed hundreds of strikes which were reported across Northern

Ireland last night. Heavy downpours also caused flash flooding in places

today. In a statement, the Ambulance Service said it arrived within seven

minutes. The man, who was critically ill, was taken to the Lagan Valley

Hospital in Lisbon. The young boy was taken with the girl to the Royal

Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The school said the thoughts of the

entire school community are with the family at this time.

The panel set up to look at paramilitary activity says

a new decommissioning scheme should be set up to deal with any

groups wanting to put their arms beyond use.

The suggestion is one of 43 recommendations made by the panel,

which was set up as part of last year's Fresh Start Agreement.

Our Political Editor, Mark Devenport, is at Stormont.

Tell us more about the panel's report. He remember that during the

negotiations last, the murder of former IRA members, at certain

stages it looked like it would call the continuing existence of

devolution into question. This paramilitary panel, which is

reporting on strategies to disband the paramilitaries, was part of the

Fresh Start Agreement and they have come up with a batch of agreements,

43 of them, some then our carrots, like a decommissioning scheme, help

for ex-prisoners, others are sticks, like cutting down on offering bail

to serious offenders, reviewing unduly lenient sentences and

importing new legislation, potentially from Scotland, which

would deal more stringently with organised crime. One of the authors

of the report says he wants to see a shift to treating paramilitaries as

criminals. A lot of what we are seeing within the paramilitary

groupings are simply organised crime groupings, living within the wider

paramilitary style grouping. And using the name of the grouping as a

badge of convenience, or an enhancing of the criminality they

are involved with. That must all cease and organised crime group

legislation will target those organised crime groups within the

communities. We think that is what the community is ultimately want to

see happening. In mixed political reaction at Stormont to the report.

Jim Allister is not particularly impressed, he called it a toothless

whitewash. But the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister see

this as a forward-looking report, handle both directions in the coming

months on it. On a separate issue, the new opposition parties have been

complaining about what? About the way they are being treated in the

chamber. This week we have had a number of debates led by the

opposition on issues like manufacturing strategy or hospital

waiting lists but they said within the business community today, that

the US he and Sinn Fein shifted the goalposts. -- the DUP. They cut down

the amount of time given over to opposition debates. They are

accusing them of arrogance and fear, saying they are using wit of numbers

but it is not good for the health of this new system of oppositional

democracy. Still to come on the

programme before seven: We catch up with some

Northern Ireland football fans, as they say "au revoir"

before heading off to support Pioneering surgery has been carried

out on a baby with spina bifida It is only the second time

the surgery has been performed on an unborn child from Northern

Ireland. Adam Daly's parents hope

the surgery, which was done Our Health Correspondent,

Marie-Louise Connolly, reports. At four months old, Adam Daly looks

like any other baby. But underneath the smiles, there is a serious

health story. During the 20 week scan when he was still in the womb,

doctors detected a hole in his spine, which means he has spina

bifida. I didn't really understand what the condition would be to stop

I didn't know whether he was going to survive. The condition can take a

child disabled and have complications, including bladder and

kidney problems. After much deliberation, the couple decided to

travel to Germany, where surgeons performed pioneering surgery on

Adam, weeks before he was born. He is only the second baby from

Northern Ireland to have such an operation performed in the womb. The

surgeon would go in, keyhole, three holes were made into my uterus. One

for a camera and the others for utensils. He went in, cleaned the

lesion on the back and put a collagen patch onto the region and

stapled it in place. The idea is that this protects the spine from

any further damage for the rest of the pregnancy. And this morning,

Adam got to meet the man who performed the surgery. The German

doctor was addressing a conference organised by the charity khat Shane.

-- the charity khat Shane. I think it is a very important thing to make

Lidl Sergio accessible -- foetal surgery accessible to people who

carry foetuses with spina bifida. No modern science and medicine has made

it possible that the children are less severely impaired after

delivery, and that gives them a far better head start in life. The

operation was a risk, but as his dad tells me, it means there is a good

chance at will be able to walk. I just want him to grow up fit and

healthy and later down the line, I'm looking forward to being able to say

to him that we did everything that we could for him at this age. Around

16 children are born every year in Northern Ireland with spina bifida.

Bus and train fares may go up on an ongoing basis.

The man who runs Translink launched a plan to grow passenger numbers

and part of it could involve linking fares to inflation.

Our Business Correspondent, Julian O'Neill, reports.

Ticket fares have been frozen this year, but 12 months ago, these

passengers felt price pain, a hike four times the rate of inflation. It

would need ministerial approval, but in future, Translink wants to ease

understanding, simply linking prices to inflation, argues its boss,

Doctor of reasonable increases on his -- on an ongoing basis. What I

would be more focused on is an increase that is well understood,

fits with supply and demand and with the Consumer Price Index on an

annual basis. Then we just get into an understanding as the fares are

moved. Translink passenger surveys indicate that big hike in the fares

hurt. Value for money ratings among passengers dropped. The company

admits it has its work cut out, but as it launched a strategy document,

the European official for public transport providers jumped to their

defence. The Translink fares are at least the European average. Probably

less expensive than London. I think the value for money is good.

Translink has set itself the goal of 85 million passenger journeys

annually by 2021. To hit that target, Translink needs to add 5

million to current passenger journeys, and what growth there has

been in recent years has been down to trains, not buses. The bus and

train operator wants Stormont to dig deeper, calling for its growth plan

to be backed by sufficient public funding. But with cash tight, fares

may have to come under greater focus.

Yesterday on the programme, we were in Bangor to sample opinions

For this evening's programme, Catherine Morrison went to Coleraine

to find out how people there will be voting on the 23rd, and why.

A pretty Riverside town, close to the coast and rustling with people.

On a day like this, you could be forgiven for thinking you are in

Coleraine's French twin. Coleraine was the first time in Northern

Ireland -- town, to be twinned with a French town. Regular exchange trip

has cemented that relationship. But it is the relationship with the EU

that is coming increasingly under the spotlight, here and elsewhere. I

am or expecting to leave, to be honest. Making our own decisions. I

would like to stay in. Things would get more expensive outside the EU. I

don't like the way things are going. I cannot see the benefit of staying

in at the moment. I think it is better to begin and all one, you

know. There have been enough wars in Europe. Coleraine has a sizeable

Polish population and this woman is amongst them. She says she has

benefited from the free movement of people within the EU. I think the EU

gives me the opportunity to come to this country and open my own

business. I came here when I was 18 and was able to find a good job. It

would be harder for me to find a job or open a business. Issues like

immigration, the migrant camps in Calais, I continue to make headlines

in France, but what about here? Immigration? It is a bit of a

sideshow, I think. The main bugbear is the unelected representatives in

Brussels. I think immigration has been beneficial for Northern

Ireland. This and that is also a Conservative councillor and is going

to vote to leave the EU. For him it is less about immigration and more

about self-determination. To my mind, it is not reform model. It

wastes a lot of money. We put a massive amount of money into it, we

get some back but we have no control over how it is spent. That is the

fundamental issue. The like of our ability to use our own money. In

just over two weeks, the polls will open and voters will make their

choice. But leave or remain, Coleraine's relationship with its

French twin will continue. A few weeks ago, we reported

on a group of Northern Ireland soccer fans who've come up

with a bargain basement approach They bought a second hand caravan

and converted it into This afternoon, these "fans

in a caravan" set off for France, and Mervyn Jess was there

to see them off. Before setting off for the Euros,

make sure you have the match tickets. This group of Northern

Ireland supporters clubbed together and bought an old caravan, which

they converted into the very own team hotel. Months of planning,

fitting the caravan at, trying to get the lads together. Hopefully we

are not going to believe that the boat. You were late, what happened?

Packing all my stuff! I am getting some stick already. A bit of

last-minute packing, which involved stocking up with a few home comforts

and essentials. All topped off with a dollop of optimism, for the team

and the mobile accommodation. I just hope it is good to last for the

three weeks! We have brought tents just in case it doesn't. Just time

for a team photographed before the fans set off to collect three more

supporters and begin the long drive. We need to start off with a win.

Then we can qualify for the group. We will see how the team and the

fans get on as the tournament progresses. For now it is game on

and all about getting there. And if you're going to France

for the tournament, Here's a short film to show

you how to get in touch. Northern Ireland's star striker,

Kyle Lafferty, has limped out of training this morning

at the squad's camp near Lyon. For the latest, we can join

Stephen Watson live. The Northern Ireland squad

is currently being entertained in the restaurant behind me,

by the Mayor of the town The good news is, Kyle Lafferty is

with them. He arrived a short time ago, smiling and walking a little

better than he was earlier. Earlier today he dramatically

pulled up in training, with what appeared to be

a groin injury. The Northern Ireland camp have very

keen to dismiss early fears that he may miss this weekend's

opening game, but our pictures will still leave the thousands

of fans heading to France worried. It was all going so well after the

training session. Until this. The man who scored the goal is to get

Northern Ireland to these finals overstretched his groin and was left

lying in a heap. The pain was clear for all to see on his face. But the

manager did not seem overly worried. No major concerns at all. He is

fine. Just need to take him out of the training session. On examination

with a doctor, he is fine, he feels good. He later re-emerged from the

dressing to spend time in an ice bath and his later suggested the

injury may not have been as bad as it looked. I think it was a slight

sort of... He has just opened up his groin a little bit, I think it is

the most intelligent thing to do, just to sit it out. Nobody wants to

get injured before the biggest moment of our life. It has been

massive for us. He is a handful. It was a bit of a scare, seeing him

like that. So, Laverty will be assessed and treated by the medical

team over the coming days. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad

will continue their preparations for the opening game against Poland in

five days. Michael O'Neill has been

Northern Ireland manager for four and a half years and has

received high praise for turning round the fortunes

of the team. He has guided Northern Ireland

to a first major finals in 30 years. And in a special interview

for BBC Newsline, he started by telling me how much he is enjoying

the experience. Typically, we are together for a

maximum of ten days. Then you have a break of a month, there is another

fixture, then sometimes you go four months without seeing the players at

all. This is good because it is almost like a club environment. The

positives are that you get more time to speak to players, more time to

speak to the players you wouldn't -- you would not speak to on a more

regular basis. How confident are you that Northern Ireland can spring a

couple of surprises? I believe we are capable of doing that.

Qualification, there is a sense that the 14 month period, ten tough

games, to only lose one game and to subsequently going -- go on and be

unbeaten, it gives me great confidence. There are a lot of

players now who are accustomed to playing international football they

are in a good frame of mind. They are rank highly in the world. When

you put all of those into the mix, if you're not going to have belief

now, you will never have it. We are facing a tough group. But we aim to

string a few surprises. How important is the opening game of the

campaign? There is a sense that when you are a small country, you need to

start on the front foot and be able to get the momentum. Have the belief

in your squad, I look at our squad and it was a different group of

players. They evolved into a different group of players in a

short space of time. If we can win the opening game, or certainly if we

don't lose, I think we will know if we can win one of the other games,

we should qualify. For all those millions of people watching, what

would your message be to them about what kind of team they can expect to

see? This is a good bunch of players, a very genuine bunch. We

would hope that we will become ever's other team. I think Lessig

that level of support in the Premier League this year and everyone wanted

Leicester to win it. There is an honesty in our team, they are very

hard-working. But there is no lack of quality, I don't want people to

think that this is a one-dimensional team. At the end of the day, we are

the top goal-scorers in her group. 18 goals in ten games. What is

important for me is that we stay competitive.

The Republic of Ireland squad will arrive in France tomorrow.

Thomas Kane will be with Martin O'Neill's side

Some breaking news today? The beautiful city of Versailles will be

the Republic of Ireland's home from home for the next few weeks, they

will arrive boosted by the news that Martin O'Neill and his backroom team

have signed a contract to remain in charge for the 2018 World Cup

qualifying campaign. Ahead of its first major tournament as manager,

O'Neill has opened a BBC News lied about his hopes for Euro 2016, the

similarity between his current players and the Northern Ireland

World Cup squad of 1982, and he gives us an insight into his

relationship with Roy Keane. If you don't qualify people will say... It

has worked out pretty well, we meet each other occasionally but we don't

socialise. We don't socialise together. When we go into the camp,

it is getting down to work. Things are great. He is a motivational

character in himself. He has been splendid for the group of players.

Because they have a lot of respect for him, he was phenomenal as a

player. And for a lot of these paid, he has been their hero. If we do not

qualify, maybe it was the big disaster of all time. And eaten much

more of my interview with Martin O'Neill on tomorrow's programme.

That's it from France. The Northern Ireland team enjoying some

hospitality this evening, I will be back on her late bulletin this

evening with the latest update on Kyle Lafferty. All the fans are

keeping their fingers crossed that he makes it through his fitness

test. Now, the weather. Intense

thunderstorms have affected some parts of Northern Ireland today.

Still some thunder and mining around as well, particularly across the

North. But the storms did not affect everywhere and this is how things

are the moment. A cluster of heavy showers across northern counties.

Sunshine breaking through in the South. The heavy rain warning is

still in force for another few hours. The risk of some possible

flooding and disruption. Things will improve later this evening. After

midnight, most places will be dry. Another warm night, perhaps not as

sticky as last night. Likely to be mist and low cloud for a time

tomorrow morning. But it will end up a pretty decent day, particularly in

the afternoon. First thing, there is likely to be mist, low cloud and

even fog along parts of the coast. It could affect the very tomorrow

morning. Otherwise, a misty start. Temperatures in the mid-teens by the

middle of the morning. We expect the mist and low cloud to gradually burn

back to the coast. By the afternoon, most places having some lovely

sunshine. It will be dry virtually everywhere tomorrow and temperatures

will recover into the low 20s. Still some humidity around tomorrow, but

not as heavy as it has been today. Tomorrow night, the mist and low

cloud returns to many places. Dry again and still fairly mild,

temperatures in double figures. Once we get rid of that mist on Thursday,

it should be a reasonable day with some sunshine and temperatures into

the low 20s. Perhaps a couple of showers breaking out but by and

large, a lot of dry weather. But that changes on Friday. This is the

real change, Atlantic Systems start to come back, bringing widespread

rain and a drop in temperature. Unsettled this weekend, but not

raining all the time. For reaction on that lightning

strike story, we are on Facebook and Twitter. Goodbye from now.