27/07/2016 BBC Newsline

and on BBC One we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline.

A BBC investigation reveals how some hospital consultants are earning

Three people arrested over the death of this man

It is not good to be relying on doctors working a second working

week. Three people arrested over

the death of this man Assaults on police officers,

should the guilty be given Also on tonight's programme: Back

on board ship, the 95-year-old war veteran who saw service on HMS

Caroline. Another tree comes down

at the world famous Dark Hedges I will have the latest from New York

as the countdown continues ahead of the biggest fight in Carl Frampton's

career. Most places got a break

from the rain today, I'll have all the soggy details

later in the programme. A BBC investigation has revealed

that some local health trusts are offering consultants premium

overtime payments for extra work. Last year, one local consultant

was paid around ?153,000 on top The British Medical Association says

such payments are justified as there are too few doctors

employed to carry out the work. The figures were released under

the Freedom of Information Act. More from our Health Correspondent,

Marie-Louise Connolly. To keep up with demand for services

and the growing hospital waiting lists, health trusts rely on

consultants to do overtime. This BBC investigation reveals just how much

some trusts are willing to spend. Last year, the Southern health

trusts spent ?2.5 million on overtime. Five consultants were each

paid more than ?100,000 with one doctor receiving ?153,000 on top of

his salary. The Northern health trust spent over 840 9000. The

Western trust, 335,000. 267,000 was spent at the south-eastern trust.

The overall figure is incomplete as Belfast, the largest health trust,

failed to respond to the request for information under the Freedom of

Information Act. According to the health union, the BMA, health

service is forced to pay overtime on this scale because not enough

doctors are being employed. We would like trusts to plan appropriately

and to hire more people. We don't want people doing large amounts of

overtime and being more tired. Any criticism has been directed at

management, the government for failing to manage the service more

efficiently. We know from dealing with the whole of the NHS workforce

that planning has been off the rails for some time. It has been a big

problem in nursing, it is a problem in social care and I suppose those

who have been managing the system have got to stop giving us some

explanations about why this deficit has occurred. It is not just

criticism about a must for consultants. There is widespread

condemnation about a system that is haemorrhaging cash and agency staff.

A lot of the discussion was about overtime but that is hundreds of

thousands of pounds, what about the millions of pounds spent on locums,

the crisis in terms of general practitioners. This is a major

workforce problem here in Northern Ireland. The Southern health trust

said, due to demand, additional clinics have been running at

weekends and during bank holidays to help reduce waiting times.

Three people are still being questioned after a man died

in suspicious circumstances in Newtownards last night.

Neighbours say he fell from the upper floor

The police say they don't know whether he was pushed.

The 45-year-old died here at an apartment block near the centre of

Newtownards. Emergency services were called to the Millers house complex

just before eight o'clock last night. Residents say the man was in

an apartment on an upper floor. The police investigation is continuing

and local people say the man fell from a window onto a courtyard

beneath. I heard the ambulance coming around the corner and looked

out and saw the man lying on the great that leads down into the car

park. The man was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries a

short time later. His death has shocked the local community. The

initial issue for us all is one of shock, almost disbelief perhaps, of

what has taken place here in our own town. Not too far from where we are,

a young man died. Why did that happen? Two men and a 29-year-old

woman have been arrested as part of the police investigation. We are

certain that a left through the window, the window, the top window,

we have no indication of the circumstances that led up to that so

we don't know if the left of his own web or if someone forced out through

the window and that is the circumstances we are investigating.

We believe there are witnesses. We know there are people who have not

been in touch with us yet. A postmortem examination will take

place tomorrow to determine the cause of death.

And now a look at some of the others stories in the news this evening.

Two young men have been killed in a head on crash

Gardai believe their car was travelling in the wrong

direction on a dual carriageway when it collided with a van just

The van driver is being treated in hospital.

Two men have been arrested by Gardai investigating the murder

Mr Donaldson, who was once a key figure in Sinn Fein,

was shot dead in a remote cottage in Donegal.

He had been exposed as an agent who worked for the police and MI5.

The association representing thousands of rank and file

PSNI officers has called on the Stormont Executive to make it

compulsory for anyone found guilty of assaulting a police officer to be

The Police Federation says tougher action is needed because fines

and non-custodial sentences for some offences aren't

Our Home Affairs Correspondent, Vincent Kearney, reports.

This police officer almost lost an era when hit by a brick during

trouble in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast last July. Serious injuries

are a regular occurrence during riot situations. Many officers also

suffer less serious injuries when punched, kicked or pushed during

scuffles with crowds. Nearly 600 police officers were injured by some

form of assault during 2015. That is an average of almost 50 a month.

That is nearly 20% of all front line police officers. The Police

Federation says politicians and the courts must do more to protect them.

We have had to stand up for our officers who are being assaulted on

a daily basis. We want to make the public more aware and make the court

to take more action against people who left hand he would use weapons

against police officers in any way and stop them from doing their duty.

These officers are serving the public and when we see almost 20% in

a year of the front-line service been injured, but paint and full

picture of what society does officers. The federation has asked

for a mandatory custodial sentence for anyone found guilty of

assaulting a police officer. It was new legislation to be part of the

next programme for government. The Federation defends its call for

police officers to be given greater legal protection for members of

other emergency services. Why should police officers be treated

differently to other emergency services, nurses, doctors, ambulance

and fire crews? First of all, we are poor any violent toward public

servants. Anyone wouldn't see that there is no justification for

assaulting other public servants, however, police officers often go in

to protect people being assaulted. Their job involves dealing with

aggressive and violent people and they need some protection in the law

to protect them. No police officer -- police force in Europe has this

kind of protection. But it says the high proportion of PSNI officers

injured in the line of duty means tougher laws are justified.

Still to come on BBC Newsline, the pleasures of finding out

what's under those rocks on a seaside ramble.

He wants to go back home into the water. Shall we put him back into

the water? Developers have been given

the green-light to refurbish an historic warehouse building

as part of a major office project The 150-year-old building has been

derelict for several decades. Here's our Business

Correspondent, Julian O'Neill. A new lease of life awaits the stop

developers now have permission to turn this listed building into a

officers. Work will take about two years and will combine the room and

the new with the addition of a grade a office block. The Ulster

architectural Heritage Society objects but Belfast council have

read the plan benefit the building and the city. There have got to be

compromises made. In order to preserve this building we have had

to allow development to the rear of the building. That might not be to

some tastes but to us it represents a fair compromise and it is a fair

cop as that will bring great benefits. This is phase two of the

project, following the construction in 2006 at headquarters for invest

NI. The warehouse will be refurbished after 25 years of lying

empty and 17 floors of offices will be built on land currently used as a

car park. Property agents say the demand for officers in Belfast

remains strong. We don't have enough space to keep up with the demand.

When buildings like that, to the market there will be demand and it

is great planning coming through on on the building. We welcome that

space coming onto the market. There have been many warnings that Belfast

simply does not have enough quality office space. That might currently

be the case but future need is becoming much harder to predict.

There is the unknown impact of Brexit and whether lower corporation

tax in impotent and will deliver as many new jobs as was initially

forecast. One of the trees at the famous

Dark Hedges landmark in Co Antrim The tree crashed down

in the early hours, blocking Sara Girvin is live at the scene,

well Sara what exactly happened? What happened? Good evening. This is

the iconic image of the dark ages that we all recognise and this is

its latest casualty. Experts today are explaining this damage was a

confirmation of rock inside the tree and high winds overnight but it is

not the first time bad weather has played havoc year. Storm Gertrude

claimed two trees back in January. They are 200 years old and while

there were 150 of them originally, the years have not been kind and now

there are only 90 left. That has led to concern that these trees could be

nearing retirement age. Earlier I spoke to Steve McCartney from the

council and asked him if what happened to this tree overnight is

really that unusual? Not really. When they get to this age they are

in their creature years and when they get that owned the tree isn't

as strong. The weakness in the tree has increased and with all the extra

leaves and peanuts, but just proved too much for it and down it came.

The dark ages have become increasingly popular with tourists.

Could that extra foot fault and traffic the damaging the trees? We

are not quite sure yet. The dark ages used to be a bit of a hidden

gem that after appearing just once on Game of Thrones it was launched

onto the world stage and tourists from all over have come here with

the hope of getting that perfect holiday photo. That has increased

traffic and footfall and there are calls now for the dark ages to

receive special protection because of that and even maybe to close this

building entirely to traffic. Earlier I spoke to Mervyn Storey he

is chairman of the dark ages preservation trust. I asked him what

was being done to ensure the future of this landmark? There has been

ongoing discussions between the local council, transport and I, the

Tourist Board, the trust and other interested parties to ensure that we

have a comprehensive plan for this area. Since this became a part of

the Game of Thrones, the dark ages, which was relatively unknown and I

can remember when I was trying to encourage the issue of people coming

to visit, it was a place that was unknown. When it became part of Game

of Thrones it went viral worldwide. Until any changes are made to this

road, tourists and two operators are being asked to utilise parking at

the end of this route. It is known that that won't stop the trees from

ageing but it is it will help preserve them for future visitors.

The Great War vessel HMS Caroline moored in Belfast has already

become a major attraction since it was refurbished

earlier this year, but it turns out it has had a connection with one

County Antrim family over many decades.

It centres around 95-year-old Alec Johnston who served

as an Acting Petty Officer on HMS Caroline at the end

of World War Two, but the family connection merely starts there.

The lives of one historic ship and one family woven together for

decades. 95-year-old Alan Johnson spent the Second World War in the

Royal Navy and served on Atlantic convoys and in the Mediterranean. He

also spent five months serving on HMS Caroline in Belfast before he

was demobbed in 1946. I went abroad and did my duty and when my duty was

over, I was coming off at four o'clock in the morning but I had to

go to my own quarters and get my breakfast. In the afternoon I could

go up and meet up with my girlfriend again and do what I wanted to do.

Two of his uncles fought in the Battle of Jutland. His daughter two

daughters trained on Caroline as cadets. One of them became a Wren.

Truly a naval family. There is my dad, Mike to uncles, my daughters

and my two grandsons were both baptise on the HMS Caroline. Alex

served most of the war on HMS Princess Catherine. He transported

supplies and munitions, prisoners of war, Woods was abducted by

Yugoslavian partisans and fought off night attacks by the Luftwaffe. They

started diving from underneath the flares. That is the only time you

could get a go at them. After the second attack we got a near miss

near the staring which caused a lot of damage and caused a leakage. But

it is HMS Caroline and that long Naval association that has captured

the heart of this family. It's something we probably

all did as children, playing in the rock pools

along the coast. But did you know that half

the world's oxygen comes from tiny sea creatures,

and there's a rich diversity of life We sent our Agriculture

and Environment Correspondent, Conor Macauley, back

to his youth to find out more. Every idyllic childhood summer needs

stuff like this. The simple past and of rock pooling, turning over stones

at low tide to see what is underneath. Look at this one. Do you

see? He wants to go back home, doesn't it? Into the water. Shall we

put him back in? This event has been organised by Ulster wildlife to mark

a celebration of the life in our seas. There are lots of inquisitive

kids, including this group from East Belfast which is keen to find out

more. They feed on seaweed. Can I hold that? We are trying to raise

awareness of the sea and the value of the sea. BC provides 50% of our

oxygen. That is one in every two breaths we take. He has lost one of

his closet. A lot of clubs -- crabs can regroup his call. I wouldn't

hold this one because he could give you a nasty pinch. A big part of

this is giving young people an interest in nature that they will

carry into adulthood. Sometimes it is hard to leave a shiny periwinkle

behind. Do you want to put it back in? No.

Belfast is hosting an elite youth tennis tournament this week,

Thomas Niblock is live at a club in the south of the city.

Evening Thomas, you begin with some very disappointing news

Yes, we'll talk tennis shortly but first there was confirmation

today that the Circuit of Ireland Rally will not be

Organisers say that funding uncertainties have made it

Earlier I caught up with event director, Bobby Willis.

We need to have the funding in place before we can move forward with our

plans and the short answer is that that is not in place and we are not

ready to go. 40 million people watching it and you cannot grab a

sponsor? It is easy to say it like that. Is this your fault? Some

people will say it is but we are running a good event. We need to run

a sustainable event which is running with a long-term plan so we can get

the continuation of sponsorship going forward. What can be done? I

would like to think that planning for 2018 now and learning the

lessons that we will find some ways forward and get sponsorship and get

the funding in place rather than having to worry that, which is where

we are now. How much will this cost the local economy? I believe ?2

million is where we are. It is a big loss.

Now from Belfast city to New York City, where

Carl Frampton is preparing for the biggest fight of his career.

He meets Leo Santa Cruz of mexico in a winner takes

From the Big Apple, BBC Newsline's Thomas Kane reports.

This is a fight that Carl Frampton has wanted for a number of years and

where better for the contest to finally take place than one of the

most famous boxing cities in the world? He is not taking his opponent

lightly. Santa Cruz is a world champion. He is taller with a longer

reach but Frampton believes that moving up they would division has

benefited him physically and psychologically. For a normal human

being, for pound doesn't sound a lot but how big a difference does it

make? It means a lot to me. It doesn't seem an lot of weight but my

energy levels have been great, I am about to do a session here. When I

was making superbantamweight, you wouldn't like to talk to me. I just

wasn't enjoying training but my energy levels are good. I am eating

and drinking plenty. I have a couple of pounds to go but I will be strong

and I feel good. Have you been underestimated by the American

boxing public? A little bit. They are only going by the Gonzales

performance which was made at 65 or 70% of my best. Disastrous first

round but I won the fight pretty comfortably after that. I think they

are underestimating me. I think Santa Cruz is underestimating me. At

work changes mind in the first round. My performance against

Gonzales is why these guys are getting brave. The Santa Cruz fight

was because of that. That wasn't the real me, this will be the real me on

Saturday night. This international federation youth

event has attracted entrants from across Europe and the USA

and in order to broaden the events appeal organisers have invited some

local sports celebrities to play in a doubles event this evening,

among them Ulster and Ireland rugby international Craig Gilroy and

former rugby star Bryn Cunningham You have played for Ireland rugby,

cricket, just about every sport. People don't realise you are a

decent tennis player. I was OK. I gave up at about 14 but this is

great. This brings back fond memories. I couldn't wait to get

involved. It gave me an excuse to pick up a racket after 15 years not

playing. It is quite seeing young kids playing. My children are seven

and four and are just getting into it. It is a good excuse for me. You

are playing an exhibition match tonight. Craig Gilmour, we see at

Ravenhill, playing tennis tonight, how will it go? I don't know. I have

been in a car for a couple of hours so I might be a bit stiff. The site

of the excuses. I am two days into preseason and could do with a

listener tonight. I thought, why not? I used to play when I was

younger I thought I would give it a go. Best of luck. This is Peter

Cory. He is the last surviving Irish tennis player. He is through to the

semifinals. Congratulations. You must be pretty happy. Definitely. It

means everything to me to finally, after working so hard, this is what

you play for and I could not have done it without all the hard work so

it is good to see it pay off. When does it take this question mark

tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully through to the final.

Thankfully the rain stayed away for the tennis. Also, for lots of

farmers who have been cutting grass but possibly too many shades of grey

for those on their holidays. Clouds streaming in of the Atlantic. If we

look to the south-west, this is where our next area of rain is

coming in. A dry evening if you are going for a walk but the rain comes

in around about midnight onwards, slipping up from Fermanagh. It would

be raining in those places by the end of the night. Temperatures

shouldn't get too low but it will still be raining. The rain is

attached to an area of low pressure which is slow to move away from us

tomorrow which means a good part of Thursday it will be rather cool and

wet and not very summery. The heaviest of the rain will be through

the early hours of the morning. Those who are journeying tomorrow

morning, lots of water, lots of photos on your way to work tomorrow

morning. It will gradually turn more patchy in the late morning and into

the afternoon but it is still there unfortunately and it isn't until

late in the date that it clears away from the North with some brightness

coming in to Northern counties. Also quite cool because of the cold and

the rain. 15 or 16 degrees will be quite difficult for many, maybe 18

over parts of County Down. It will dry up tomorrow night and the skies

cleared and we have the good they are coming back from the North West.

Temperatures will slip into single figures. Friday started dry. There

will be sunshine but then the Shah propelled through the afternoon. One

or two will be short but at least there are gaps in between. There

will be dry weather around with the coolness to the breeze which

continues through the weekend. If you are heading to the north coast

it will be quite good. And long sleeves. Some showers but also some

sunshine. You can also keep in contact with us

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