17/03/2017 BBC Newsline

Good evening, our top stories on BBC Newsline tonight: A court's told

this former leading loyalist was beaten with baseball bats

Two homes are targeted in pipe bomb attacks in Bushmills.

What chance of a deal to give the undocumented Irish

Belfast undergoes its biggest building boom

Despite the wind and rain thousands attend the Saint

We are from India and this is our first, we are out here for holidays

and this is really awesome. Has Slaughtneil's GAA club

fairytale season ended And we'll round up all the actiion

from the rugby, GAA, And a miserable day

for St Patrick's Day. Ten men armed with baseball bats,

hammers and pickaxe handles carried out a bar-room attack on a former

leading loyalist in That's what a Belfast

court was told today, when a 27-year-old man

from Newtownabbey was remanded in custody,

charged with attempted murder. This is a former leading lawyers --

that loyalist Darren Moore, he suffered head fractures, facial

lacerations and a puncture wound to his stomach during what was

described as a vicious beating at a pub in County Antrim two days ago.

Details of the attack emerged as a 27 from Newton Abbot was remanded in

custody, charged with attempted murder. The court was told that ten

men, armed with baseball bats, hammers and pickaxe handles entered

McConnell 's bar in dough and attacked him as he was having a

drink. The victor was in his 40s and formally from the Mount Vernon area

of Belfast and he has been under a loyalist paramilitary threat.

Paramount -- police who viewed the CCTV footage have named the accused

as being part of the gang. A bloody hammer was seized from his car as it

was located shortly after the attack in Newton Abbot. A detective told

the court that the PSNI havoc the nation from October of last year

that the defender was trying to track down Darren Moore with a view

to attacking him. The injured man remains in hospital and police say

he could still be targeted. The defence solicitor described him

as a man with a long and unenviable criminal record, whose credibility

had been repeatedly called into question. He also insisted that his

client denied any involvement in the attack. He was remanded in custody.

A man has died in a road crash in county Down.

The victim was 52-year-old Dean Weir from Portavogie.

His car was in collision with another vehicle on the Dunover

road in Ballywalter shortly before nine o'clock this morning.

A man and a woman who were in the other car were taken to hospital

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them

Two pipe bombs have exploded in a housing estate in Bushmills.

Homes were damaged but no-one was injured.

Police were called to the estate on the outskirts of Bushmills

The first of two viable pipe bombs exploded outside a house

in Woodland Court at the heart of the cul-de-sac.

Shortly afterwards a second device exploded in Ballaghmore Court

Windows were damaged and damage was caused to the exterior of some

I was absolutely shocked and dismayed.

The last thing we need is an incident like this dragging

There was a potential for loss of life and serious injury so I hope

whoever was involved is brought to justice speedily.

Police haven't police have invested a high presence at the scene.

As the investigation continues police are appealing for anyone

Large crowds are gathering in the Holyland area of south Belfast.

Police say they're monitoring low level disorder in the streets,

and have stepped up their presence in the area, following widespread

Off licences closed early this afternoon and both Queen's

and Ulster University asked their students to stay away.

Eleven people were arrested last night for minor disorder

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has been in the US this week raising

the issue of illegal Irish immigrants with President Trump.

Mr Kenny has also been speaking to leaders

Mr Trump has promised to clamp down on illegal immigrants

Our Dublin Correspondent Shane Harrison reports from Washington DC.

It is winter in America. A Time of collars are up and heads down.

Especially if you one of the estimated 11 million illegal or

undocumented immigrants. Up to 50,000 of whom are Irish. Brian

Gaffney from Kerry was himself once undocumented, until he got legal

status. He knows what the current illegal immigrants are now going

through. Everybody is very, very nervous now. I know people in the

situation my heart goes out them because all of a sudden things have

been relaxed for years and they have been OK and nobody was really

chasing anybody but now all of a sudden there was the uncertainty and

the decisions that have been made since the new administration came

in. Several Irish heads of government have raised with several

American presidents the plight of the undocumented or illegal Irish

immigrants, but never with any resolution. And one Northern Irish

born Washington journalist doesn't see that changing any time soon. I

very much doubt that the Irish will get special privileges. If that were

to be the case there would be quite understandable outcry from the

governments of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, nations that have many

more illegal immigrants here and I am personally never persuaded what

the special argument for a special Irish deal is. With a new and very

different president in the White House putting America first and

taking a tough line on illegal immigration, some might be surprised

to learn that one congressman with County Armagh roots believes there

is light at the end of the tunnel for the undocumented. I do

ultimately see this being resolved in a comprehensive way, not a

piecemeal way, and take care of all of those who are facing the

uncertain future in an undocumented state. All of which means it will

still be some time before illegal immigrants can emerge from the

shadows into the sunlight of legality and the warmth of the

American nation. You're watching BBC Newsline,

still to come on the programme: Thousands brave the bad weather

to attend the Saint Patrick's If you've looked at the Belfast

skyline over the last few months you'll have noticed construction

cranes pretty much everywhere. The city is seeing it's biggest

investment in new buildings But what's driving all this

development and will it continue? Here's our Economics

and Business Editor John Campbell. There are more than 20 cranes

dotting the Belfast skyline. It's been ten years since we have

seen numbers like that. There are now so many

that it is part of this Grand Central Hotel is going to be

the biggest hotel in Belfast. Belfast has been added

to a UK-wide crane survey. What does it tell us about the wider

part of our economy? People have to make decisions

based on confidence So this shows a level

of confidence and that they are The local construction sector has

lost about 15,000 jobs So all this new work

is very welcome. Why are we now seeing this

very visible recovery? Well, it all to do with investment

decisions taken by two Ulster University is developing

its new campus in the city centre. That has led to tens

of millions of pounds being invested in private-sector

student housing schemes. At the other end of the town,

Belfast City Council has added a conference centre

to the Waterfront Hall. That has stimulated

a hotel building boom. That in anticipation of

high-spending business travellers. Big firms like this are building

both sorts of projects. It's a welcome change for people

who have had to travel to work Our staff have become accustomed

to being in aeroplane on Monday and flying back on a Friday

so for us being able to bring them back home

is a great welcome to them. The big question is what happens

after the hotels and A firm plan to create offices

in the Titanic Quarter later this year but other schemes

are still seeking financial backing. The building trade said it would

help if there was an executive to take firm decisions on some of the

planned public sector schemes. Now, thousands of people

across Northern Ireland have been We have reports from

a number of towns. First up here's Sara Girvin

from the biggest parade in Belfast. He famously drove the snakes out of

Ireland, and today it looked like Saint Patrick had driven the sun out

as well. A spot of rain did not stop thousands lined the streets for this

years Belfast theme to parade. It adds an international field for a

city welcoming visitors from all over the world. We are from India

and we're out here for holidays and this really awesome. I look forward

to the concept. I want to party. I want to have some cultural

experiences. I will go on Patiala St Patrick's Day. Organisers hope the

Saint Patrick 's parade will continue to attract tourists. There

are about 20,000 people on the streets today and it is fantastic to

see and I hope they will spend some money in Belfast city centre. With

music and acrobats and dancers and even a dinosaur thrown in the parade

had something for everyone. For some the day was out of this world, for

others it was all about making a fashion statement. A leprechaun. A

leprechaun with this. Everybody wears green. It says a leprechaun

made me. Leprechaun made me do it! After a carnival procession came a

concept at custom house Square. It may have rain today in Belfast, in

fact it is poured, but it certainly doesn't stop the party.

Despite the bad weather the crowds still came out to see a carnival as

imagination and colour as it made its way in and around the city

centre. Community groups from across the city and beyond had spent months

preparing their floats for the big day. For the overseas visitors it

was all worth it. I am from Germany and I think it is very great here.

We don't celebrate St Patrick's Day in Germany and I really enjoyed it.

It is really fun being here, yes. They don't care about the weather,

just you are feeling free and you have fun all over the time and it is

just call, it is good to be here. I am from Rome and for me it is really

important to be had. It is my first St Patrick's Day in Ireland and I am

really excited to be him. Earlier the apprentice days of -- earlier

the Apprentice Boys of Derry stage what is now a traditional St

Patrick's Day parade before a service in the cathedral. In a macro

getting more getting more and more important, we celebrated a couple of

years ago and we thought because of the popularity we would have the

parade once again and celebrate Saint Patrick. As well as the

celebrations people were enjoying celebrating and tasting all that is

best in this area. The heaviest part of the rain stayed away during the

carnival but this downpour was most welcome.

Today was one of those days when Fermanagh was in the Lakes. They say

there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

This parade is organised by a team of volunteers, with dozens of

community groups taking part. Their kids and the villains were here,

they were being heroes and everybody turned up on a day like this and

that is a credit to them. For the crowd sheltering under the umbrella

is the weight in the rain was worth it. What did you like the best? The

gym. I think it was the bands that were the best. So far very good,

yes. Bring the sunshine the next time. We are going to Spain next

year for it. They may have been wet but most people were staying

positive. Thousands lined the streets of

Downpatrick this afternoon to cheer on the traditional parade. Despite

the wet weather the home of the patron saint put on a colourful

display as the parade made its way through the town, with Patrick

itself even making an appearance. This year 's theme was the myths and

legends, with music, dancing and some leprechaun is taking part.

Very, very good. In maybe a wee bit cooler but it's been a good day so

far and I'm enjoying it very much. Are you enjoying the parade? What do

you like best? Everything! Just to see the parade at older children and

all the happiness. You get the kids out. There was also a large turnout

in Armagh with music and floats to keep the crowds happy. Organisers

are both events were keen to promote it as a family day for everyone.

It was cold and windy in Dublin but it didn't deter thousands

from taking to the streets to enjoy the Festival Parade there.

This year's theme was "Ireland You Are..."

And the city was awash with green as the pageant made its way

Community groups and bands from Ireland were joined

by musicians from around the world, including France, Germany,

Today's parade is one of many events being held over the weekend.

Coming up on the programme before seven:

I am in New York as the boxer Michael Conlan makes his eagerly

anticipated professional debut. St Patrick's Day is one

of the busiest days Thank you very much. Yes, we will

have all of the action from what has been a very exciting day in school

sport very shortly. Firstly there was disappointment for Slaughtneil

's football players as they lost the all Ireland final to Kerry. The

Derry side scored the first goal of the contest when Padraig Cassidy

fired into the lead, but the opponents responded seven minutes

later in an exciting first half, through Colm Cooper.

The Derry side battled down to level the match but then three more points

saw Dr Crokes home. It has been a great season for the Slaughtneil

club. Tonight in New York's Belfast Boxer

Michael Conlan will step into the ring for the first time

as a professional. He's topping the bill

in Madison Square Graden, an impressive way to

make your debut. And Conlan is determined

to wow the American fans Happy St Patrick's Day! Cluelessly

only in New York. The Saint Patrick's Day party is well and

truly underway as the parade makes its way through the city. Michael

Conlan is hoping the celebrations will continue later tonight. Focused

and ready to go. This is his time to shine. Victim Care Unit it is going

to be a great night of boxing and is well it will be a great night of

entertainment. I think boxing needs that back, the flare back, and

hopefully tonight I will show that I can bring it back in the light is at

the end of the tunnel and I just want to grab it but I have to put

the working and get the fight away first and hopefully I will do well.

The guiding him will be a boxer who has worked with some of the biggest

names in the history of the sport. I really believe that his boxing

ability is in a very high level and his marketability is even higher.

This kid is just gold. Every place where he goes he lights up a room

and he is the kind of talent that we can showcase not only here in the

United States but all over the world. Will patients be important in

this whole journey? I just have to trust everybody around me because

they will just help me. Michael Connolly is due to be walking into

the ring by Conor McGregor at around 10pm, that is 2am home time. --

Michael Conlan. That should be a great night.

As is traditional on St Patrick's Day, it's been a very busy

And there has been no shortage of drama in the finals played today.

Nigel Ringland rounds up all the action.

St Mary 's were looking to win the cup at the third attempt. The gap

narrowed to three points and Saint Colman 's had a good shot for a

penalty. Victim Care Unit there is the catch and the tackle is tired.

That was as close as it got. It was a historic win for Saint Mary 's.

Saint Mary 's have won the 2017 cup. I couldn't be happier. It is the

least we deserve, the effort and what we're putting this year. At the

king span stadium two heavyweights in schools rugby clash. RBI took the

initiative and went into a 12-0 lead. Method even hit back with a

free-flowing drive. RBI prevailed for three schools cups in the row

for the first time since the 1940s. It was a great feeling. It was

another cup final game against our rivals across the road and you don't

think about the third win but now hopefully we can look back on it a

couple of years' time and see that it is a great achievement. The

senior schools cup final at Seaview between the holder 's Grosvenor

Grammar Ansett columns College was won in extra time. Three goals in a

few minutes the Grosvenor Grammar sealed the match. The captain sealed

the victory. Wallace high school were beaten 3-2. Well done to them

all. Fittingly there was more

Irish success on St The feature race, the Gold Cup,

was won by Sizing John, ridden by Robbie Power and trained

by Jessica Harrington. Earlier in the day another Irish,

Willie Mullins, won his fifth and sixth races to compete

a memorable fesitval. Tonight Ireland's Women's rugby team

hope to complete a Grand Slam The winner of that game will take

the Six Nations title. Sadly that chance has

gone for Ireland's men. They also take on England

with the championship already But an Irish victory would stop

the English from setting a new world We are well aware of everything that

England are going for tomorrow but for cars I suppose, it is Saint

Paddy 's weekend and we are at home and we have a very proud record home

as well and we confidence from that. We are focused on how to beat

England and we haven't focused on the reasons why we beat them or

where we beat them because we are pulling on a green jersey and we are

at home and that is our motivation for this weekend. I think if we are

motivated by trying to stop other teams then that is not the Argentina

has set the standards that is currently sitting where we are in

the world rankings. A big game and I can't wait for it. And live

commentary on BBC Radio Ulster tomorrow.

Rory McIlroy shot a round of one under par on the second day

of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bayhill.

But he's 11 behind leader Charlie Hoffman.

That is the first major of the season with a Masters in a few

season with a Masters in a few weeks' time.

That is it after a very busy day for sport! The weather was pretty

miserable today it has to be said for all of the festivities.

Now let's get the weather forecast for the weekend, here's Geoff.

It has been so disappointing when you think it was 16 degrees at the

start of the week and then today just all of this. It has been

miserable for all the sporting events and the parade and the

pageants. The sporting events come in all shapes and sizes, including

this one, are ploughing match up at Ballycastle this morning, taking

place in absolutely atrocious weather conditions. Overnight we

have a bit more rain on what is still a very mild night. Actually

not much difference between the daytime and night-time temperatures.

Tomorrow we do it all again. It will be another wet day. Not quite

perhaps as windy as we have seen today but certainly pretty miserable

and stamp. This is what we will be waking up for tomorrow. We start on

a dry no but it doesn't take long for the rent working from the West.

It is drawing in some reasonably mild air with top temperatures of 11

or 12 degrees. The best chance of any dry weather is the further west

you go then the heavier the rain becomes. Temperatures are pretty

reasonable for the time of year but underneath a rain cloud it is not

feeling very nice. A big sporting weekend. I think the game in

Edinburgh should get away without too much rain but the chance of a

bit of rain for France and in the big game in Dublin I think the wind

could well be the issue by the time we get to kick-off time for the big

game. I promise not to talk about the result tomorrow! As we go

overnight tomorrow the wind will start to build up. It is another

mild night and Sunday is going to be a windy day then Saturday. This is

what you will be waking up to one Sunday morning. A blanket of rain

sitting over us. Gradually it will clear away and certainly going to

see a brighter end to the day on Sunday. What will happen as we go

into the start of next week? The mild there has been giving us quite

mild temperatures and it is gradually going to sink away and be

replaced by something just a little bit cooler. As we go into the start

of next week the temperatures will take a dive down into single

figures. Unfortunately there is still going to be some rain in that

forecast. I wish I could have brought you better news but there

you go. Thank you very much for that.

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