18/08/2016 BBC Newsline

Good evening and welcome to BBC Newsline.

Daithi McKay has resigned as Sinn Fein MLA

for North Antrim and been suspended from the party.

It was claimed that when he was the Chair

of the Assembly's Finance Committee, the North Antrim MLA advised

the loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson about evidence he was to give

to that committee about the sale of Northern Ireland's Nama

Mr McKay has now apologised saying his contact was inappropriate.

Our political editor Mark Devenport reports.

Mr McKay has now apologised saying his contact was inappropriate.

Our political editor Mark Devenport reports.

Last September Jamie Bryson used illegal privilege to make a series

of explosive claims about the multi-million pound Nama property

deal, including this direct allegation that they then

first-Minister was involved. -- legal privilege. Now, it has emerged

that before he gave his evidence, he was in contact with the committee

chair Daithi McKay and another showing fear member about how he

should make his revelations. -- Sinn Fein member. This is Thomas O'Hara

and he apparently sent Jamie Bryson is series of private messages on

social media. In one message Mr O'Hara ...

Not denying that the truth of the messages that are now emerging in

public that there were these exchanges dream yourself and another

Sinn Fein member? -- between yourself. This is confidential

information that was leaked into the public domain. He denies any

wrongdoing and the DUP believe he was the victim of a dirty tricks

operation. This is a corruption of the Assembly process and they have

found somebody who has been prepared to work with them in corrupting the

Assembly process. When I give evidence to the committee I call it

the Mickey Mouse committee. I think it's more than that now. Had I known

what I know now, it's more like a conspiring say. The blogger at the

centre that all says he have nothing to do with the matter. I will not

co-operate and see who my sources are. They can throw me in jail

first. I will not be cooperating in any aspect of these negotiations.

Sinn Fein say they had no knowledge of any prior contact with Jamie

Bryson. Daithi McKay is someone I have worked with over a number of

years. He accepts he made an error of judgment. It was an error of

judgment which led him to resign as an MLA. When he was cheering the

hearings, Daithi McKay was a high flyer. He was spoken about as a

potential minister. In May he celebrated getting more than 1001st

votes in North Antrim. Now he has to resign with his little career in

tatters. -- 1000 foot. Pat Hickey who stepped aside

yesterday as President of the Olympic Council of Ireland

has now left hospital in Rio He was arrested as part

of an investigation into the illegal This afternoon Ireland's top Olympic

official left hospital, his destination was a police station.

The authorities are questioning him over alleged ticket fraud. The

71-year-old was arrested yesterday morning in his hotel room. Shortly

after he complained of chest pains and was taken protests. Since then

the controversy has made worldwide news. Patrick Hickey. It's alleged

some tickets for the opening ceremony were being sold at four

times their face value, a crime which could attract a jail sentence.

Mr Hickey denies any wrongdoing. This businessman was arrested by

police ten days ago. The Irish Minister of sport arrived back from

the Olympics and said a decision on an enquiry will be made soon. We

have an independent and enquiry. Worldly except that? They will not

have any option. Patrick Hickey has set book-mac stepped down and his

role has been taken over by this man and say they will defend his

conduct. -- has stepped down. The Olympics has just the few more days

to run and this story is threatening to overshadow team Ireland's

participation and has some way to go.

Thousands of students across Northern Ireland received

The number of A-level students here getting the top

grades has risen again, and girls continue

Many students across Northern Ireland had

How did you get an? I got three As. That gets me into Queens. I got an

As. I'm hoping to go to Queens to do geography. I got to As and AAC. I

want to get work experience whilst getting qualifications, so I decided

to go for an apprenticeship. At the Olympic sailing in Rio,

Carrick's Ryan Seaton and Bangor's Matt McGovern finished

in 10th place in the 49er class - Just time for a look

at the weather prospects now - here's Cecilia Daly

with the details. We've got some very unsettled

weather to come over the next couple of days. Rain starts to move them

from the south-west during the early hours. Another warm night to come

and dry weather early tomorrow morning up to the north coast. It is

looking wet and blustery winds. It will make it feel cooler than today.

The rain becoming persistent and heavy at times through the morning.

The wet weather continues into the afternoon before ECB is brighter

skies over the Republic of Ireland edging north word. -- we see. The

rain covering south-west Scotland and parts of England and Wales and

moving northwards over Scotland during the day. Tomorrow afternoon,

the drier and brighter weather edges up from the south-west. Temperatures

down from today, about 17 Celsius. Some shower is breaking out and

there will be further heavy showers on Saturday. Drier on Sunday.

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