23/12/2016 BBC Newsline

A former police officer has admitted killing a man by dangerous

Eilish MacSherry, who is 41 and from Brookmount Heights

in Omagh, pleaded guilty to four charges in connection

He was a father-of-two from Killyclogher.

Our south-west reporter Julian Fowler was at

When Eilish MacSherry first appeared in court in September,

But today, when the charges were put to her again,

she admitted she was responsible for the fatal crash.

She was driving one of two cars which collided head on close

to Omagh town centre in October last year.

The driver of the second car, 49-year-old Paul Mills,

Eilish MacSherry was serving PSNI officer

Today, Eilish MacSherry, carrying a blue umbrella,

left court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous

driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident,

and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

Members of Mr Mills' family wept in the public gallery

as Eilish MacSherry stood in the dock in front of them.

A defence solicitor said alcohol dependency was a feature of this

case, but that his client had been dry since the accident happened.

The judge told Eilish MacSherry that the offences are serious,

and have had a devastating impact on the family involved.

He released her on bail until the sentencing hearing,

and warned her that a significant custodial sentence is inevitable

when she returns to court in February.

A man has died in a one-vehicle crash on the M1 in County Tyrone.

It happened near Tamnamore between Junctions 13 and 14

It follows the death of a Londonderry woman in a two-car

collision in Donegal last night, outside the village

The cost of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme

could be ?490 million, according to the Department

of the Economy, which is headed by DUP minister Simon Hamilton.

The original estimate for the scheme given to an Assembly committee

was just over ?400 million over 20 years.

Earlier today, the Sinn Fein finance minister, Mairtin O'Muilleoir,

said the cost to the taxpayer could be as high as ?600 million.

He said hundreds of businesses had abused the Renewable

The PricewaterhouseCoopers report that was delivered to the Department

of the economy in October look that 300 businesses. In that survey they

said only 47% for using the scheme in an eligible fashion.

Extrapolating from that, I am not saying it would be true right across

the nearly 2,000 businesses, but I have no doubt that hundreds of

businesses are playing the system and that needs to come to stop

urgently, it needs to come to stop now.

The SDLP and Sinn Fein have strongly criticised DUP

Communities Minister Paul Givan for a decision to withdraw

funding for an Irish language bursary scheme.

The Liofa Bursary enabled at least 100 people a year to attend summer

Irish language classes in the Donegal gaeltacht.

The SDLP and Sinn Fein have called the move unfair and unacceptable.

The Liofa programme was set up by Carol McGill and to encourage

A bursary scheme worth up to ?50,000 per year enabled to 100 people

who otherwise could not afford it to spend time in Irish language

This scheme has been offered to children from all across Ireland's.

It is the children themselves or be affected by these cuts. The

Department for communities says it is juju need to make efficiency

savings, but those involved are calling for the decision to be

reversed. It has been all go at the ports

and airports today, as thousands of people come home for Christmas,

some from as far away as Australia. Our reporter Mervyn Jess was there

to see some happy reunions. This is the busiest day over

the Christmas period It may come around once every

year, but is no less They have been waiting to be here

reunited with their friends in over a year.

Also on the flight, pop star Tim Wheeler.

I came from New York, so little bit sleepy from the flight.

Is it as manic over there as it is over here?

The US consul general was having family over from the States

for their first ever Christmas in Northern Ireland.

We have been very lucky, very fortunate this Christmas

to have my wife's cousin and her grown-up

We're really pleased to welcome them to Northern Ireland.

We have 21 flights in today, not a seat on any of them.

That has been the case the last four days.

At Belfast City Airport, it was a similar story.

People glad to see family and friends they have

General excitement, families just glad to be home

Try to get my son to losing this accident and speak

We live in Dubai, there's a first-time hamper

I am visiting for ten days from Australia,

She's been here for the last ten days.

We haven't been home for about nine years, so it is lovely.

Elsewhere, the bad weather led to the cancellation

But the main sea crossings are performing as normal.

Rugby now and Ulster are in fourth place in the Guinness Pro12 this

evening after a 23 to seven points win over Connacht at

In bitterly cold conditions in Belfast, Ulster picked up a win that

maintains the play-off push in the Pro12. The home side had taken the

lead through the Paddy Jackson penalty before Charles Piatau probe

to set up the opening try. Lots of white shirts there. Stuart McCluskey

was on hand to finish off in the corner. Jackson converted before a

late penalty gave his side a 13-0 advantage at half-time. After the

break, Ulster continued to press. Clive Ross barged over for the

second try, his first for the club. Connacht hit back. Jack Carty opened

the account, and he added the conversion. Another Jackson penalty

steadied the ship, and that was enough to secure a significant win.

Next up for Ulster, another interprovincial derby over the

festive period, a way to Leinster on New Year's Eve.

On to the Christmas weather outlook now, with Geoff Maskell.

Good evening. After a stormy but relatively mild day, tonight things

get a bit cooler. It could be some wintry nets in the showers

overnight. As we head into Christmas Eve, we keep that westerly flow to

our weather, the showers coming in on quite a stiff breeze. Chilly to

start with temperatures at seven or 8 degrees. Heading into the

afternoon, the showers turning to more persistent rain and that is the

sign of mild air starting to the game. You can see that in the

temperatures. We can't draw a line time here and we have some cooler

temperatures to the east, more mild temperatures to the West. As we go

through the evening of Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day, the mild air

will continue to feeding on the breeze. As this warm front comes

through, this triangle of air will sit over us, it will be breezy,

cloudy and very mild with highs of 13 degrees to start with, getting

cooler through the day. By Boxing Day back to something a bit more

usual as the winds drop off. I'd choose the Everything is getting

more settled and cooler, and a little bit more calm.

Our next BBC Newsline is at 6.25pm tomorrow evening.

In the meantime, you can keep updated from our

From all of us here on the programme, goodnight.

It's Michael McIntyre's festive Big Show.