09/12/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening, welcome to North West Tonight. Our top story: Granted the

right to a public hearing, Moors murderer Ian Ian Brady will argue

he should be transferred to prison. His victims' families will get the

chance to face him for the first time. I'd just like to see him and

ask him face-to-face why has he murdered him and kept it to

himself? We will report live from the Liverpool hospital where Brady

has spent the last 25 years. Also tonight: Unlawfully killed, the

Lancashire soldier who had been laughing with a comrade seconds

before his death in Afghanistan. That story came from a Liverpool

news agency and Liverpool journalist. Now Kelvin McKebsy --

McKenzie apologises for suggesting the stories came from a Merseyside

press agency. Your stories of dementia. We will

hear some of the heart-rending tales you have told us in response

to our series this week. I feel helpless because I can't give her

anything to make her better. the birthday boy Stateside, Amir

Khan celebrates his 25th birthday on the eve of his title fight in

A judge has granted a request made by the Moors murderer Ian Brady to

have a mental health tribunal hearing held in public. It would be

the first time that Brady has been seen by outsiders in 25 years. At

the hearing Brady will argue he should be transferred to prison so

he isn't force fed in the high security Ashworth Hospital. He

wants to kill himself by going on hunger strike. He isn't allowed to

do that while he is classified as a patient.

What will happen at this tribunal, Nina? As you said, for the past 25

years Ian Brady has been kept as a psychiatric patient here. What

happens is every three years his mental health is assessed and a

decision is taken as to whether he will be released from medical care

and back into prison. Now usually that assessment takes place behind

closed doors, but we found out today the next assessment will be

in public. Now as you might know, Ian Brady has been on hunger strike

for the past 11 years and in a statement from his solicitor gives

a clear insight into why he wants to be transferred from here and

What that doesn't explain is why it is that Brady wants this to be in

public, do we know? We don't know. Only Ian Brady himself knows why he

has been so insist ent on this being a public hearing, perhaps he

feels he will have greater sympathy with a public platform. It's worth

noting this is the second time that his psychiatric patient has been

granted a public hearing. Today the judge stipulated that he won't

release details of why exactly he has decided to grant Brady that

privilege. And Winnie Johnson, the mother of one of his victims, she

has reacted today, too, hasn't she? Yeah, some people have reacted

badly saying why should he be given this opportunity to speak in public.

But Winnie Johnson's reacted by welcoming the news. She said she

will welcome this opportunity to come face-to-face with her son's

killer. I'd just like to see him and ask him face-to-face why has he

murdered him and kept it to himself? Not just Keith, but anyone.

I mean, he got away with the other ones. They found the others but

they didn't find Keith and that's the main asset for me, I want him

found and before anything. Earlier I spoke with the Ministry of

Justice and asked when will this hearing be. They stressed this is

such an unusual case the details are still being worked out.

Thank you. Lancashire soldier Loren Marlton-

Thomas was in an incredibly dangerous environment, doing one of

the highest risk jobs in the British Army - hunting out

improvised explosive devices. Yet seconds before he died in a lethal

explosion in Afghanistan, he was laughing with a comrade about the

situation he was in. He'd got stuck in thick mud and the

explosion was triggered when one of his colleagues went to help pull

him free. Today, an inquest in Blackpool decided he'd been

unlawfully killed while on active service. Peter Marshall reports. He

was, say colleagues, part of a unique breed, 28-year-old corps

Loren -- Corporal Loren Loren Marlton Thomas job was to search

out roadside bombs and save other soldiers' lives. From the way he

was with his mum and as a husband, who commanded the guys in his team.

In November, 2009, his team worked along a narrow path in Helmand

Province. They found one IED and made it safe. They Stotted another,

and -- spotted another and pulled back to make a safe zone when a

device went off. The force was so violent it blew Corporal Marlton

Thomas several metres into the waters of the nearby canal. His

comrades searched until nightfall tpwu wasn't until the following

morning his body was eventually recovered. Sergeant Major Ken

Bellringer lost his legs in the explosion. He had gone to help his

colleague. But as he moved forward to help it's believed he triggered

a device. He was doing the job he loved and he didn't know anything

about it. So, I think that's the most important thing to take from

today. The sad irony is that the authorisation for what turned out

to be this fatal mission was resinneded earlier, but the inquest

heard in the fog of war that message was never relayed to the

team. A teenager has been charged with

the murder of a Sri Lankan shop worker on Merseyside. 30-year-old

Mahesh Wikramasingha was found dead at Stanley News on Kingsway in

Huyton last week. 19-year-old Sam Harrison of Salerno Drive in Huyton

will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday.

People living on a chalet site on Walney Island near Barrow say they

will lose their homes unless a flood barrier is built. Coastal

erosion means the sea has almost reached the edge of the site which

has more than 300 homes. So far the Government, council and site owner

have refused to pay for the barrier which could cost as much as

�680,000. It is getting vital that we have

something done before it's too late. Everybody knows it needs doing, but

it's just getting somebody to pay for it to have it done. Who do you

want to pay for it? Well, we don't really mind who pays for it, as

long as somebody does. The Politics Show has interviews

with the site owner and the council asking if they're going to take

responsibility for it, that's on BBC1 on Sunday.

When William Lever set up a new soap factory on Merseyside more

than a century ago, he also built a new village for his workers. It was

called Port Sunlight and Mr Lever reckoned if he treated his workers

well they'd work harder. His soap factory is now part of the

multi-national consumer goods firm, Unilever. And today, for the first

time in its long history, workers there went on strike. It's over

changes to their pensions. Here's our Merseyside reporter, Andy Gill.

You're watching industrial history in the making. The first national

strike in Unillever's 127-year history. It wants to stop its final

salary pension scheme for existing workers and replace it with a

career average scheme. Lord Lever knew if you look after your

employees they'll look after you and loss of pensions is a huge

change in the way that the organisation has gone. It's going

to hit us financially really, really significantly. Cath and Mark

are research scientists, with 27 years Unilever service between them.

They're first-time strikers but feel they had to act. It's a

struggle to say yeah, I am going on strike, but with what the company

is doing it's a step too far. Something had to be done. William

Lever built Port Sunlight so his staff wouldn't have to shreuf in --

live in slums. Would he have raised an eyebrow at today's news? This

was something dear to his heart. I guess he would have had a bit to

say about it. But, unfortunately, these days he might not necessarily

have had the money to do anything with it, either. In a statement

Unilever said a final pension scheme is no longer viable if tots

stay competitive. The company has also withdrawn Christmas hampers

and gift vouchers from striking workers and is giving them to

charity sentenced. -- instead. Workers also walked out in

Warrington and Trafford. There could be more strikes in the new

year. The truth - It's a headline that's

haunted Merseyside for decades. The Sun's story about Liverpool fans

stealing from the dead at Hillsborough was, of course,

totally untrue. The paper's been boycotted by many in the city ever

since. Now, the editor responsible for that headline has caused

outrage once again. Kelvin MacKenzie claimed on TV that

the story had been generated by a Liverpool-based news agency. They

threatened to sue. And now he says he was wrong, the story came from

elsewhere. Our chief reporter, Dave Guest, reports.

It was the front page that caused insult and outrage, even more so

when it was proved to be totally untrue. For years there's been

speculation about where it originated. Yesterday, the Sun's

former editor, Kelvin McKenzie said this. That story came from a

Liverpool news agency and Liverpool journalist. He later told the BBC

he was referring to the Mercury Press Agency in Liverpool. It's a

long-established agency that supplies stories to a range of news

organisations across the country. can absolutely categorically 100%,

on my life, tell you that we did not have any part in it. Mercury

Press relies on this city for its bread and butter and many here

still boycott the Sun newspaper more than 20 years after the

infamous article was published. So, it's no wonder that Mercury's boss

aim out fighting. Why on earth he's done it, tkoeu not understand. I

think the man is an idiot. But even as we recorded this interview word

came through to me that McKenzie had called our newsroom to say he

was wrong. The story had not originated at Mercury press.

found astonishing he is now prepared to say that he launched

into this awful defamation of my company, without thinking, without

checking any facts. More than 20 years on from the disaster, the

ferore caused by this front page continues. Still to come tonight:

Talking Preston. Peter Reudzdeal tells us why he foresees a bright

future at north end. Caring for the dearly departed they

didn't know. We sort of almost see her as a

member of the family now. We are looking after Jane.

To something that's struck a chord with you, this week we have been

looking at demania, the illness and some of the many issues which

surround it. We have spoken to people with the condition, their

carers and doctors. We have also been asking for your stories and we

have had a huge response. Our health correspondent is here now.

Many of you have written to us because you are worried about a

relative who's become forgetful. If that's so, you should make an

appointment with their GP. But others are telling us that even

when do you that the doctor isn't listening and tells you nothing's

wrong when you know it is, while some say it's simply taking too

long to get the appointment you know know someone needs. Almost all

of you who have got in touch are caring or have cared for someone

with dementia. Here are three of your stories.

Can you remember that time we went... Mike wrote to us about his

wife, Margaret. A hospital nurse for many years she was diagnosed

with Alzheimer's last year. While looking at her she doesn't look any

different, I do everything for her now. Help her to get dressed, do

the washing, cleaning, everything that needs doing. I do it in one

form or another. But I feel helpless because I can't give her

anything to make her better. Linda contacted us because she doesn't

believe there is enough support for carers. She looked after her

husband, Peter, who had frontal lobe dementia until he died. I feel

like really once the diagnosis somebody should tell you exactly

what is going to happen to them and happen to you. You are not told

that. You are just left with a guessing game. You don't know

anything until it's actually all happened to you. This is our very,

very special photograph... Ellen's husband John has been in a nursing

home for almost a year. This will be their first Christmas living

apart in almost 40 years after she made that most difficult decision.

It's the most awful thing, not only have you lost them to Alzheimer's,

you have lost them from your home. People ask me why do you see John

every day, because I want to, because I love him, he is my

husband. We do the same things there as we would have done here.

What upsets you the most? She's not the same person that she was before.

If you are negative and you sit back, just nothing happens. You

have got to get up and get out. You get that inner strength from

somewhere and you don't know where it's come from, but it does come

and you get that and you amaze yourself how strong can you be with

Many people in their e-mails talking about diagnosis. Sum up the

advice for people if they are concerned. If you are worried, you

think somebody is losing their memory, make an appointment with

your GP. Some people have said to us, the GPs are not listening. You

know your family member best, insist, insist that something is

wrong and ask for tests. Everybody taking part has been so brave,

baring their souls. Many viewers have really appreciated that.

many e-mails from people saying they are in awe, because it is what

they are going through to. Peter Dunlop the hospital consultant to

spoke, one of his patience said that he treated me from 10 years

ago and was one of the most treating and compassionate members

of the medical profession I have encountered. Discussing his illness

like that is exemplary. He wishes him and his wife the best. It goes

without saying that we would like to add our thanks to those of you

who have taken part. People have spoken very bravely and movingly

about a difficult and troubling disease. Moving on to sport now,

Kicking off with Amir Khan, in Washington to defend his world

titles. He is determined eventually to become the best pound-for-pound

fighter on the planets, something that his friends from Great Britain

could never do. But he must get past perhaps his most extraordinary

Amir Khan is a hard man with an even harder mission and he is not

letting anybody stand in his way. need to win this to go on to bigger

and better fights, the Super fights, the bigger names. To reach those

Super fights he must dispatch Lamont's Peterson, one of 12

abandoned at six by a drug dealing dad and forced to sleep in bus

shelters. He is a man of few words. Talking for two months now, I am

tired of talking I want to fight. don't see it going the distance, it

is going to be his toughest test. To win it, Amir Khan must fight the

fighter and his crowd. He has only lost once in his career, he will

have lots of support. But I think we will have much more support.

birthday boy who was 25 yesterday had much to say and think about

when making his wish. They might just have to match this up on

Manchester United will try to put their failure in the Champions'

League behind them when they play Wolves at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Their attempt to catch up with Manchester City suffered a blow

with the news that Nemanja Vidic is out for the season. He injured

cruciate ligaments in Switzerland. The battle to avoid relegation sees

Bolton take on Aston Villa and Bolton away to Sunderland. Everton

who are six points above the drop zone face a tough match against

Arsenal in London tomorrow. Protests have been held at Goodison

Park over financing the club. Phil Jagielka says he understands their

frustration. Unfortunately there is nothing much we can do about it. We

haven't got any money and we cannot buy any players to move the squad

up. We have to try and be a good a team as we have been in the last

few years. Preston North End's new chairman Peter Ridsdale says he is

confident the club was soon be back in the championship. Best known for

big spending during his time at Leeds United, he says he was

unfairly treated for the clubs collapse. So with Preston North End

losing hundreds of thousands of pounds every month, can they expect

the same fate. My excitement about taking on the job is clear. I want

to see a winning football team and a business which is not

haemorrhaging cash. So Porter should not be worried that you are

here to sell the club. I hope they can no be the same as me, I don't

like losing football matches. I hope we can look to what we need to

do to get back into the How do you square the circle, of

trying to cut costs, and limit the amount of money the owner must put

in. He has already put in a lot of money, whilst trying to put the

team up towards promotion places? There is a misapprehension about

football, thinking you have to put in a lot of money and pay big

transfer fees and that is the only way to get success. In five years

in Cardiff we brought in 30 million in transfer fees, spent less than

seven and did better every year than the year before. A I am a bit

down about it at the moment. could be his way of getting rid of

the club. Where do you see this club in the next few years? I am

not a clairvoyant but we will do everything we can to improve things.

Do you think you will still be here and will the club have the same

owner? I have already said I am not a clairvoyant, the top start here

and I'll do the best I can. Preston North End are at home to Stevenage

tomorrow, coverage from 3pm. Southampton against black pork

happening from troll 40 5:00pm. -- The ground will initially hauled a

capacity of 12,000, later this month fans will walk there from the

Willows. The first match in the new stadium is against the centurions

on 28th January. A big night on BBC Radio Manchester, more than 50

supporters have come into the studios to question managers in the

Football League Fans Forum. It all starts at 7:30pm. It might be quite

distraction if you are driving across the bridge and there is a

match on. You could just break down Getting to know your neighbours can

be a bit tricky, especially if they haven't got a great deal to save.

That is what has happened in Buxton where the town's historic graveyard

is getting a much needed makeshift. Volunteers are being advised to

adopt a grave. It is not easy when many of the headstones date from

the 1800 to know them. Choosing a new friend in the

graveyard and -- at some johns. This adopted Graves saw the owner

died in 1860. Almost see them as a member of the family, we say we are

going off to see Jayne. A nice distance from the house, doing a

bit of planting and taking care of her. The lady was called Bridget

Deacon and she died when she was 67, in 1836. The graveyard is 200 years

old and at one time this would have been the place where the wealthy

people of Buxton were buried. Now there is only one grave with a

living relative left to look after it. The last burial here was in

1930. A lot of charity work, to stay nice thing to do in your spare

time. The grant will help with structural work, volunteers are

concentrating on TLC. A crazy notion but it seems to have taken

off. I did not know if it would take off, I hoped it would. It is

bizarre. The people down here have been quite excited about it. I have

gone home feeling very warm and very happy. There is a lot to do

here, but for the occupants at At least something is keeping how

warm. The weather certainly isn't. A dedicated bunch in the sleet. I'm

going shopping tomorrow, I will be indoors for much of it. Very wise I

After a wild week things do change through the weekend. Quieter in the

next couple of days but really cold. That digs in through the night

tonight. If the ground was already damp then the met Office has issued

a yellow eyes warning. That will be in place to around 11am tomorrow

morning. The first part of tonight shells, showers will die away, that

is because the temperatures could go as low as-two. Along the coast,

in the early hours of tomorrow morning, the showers will come in.

Over the higher areas there will be sleet and snow, even at lower areas

you could get sleet at times. If it is sitting on the ground when you

get up it will not linger all, but I am afraid the picture through

tomorrow is a bit of a mixed bag. There is an ice risk when you get

up, the showers continuing to pile in, there will be some sleet and

snow. For most of us just some spots of rain through the morning

and by nine or 10 o'clock it should be dry for most of us. Further

south the more sunshine you will see, you might catch an hour or so

but as we head through the afternoon to around two or 3:00pm

you will see the cloud building again towards tomorrow night.

Daytime temperatures a bit better than the last couple of days, you

might get a seven there. Tomorrow night we have got a total lunar

eclipse, it rises at about 3:50pm, chances of seeing it up pretty slim.

Once it clears, this rain, it will We had an e-mail asking us where

our Christmas tree is. You can sit over there. It is under

construction. We have got a big bag of tinsel. Tinsel is a bit old-