:00:00. > :00:00.find debris. That's all from the BBC News at Six so it's goodbye
:00:00. > :00:09.Tonight, on Reporting Scotland. Four months on from the Clutha disaster,
:00:10. > :00:12.we hear from the people injured when the helicopter crashed into the
:00:13. > :00:25.Glasgow pub and their memories of the friends they lost.
:00:26. > :00:32.One moment, laughing and joking, then all of a sudden, nothing.
:00:33. > :00:35.The survivors have been sharing memories.
:00:36. > :00:38.Also on the programme, the Deputy Prime Minister tells the Lib Dems in
:00:39. > :00:41.Scotland that the campaign to stay in the UK needs to capture
:00:42. > :00:44.imaginations. A man goes on trial for the 1986
:00:45. > :00:49.murder of Greenock teenager Elaine Doyle.
:00:50. > :00:51.And why you'll need a head for heights if you want to take on
:00:52. > :01:06.Scotland's latest tourist attraction.
:01:07. > :01:12.Good evening. It's four months to the day since a police helicopter
:01:13. > :01:16.crashed on to the roof of the Clutha bar in Glasgow, killing ten people.
:01:17. > :01:20.Tomorrow a memorial service will be held at St Andrew Cathedral in the
:01:21. > :01:24.city. One of those who died was Joe Cusker, who was in the pub with a
:01:25. > :01:33.group of friends. They've been telling Aileen Clarke what they
:01:34. > :01:37.remember about that night. On the last Friday of every month
:01:38. > :01:43.these friends would meet up in the Clutha. In the bar just across the
:01:44. > :01:50.street, they remember Friday November 29.
:01:51. > :01:58.Their train was late, so I sat in the station and waited for them. We
:01:59. > :02:02.were half an hour later to the pub. So the corner we usually stood in
:02:03. > :02:08.was occupied, we ended up standing at the door at the opposite end of
:02:09. > :02:13.the bar. If we had been in the other corner, we would have all locked
:02:14. > :02:23.out. I turned away from Joe to turn to Callum, and it all just went
:02:24. > :02:28.black. Big bang. Dust everywhere. Next thing we knew, we are trapped.
:02:29. > :02:37.On our backs, I could not move my leg. I looked to my left, I just
:02:38. > :02:43.could not say. It was as if a wooden wall had been erected whilst I was
:02:44. > :02:48.standing. There was a board across me, that
:02:49. > :02:53.was lifted, I was able to move back towards the door.
:02:54. > :02:57.All we knew was that our friends were standing there one moment,
:02:58. > :03:04.laughing and joking, then all of a sudden, nothing. Silence, compared
:03:05. > :03:12.with before, but still the noises of people, moans and groans, distant
:03:13. > :03:19.voices. There were eight of us. We want to account for all eight. I got
:03:20. > :03:29.out, somebody said, a helicopter hit the pub. I thought, that will be
:03:30. > :03:32.right. I thought it was a bomb. Could you take that in? The
:03:33. > :03:43.sentence, a helicopter has hit the pub? I just could not understand it.
:03:44. > :03:49.It was too surreal. And Joe Cuskin was a particular
:03:50. > :03:57.friend? I knew him from school. We were very close. He would brighten
:03:58. > :04:01.up any company. He drank gin and tonic, one bottle of tonic would
:04:02. > :04:15.last and all night. Just a great guy. Losing him was... Awful.
:04:16. > :04:27.Horrendous. Absolutely horrendous. And you are all carrying injuries? I
:04:28. > :04:38.can't... He just can't use his left arm, basically. Are you going to
:04:39. > :04:44.keep your Friday club going? Yes. For ourselves, and as a memorial to
:04:45. > :04:49.Joe. The first night will be very emotional. We are determined to go
:04:50. > :04:53.through with it. Whenever we meet, there will be a toast to Joe.
:04:54. > :04:56.The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has compared the SNP's desire
:04:57. > :04:59.for Scottish independence with UKIP's plan to take Britain out of
:05:00. > :05:02.the European Union. Addressing his Scottish party conference in
:05:03. > :05:05.Aberdeen, he said both parties want to break apart established
:05:06. > :05:14.partnerships between nations. From Aberdeen, here's our Political
:05:15. > :05:21.Correspondent, Glenn Campbell. The trouble with dinosaurs is that
:05:22. > :05:26.they are extinct. The Liberal Democrats don't want their record in
:05:27. > :05:33.government to do that for them. Willie Rennie's and so is what he
:05:34. > :05:42.calls the sunshine strategy, being positive. -- answer. We must
:05:43. > :05:55.emphasise what a great union we have. Create things. When Nick Clegg
:05:56. > :06:07.addressed the conference, his message was, I agree with Willie. We
:06:08. > :06:12.must set out the risks of leaving the union, and the opportunities of
:06:13. > :06:21.staying. The prospect of staying must be thrilling. Fresh from his
:06:22. > :06:30.debate with the UK Independence party leader he could not resist
:06:31. > :06:40.trying parallels with the SNP. They represent the same impulse.
:06:41. > :06:47.Sowing division and building walls. Between nations and communities. The
:06:48. > :06:56.Liberal Democrats want Scotland in Britain and Britain in Europe. But
:06:57. > :07:06.they know they are not the most popular party in Scottish politics.
:07:07. > :07:11.Ministers have hinted that they would give Holyrood more power.
:07:12. > :07:14.Blair Jenkins, the chief executive of the Yes campaign, said he
:07:15. > :07:24.believed many Liberal Democrats in Scotland were now recognising the
:07:25. > :07:28.benefits of independence. Lots of people within the Liberal
:07:29. > :07:38.Democrats will be reappraising. Asking, are we on this wrong side in
:07:39. > :07:41.this debate? Plenty want different values to that which is reflected by
:07:42. > :07:46.the conservative coalition they are part of, I know there is deep
:07:47. > :07:52.unhappiness with that amongst the ranks of the Liberal Democrats in
:07:53. > :07:58.Scotland. He is appealing for a united front,
:07:59. > :08:07.Nick Clegg on a more powers, is that likely?
:08:08. > :08:15.There was a town of disharmony and disquiet about the way the unionist
:08:16. > :08:21.campaign is progressing. -- tone. They are saying that big names
:08:22. > :08:28.should be doing more. This is about who makes the case.
:08:29. > :08:34.Labour have not yet put their best people into making the case. I do
:08:35. > :08:46.not need to convince this room, I need to convince 800,000 Labour
:08:47. > :08:49.voters to get onside. It is not, with the greatest of respect, Danny
:08:50. > :08:58.Orr myself who will do that, it is the figures that people relate to.
:08:59. > :09:03.And further measures to mitigate the bedroom tax?
:09:04. > :09:14.There was a tenant from Nick Clegg that there could be action on that.
:09:15. > :09:21.-- a hint. I understand from Downing Street sources that there will be
:09:22. > :09:24.action on this but the UK government is exasperated that it is being
:09:25. > :09:41.depicted as a Liberal Democrat initiative. There will be a move to
:09:42. > :09:44.find ways around the cap. Research by BBC News has revealed
:09:45. > :09:47.one of the aims of the bedroom tax, to free up larger rented homes,
:09:48. > :09:59.isn't working, Here's our Social Affairs correspondent, Reevel
:10:00. > :10:02.Alderson. Tenants in council homes have had
:10:03. > :10:09.their benefits cuts since last year if they are deemed to have an extra
:10:10. > :10:15.bedroom. It is a Westminster government policy. Fiona shares a
:10:16. > :10:21.house with her daughters and has her benefits cut, she now faces
:10:22. > :10:31.eviction. The shelter is helping me a lot. They are taking the back to
:10:32. > :10:40.the court, I have agreed to pay ?15 a week. We'll see what happens. I
:10:41. > :10:49.would like another house, the only reason is the bedroom tax. Local
:10:50. > :10:54.authorities say that 13,000 people were in rent arrears, they had not
:10:55. > :11:01.fallen behind before the changes. In Edinburgh, 58% of tenants, in
:11:02. > :11:06.Dundee, 53%. Ministers claimed that the policy would free up larger
:11:07. > :11:13.houses for those who need them, but there simply are not enough smaller
:11:14. > :11:20.homes in the rented sector. In Scotland alone we spend ?1.7 billion
:11:21. > :11:24.a year on housing benefit. We need to turn that money into capital
:11:25. > :11:32.investment in houses, bricks and mortar, homes for people. That will
:11:33. > :11:39.actually reduce the benefit bill, faster than the bedroom tax.
:11:40. > :11:45.Charities calculate that the cost in lost benefits is ?50 million. ?60
:11:46. > :11:48.million has been allocated to Scottish councils by the Westminster
:11:49. > :11:54.government in discretionary housing payments. The Scottish government
:11:55. > :12:01.has added ?20 million. The shortfall is ?14 million. The BBC research
:12:02. > :12:07.reveals some local authorities have not spent their allocation of
:12:08. > :12:14.government cash. Mainly because tenants who are eligible, I'm not
:12:15. > :12:17.claiming. -- are not. You're watching Reporting Scotland
:12:18. > :12:19.from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's programme, the country's
:12:20. > :12:21.latest tourist attraction opens this weekend but you'll need a head for
:12:22. > :12:25.heights. In sport, Neil Lennon says building
:12:26. > :12:28.for the next campaign begins in the summer as Celtic look for success in
:12:29. > :12:30.the Champions League. The Glasgow Rocks are slam dunk up
:12:31. > :12:34.for the cup. And it's the big Scottish derby in
:12:35. > :12:41.speedway as Glasgow Tigers take on Edinburgh Monarchs.
:12:42. > :12:44.A man has gone on trial for the murder of a Greenock teenager in
:12:45. > :12:47.1986. 49-year-old John Docherty denies killing 16-year-old Elaine
:12:48. > :12:56.Doyle as she made her way home from a disco. Catriona Renton reports
:12:57. > :13:06.from the High Court in Edinburgh. On June one, 1980 six, 16-year-old
:13:07. > :13:13.Elaine Doyle had an being out at a disco. She never returned home. Her
:13:14. > :13:20.body was found in a lane. Nobody was brought to trial over the death. In
:13:21. > :13:33.2011 at the case was reopened. Hers is the first cold case to come to
:13:34. > :13:40.court. 49-year-old, John Docherty, is accused of assaulting Elaine,
:13:41. > :13:48.forcing her to remove her clothing, strangling her, murdering her. He
:13:49. > :13:52.denies all the charges. He has lodged special defences of an alibi
:13:53. > :13:59.and incrimination. He has submitted a list of 41 names, saying one of
:14:00. > :14:03.those people could be the killer. The wife of a blind man from Fife
:14:04. > :14:06.who says her husband died after being abandoned on their doorstep by
:14:07. > :14:09.a hospital taxi is demanding an investigation into his death. Wendy
:14:10. > :14:12.Aitken from Rosyth believes 66-year-old Graeme Aitken was
:14:13. > :14:17.clearly in distress when he was sent home from the Victoria hospital in
:14:18. > :14:21.Kirkcaldy. He was rushed back by ambulance but died the next day.
:14:22. > :14:33.Steven Godden reports Some of the other The day after her husband's
:14:34. > :14:38.funeral, Wendy Aitken's sadness is mixed with anger about the way he
:14:39. > :14:44.died. Left blind by a stroke, he was taken to hospital complaining of
:14:45. > :14:47.chest pains a four night ago. She was at home waiting for news when
:14:48. > :14:53.just after four in the morning she heard a knock at the door. I looked
:14:54. > :14:58.out the window and saw a hospital taxi disappearing into the
:14:59. > :15:05.distance. Somme husband standing on the doorstep in his night close
:15:06. > :15:09.saying, help me, help me. I never felt so bad in my life. And Andrew
:15:10. > :15:15.and stick is ticking back to the hospital and the next day Wendy got
:15:16. > :15:24.a phone call to see that Graham had died. The cause of death was
:15:25. > :15:29.probably seizure related pending investigation. I do not know why he
:15:30. > :15:33.died but the way he was treated contributed greatly. I felt very
:15:34. > :15:40.angry and disgusted and quite distressed about it. Something
:15:41. > :15:45.should be done. NHS Fife say they cannot comment on the treatment of
:15:46. > :15:50.individuals and insist their aim is always to ensure that patients are
:15:51. > :15:57.discharged safely and relatives are kept informed. The local MSP has
:15:58. > :16:02.written to the health minister about these concerns me she wants answers
:16:03. > :16:06.and actions. I do want this to happen to anyone else. It is a
:16:07. > :16:11.terrible thing to go to -- go through, the image of your husband
:16:12. > :16:15.standing on the doorstep like that, that is my last image of him.
:16:16. > :16:19.A look at other stories from the across the country... ?170 million
:16:20. > :16:28.is to be spent improving rail links from Inverness to Aberdeen. It'll
:16:29. > :16:31.include platform extensions at Elgin and Insh, the relocation of Forres
:16:32. > :16:37.station and preparatory work to allow for new stations at Inverness
:16:38. > :16:41.airport and Kintore. It will be a rolling programme of improvements
:16:42. > :16:45.through the next five years and a further five years after that. We
:16:46. > :16:50.just have to see what will happen until 2019.
:16:51. > :16:57.The number of dead birds of prey found poisoned in one area of the
:16:58. > :17:00.Highlands has risen to thirteen. Nine red kites and four buzzards
:17:01. > :17:03.have now been found in Ross-shire. Police are investigating the
:17:04. > :17:06.killings as a wildlife crime. The RAF's "Dambuster" squadron,
:17:07. > :17:09.which has been based at Lossiemouth in Moray, has been disbanded, as its
:17:10. > :17:14.Tornado aircraft are withdrawn from service. 617 Squadron is moving to
:17:15. > :17:17.Norfolk. Police and health officials have
:17:18. > :17:21.objected to an Aberdeen nightclub installing a hot tub and bucking
:17:22. > :17:24.bronco. The owners of the Korova Bar have applied to Aberdeen City
:17:25. > :17:28.Council for permission. Police raised concerns over safety, while
:17:29. > :17:32.NHS Grampian said they would not be suitable in a place where alcohol is
:17:33. > :17:35.consumed. A 103-year-old woman - who has
:17:36. > :17:38.volunteered since 1939 - has been awarded a British Empire medal in
:17:39. > :17:43.recognition of her service to others. Margaret Miller was
:17:44. > :17:56.presented with the medal by Glasgow's Lord Provost in front of
:17:57. > :18:04.friends and family. I don't think I ever thought I was doing anything
:18:05. > :18:13.out of the ordinary. I seem to be get aided to do certain things. That
:18:14. > :18:16.is all I can do. Let's get the sport now.
:18:17. > :18:20.Good evening. Neil Lennon says building for next
:18:21. > :18:23.season begins in the summer as Celtic look for success in the
:18:24. > :18:25.Champions League. And while the destination of the Scottish
:18:26. > :18:32.Premiership title is known, plenty of other issues this season remain.
:18:33. > :18:37.Jonathan Sutherland reports. For Celtic a couple of days to enjoy but
:18:38. > :18:42.time to go back to the serious business of training.
:18:43. > :18:50.Congratulations. Thank you. It's marvellous. When the moment comes,
:18:51. > :18:54.it is always great. Now reflecting and enjoying the moment. Have you
:18:55. > :19:02.had a chance to sit down and discuss next season? Not yet. The
:19:03. > :19:06.premiership title might be wrapped up but the bottom half is very
:19:07. > :19:15.uncertain. The team which finishes second bottom will fight to preserve
:19:16. > :19:19.its status. St Mirren are currently second bottom and travel to
:19:20. > :19:24.Inverness tomorrow. We have a good group of players, as well as any
:19:25. > :19:32.other team outside of Celtic. We are looking for positive results. Score
:19:33. > :19:37.a point, that opens the door for Hearts to be relegated this week end
:19:38. > :19:42.if heads when there is a derby. The top prize is won by the booby prizes
:19:43. > :19:45.are up for grabs. The new look Glasgow Tigers take on
:19:46. > :19:48.their oldest rivals, Edinburgh Monarchs tonight and again on
:19:49. > :19:51.Sunday. It's expected to be the most closely contested derby in years.
:19:52. > :20:13.Phil Goodlad went along to savour the speed, sights and sounds.
:20:14. > :20:19.It is very noisy. Zero to 60 in two NASA seconds and no brakes, Speedway
:20:20. > :20:27.is not for the faint-hearted. Adrenaline starts punting. I think
:20:28. > :20:31.it is fantastic. Glasgow and Edinburgh compete in the UK meek,
:20:32. > :20:38.continuing Scottish beach reconditioned. There are four riders
:20:39. > :20:43.in a race, they do for laps of the circuits. I've hundreds cc
:20:44. > :20:52.motorcycles without breaks. It is about training, if am honest. -- 500
:20:53. > :20:58.cc. The unmistakable sound and smell of Speedway is back this weekend.
:20:59. > :21:01.The Glasgow Rocks' player coach Sterling Davis says the chance of
:21:02. > :21:04.success in the British Basketball Trophy final is their 'saving grace'
:21:05. > :21:07.this season. Scotland's only professional team play Worcester
:21:08. > :21:20.Wolves in the showpiece on Sunday in front of a 6,500 sell-out crowd.
:21:21. > :21:24.Kenny Crawford reports. It has been twists and turns rather than
:21:25. > :21:30.straight and narrow for the Glasgow Rocks this season. Lifting a trophy
:21:31. > :21:35.they have never won with be a bonus. One fact stands in good stead. The
:21:36. > :21:40.Glasgow Rocks have home advantage on Sunday. At the start of the season
:21:41. > :21:45.it was decided the final would be played here at the impressive
:21:46. > :21:48.Emirates Arena. That's where they beat the Cheshire team in the
:21:49. > :21:55.semifinal. Worcester Wolves will be at tougher challenge but their top
:21:56. > :22:03.scorer is happy to be an underdog. We shot the UK. We shocked the
:22:04. > :22:10.world. Unlike the chance. The squad includes three Scots, one of them
:22:11. > :22:16.had had smaller. You do not play basketball with your shoes off. The
:22:17. > :22:21.man calling the shots is desperate for his team to deliver. This would
:22:22. > :22:29.be my saving grace, the opportunity we have to be in the final, I prefer
:22:30. > :22:36.my team before every game. That is just my guidance, giving me the
:22:37. > :22:40.strength to keep going. A few of these will help as well.
:22:41. > :22:42.And just before I go, we have TV and radio coverage of Glasgow Warriors
:22:43. > :22:46.against Ospreys tonight. The biggest game of the year so far for Warriors
:22:47. > :22:51.says their Head Coach Gregor Townsend. That's on Radio Scotland
:22:52. > :22:54.810 medium wave and BBC Alba. Sally. Thank you very much.
:22:55. > :22:58.Scotland's latest tourist attraction opens this weekend but you'll need a
:22:59. > :23:00.head for heights. The Via Ferrata at Kinlochleven in Lochaber allows
:23:01. > :23:04.novice rock climbers to scale a sheer 90 metre cliff next to a
:23:05. > :23:07.raging waterfall. Sound like a good day out or something that would
:23:08. > :23:10.terrify the living daylights out of you? Well, we sent our own
:23:11. > :23:22.thrill-seeker, Craig Anderson, to judge for himself.
:23:23. > :23:27.The waterfall close to Glen Coe is one of the highest waterfalls in the
:23:28. > :23:32.country and is now the venue for the first Via Ferrata in Scotland is,
:23:33. > :23:40.climbing experience for people like me with climbing experience. It
:23:41. > :23:47.originates from the Italian Dolomites. It means I way. Metal
:23:48. > :23:52.stakes are pushed into the rocks and allows people to access the
:23:53. > :24:03.beautiful views by climbing up a Via Ferrata. We are all prepared, we had
:24:04. > :24:09.better go. If you do it 300 times, you will get used to it. Safety
:24:10. > :24:19.briefing over and time to begin the claim. You use the steam stables
:24:20. > :24:34.like a ladder. Your clipped onto a safety wire. No danger! -- steel
:24:35. > :24:39.staples. Before I came here was not sure this would be my idea of fun,
:24:40. > :24:44.but this is turning out to be pretty good fun. It is quite accessible and
:24:45. > :24:50.you have just completed the claim, it is not that difficult. We hope
:24:51. > :25:02.anyone can come and enjoy the scenery and the activity itself.
:25:03. > :25:09.What a hero. Now for the weather. Thank you. It is an east-west split
:25:10. > :25:14.for this weekend. The best of the weather in the West. A lot of cloud
:25:15. > :25:19.tonight. Some outbreaks of rain across southern, central and eastern
:25:20. > :25:25.Scotland. The driest weather found across the North West, some clear
:25:26. > :25:31.spells leading to a touch of frost across the north-west Highlands.
:25:32. > :25:35.Temperatures around three up to five Celsius. There will be a brisk
:25:36. > :25:40.easterly wind across southern Scotland. A cloudy note starts the
:25:41. > :25:46.day tomorrow with outbreaks of rain. As a God through the day, the
:25:47. > :25:49.strain will die out and there will be a lot of dry weather around with
:25:50. > :25:59.the best of the sunshine in the West. -- as we go through the day.
:26:00. > :26:03.Highs of 14 Celsius in the sunshine, feeling pleasant. A lot of
:26:04. > :26:08.sunshine around the Western Isles and the north-west Highlands and
:26:09. > :26:15.into Inverness and the Moray coast as well. For more eastern areas,
:26:16. > :26:22.cloudy conditions continue with light and patchy rain. Feeling
:26:23. > :26:26.chilly with that easterly breeze. If you are going hill walking or
:26:27. > :26:34.climbing, a lot of drive right weather for the western regions. On
:26:35. > :26:39.the tops, there will be a significant wind chill with fresh to
:26:40. > :26:45.strong easterly winds. For the East, a lot of cloudy weather around with
:26:46. > :26:50.patchy light rain and a fresh to strong southeasterly winds. If you
:26:51. > :26:57.think of going skiing, there will be little fresh snow. Brisk easterly
:26:58. > :27:03.winds and also the best of the sunshine in the West. Looking ahead
:27:04. > :27:11.to Saturday, it stays largely cloudy in the East, Mr conditions with
:27:12. > :27:20.patchy rain. Drier in the West with some clear spells. -- misty
:27:21. > :27:27.conditions. A lot of cloud around in the East and there will continue to
:27:28. > :27:31.be misty conditions. Best of the sunshine in the West with highs of
:27:32. > :27:36.17 Celsius. The clocks go forward one hour tomorrow night. Thank you
:27:37. > :27:39.very much. Now, a reminder of tonight's main
:27:40. > :27:43.news... It's four months to the day since a police helicopter crashed on
:27:44. > :27:46.to the roof of the Clutha bar in Glasgow, killing ten people.
:27:47. > :27:48.Tomorrow a memorial service will be held at St Andrews Cathedral in the
:27:49. > :27:51.city. The search for the missing Malaysian
:27:52. > :27:54.airlines plane has taken another twist. Now unidentified objects in
:27:55. > :27:58.the southern Indian ocean - which could be debris from flight MH370 -
:27:59. > :28:00.have been spotted by plane. Until now, debris had only been seen from
:28:01. > :28:02.satellites. That's Reporting Scotland. A new series of Landward
:28:03. > :28:07.starts over on BBC Two. Goodbye.