12/09/2014 BBC News at Six

The firebrand of hardline unionism in Northern Ireland for decades,

An implacable figure, he underwent a remarkable political transformation

Tributes have been paid from Protestant and Catholic

communities, including those who were once his most bitter enemies.

We'll be looking at how the man nicknamed Dr No,

eventually said yes to a deal that brought peace to Northern Ireland.

Oscar Pistorius is found guilty of killing his girlfriend,

Reeva Steenkamp, and faces jail for manslaughter.

On the streets and in the air, the campaigning in the Scottish

referendum debate steps up a gear as a new poll shows many voters are

The public raises nearly ?1 million for the dogs whose

And, there's a big scrum at Twickenham, but will there be

quite such a clamour for Rugby World Cup tickets?

The multi-billion pound Thames 'super sewer' is given

It means higher water bills for customers.

And, at least 37 years in jail each for the drug dealers

Good evening, and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

The Reverend Ian Paisley - for decades the distinctive

and implacable voice of hardline unionism in

He co-founded the Democratic Unionist Party

and led unionist opposition to Irish republicanism for 37 years.

In one of the most remarkable political transformations

of recent times, he agreed to share power with his former enemies in the

Among the many tributes to him today, the former IRA commander

and Dr Paisley's partner in Government, Martin McGuinness

Our Ireland correspondent, Chris Buckler, looks back at

For decades he was the face and and more specifically the voice of

hardline unionism in Northern Ireland We say NEVER! Never, never.

Never. Critics called Ian Paisley, Dr No, the sworn enemy of Irish

republicans and a man who refused to compromise his principles. But his

life marked one of the most remarkable journeys in modern

politics. Eventually, hi led his supporters and his party into

Government with Sinn Fein. It was a deal that saw him share power with a

former IRA leader. It needed somebody with the history and

longstanding respect that Ian Paisley had to point out to people

that there was a better way ahead, now that we had reached the

circumstances where the IRA were no longer going to be involved in using

violence. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley was the son of a baptist are

minister and his own passion for preaching and politic was obvious

from the start. We declare our intention from this platform that we

will organise massive demonstrations... It all made

Paisley a brand name. In his image he built his own Protestant Church

and his own political party. The DUP gave him electoral strength and

controversy followed him to Stormont, Westminster and the

European Parliament. Where he famously interrupted a papal visit.

Mr Paisley I now exclude you from this To many Catholics House. Leg

was a bigot and a bogey man. He flirted with the extremes of

loyalism including the shadowy group Ulster Resistance and successive

British governments found him a frustrating and fiery figure. He

made our life very unpleasant for a while. Personally, if you met him,

he was perfectly charming. Yes, 71.12%. Even when the public voted

in favour of the Good Friday peace agreement, Paisley continued to say

no. Eventually auto deal was agreed that saw the once unthinkable come

true. His Democratic Unionist Party entered Government with Sinn Fein.

Perhaps, even more shocking, was the new First Minister's friendship with

his deputy, Martin McGuinness. It was so good they became known as The

Chuckle Brothers. I think we confounded everybody. We who were

political opponents for decades. His allegiance to Britain, my allegiance

tole Ireland, but had the ability to have a proper and decent working

relationship and indeed a friendship which has existed to this very day.

It was a relationship that damaged some of Ian Paisley's other

friendships, including those in his party and in his church. It defined

the legacy of a man who went from protester to peacemaker. I have' had

a good innings. I've made good friends. And, I've reconciled a lot

of enemies. Let's speak to our political editor,

Nick Robinson, who met Dr Paisley Nick, Ian Paisley's political

journey was a remarkable one, He was loved and loathed, wasn't he?

Is admired and feared. The story of his life, in many ways, was the

story of the remarkable transition of Northern Ireland from that

bitter, that brutal, that sectarian violence all the way to something

approaching normality. Now, I'm sure there are people still watching

today that library footage of Dr Paisley who will shiver with anger

and fear with that one word "never", never spoken always bell lowed.

Others will smile at the so-called Chuckle Brothers as they shared

power. The two enemies coming together to share power in Northern

Ireland. It made some people believe the transition was simply

unbelievable. But part of the explanation I think was this. The

great gulf between the public figure and the private man. I once sat next

to him on a plane, quite by chance, he was studying scriptures, I tried

to get up a conversation, he was so softly spoken, so quiet, I could

barely hear a word he said over the engine noise. When he came off the

plane another reporter with a different camera confronted him. He

bell lowed again his defiance into the lens. He turned round and winked

at me. That was what politicians knew, that was what his enemies

knew. A man who they had feared, they came to value and many of them

saw him as their friend Dr No became Dr Yes. Nick Robinson, thank you

very much. Oscar Pistorius,

the South African athlete, faces up to 15 years in prison after

being found guilty of the culpable homicide - or manslaughter -

of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The judge said the State had failed

to prove that he intended to kill Ms Steenkamp when he fired four

shots through a toilet door in The Paralympian was also found

guilty of negligently handling a firearm

that went off in a restaurant. Our Africa correspondent,

Andrew Harding, This trial has run in fits and

starts for over five months. Dividing people at home and abroad.

Today, Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp's family and friends

finally got some answers. And, no-one seemed entirely satisfied. Mr

Pistorius, please stand It's judgment time up. . A dramatic pause

as Oscar Pistorius stands and waits. The unanimous decision of this court

is the following. Then Judge Masipa gets to the point, is the athlete a

murder? On count one, murder with section 51.1. The accused is found

not guilty and is discharged. Instead he is found guilty of

culpable homicide. For once, a muted reaction. He had been warned

yesterday to expect this lesser verdict, the equivalent of

manslaughter. Reeva Steenkamp's family and friends tried to contain

their emotions. It's been a long ordeal. From the night the athlete

shot Reeva Steenkamp, believing, as the judge now agrees, that an

intruder had broken in. Through to Pistorius's own tearful evidence at

his murder trial. She wasn't breathing. To the anxious wait

yesterday and today from a verdict. His uncle thanked the judge for

rejecting the charge of murder. We always knew the facts of the matter.

We had never any doubt in Oscar's version. We, as a family, remain

deeply affected by the devastating tragedy event. And, it won't bring

Reeva back, but our hearts still go out for her family and friends. When

it comes to murder then, Oscar Pistorius has been given the benefit

of the doubt. Many here consider he's had a lucky escape. As for

Reeva Steenkamp's friends and family, they still need to know

whether her killer will spend any time in prison. We have to learn to

live without Reeva now. The grieving family say they want justice, not

revenge. Only people that have gone through this will understand. It's

easy for other people to look in and see and listen and have their

thoughts, but only once they've gone through it will they know what we

feel. Today, Pistorius left court a free man, for now. The judge agreed

to extend his bail and rejected the State's claim that he might flee the

country. The athlete will be back next month for sentencing. He could

still get a prison term. He could. It's a serious case of culpable

homicide because of the use of the firearm and that particularly that

four shots were fired. So, the judge has a complete discretion. She can

impose any kind of sentence. It could even be a non-jail sentence.

She needs to send out a strong message to the public. Tonight,

Pistorius is back at his uncle's home. Some, in South Africa, have

forgiven him, some have not. The possibility of a prison sentence

still hangs in the air. Well, after all the horrific details about Reeva

Steenkamp's death it's easy to forget 18 months ago it seemed like

nothing could stop Oscar Pistorius's extraordinary career. Our chief

sports correspondent, Dan Roan now has this assessment. Oscar Pistorius

did more than win races, he changed the way the world viewed disability.

Long before he became extraordinary, ordinary was all he wanted to be.

They may call me the Blade Runner I'm just Oscar. When I was born with

missing calf bones my parents faced the difficult decision of getting my

legs amputated. Today I can look back and say they definitely made

the right decision. Few know Pistorius as well as his long-term

training partner here in Pretoria. I can't count how many times he hugged

me. I can say Oscar is a gentleman. He is somebody who would stick to

his words. He was chasing a dream. A big dream. That dream began when at

school when he was given carbon fibre prosthetics and began to run.

Here in this stadium in March 2004 when a teenage Pistorius, after two

months of training with blades, showed just how good he was. Running

the 100 meters in just 11. 51 seconds, a new world record.

Confidence was no problem as Pistorius told the BBC in 2007. I

put in my more hours, I eat better, sleep better, race better. Overall I

think I'm more diligent. I train better than the other guys.

COMMENTATOR: Oscar Pistorius is flying away. Paralympic golds

followed in Athens and Beijing. By now, Pistorius had become a brand.

They told me that I'd never walk. The man with no legs can't run.

Anything else you want to tell me! In 2012 Pistorius made history. The

first amputee to run at the Olympics. There was controversy in

London too. Arnu Fourie, who was a roommate with Oscar Pistorius, told

me had he to move out of their room because Oscar had gone hysterical on

the phone, shouting and screaming on the phone. The story was confirmed

by other athletes who said it was terrible to witness. This incredible

meltdown. Fourie later said he left the room on medical advice before a

big race. There was a growing sense that fame and fortune had gone to

his team-mate's head. At Pretoria University, where Pistorius based

his training, a new generation of Paralympic hopefuls remain loyal. He

is still an inspiration for me, even though his circumstances. As I lost

my leg I saw him doing so well without two legs, and he was a role

model of mine. Is with Pistorius being sentenced next month, his

future remains unclear. In terms of Paralympics, Oscar was the first

global star, now life for him will be incredibly different. People are

already talking about, can he return to athletics? Well, I think Rio is

virtually impossible. There is how he feels psychologically and how

people will treat him around the world. Pistorius will now be defined

by tragic events away from the track. Whatever his punish am, one

of sports most dramatic falls from grace is complete. Dan Roan, BBC

News, Pretoria. -- punishments. This trial has been about so many things,

a celebrity murder a fallen I con for South Africa, the rare

experience of seeing a black woman judging a powerful white man. It's

been about one moment of confusion and madness and the death of a young

woman. Fiona. Andrew, thank you. Our top story. The unionist leader,

Ian Paisley, has died. He was 88. Coming up. Join me at Twickenham,

where these fans are attempting a world record and tickets for next

year's World Cup have gone on sale. On BBC London - the death of a nurse

caring for the Duchess of Cambridge at a central London Hospital. A

coroner says it was suicide and we'll be live at the Olympic Park

for day two of the Invictus Games. It's been another day

of intense campaigning in Scotland, ahead of next Thursday's referendum

on independence. Today saw Yes campaign leaders

visiting seven Scottish cities and the No campaign preparing

for a major Labour rally tonight which will see Ed Miliband

and the former Prime Minister, Yes, this time next week we will

almost certainly know whether or not Scotland will become

an independent country. A new poll today points to

a knife-edge result with the No campaign on 51%

and the Yes campaign on 49%. Well, Scotland's first minister,

Alex Salmond, says he is more confident than ever that the people

of Scotland will vote Yes. But the No campaign is fighting all

the way, as Lorna Gordon reports. Taking to the air, Alex Salmond and

others on his team, visiting all of Scotland's seven cities to push the

Yes message across the country. Thanks, John. The No campaign were

also out in force. In less than a week's time, we should know which

way Scots are voting. Polling suggests that at the moment the

result is too close to call. Both sides know it and are working hard

to secure their vote. We are a few days away from the people of

Scotland taking control of the future of our own country. The

Westminster establishment doesn't want that to happen so they'll throw

everything they can. But you know what, I don't think it'll work.

Those campaigning for the union, argued again today, that prices

could rise if people opt for independence. It is a claim they

believe resonates with voters. We're expected to take a risk on

supermarket prices. We have been warned that may be a consequence of

us becoming an independent country. The fact of the matter - it is not

necessary. Some businesses see risk with independence. Others say the

risks are being hyped up. So, who do savvy Scottish shoppers believe? It

is embarrassing. All scare tactics, nobody is listening to it. I don't

have any doubt that prices are going to change. A lot of things will, we

don't know what. For me that's the uncertainty of it all. Some postal

votes have already been cast but there are plenty of people who are

still undecided and new opinions are now being added into the mix. This

evening, Nigel Farage is wading in by giving a speech here in Glasgow.

It's not at all clear what affect his intervention will have, if any,

but he is not a politician that's known for holding back and he is

unlikely to get a warm welcome from some. This is not an independence

referendum. Salmond says it is, Better Together says it is, it is

not. This referendum is about separation from England and signing

up to be a full member of the EU state. Those campaigning for

independence remain focussed on their message, heading into this

final weekend. I'm pleased about the polls, obviously but I'm much more

pleased about this grassroots campaign, surging across the

southern cities of Scotland today, which I believe will carry Scotland

to victory next Thursday. Heading rhetoric from both sides, but still

time for a little humour amongst the voters, as the time to make a

decision on Scotland's future draws closer.

Well, the debate here about independence has prompted

other parts of the UK to question whether they should have more

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg,

called for more powers for England's cities - cities like Manchester.

From there, our correspondent, Mike Sergeant, sent this report.

City regions, like Greater Manchester,

They're watching events in Scotland and asking - what about us?

Nathan Cornish, a regional developer, thinks

the opportunity for devolution in England should be seized.

Manchester and the north-west is crying out for it.

I think they have the politicians here capable of making decisions.

It seems crazy that often big, important decisions are made 200

I think the region is crying out for more power.

One plan published today is for a ten-year process of transferring

powers, over things like housing, welfare and transport.

Combined authorities like Greater Manchester could be given full

control of council tax, property taxes and business rates might also

be devolved and perhaps, in time, even a share of income tax.

Ideas welcomed by Nick Clegg in Sheffield. If we are devolving more

power, as we should to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within

the UK, surely great cities like this should have more power to stand

on their own two feet as well. This clothing business has been

operating in Manchester for almost 100 years,

and some of the staff instinctively I mean,

they always talk about London, But the boss says new layers of

government aren't always welcome. If it was very, very small

and very controlled, yes. If it creates a lot of expense,

then, no. You don't want extra powers

if it means extra bureaucracy? I don't want any more cost-loading

to the already exhaustive costs we have loaded to a small factory

like this. Since the Second World War,

responsibilities for local government here in Manchester

and elsewhere have been squeezed. The dominant story has been one

of centralisation. And repeated attempts to push

control out to regional assemblies or elected mayors have failed,

often rejected by the very people they were designed to empower,

the residents themselves. The leaders of England's big cities

joined forces Both Government and Opposition say

they are listening but for so many years, power has been hoarded

in Westminster and Whitehall. The promise of English devolution,

as yet, unfulfilled. Our Scotland Political Editor,

Brian Taylor, is with me here. The campaigning is reaching fever

pitch. Still quite a few people who remain undecided. But the stakes are

so high? The stakes are enormous. The Chancellor, George Osborne was

due to attend a G20 summit in Australia the weekend after polling

on the Thursday. He has cancelled that visit that allows him to stay

in the UK to urge No vote and to cope with the aftermath if the vote

is Yes. The No camp is saying there is a genuine economic threat to

Scotland and people should reject independence. The Yes camp say it is

scaremongering a inScots should have the courage to vote Yes.

-- and the Scots. That's all for now. I will have more at 10.00pm.

Back to the studio. 60 dogs have been killed

in a fire that swept through a dogs' A 15-year-old boy has been

detained on suspicion of arson. The charity that runs the home says

it has been overwhelmed with the Nearly ?1 million has been pledged

online and dog food Looking out from her new kennel, Eva

has had a lucky escape. Last night she was pulled out of the Manchester

Dogs Home as fire raged through T Eva was one of 150 animals to be

saved as the flames took hold and local people joined with kennel

staff and firefighters. We saw a big bellow of smoke at the bottom of the

street. Daniel and Jason were two of those who helped with the rescue.

The building was on fire at the side. We were running past, windows

were popping. You obviously knew the dogs were in there. What was your

first thought? ? Get them out. We could hear them screaming. It was

quick reaction, straight down, in, get them out, one at a time. The

alarm was raised quickly but the fire was so fierce that more than

one-quarters of the dogs housed here died in the blaze. The building has

been declared so unsafe that it is currently not possible to find out

exactly how many perished. Kennel staff hasn't made it into the burned

building yet. The fire people have. Whether there is additional bodies

at the moment, we don't know. As far as we are concerned one was far too

many to be lost in the fire, let alone the number that we are facing.

A teenager has been arrested and the police are treating the fire as

arson. REPORTER: Can you give us an idea of how extensive the damage is?

It is a complex of different buildings, and one of the large

kennel buildings has been virtually completely destroyed. Most of the

dogs rescued last night have been brought to these kennels in

Cheshire. Many were suffering from the affects of breathing in smoke

and others were showing such signs of stress, they had to be sedated.

Founded in 1893, the Dogs Home is a well-loved Manchester institution.

People have rushed to help, donating ?1 million in 24 hours and bringing

piles of blankets, beds and dog food for Eva and the other surviving

animals. Organisers for the 2015 World Cup have defended the high

price of some of the tickets that went on sale today. Our sports

correspondent Natalie Picks reports -- Pirks reports.

Fans excited today to be among the famous faces, the in the record for

the world's largest skru. Excitement is now building one for the largest

events to be held on these shores. I will miss competing and running out

but goodness me, what I would give to be part of that Rugby World Cup

team, it would be phenomenal. The scrum for tickets has only just

begun. If you want it watch Wales take on England, the ballot is open

and although organisers say they have done their best to keep prices

down, prices vary. You can pick up a child's ticket for ?7 and an adult

for ?15 and if you are a Scotland fan, some matches are on sale for

?20. England fans are not so lucky. If you want to watch them here at

Twickenham, it'll cost a minimum of ?75 and that's if you are lucky

enough to get them through the official ballot. Sites like this

selling tickets for bay over face value were illegal during the

Olympics but the Government didn't extend that courtesy to the Rugby

World Cup. If you want to ensure the ticket is genuine, buy it through

us. That's the only way to be assured what you are getting will

turn up. New Zealand won the last World Cup in their own back yard.

How England fans would love to see those scenes emanated, if they can

get their hands on ticket, of course.

Now let's take a look at the weather with John Hammond.

A quiet weekend coming up. Up in space it is all happening. We have a

period of high solar activity which means there is a greater than normal

chance of seeing the Northern Lights. This picture was taken a few

weeks ago in the north of Scotland. You know what, if the skies remain

clear overnight, there is a greater than average chance you might see

the Northern Lights across northern parts of the UK, if the skies remain

clear. So take peak out of the window. Look to the north and you

might get a pleasant surprise. For the rest, a quiet night. Patchy

cloud. Areas of fog developing, particularly across more northern

parts. Nobody immune to a patch of fog in the rural areas, where there

are the lowest temperatures, particularly if it stays clear in

Northern Ireland and Scotland. No as cold further south. A murky start to

the day tomorrow. Fog and mist around which should lift and the

cloud should break and most of us look forward to sunshine. A nice day

for the middle of September. Like today, temperatures will respond

nicely. We got up to 24. We won't be far off in some places for tomorrow.

Winds light. The big picture through the weekend, a freshening easterly

wind. High pressure is still in control. That means most of us will

stay dry. Not ruling out the odd spot of drizzle and the odd light

shower across eastern areas on Sunday. The vast majority will stay

fine and it'll feel pleasant in the sunshine. Mostly dry, some sunshine,

but it'll be turning quite breezy. Thank you very much. That's it.

Goodbye from