06/09/2011 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline with Donna Traynor and Noel

Thompson. The headlines this Tuesday evening:

Big security for the opening of Northern Ireland first "supergrass"

trial in over quarter of a century. The police claim in court this man

is on the Real IRA Army Council. The incredible story of the

customers who ignored this woman as she suffered a seizure in a

hospital shop. I was cradling her head and I could

feel people nudging as they were squeezing past.

Drilling for gas in the rock beneath the Fermanagh countryside -

the answer to our energy needs or a threat to the environment? Join me

live in Enniskillen. And the Republic's 2012 hopes are

still alive but the fate of their they are island could be decided

For the first time in a quarter of a century, a supergrass trial has

begun in Northern Ireland. The word was shorthand in the Eighties for

paramilitaries who gave evidence against fellow terrorists. Today, a

former UVF member took the stand to testify against 14 men in at

Belfast Crown Court. Robert Stewart was flanked by two

police officers as he gave evidence against the people he says were in

the same UVF gang. He told the court that a senior UVF man, Mark

Haddock, ordered the murder of a UDA rival.

It's the opening day of the largest trial in Northern Ireland for

decades. Mark Haddock and his 13 co-accused face a litany of

terrorist charges. 97 in total, including nine charges of the

murder of the UDA man, Tommy English. 17 of causing grievous

bodily harm, 14 of possessing a firearm with intent, and five of

kidnapping. With more details is our Home

Affairs Correspondent. Supporters of some of the 14 defendants stage

a protest. Inside the meant set side-by-side flanked by prison

officers. Mark Haddock sat out site of the dock. A security measure to

protect him as the team of his co- accused were once charged with

trying to murder him. Mark Haddock and eight others are charged with

the murder of Tommy English. He was shot dead at his home in

Newtonabbey on Hallowe'en night 11 years ago. His widow, seen here on

the left, was in court as prosecution lawyers outlined the

evidence she will give about what happened that night. They said that

Tommy English had been lighting fireworks outside their home with

his wife and children Shrigley after 6 o'clock and had gone inside

for a cup of coffee. They said that Mrs English will tell the court

that a short time later she heard a knock at the back door and when she

opened it up it was forced open and she was confronted by a masked man

holding a gun. There were three other mast men behind him. She

tried to stop the men coming in but she was forced aside. She then

heard shots and saw her husband lying on the floor and three of the

attackers leaving. At that stage the 4th man shouted at them to come

back and make sure they finished him off. A gunman then fired again

at Tommy English as he laid on the floor. It took cord and care just

over an hour to outline the prosecution case against the nine

men charged with the murder. The five others are charged with the

range of offences but not murder. This afternoon the limit UVF member

Robert Stewart gave evidence. He is one of two brothers who admitted

hijacking a car used by the killers and agree to give evidence against

others they said were involved in the murder. Flanked by two armed

police officers, he told the judge that he had known Mark Haddock

since he joined the UVF 17 years ago. He said that Mark Haddock was

the UVF commander in the area. Looking at the men in the document

outlined how he knew them. The witness told the court that on the

afternoon of the day Tommy English was killed, he was in a flat in

Newtonabbey with most of the accused. There was a loyalist feud

at the time and he said word came through that a UVF member had been

shot dead. He said those in the flat reacted with anger and decided

to kill a member of the UDA in a revenge attack. He said Mark

Haddock and others decided that the victim would become the English who

lived about a mile away. Robert Stewart told the court that Mark

Haddock ASBOs in the flat who wanted to carry out the shooting.

He said three of the men in the dock volunteered. He claimed that

Darren Moore, seen here wearing a scarf, said that he would drive

them. A short time later he said Mark Haddock left and told them to

try a 2 missed the children when they shot Tommy English. He said

another of the accused wish them good luck. Robert Stewart then

provided more details of his involvement with the UVF. He

admitted his role in a serious assaults in 1996 and to beating up

victims with a baseball bat. He claimed Mark Haddock and others

have been involved in those attacks. The 37 year-old will continue

giving evidence tomorrow morning. The supergrass system was used to

convict dozens of paramilitaries in the 1980s. Most were freed on

appeal because judges ruled the convictions were flawed and unsafe.

So will it be any more successful this time round? BBC Newsline's

Will Leitch is with me. Will, what's different this time

round? The really big difference is a

change in the law. In the 1980s, the trials took place under the

common law which really meant there was no specific, written legal

guidance about what was allowed and what wasn't. That meant there was a

real lack of transparency about what witnesses had been offered in

return for their evidence. But that changed in 2005 with a new law, the

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, which set out clear guidelines.

What are those guidelines? Let's take a look at them. Well, for one

thing, the supergrass or co- operating witness has first to

admit to all their past crimes and plead guilty before the court. They

don't get immunity, but they do a get a big reduction in their

sentence. In the case of the Stewart brothers, who are the

witnesses in this case, their sentences were cut from 22 years to

three years. There is also a written contract between the

witness and the prosecutor. If the witness breaks the contract by

withdrawing their evidence, then they are back on the hook for the

full sentence. In the past that wouldn't have happened. Are there

any other differences? Well, in terms of the police investigation,

there is a difference. They have two separate teams - one which

deals with interrogating the co- operating witness and another which

carries out the investigation into specific crimes. The reason for

this separation is to avoid the perception that a single team would

lead the witness to tailor their story to allow a particular crime

to be cleared. And the prosecution has no other evidence other than

the work of the Supergrass? Under that legislation this might be all

that they had. And they carry out the trial this way because they

have to. There is a certain degree of distaste in the legal community

for this but the feeling is that it more serious criminals can be put

behind bars then that is the price to pay.

The police claim a man who appeared in court this morning on terrorism

charges is a senior member of the Real IRA. The man was arrested in

County Tyrone on Sunday. Here's our district journalist, Gordon Adair.

This is Kevin Barry Murphy. Police say he leads the Real IRA in East

Tyrone and is part of that organisation's so-called army

council. The fingerprints of the Coalisland man where allegedly

discovered on a coffee grinder found during a police operation in

South Armagh in April. Detectives believe that the coffee grinder was

linked to bomb-making material including Semtex which was found in

a pilot was stopped. The detective said that the accused had a

previous Terrorism belated conviction as the objected to bail

and that he was well known through Ireland. In Spain three of his

fingerprints had been found on the coffee grinder and they believed it

was linked to the bomb-making materials which according to the

detective had been found in the car. A defence solicitor said his client

would deny the claim that he was a member of the Real IRA and pointed

out that he was not charged with membership of any illegal

organisation. He said the coffee grinder in question was an everyday

household item which could be bought almost anywhere. Bail was

granted with took sureties of �20,000 each. But the accused

remains in custody tonight after the prosecution launched an

immediate appeal. He is due to appear in the High Court in Belfast

tomorrow. The father of a teenager with

epilepsy has told of his disappointment about how members of

the public reacted when his daughter took a seizure. Danielle

Burns was treated by paramedics when she became ill in the shop in

the Royal Victoria Hospital. But some people were not at all

considerate. Chris Page has the story.

18 year-old Daniel Burns loves her pets and wants to work as an animal

care. But for the past two years sea has been almost housebound

because of a severe form of epilepsy. Last Wednesday she was

treated in the Royal Victoria Hospital and then took a seizure in

the hospital shop. Danielle was on the floor. It looks quite

frightening it you have not seen a seizure before. She stopped

breathing, she convulses and she bit her tongue badly in this

particular instance so there was blood. Despite the distressing

scene the behaviour of some members of the public is very disappointing.

I was cradling her head to stop her injuring herself and I could kill

people nudging my back, squeezing past me. They were more interested

in buying sandwiches and bars of chocolate. The paramedic was there

and this gentleman leant over and tapped him on the shoulder and said,

could you pass me that the manner milkshake? The whole shop just went

quiet. They all exchanged looks of discussed. David is full of praise

for the paramedics and for the shop staff we did all they could. But he

was surprised by the reactions of other people. You would not like to

think that that was the way that society has changed. I would like

to think there is still compassion out there and a bit of

understanding. It back home Danielle is recovering. The family

hoped that by telling the story it will encourage people to think

twice won the seat someone suddenly taken ill. -- when they see someone

suddenly taken ill. Still to come on the programme:

This former army chaplain tells us why he accepted Martin McGuiness's

invite to speak at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. And the new hope for

stroke patients - local scientists reveal the super scanner.

With the price of imported oil and gas going up again, there's a big

appetite to find local sources of energy that can ease the pressure

on our purse strings. Tapping into underground gas is an option being

considered in County Fermanagh. It's called "fracking" and in a

moment we'll hear from its opponents and supporters. But first

of all this is how it works. The first step involves drilling down

and shattering hard shale rock with small explosions. Then water, sand

and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure, releasing

the gas. It's then sucked up into the well. Fracking has come in for

negative criticism recently in England when it was linked to two

small earthquakes near Blackpool. So what sort of a reaction will

people in County Fermanagh have if it's used there? Julian Fowler is

Well, not too many people here me know a lot about fracking. Or if

they do, they've seen and heard some pretty scary stories. For

example, a film called Gaslands was recently screened here which

appears to show residents in America setting fire to their tap

water after shale gas leak into their water supplies. So, it's not

surprising that some people are very concerned. This area behind me

will be polluted by the extraction of gas. That will they from noise

pollution from lorries drilling right through to the injection of

chemical fluids into the Earth. They will surface themselves in

five or 10 years' time and we do not know the consequences of that.

We should carry out a proper risk assessment. Tamboran is the company

which has been given a licence to explore for shale gas in this area.

Richard Moormon, are these just scare stories, or can you guarantee

that fracking is 100% safe? We will guarantee that fracking is 100%

safe. What about the visual and noise impacts on the environment?

Accidents can happen. In the United States won in 1,000 wells are

failing. Things like that do happen with industrial activity. There are

no strict regulations around how much we can work and how much noise

we can make. What benefits will thus bring? We are probably talking

about 800 local jobs across the areas. Good jobs. People having to

look after expensive equipment so it does not feel on us. These jobs

will last for 30 to 50 years, there is the option of a career there.

Many in the audience will still take some convincing that fracking

is safe. A Londonderry Presbyterian minister has defended his decision

to address this weekend's Sinn Fein Ard Fheis as an opportunity to

build friendships across the political and religious divide. The

Reverend David Latimer will make history when he addresses

republicans at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Friday evening.

Here's our political editor. It is an unlikely friendship. David

Latimer her first got in touch with Martin McGuinness to ask for his

help in stopping vandals targeting his charge. Their relationship

blossomed and now the minister is set to address Sinn Fein's first

Ardeche north of the border. would be naive of me to imagine

everybody is going to be over the moon with what I am doing but I

think the approach to moving our country forward has to be multi-

dimensional. Politicians have a particular role, community leaders

are doing wonderful work, but the charge by its very message and

mission are in the business of transformation. Every year

Republicans give a rousing reception to their own president,

but what will the make of the Unionist clergy man? It is an

opportunity for people of you may not agree with us but still to come

and talk with us. There may be some discord among Presbyterians about

the minister's acceptance of the invitation but the minister insists

he is in tune with changing times. Looking ahead to tomorrow's BBC

Newsline and we focus on a controversial move in the health

service. Here's our correspondent. After months of speculation,

tomorrow the Belfast Health Trust will reveal its plans as to when

the doors of the city Hospital's accident and emergency department

will close. I will bring you the information on that temporary

closure and what impact the move will have on the hundreds of staff

who work here, and on you, the patient. Still to come on tonight's

BBC Newsline, we look at a new treatment that could help some of

the thousands damaged by stroke or head injury. Now, sport, and often

we hear the words crucial, vital and 'must win' when it comes to

international football games. You could certainly say that about the

Northern Ireland and the Republic matches today. Gavin Andrews has

the latest on those qualifiers for next year's European Championship.

In less than an hour the match against Estonia kicks off. The

beautiful city of talent provides a spectacular backdrop. It is win or

bust here in Estonia if Northern Ireland are to remain in with a

chance of making it to their first major finals in 25 years. They will

start with two up front, Chris Brunt and David Healy. He netted

the winner of the last time Northern Ireland were here.

Qualification is an uphill struggle but the captain is positive. No one

is really running away with it. We are still hanging on in there. We

also understand that now there is not much room for error, we need to

pick up maximum points from these last few games. Over 1,200 Northern

Ireland fans are expected here for this evening's game. Many of them

have paid a special visit to a memorial for one of Northern

Ireland's greatest ever sports men. He lost his life while racing in

Estonia in the year 2000. Supporters have left scars, flowers

and special plaques to honour the five times world champion. I gamma

cricket man really but I go to the matches as well. I came to see this

memorial. I remember him racing when I was young. When you see a

loss of life of someone from Northern Ireland out here it is

important to pay your respects. Those fans are now making their way

to the stadium for a tonight's game which has a late kick-off time of

half past nine. And there's live coverage of the game on Radio

Ulster just after seven. Well, in the last hour, the Republic have

managed to secure an 0-0 draw in Moscow that keeps alive their

qualification hopes. But it was not pretty. This was always going to be

a make or break fixture. Right from the word go, the Russians dominated.

The Aston Villa man was the busiest player on the pitch! The Republic

were saved again with this core mine-clearance. -- goal line

clearance. Keenan went closest for the Republic, but as Russia pushed

for a winner the Irish defence held firm to clinch a hard fought. Which

could be vital in their qualification bed. Ulster Rugby's

latest signing has arrived in Northern Ireland. He is a former

New Zealand international. Bleary eyed after almost 30 hours of

travelling, he touches down in Belfast ready for a fresh challenge.

The 25-year-old New Zealander comes to Northern Ireland with a big

reputation from the southern hemisphere. I was looking to make a

move and do something, I took a look at the team and the place and

decided to do it. I have been in New Zealand all my life, I am

looking forward to getting a look around and experiencing something

different. He is available to play from next week at a time when key

players are in his homeland at the World Cup. After a winning start

against Glasgow last weekend his team-mates are excited about what

he can bring. He should do really well here, he is the kind of player

we need right now. Plenty of experience and knowledge that the

young guys can learn from. Friday he will travel to Italy to

watch Ulster take on their opponents. Finally, Ireland's

cricket team started their four day Intercontinental Cup match against

Namibia today at Stormont. Rain stopped play. Not a good day for

cricket today! Ground-breaking research at Queen's University

could help the process of recovery for some stroke patients. Using a

new machine, scientists are reawakening parts of the brain

damaged through stroke. Our reporter has seen the new

This 72-year-old suffered a stroke four years ago. He lost the power

in his right hand. Now he is volunteering to try out a

revolutionary new treatment. Using the only machine of its kind in

Ireland D machine can pinpoint the exact location of the damaged brain

tissue. They stimulate the area affected by the stroke and after

just three sessions it appears to be working. The first time I came I

could not make a fist. That is a wonder, a medical! -- a miracle. My

hand was useless. The treatment helps the brain recover and could

also be used to combat dementia and Alzheimer's. When will it be

available in hospitals? It would typically be used in conjunction

with an movement therapy. It is a way of enhancing the therapeutic

interventions that are there already. In principle, if we

continue to show it works, there is no reason it could not be

implemented within a couple of years. Until then, the scientists

need more volunteers for trials. Fantastic research work going on

all over the place. Now let us get the latest on the weather forecast.

I like to a, I love windy weather. -- I like today. It really has been

about the wind did a. Winds have been gusting in excess of 50 miles

an hour a long parts of the north coast. It is all down to the big

autumn storm that came our way in the last 24 hours. There have also

been fingers of rain moving southwards across Northern Ireland.

Things will dry up later on this evening. The winds have caused some

disruption to some of the fast ferries across the Channel. There

are still some cancellations this evening. This area of rain to the

south of Belfast will continue to move southwards in the next couple

of hours. Wins will gradually eased away tonight. There will still be a

few scattered showers around though rain will east tonight. -- the rain

will ease. Tomorrow is another cool and showery day. The wind will not

be as strong as today. There will be some showers around in the

morning, mostly in the West. There will be a longer spell of rain

towards the end of the afternoon. Temperatures will be similar to

today. Towards the end of the day we will see this longer spell of

been so wet weather returning to most places late in the day and

through the evening tomorrow. Still quite breezy. Fortunately, things

are looking a bit dry air on Tuesday, the recent sunshine -- on

Thursday, the next weather system will move up from the south-west.

There will be more rain and windy weather for the end of the week.

Temperatures sneaking up into the high teens. We are spoiled! A

reminder of the top stories: A former UVF terrorist has given

evidence against 14 men at the start of the first Supergrass trial