03/11/2011 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline. The headlines this evening.

Emergency talks to try to persuade the boss of Northern Ireland Water

to stay on. Liam Adams, brother of the Sinn

Fein president Gerry Adams, appears in court on sex-abuse charges.

Weeks after the rescue of a toddler, locals swimming pool, new rules on

the number of children per adult. We reveal what is left of the

secret plan to generate electricity. This is the hope in, it has been

sealed off for over 30 years. are gearing up for the MTV awards

but tonight at the Ulster Hall it will talk about Northern Ireland's

finest talent. And after today's downpours, the ground is once again

super saturated - will it get a chance to dry out?

I'll have all the weather for you later.

Emergency talks have been held at Northern Ireland Water throughout

the day as the company appears to be making desperate efforts to hold

on to its Chief Executive. But it's up to Regional Development Minister

Danny Kennedy to approve any deal. Yesterday we revealed that Trevor

Haslett had signalled he wants to go. But, according to the company,

he hasn't yet formally resigned. Jim Fitzpatrick, who broke this

story yesterday, has the latest on what's going on.

There is a problem at the top of Northern Ireland Water. It cannot

keep its chief executives imposed. First Catherine Bryant jumped ship

in 2008 over mistaking financial projections. Her successor, Chris

Mellor, was pushed out in 2010 p in a row over contracts. Morris

McKenzie ended his time at the top in January of this year. Now Trevor

Haslett wants to go as well. 10 years is the main issue. He

received �130,000 per year, a good weight by Northern Ireland

standards but the previous boss had a total package closer to 200 to

�2,000. The boss of Trans link is paid �200,000 and the chief

executive of a similar-sized company in the private sector would

probably earn �300,000. But money is only part of the problem.

Remember this? I asked them to consider in the light of the report,

they felt it did not merit a resignation. I felt that it did and

I have subsequently dismissed the board. All this? He has been

shambolic at stages. It has been ineffective. It has not been the

kind of organisation that is fit for purpose. Political interference

makes the job even less attractive. I think him I was to put this job

up on the board for him papers I do not think I would get any

application from private-sector people who could run this place

because of the interference. With all his predecessors meeting an

untimely end up the company, it is perhaps no wonder that Trevor

Haslett is seeking a little bit of security of tenure.

A brother of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has been in court in

Belfast on sex abuse charges. Liam Adams was extradited from the

Republic last night. Julie McCullough was in the court.

It has been almost two years since Liam Adams handed himself in to

police in Dublin after a European arrest warrant had been issued by

the PSNI. He faces 18 charges of sexual abuse including rape, gross

indecency and indecent assault. Liam Adams denies the allegations

and had fought against extradition to face the charges but was handed

over to PSNI officers yesterday evening. His alleged victim is his

daughter, Aine Tyrell, who has waived her right to anonymity. She

was in court today as was his second wife and a daughter from

this marriage. This was Liam Adams's first appearance in a

Northern Ireland Court on these charges. His solicitor told the

court that his client had nowhere to run but bail was refused on the

grounds that he is a real flight risk. He is due to appear in court

again by a video link on Tuesday week.

Two 17-year-old youths and a 16- year-old have been in court,

accused of incitement to hatred, after a social networking site

published a photograph which appeared to show two of them

burning a poppy. The incident, which happened in Coleraine, was

reported to the police on Tuesday. The 16-year-old was also charged

with improper use of a social networking site.

Castlereagh Borough Council has changed its policy on parents and

children swimming at the Robinson Centre after a toddler almost

drowned there last month. But it seems the new restrictions are

frustrating some parents of more than one young child. The centre's

new policy is now one adult to one child under four, as the council

has been explaining for this week's family focus. We have taken the

opportunity to review the procedures and a number of

procedures show at the centre. What we can he have in place is that in

the main pool we still enforce the ratio of one adult of 16 above

supervising one child under the age of four. In the topical and the

learner pool at the far end we have tried to relax the ratio slightly

to make it more friendly and those races will be 1-1 in normal

circumstances but if the parents comes along and one of the children

are wearing life arm bands them we can allow a two to want ratio.

There's no actual law covering the number of children to an adult, but

the change of policy at the Robinson Centre came from guidance

recommended by the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management,

who advise swimming pools on this issue. I spoke to Sean Holt from

the Institute earlier. For children under the age of seven we would

advocate that the parent could bring those children into their

local swimming pool in a non swimming area and have a ratio of

123, because safety is our key concern as it is for the council

and large operators. One adult to one child under four is terribly

restricted to parents of may be two small children and they will want

to bother going to the swimming pool. In 2005, when we did the last

survey of customers that a 10 swimming pools, over 77% of parents

surveyed welcomed the guidance, and that is what it is. It is down to

the local council or the operator of the swimming pool to do no risk

assessment of that swimming pool and that environment because, as

you can appreciate, every pool is different and they have different

challenges. Under taking a risk assessment from the operator's

perspective gives them the guidance that they need to make sure that

the environment they are operating is safe for young children to go

and enjoy that with their parents. How common are drowning incidents

or potential training incidents, as we saw in the Robinson Centre, in

the UK? Before our guidance was published, in conjunction with the

help and Safety Executive in 1992, there were around 25-35 drownings

each year. Because of the guidance and because of good practice from

councils and leisure operators, last year there were around five

drownings. Anyone drowning is a drowning to many but I am sure your

viewers will appreciate that we want to create a safe environment

and that is a massive improvement be fought 1992, was sadly we do

have a number of instance a result it in children drowning.

It is an issue that has got a lot of you talking on our Facebook page.

You can join the debate at the address shown.

Still to come on the programme. TV is so impressed by Bell us that

it is coming back. But when? Find out later. And will be talking to a

local man who turned his passion into a business. Prisoner welfare

has long been a contentious issue at Maghaberry Prison.

And today, a new phase of prisoner care was unveiled - a revamped �3

million Learning and Skills Centre. And, as Kevin Sharkey reports, it's

providing a new look at the beleaguered prison.

The changing face of life in prison. Helping to rehabilitate offenders

in different ways. BT also has a place, as well as music. And the

intention is less of this. Outside investigations and damning reports

have put prisoner welfare among some of the issues coming short.

There have been many calls for change and new facilities like this

are part of that change. Part of the plan is done when prisoners

over. It is something that will produce tension to make life better

for prisoners. If prisoners are happier and more content they are

more likely to be rehabilitated when they come out. There are about

1000 prisoners in total in Maghaberry. Traditionally, it is

very much punitive, behind a door scenario, now we are more aware and

more into an active, opening a door and talking to people.

something's will stay the same. The SDLP will elect a new leader at

the weekend. But who will it be? Four men - one job. And a party

that has been losing votes for years. Our political correspondent

Martina Purdy takes a look at the candidates.

It has been less than it two years since Margaret Ritchie sees the top

job in the SDLP, beating the South Belfast MP by a narrow margin. Now

she is bowing out and Alasdair McDonnell is back in the race,

insisting he has the track record to restore the glory days. People

want me to take the south Belfast recipe and extend the right across

the North. I have been growing vote in south Belfast and I have no

difficulty, knowing people right across every constituency, people

are interested, in private, they asked me how due to it, and Kennedy

that elsewhere? I believe I can. But this time there is more

competition. Patsy McGlone, the deputy leader, was first in the

race, and makes no apologies for seizing the initiative. Many said

there was no crisis of leadership, no crisis of management, including

some who are in the race today. But that is why we are here, to say

enough is enough. We will stop any internal division, will put an end

to the cliques. Real change has been promised by this MLA, who

thinks it is time for a new generation to take charge. I want

to lead the SDLP because, bluntly, someone still needs to speak out.

And this party, and what we stand for, our boys, News to be heard.

Someone needs to speak out because whilst Stormont is stable, working

families have never had it tougher. Talking of tough, try me, says this

government minister, who insists he has a proven record. All that, in

my view, is proven leadership. Being in the toughest places of

political life and making the argument and that argument

prevailing. Skills that I learnt from... He will win? It is hard to

say. The result will be known on Saturday afternoon when around 300

and a great vote at the annual conference here at this Belfast

A decision to abandon the tunnel means we are paying more for our

power. It runs under land owned by Northern Ireland Electricity which

has just come up for sale. The tunnel has just been rediscovered.

Every day, we waste electricity. It is generated by power stations,

especially at night time. Today, that includes power from wind

turbines. Over 40 years ago it was decided to build a system hit to

solve the problem. These are the hills above this lake at Camlough.

It started in the Sixties, plans to build up a pump station under the

hills with a vast reservoir on the top. A huge access tunnel would be

carved into the mountain. It would have a 200 and -- 200 plus megawatt

power station. There would be a vertical tunnel to generate

electricity. At night-time, the water would be pumped back up into

the reservoir ready for the next morning's power demand. Somewhere

in these hills work began but was never finished. He long tunnel was

dire, it was claimed, but it has long since been forgotten. Deep

underground, is an almost identical system. It also studied did the

late 1960s. It is 1000 ft below the mountain and it is a critical part

of Scotland Electricity Supply. Whenever for it all comes to half-

time and everyone puts the kettle on, you need energy supply quickly

and often that comes from here where we go from 0 to a maximum

output of 440 megawatts in a matter of seconds. Power can then be used

the next day. In effect, It is storing electricity that would

otherwise be wasted. We know work had started on a be identical

scheme in Northern Ireland but the locals we spoke to did not know

where it was and had not even heard of it. Then, after a day, we found

the access tunnel. This is the opening that has been sealed off

for over 30 years. It goes a kilometre level into the hillside

and this is where they would have taken lorries carrying the whole

power station in to build it. Anything had to go through here.

Inside is just a very dark tunnel hacked out of the local rock but

with a cement roadway. We have not got enough like to see very far. It

is very wet and it is flooded behind so why were not going the

further. There is the risk of dangers gases building up further

in So the safest thing to do his head out. Since finding the tunnel

we have found his photograph taken during its construction. All the

bits to make the power station were constructed and brought to Northern

Ireland. All that was required was somebody to put them together but

that never happened. It is understood that in the early

Nineties it was sold off, probably for scrap. As a result, we have all

had to pay a bit more for electricity ever since.

The lovely Stephen Watson has joined me for the sport in a moment.

Well, folks, it's finally happening. The stars are descending on Belfast

for the MTV awards. Well, one of them anyway. Singer Bruno Mars is

in town and Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber are due in their private

jets tomorrow. But before that, our home grown musical talent are

playing a sold out gig in the Ulster Hall and our reporter

Natasha Sayee is there live for us. Natasha, what's happening?

It is probably the biggest gig of a whole event. With me is the front

man from Ash, Tim Wheeler. This is a big bonus for you, isn't it?

it is. My dad died from Alzheimer's in January and a wanted to do

something for the disease. He got amazing care from the Alzheimer's

Society. You feel helpless when someone you know -- love is

suffering from Alzheimer's. I also knew that Neil Hammond from the

Divine Comedy has it and has spoken about it so it help knowing a

friend was going through the same thing as myself. I thought is that

two of us got together and did a gig it would be a men as -- amazing

and we could raise awareness. Luckily, thanks to MTV and all that

stuff, there is this music week. I mentioned it to some of the

organisers a long time ago and they said, would you like and night at

the Ulster Hall? We jumped at it. We needed someone else to make it

extra special so we asked The Undertones. Thank you and we hope

it goes really well. It is sold out. If you can't get to it, don't panic.

It is being strained by Northern Ireland. One thing before I hand

back, MTV has announced it is so impressed by Belfast it is coming

back for the Titanic centenary send abrasions and there will be an

outdoor gig on the slipway. Good luck to Tim and the boys.

It will be a great concert. Our golfers are very much in

contention in the World Championship event in China. Here's

Stephen Watson. All three of our major winners -

Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell - are vying for the

�750,000 first prize. After today's opening round, Portrush's McDowell

is the best placed - four shots off the lead. But it's Rory McIlroy who

unsurprisingly got the most attention, as Thomas Niblock

reports. All eyes on Rory McIlroy this week.

He was accompanied by his girlfriend and world tennis number

one. He won the Shanghai Masters on Sunday and is favourite to win

again this week. Although not everything went according to plan.

Rory McIlroy finished on two under par and and not keep -- unlucky not

to be closer to the leaderboard. One shot ahead of him is Graeme

McDowell who is four shots off the lead despite an horrendous triple

Graeme McDowell hit seven birdies, leaving him very much in contention.

But leading the way on seven under par he's the US PGA champion,

Keegan Bradley. Darren Clarke is eight shots off

the lead. Michael Hoey, 11 behind. Steve Lomas was unveiled as the new

manager of Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone. The 37-year-old

former Northern Ireland international has signed a two-and-

a-half year contract, and is keen to continue the good work of his

predecessors. They have done a good job but a lot of credit has to go

to St Johnstone. They gave a lot of support and credit to a young

manager so that was one of the key elements for me.

Ireland's leading Gaelic footballers are getting ready to

play Australia tomorrow morning in the second and final International

Rules test match. The one-sided nature of Ireland's victory in the

first game by 44 points has raised doubts about the long-term future

of the series. However, Ireland are expecting a robust response from

their opponents tomorrow. We are not stupid. We will be going out to

win it as much as last Friday night. The boys are very focused. It will

be read the focused and we will be ready for whatever is ahead of us.

With the recent turn in the weather you might think it's time for our

cyclists to put their bikes in hibernation. But, not so. Instead,

they head off the beaten track and into our Parks for some off-road

racing. Nial Foster went to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in

Belfast to find out what it's all Through the leaves and between the

trees, that is what attracts hundreds of cyclists to the winter

sport. They want fitness throughout the year. They want a safe

environment also. The idea that they have 10 laps of a small and

short circuit. Liz takes place at six different venues all over

Northern Ireland which means riders can stay in the saddle all year

round. Ruud racing is from March to six -- September as well as

mountain racing. It was something to keep racing during the winter

and that is how it involved -- evolved. The rough terrain provided

different type of challenge. There is a lot of training you have to do

in the winter for the road season and this is a distraction from the

usual bike rides. It is good to come out, there are lots of people

around and it is social. But this day in the park as a competitive

edge. Looks like to -- good fun.

Mucky! These may be difficult times to launch a new business but where

there's a passion, it seems there is a way. Lisburn man Davy

Uprichard started making cider as a hobby but with the orchards of

Armagh not too far away, his pastime is fast becoming full-time.

Our rural affairs correspondent Martin Cassidy went along to find

With the big harvest to process, the Apple Press is busy. Here, the

Jews is squeezed from chopped apple. Fermentation can take up to six

months to produce the taste and character of an artisan cider.

is a small project. He is making cider as he would like to drink it.

As he would say, there are as many different varieties as there are

two wind. You would not expect every wine to taste the same and

this is the same for cider. That is the last of cold stored, Discovery.

They are nice and sweet. These are a nice crisp, acidic apple. Be in

your ordinary Bramley. What started as a hobby... What started as a

hobby has become a passion. We have signed up with a distributor to get

cider around the north. We are in discussion with a distributor in

Dublin. We went to a beer festival and handed out samples in Dublin.

Fantastic response there so there is a lot of interest from

distributors in the south. Still early days but he is predicting the

business will eventually employ between 5 and ten people. But for

now, there are a lot of apples to process and bottles to label.

That is making us thirsty! Absolutely!

Really bad weather out there so let Hello. It is probably the worst day

of the week. There have been reports of flooding, particularly

across parts of It down and Armagh. -- Down. Although the worst of the

downpours are moving away, for the next couple of hours they could be

minor flooding on some roads so that is something to be aware of.

Still the odd shower coming through but it will ease off with a lot of

places becoming drive. Late in the night, there will be further heavy

showers kipping parts of the East Coast. -- clipping. Clear skies in

the West and maybe the odd hint of mist or fog. The blue skies we saw

early in the week are coming back tomorrow and they should hang

around for a good part of the weekend. Pleasant sunshine to look

forward to by the end of the morning. One or two sharp showers

first been on the East Coast but they will be temporary. Today, at

lunchtime and early afternoon, you may have got a good soaking but to

date -- tomorrow we are looking at dry conditions. Plenty of sunshine

and light wings. Temperatures a little above average and it will

feel pleasant in the sunshine and we will probably seek scenes like

this. If you like to take photographs, send them to us. As

the clear skies persist tomorrow night, it will be cooler and