03/01/2012 BBC Newsline

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

Traynor. The headlines this Tuesday evening. Storm force winds bring

destruction, travel disruption and power cuts to tens of thousands of

people. Today's storms will continue to ease this evening but a

fresh batch of strong winds will develop tomorrow again. For parts

of the west, heavy rain will bring a risk of flooding. Could an

American college archive yield vital evidence relating to the

murder 40 years ago of Jean McConville? The search intensifies

for a County Antrim man who's been missing since Sunday after going

out for a cycle ride. And how hundreds of battery hens have been

given new life at a rescue centre in County Down. It is lovely to be

able to do something to help them. Power cuts, damage to homes, fallen

trees. We certainly bore the full brunt of last night's powerful

winds with many reports of narrow escapes from falling debris. The

winds were storm force in places. At Malin Head, Ireland's most

northerly point, the winds briefly whipped up to hurricane level. Tens

of thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity

and this evening about 8,000 are still cut off. Our cameras have

recorded the aftermath from Crom to Crossgar. But it's the North West

first, and Keiron Tourish in Londonderry. An indication of the

strength of the winds sweeping the north-west this morning. This tree

was uprated and landed close to these homes at Broom Hill Avenue in

the Waterside. One elderly couple say they were terrified. It is the

second time actually has come down close to their home in nine months.

Some of the branches hit the window so we were very lucky that the

window did not go in with half of the house away with it. We were

very fortunate. Although it's bad enough. It is something we have

been dreading for some time. I and 88 years old and my wife is 72. We

are pretty well on. We could do without this sort of trouble, very

much so. Next door, Mark Hamilton fears that his car has been written

off. He has concerns for the safety of his daughters, aged five, 13 and

16, but they were unhurt. It was very close. You cannot complain.

It's just after Christmas. OK... Body were about is the car. It

could be worse. Residents say they have warned of the obvious dangers

of the past and they want urgent action. Elsewhere in the City, part

of Bishop Street was closed after slates and debris blew off the roof

of the Masonic Hall and across the street, the local court sittings

continued. In the Brandywell, a metal fence came down due to the

force of the wind. The police said that they had been inundated with

calls about fallen trees causing disruption across the north-west.

Meanwhile, in I E engineers had to cut supplies to 2000 customers

outside Derry to repair a major fault. Homes and businesses in

Campsie, Carnmoney, Eglinton and at the Industrial Estate lost their

power was the fault was repaired. The driver of this car escaped with

hand injuries. When you consider the damage to the car, he is

fortunate to be alive. The man who works for the Road Service is

understood to have been on his way to the scene of another fallen tree

when his car was set. Other modes of transport also find the high

wind too much to handle. The storms which it Fermanagh this morning

ripped off part of the riff from this store in Enniskillen.

happened at around 6am, just really strong wind which blows incapacity

across and hits this side of the Stalker and that caused severe

damage and dislodged some of the rift. We hope to have it fully

operational in the morning. Fallen trees blocked roads and brought

down power and communication lines as well. 10,000 customers were

without electricity, with the worst-hit areas being East Antrim,

Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Bangor. Everything was

escalated this morning, the local centres, all 12 of them, and here

in Craigavon, ready for the storm. Currently, we have 8500 customers

without supply. Whilst the Met Office says the worst storms

happened while you were asleep, in exposed areas, like here in the

Craigantlet Hills, you can still feel the full force of the wind

buffeting against you. Which is good news if you happen to be the

owner of a wind turbine first stop this burkha. Most Sea ferry

services have been operating on time but Stella has advised

passengers to contact their telephone line before travelling.

There was slight disruption to some fights today but not a lot. With

some deciding just to sit it out. On the windswept city centre

streets it was a struggle to keep things from taking off. Even for

the long arm of the lough. The storms have bought the New Year in

with a vengeance, blowing away any lingering remnants of the Christmas

holiday period. All along the north coast there were spectacular sights

as the high winds whipped up the surf. But a few miles inland, some

houses were damaged by the storm. Chris Page spent the day in the

area. His report begins in Portrush. Looking and sounding all Sun. The

wind and the sea buffeted the north coast been fears fashion. The wind

isn't as strong as it has been but it is still absolutely ferocious.

It is a very special site, this stretch of coastline looks even

more spectacular than usual, with the waves crashing against the

class. Not many people are venturing outside to see this, most

are heeding advice to stay indoors. A down the road in Coleraine, this

site was not so pretty. At this farm, tiles came off the roof, the

car was damaged and the wind ripped the satellite dish off. The family

heard the storm starting early this morning and did not get much sleep.

I was very worried, I thought you were going to lose some of the roof

and it was swirling around, it was hard to know what direction it was

coming from. Why time did you come out? We heard the banging whenever

the masonry hit the car at about 6am. I was only glad I was not

going to work at that time! She is thankful nobody was hurt by the

flying debris. Despite the spectacle on the clifftops, people

are relieved that the worst of the weather has passed. The high winds

meant plans to transfer 54,000 tons of oil from a damaged oil tanker to

another ship at the mouth of Belfast Lough were further delayed.

The Genmar Companion has been anchored off the Copeland Islands

since a crack developed in its upper deck on the 16th of December.

Transfer of the cargo has been delayed from Saturday due to bad

weather. The ship will enter Belfast Harbour for repairs as soon

as the oil is taken off the vessel. Here's Cecilia Daly with a weather

It was all about the wind earlier and a lot of people travelling back

to work for the first time. It peaked at 7:00am this morning so

what damage occurred was on the roads for people travelling. These

are the peak winds, 105 mph at Malin Head. As we heard earlier, we

had sustained winds for 10 minutes reaching hurricane force and these

when's have now eased away and things are improving. You have been

sending in pictures. This is Ballintoy. Absolutely fantastic

picture. And many trees came down and this is one of them. Things

looking quieter but I will have more on tomorrow later on. Still to

come... May get you! Annually for battery hens rescued by a group of

women in Moira. And the two men who plan to smash the speedboat record

The police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found

in a van on the Shore Road in Belfast. The police cordoned off a

section of the road near the Gray's Lane junction this morning while a

forensic team examined the scene. Local people claim the man's body

was sitting in the van for several days before they realised he was

dead. His name hasn't been released. US officials have received

transcripts of interviews the former IRA member Dolours Price

gave to an oral history project at Boston College. The move follows

legal action in the United States on behalf of the PSNI. It's

understood they want the material in relation to their investigation

into the IRA abduction and murder of the Belfast mother-of-ten Jean

McConville in 1972. Researchers on the project insist they won't

cooperate with any police investigation, based on the

interviews, which were given under a guarantee of anonymity. Here's

Mark Devenport. Many paramilitaries have taken their secrets to their

graves. But Boston College researchers persuaded some to tell

all their promising their stories would only be released after their

deaths. IRA man Brendan Hughes, seen carrying a coffin, died four

years ago. Two years later, his account was broadcast on RTE E. It

included sensational claims about the murder of the Belfast mother of

him, Jean McConville. He claimed that Gerry Adams ordered the

abduction, something the President of Sinn Fein denies. The special

squad was brought in. Anybody who needed to be taken away, they did

it. I had no control over the squad. Gerry had control over this

particular squad. Last year, the PSNI triggered Liggett action in

Postern, seeking the tapes. There were not just after the tapes of

Brendan Hughes but also interviews recorded by another for I remember,

Dolours Price. The researchers behind the project insist they will

not help any future investigation based on their confidential

recordings. We are determined to fight this all the way. If whoever

has initiated this action, if they persist in any attempt to bring

criminal charges, let me tell them, they can expect no co-operation

from me or the interviewers. Loyalists All Star contributed and

one is now asking Boston College for his interview back. This has

widespread ramifications for the peace process. Storytelling by ex-

prisoners and combat pants. -- combatants. This was a piece

building exercise. People will refuse to operate. But ever happens

to the tapes, the story shows once again that Northern Ireland's

troubled past has plenty of potential to stir controversy when

-- well into the future. The police are extremely concerned for a

County Antrim cyclist who has been missing since Sunday. 49-year-old

father-of-three Samuel Cambell hasn't been seen by his family

since he left his home on the Kilgad Road in Kells for a bike

ride. Now a major search is underway, taking in much of the

countryside around Ballymena. This is Samuel Campbell. He is a

keen cyclist and this picture taken from CCTV shows what he was wearing

when he left home on Sunday afternoon. The police say it is

unusual that he hasn't contacted his family. Detectives are scouring

a huge area for signs of Mr Campbell who would have cycled

between 20 and 30 miles in one go. Their search of country fields is

taking in many places. Based no clue as to what has happened.

For the potential is that he has come off his bicycle or taken ill.

We need more information from the public. We would ask that

landowners could check buildings on the ALF -- of chance that he has

taken nearly one of those properties. This is one of the

roads that he cycles in and there are many like this. That is why the

police need the public's help. They want anyone who might have seen or

heard from Mr Campbell to get in touch.

A former its core principle is denying 15 charges of fraud

relating to financial issues at his County Down primary school. Stanley

Poots is a former president of one of the main teachers' unions and

retired from primary school last year. It is understood the charges

relate to alleged fraud over five years amounted to �73,000. He says

he will contest the charges. The former principal was awarded an MBE

last year to his services for education.

Do you know what the initials TD stand for after a member of the

Irish parliament? The Irish isTeachta Dala, member of the dale.

It also means dishevelled. If the cut and thrust of politics

in the aftermath of the December Budget. And the man whose job it is

to regulate proceedings is the Speaker of the house. You either

respect the chair or you don't. In future, if you don't, you will take

a walk no matter who you are. I am serious about it. Sean Barrett is

determined to bring shouting and roaring under control. He wants

deputies to mind their language and to abide by a stricter dress code

with proposals banning denim and saying that men should wear a shirt

with a collar. Also on the new year wish list is

the updated list of words deemed unparliamentary after a controversy

on a word that I cannot say about septic tanks. Smart and a pure

language and your appearance, the clear message in 2012. -- smarten

Hundreds of battery hens have been given up a new lease of life and

released from their cages where they were cooped up for more than a

year. The hens were rescued from -- by a

woman called Moira and given a new lease of life.

Are you singing to me? Just a few hours ago, these hens were howls --

housed in battery cages and part of an intensive egg producing industry.

Now thanks to a group of volunteers, they are beginning a new life.

at you, your personality is shining through. Her one by one, all of the

300 hens get a health examination. They arrive from the farm in these

crates but the hands and he are the lucky ones. Out of a flock of

20,000 birds, the rescue centre volunteers can only find homes for

a few hundred. Look at that. Myself and my husband are going to get

another one today. It is good to help. For now, these luxurious nest

boxes must seem strange but their plumage should recover and by

Easter, many will lay eggs again for their new owners. I will take

for because I have already got six. The woman behind the hen reserve

says from small beginnings, the aim is to expand. Our slogan is, saving

one hen may not change the world but it will change the world for

that one hen. After what must have been a confusing day, the hands of

settling-in for their first night sleeping on a bed of straw.

Tomorrow, they will take their first steps outside. Already, their

horizons are opening up. Northern Ireland's new football

manager will be officially unveiled tomorrow.

If Michael O'Neill will be introduced as the new manager of

Northern Ireland football tomorrow. We will be live to bring his first

interview in the job which he starts officially next month. One

of the men he pipped to the post, Jim Magilton is picked to be the

manager of Preston North End. He had hoped to attract him to the

brandy well but they have turned their attention to other candidates

including former Celtic footballer, Willie McStay.

Cliftonville have issued pounds to six of the club's supporters in the

wake of violence in North Belfast. The statement on the Cliftonville

website adds that the club intends to issue further suspensions as

investigations into the recent disturbances continued.

After a busy festive period of local football action, Linfield

have extended their lead at the top of the table. They are five points

clear of Portadown who lost ground after a 2-1 defeat at Crusaders. If

this was a perfect start to 2012. Portadown would have used this as a

-- viewed this as an opportunity missed.

They played without their captain who was forced off after 10 minutes.

His replacement made an immediate impact scoring shortly after his

introduction. For Portadown keeper, David, they

would have been further ahead. The home side were level thanks to this

goal. It was Crusaders who left with

three points banked to this late winner.

It is a massive three points today. Friday night, it will be a tough

game. We will be well prepared for The game was built around the team

structure and they were superb. They held great shape all day and

worked incredibly hard. One of them has had a baby and has been up for

48 hours. He came and played. It was tough. This time last year,

Crusaders won 10 consecutive league games and will take something like

that from one of Linfield's challengers to stop the title going

to Windsor Park again this year. Robbie Keane is on the verge of

making a return to the English Premier League with Aston Villa.

The Republic of Ireland captain, whose club LA Galaxy are out of

season, has agreed to join on loan for the next two months. He is

working with Tottenham and is working on his fitness.

Paddy Wallace is one of five Ireland international players to be

recalled to the Ulster rugby squad for the Pro 12 trip to Edinburgh.

He hasn't played since November because of injury. He returns with

Stephen Ferris, Tom Court and others. According to the Ulster

coach, the return of the International continued --

continued his -- international contingent is timely. He always

brings extra energy and the guys love to have him back. It changes

the atmosphere. From that point of view, we have trained well this

week. Hopefully it will put us in a positive frame of mind for Friday.

Two men from here are planning to smash the record for travelling

around the world in a speedboat. This speedboat. They have been

selected to be part of an eight-man crew on the specially designed

vessel that is in the process of being built.

The existing world record is 60 days but for these man, they are

hoping to shave 10 days of the time. The 24,000 mile trip will be in

this. Gumming up and down 0.5000 miles on the journey. Going through

the waves, we and -- we are cutting that out. There will be some real

dangers. Quite a lot of danger from the Tsunami debris and to other

houses. We have to keep a calm head and be prepared and take everything

in our stride. At the boat cost �1.6 million to date. It cannot

hold much more fuel so that means less stops. Alan is heading up the

crew. He has sailed around the world in a yacht three years ago

and has helped design the boat which is being made in Dudley in

England. A local company from anger is building a water pump for the

vessel. They are brave man. They will be a tough one. We have seen

the footage of those that have done this before. It is a hard one. It

will be exciting to watch and follow. The eight men will be

living together for at least 50 days. We are all friends, we are

very easy-going. That is part of it. It has to be that way. A how Plata

you that you are taking place -- how proud are you that you are

taking part in this? Very proud, it will be a huge achievement if it

comes together. Good luck to them. I hope they get better weather than

today. We are about to find out what the

It is looking very calm in banker and the high winds have now moved

away. For the last couple of hours, we have had heavy rainfall. We have

had some reports of slush in this area. You can see more of our

pictures on our Twitter page. Those showers will continue to edge away

in the next couple of hours. It is by no means calm but the brisk

breeze will mean temperatures will not fall too low. We have a quieter

start tomorrow. Clouds will be moving in to the West and that is

an indication of what is to come tomorrow. We are expecting wet

weather for western areas. The winds will not be the damaging

powerful winds of today. We have a yellow warning for heavy rain. Be

aware, particularly in western areas. Initially, the veins are

many in the West so lunchtime tomorrow, we have dampness. -- P

We have heavy rain towards the north coast. It will still feel

rather unpleasant. Fortunately, the air is warm match so there will be

a win to the feeling. A wet end to the day and a wet evening to come

tomorrow. Some places have saturated ground at the moment so

it may lead to some localised flooding. By the end of the night,

things have dried up and it will be frost and ice free. They some

sunshine and there would be a brighter day. -- there is some

sunshine. If things have been damaged, it might be a while before

you get time to get things quiet and get a calm periods to tidy