:00:17. > :00:20.Good evening. This is BBC Newsline with Noel Thompson and Donna
:00:21. > :00:23.Traynor. The headlines this Monday evening: another possible case of
:00:24. > :00:27.infection in the nave and -- neonatal unit at the Royal Victoria
:00:27. > :00:31.Hospital. The row over the staging of next
:00:31. > :00:35.year's Fleadh Londonderry. Calls for an investigation into
:00:35. > :00:38.violence at a junior Gaelic football match.
:00:38. > :00:42.Big fines could be on the cards over Stormont's management of
:00:42. > :00:45.Strangford Lough. And it's still nicely settled at
:00:45. > :00:55.the moment but the weather is set to change shortly. I'll have the
:00:55. > :00:57.
:00:57. > :01:00.The Department of Health has confirmed his treating another case
:01:01. > :01:04.of pseudomonas at the Royal Victoria Hospital. The infection
:01:04. > :01:08.has killed three babies in the past fortnight. The health minister told
:01:08. > :01:12.the Assembly that the water system is one of several areas being
:01:13. > :01:19.investigated as a possible source. Our health correspondent has been
:01:19. > :01:21.following developments. What is the latest?
:01:21. > :01:31.Liberals should tests have yet to confirm that this is another case
:01:31. > :01:31.
:01:32. > :01:37.of pseudomonas. -- lab tests. But staff are treating this child as if
:01:37. > :01:41.it has the infection. The child is already very ill and obviously at
:01:41. > :01:46.this stage the infection has passed in through the skin and into the
:01:46. > :01:49.bloodstream. This is a worrying and disappointing development for not
:01:49. > :01:53.only the parents but the staff because this morning they were
:01:53. > :01:56.optimistic that perhaps they had stopped the spread of the infection
:01:57. > :02:01.to other children. As that investigation continues, to
:02:01. > :02:06.find the source of the infection, is it possible to find out where it
:02:06. > :02:09.actually came into this unit? That is what health officials are
:02:09. > :02:14.desperately trying to find out. Over the weekend they sealed the
:02:14. > :02:19.room, and inside the room, they were able to spray hydrogen
:02:19. > :02:27.peroxide gas in order to try and eradicate the infection. The room
:02:27. > :02:31.was sealed for 24 hours. The spray was permeated through the room to
:02:31. > :02:34.get to grips with the infection. But in doing that, it may have
:02:34. > :02:40.eradicated the source of the infection. I understand that at
:02:40. > :02:44.this present time, they are removing taps because it is widely
:02:44. > :02:49.felt that it could have been passed from a member of the public onto
:02:49. > :02:53.taps, sinks. The scenes are also being removed, and the pipes are
:02:53. > :02:57.being examined because this is a water-based infection.
:02:58. > :03:04.We will get a report by tomorrow, or being well, in terms of
:03:04. > :03:07.potential for it to come from a water problem. That has been the
:03:07. > :03:12.case in other outbreaks elsewhere. That is currently being
:03:12. > :03:18.investigated. We cannot suggest at this stage that it is the cause of
:03:18. > :03:26.the problem, but it is being investigated. Being a micro
:03:26. > :03:29.organism, it can live in clean environments. The matter of hygiene
:03:29. > :03:34.is critical. We do know that five of the babies
:03:34. > :03:40.in the units have traces of this on their skin. How worrying is that?
:03:40. > :03:46.It is extremely worrying. While it is on their skin, it is so fragile
:03:46. > :03:53.for some of these small babies, some of whom are may be only two or
:03:53. > :03:57.three pound in weight. It can have devastating consequences. But in
:03:57. > :04:00.order to try and pre-empt that, according to the Chief Medical
:04:01. > :04:03.Officer, some of these children may already have started a course of
:04:03. > :04:07.antibiotics. Most of those bacteria will not
:04:07. > :04:11.cause any problem, but when it breaks through the skin, when it
:04:11. > :04:16.gets through the membranes and into the lungs or into the bloodstream,
:04:16. > :04:25.it causes infection. Obviously the doctors and nurses called -- caring
:04:25. > :04:29.for the children will monitor them closely. The doctors may decide to
:04:29. > :04:34.commence antibiotic treatment purely as a precaution, to be
:04:34. > :04:39.certain that there's no spread of the bacteria. There has been
:04:39. > :04:43.concern among parents that children are transferred from one hospital
:04:43. > :04:48.with the infection to another. We do know that a baby was transferred
:04:49. > :04:53.from hospital in Derry to Belfast before Christmas. This was reported
:04:53. > :05:01.to us on Friday, but we are told that was a different strain of the
:05:01. > :05:03.pseudomonas infection. The water system is being tested also.
:05:03. > :05:06.Representatives of an Irish traditional music body in
:05:06. > :05:09.Londonderry say they'll appeal against the refusal of the Ulster
:05:09. > :05:11.Council of Comhaltas to support the city's bid to host next year's All-
:05:11. > :05:14.Ireland Fleadh. The council said that because of
:05:14. > :05:17.the dissident republican threat, it was impossible to support the
:05:17. > :05:20.application. But the local committee claims some members of
:05:20. > :05:30.the Ulster Council don't want the Fleadh linked to Derry's year as UK
:05:30. > :05:33.
:05:33. > :05:39.The annual Fleadh attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Last year,
:05:39. > :05:42.a band led the festival parade through the streets. Next year,
:05:42. > :05:47.Derry wanted to be the first place in Northern Ireland to host it.
:05:47. > :05:53.Just last Wednesday, members of the local Comhaltas voted in favour of
:05:53. > :05:56.the bid and expected it to be ratified. But after two bombs in
:05:57. > :06:02.the city last Thursday, the council said it could not support the
:06:02. > :06:06.application because of the danger. That has not been accepted here.
:06:06. > :06:12.have reports prepared about the quality of life in the city. They
:06:12. > :06:22.have not taken the trouble to read them. They are basing their
:06:22. > :06:32.
:06:32. > :06:39.decision on anecdotal evidence. There had already been some dissent
:06:39. > :06:44.about the bid. Next year the city become the UK's
:06:44. > :06:49.first City of Culture. Others say it is about culture, not labels.
:06:49. > :06:54.We don't have to present ourselves as being a participant in the UK
:06:54. > :06:57.City of Culture. We will participate in the city of culture
:06:57. > :07:01.but we also realise that Derry is a city of many cultures. From our
:07:01. > :07:06.point of view it is going to be a Gaelic, traditional celebration. I
:07:06. > :07:15.think all the people of this island would want to be part of that
:07:16. > :07:20.celebration. These local musicians think having the Fleadh on their
:07:20. > :07:26.doorstep would be an opportunity. It would be good for the
:07:26. > :07:32.traditional music scene in the town. I think we needed. I think I would
:07:32. > :07:36.be happy to see it. We have musicians from everywhere.
:07:36. > :07:40.It will be an amazing thing for anybody studying.
:07:40. > :07:44.It would be a great opportunity for the youth, as well as the older
:07:44. > :07:48.generation who are still playing. It would be a great learning curve
:07:48. > :07:53.for everyone involved. It is believed to be the first time
:07:53. > :08:00.in its history that a branch IN to host the Fleadh has not been
:08:00. > :08:04.supported. Members of the Comhaltas in Bury have launched an appeal. --
:08:04. > :08:07.in Derry. Well, the day has brought some good
:08:07. > :08:10.news for Derry's City of Culture - the announcement within the last
:08:10. > :08:13.hour of a grant of a �1 million from the Lottery Fund. Joining us
:08:13. > :08:16.from Derry is the chief executive of the City of Culture company,
:08:16. > :08:20.Shona McCarthy. How much of a blow would it be to
:08:21. > :08:25.the city of Culture not to have the being?
:08:25. > :08:29.I am still very optimistic. We have an incredible year plan. It is a
:08:29. > :08:37.really rich programme. Of course, the Fleadh would be a jewel in the
:08:37. > :08:44.crown of that. But we also had the announcement that be Atlantic
:08:44. > :08:47.fiddle convention will be happening this year. This is a huge year. I'm
:08:48. > :08:53.still hopeful that we can make the case for the Fleadh.
:08:53. > :09:00.It must be disappointing, at least, that politics is rearing its head
:09:00. > :09:03.in this decision. It is an internal process for Comhaltas to deal with.
:09:03. > :09:07.We understand and the feedback has been that the bid going for from
:09:07. > :09:12.the city has been the strongest ever seen by the Comhaltas movement.
:09:12. > :09:17.And confident the city has put its best foot forward and has made a
:09:17. > :09:20.fantastic bid to host the Fleadh and I'm optimistic we will have the
:09:20. > :09:23.right decision and see the opportunity for this event in the
:09:23. > :09:27.city. You have got another �1 million in
:09:27. > :09:32.your pocket now. What is that going to do? That is the start of a whole
:09:32. > :09:35.series of announcements. I'm delighted that in front of me now,
:09:35. > :09:40.the big lottery have announced a �1 million for communities, not only
:09:40. > :09:44.in Derry, but also across the North, to really engage with the themes
:09:44. > :09:50.and ideas of the city of Culture initiative. So there is a chart-
:09:50. > :10:00.topping boy in Northern Ireland to make it their City of Culture. --
:10:00. > :10:02.
:10:02. > :10:05.so there's a chance in Northern The GAA is awaiting a referee's
:10:05. > :10:07.report on yet another Gaelic match marred by trouble. Violence broke
:10:07. > :10:12.out at a junior football championship game yesterday between
:10:12. > :10:14.Derrytresk of Tyrone and a club from Kerry. A brawl erupted just
:10:14. > :10:17.before half-time, and one Kerry spokesman said the scenes were
:10:18. > :10:21.among the most disgraceful he had ever seen on a Gaelic pitch. In
:10:21. > :10:23.recent months the GAA has had to deal with violence at club games in
:10:24. > :10:25.Ballygawley and Rasharkin. With me is our sports reporter, Austin
:10:25. > :10:28.O'Callaghan. It seems to have been pretty bad,
:10:28. > :10:32.judging by the eyewitness accounts. You can make your own mind up
:10:32. > :10:39.because we have pictures from the incident, which happened in this
:10:39. > :10:42.All Ireland semi-final at a neutral venue. This is the game. A brawl
:10:42. > :10:48.broke out on this side line involving players and mentors from
:10:48. > :10:52.both sides. You can see people hopping over the holdings here, a
:10:52. > :10:58.couple of spectators, and some unsavoury incident involving one
:10:58. > :11:03.player who was on the ground being hit by a group of men. Another one
:11:03. > :11:12.suffered concussion, a broken jaw, and another had another injury. It
:11:12. > :11:14.took a few minutes for order to be restored.
:11:14. > :11:20.So what have the team has been saying?
:11:20. > :11:29.I have been unable to get a public comment from the Derrytresk team.
:11:29. > :11:33.But we have heard that security is being improved for players.
:11:33. > :11:39.What about punishment? What about sanctions against those involved?
:11:39. > :11:49.That is unclear. Derrytresk are contesting the final in February.
:11:49. > :11:50.
:11:50. > :11:53.They say they will want for -- wait You're watching BBC Newsline. Still
:11:53. > :11:57.to come on the programme: The burglars who stole the fixtures
:11:57. > :12:05.and fittings, and even the bath. And huffing and puffing - I'll blow
:12:05. > :12:09.the ball in! Incredible goals from the weekend.
:12:09. > :12:12.Tomorrow could see the start of a process that ends in big European
:12:12. > :12:15.fines over Stormont's management of Strangford Lough. Nearly 10 years
:12:15. > :12:18.ago, the Ulster Wildlife Trust first complained to the EU about
:12:18. > :12:20.the destruction of horse mussel reefs, seen as vital for the
:12:20. > :12:23.lough's habitats. The Trust says nothing's been done and it's
:12:23. > :12:33.complained again. The Assembly held a debate on the problem today, but
:12:33. > :12:34.
:12:34. > :12:38.it's likely to be too late to stop Strangford Lough is one of the most
:12:38. > :12:43.protected bodies of water in Europe. It is recognised for its unique
:12:43. > :12:48.habitats. The horse mussels out there in the middle of the Lough
:12:48. > :12:53.our deep on the sort -- seabed but form a living reef. 100 sees --
:12:54. > :12:58.species depend on them for survival. That is why it is so special. Many
:12:58. > :13:02.of the horse mussels are now dead, victims of human interference. In
:13:03. > :13:07.2003, to avoid fines from Europe, we promised to take care of the
:13:07. > :13:11.remaining mussels. But we did not keep the promise, so for the second
:13:11. > :13:15.time, the Ulster Wildlife Trust made a formal complaint to Europe.
:13:15. > :13:20.We feel we have waited that we have been very transparent, we have
:13:20. > :13:25.given every opportunity to act but the action has happened. We are in
:13:25. > :13:28.a position where Europe has had to intervene. We have been forced into
:13:28. > :13:32.that situation. It is not that the government
:13:32. > :13:37.departments involved were not aware of the fines. This is a file of
:13:37. > :13:47.correspondence between the two departments on the hot mussels. One
:13:47. > :13:48.
:13:48. > :13:54.of the mouse says -- the message is says the commission has found out
:13:54. > :13:56.we have not done enough. That was two years ago. Tomorrow the EC will
:13:56. > :13:59.hear what the Department of Agriculture have to say about the
:13:59. > :14:07.complaint. Today the Assembly debated the matter when it was
:14:07. > :14:16.raised by the committee chairperson. We have a restoration plan set but
:14:16. > :14:19.it has not done enough, and the two departments, of the environment and
:14:19. > :14:23.agriculture, have not really been working together enough.
:14:24. > :14:30.What happens now it is up to the Department of Environment, who have
:14:30. > :14:34.to enforce the European legislation. We are running close to a huge
:14:34. > :14:41.fines starting at �7 million and going upwards. That is why I have
:14:41. > :14:47.tried to prevail upon people and we're making progress. We are
:14:47. > :14:49.moving forward positively, and I hope that Europe understands that
:14:49. > :14:53.as we are moving positively, they should not interfere further and
:14:53. > :14:56.they should not impose any fines. The meeting between the Commission
:14:56. > :15:01.and departments is to decide what is going to happen next regarding
:15:01. > :15:10.fines. It may already be too late, some environmentalists say, to help
:15:10. > :15:14.A family targeted in a racist attack in Dundonald at the weekend
:15:14. > :15:19.are considering leaving their home. It was the second attack in the
:15:19. > :15:25.space of a week. The Awoyelu family have been living in Northern
:15:25. > :15:31.Ireland for the past seven years, as Eunan McConville reports.
:15:31. > :15:40.The latest attack came in the air early hours of Saturday morning. An
:15:40. > :15:50.eight year-old was hit through the window like a brick. The family is
:15:50. > :16:00.now in temporary accommodation. wife is fine, my children are OK
:16:00. > :16:00.
:16:00. > :16:04.and that get school. I will put their safety and their mental
:16:05. > :16:11.health about everything else. local politicians and the family's
:16:11. > :16:15.church had been trying to help them get things sorted out. A lot of
:16:15. > :16:21.work has been done in this area to make sure that people from whatever
:16:21. > :16:25.background are welcome here. They are part of our family and we are
:16:25. > :16:34.better for them, we watched to see them staying within the local area.
:16:34. > :16:41.And today the family met with the First Minister at Stormont.
:16:41. > :16:45.meeting went well, he was helpful and said he would put pressure on a
:16:45. > :16:50.lot of organisations to sort this out. Police say they are treating
:16:50. > :16:55.this as a hate crime and their following a definite line of
:16:55. > :16:59.inquiry. Everyone I spoke to today expressed disgust at this attack
:16:59. > :17:04.but none wanted to appear on camera for fear that they would be
:17:04. > :17:08.targeted. They all said they hoped that the family would return as
:17:08. > :17:14.soon as possible but that is a decision that the family have to
:17:14. > :17:17.make in due course. A County Down woman is reeling from
:17:17. > :17:19.the shock of a burglary at her home in the village of Clough. Thieves
:17:19. > :17:22.took more than just her personal belongings. The house was stripped
:17:22. > :17:31.bare of nearly all fixtures and fittings. Our district journalist,
:17:31. > :17:36.Francis Gorman, reports. This is not what you want to come
:17:36. > :17:41.home to at this time of the year. The fireplace stolen. Sockets gone,
:17:41. > :17:46.light switches removed. The tenant, who did not wish to be identified,
:17:47. > :17:50.had been living here happily for eight years but have to move out
:17:51. > :17:54.when she was told that the house was being repossessed. She was back
:17:54. > :17:59.and forward several times to pick up her belongings but on one trip
:17:59. > :18:05.she got the shock of her life when she realised she had been burgled.
:18:05. > :18:09.The first thing I noticed was the doors and then the carpet. I went
:18:09. > :18:15.into the kitchen and noticed the fireplace as well as I was walking
:18:15. > :18:19.past. I was afraid to go any further. In the kitchen they had
:18:19. > :18:24.taken the sink cold, cooker and washing machine. Upstairs they took
:18:24. > :18:31.the bath and other fixtures and fittings as well as a lot of
:18:31. > :18:40.personal belongings. Mike chandeliers were taking, pictures,
:18:40. > :18:45.everything. Things belonging to the children. Outside the burglars took
:18:45. > :18:55.the boiler and the oil in the tank. The tenant says she still on edge
:18:55. > :19:02.
:19:02. > :19:05.trying to come to terms with what has happened.
:19:05. > :19:08.It was a good weekend for Ulster rugby, but it came so close to
:19:08. > :19:10.being one of the greatest. Brian McLaughlin's men qualified for the
:19:10. > :19:15.Heineken cup quarter finals, despite a narrow 19-15 defeat to
:19:15. > :19:18.Clermont-Auvergne. A first ever win in French soil didn't quite happen,
:19:18. > :19:25.however they did finish second in the group and now face Munster away
:19:25. > :19:35.in April's quarter-final. Thomas Niblock was in France.
:19:35. > :19:45.The visitors gave much respect from the home was bought -- home support.
:19:45. > :19:46.
:19:46. > :19:56.The contest boiled down to just one moment. The referee did not give it
:19:56. > :19:57.
:19:57. > :20:04.and instead awarded the try, the replay showing an illegal tackle.
:20:04. > :20:09.Clermont-Auvergne took their chance to top the group, Ulster did not.
:20:09. > :20:16.But qualification is secured and an epic performance almost did the
:20:16. > :20:22.trick. The way they've played today, we
:20:22. > :20:26.will give anybody a huge game in the quarter-final. And we are more
:20:26. > :20:30.than capable of beating anyone. quarter-final will be against
:20:30. > :20:36.Munster who Ulster dividend three weeks ago. So can the result be
:20:36. > :20:45.repeated in the Heineken Cup quarter-final? Absolutely, I do not
:20:45. > :20:49.Daljit for one second. -- doubt it. We want to take a step up from last
:20:49. > :20:57.year and the quarter-final is not good enough, we have to get to the
:20:57. > :21:01.semi-final. So there is everything to play for. We are on the cusp of
:21:01. > :21:07.doing something special and hopefully we can keep it all
:21:07. > :21:12.together. We feel we are a team that can compete year in, year out.
:21:12. > :21:16.That opportunity will come on Easter weekend against Munster in
:21:16. > :21:19.Limerick. In a repeat of last year's decider,
:21:19. > :21:22.Derry will face Tyrone in the final of the Gaelic Footballs Power NI
:21:22. > :21:25.McKenna Cup. In the weekend's semi finals, Tyrone defeated Fermanagh
:21:25. > :21:34.for the second time in four days, while Derry edged past Down, as
:21:34. > :21:39.Thomas Kane reports. If you think of the mechanic Cup as
:21:39. > :21:42.something that does not matter to the county sides, this exchange
:21:42. > :21:52.between John Brennan and James McCartan would suggest otherwise.
:21:52. > :21:54.
:21:54. > :22:03.It became a battle of the free takers. This was a match winner for
:22:03. > :22:08.Derry. This structured the task well and
:22:08. > :22:16.to defend the final and be back at this wonderful place, it is just
:22:16. > :22:22.good for the players. In the other semi, and upset when the Gulf put
:22:23. > :22:32.Fermanagh four points up. But that was as good as it got as Tyrone
:22:33. > :22:34.
:22:34. > :22:41.were dominant after that early shot. Ronan O'Neill scored a second goal
:22:41. > :22:47.for Tyrone to secured a place in the final.
:22:47. > :22:54.Tyrone were lucky and came back very well. There is a final to play
:22:54. > :22:57.for. 12 months ago Derry were winners over their neighbours by
:22:57. > :23:07.one point lifting the first aware of the season. Tyrone will want to
:23:07. > :23:10.
:23:10. > :23:19.make sure that they are doing the celebrating this time around.
:23:19. > :23:28.At the weekend Paul Owen from Coleraine shot this remarkable goal.
:23:28. > :23:35.There was some fortune on his side of the Showgrounds. Two looping
:23:35. > :23:41.corners, two goals. I have not seen that in a long career of watching
:23:41. > :23:48.football! He came very close to the third.
:23:48. > :23:55.I knew it was going to be difficult. With the first one into white in
:23:55. > :24:01.the far corner but with the second I was a bit lucky. At Windsor Park
:24:02. > :24:08.Linfield cruised to a 3 - nil win over Dungannon Swifts. The occasion
:24:08. > :24:15.marked with some fancy footwork. Cliftonville meet Lisburn
:24:15. > :24:25.Distillery 2 - 1. And: Brixton salvaged a point for Dungannon in a
:24:25. > :24:30.
:24:30. > :24:33.Alastair Seeley was named Irish Motorcyclist of the Year at the
:24:33. > :24:35.Adelaide Motorcycle Awards at the weekend. The British Supersport
:24:35. > :24:45.champion won the public vote and received the coveted Joey Dunlop
:24:45. > :24:51.trophy. It is an honour to receive the Joey
:24:51. > :24:57.Dunlop award. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. It is the icing
:24:57. > :25:02.on the cake for the 20 11th season. I know the family and Joey Dunlop
:25:02. > :25:07.was a hero of mine. I have watched him in a lot of races and I'm
:25:07. > :25:12.really happy. More motorcycling news in the
:25:12. > :25:18.programme tomorrow. Now we have programme tomorrow. Now we have
:25:18. > :25:24.some extraordinary pictures. We have had some great photographs
:25:24. > :25:29.sent in of the aurora borealis. These were taken along the Antrim
:25:29. > :25:35.coast proving that you do not need to go all the way to the North Pole
:25:35. > :25:42.to get a glimpse of these fantastic sights.
:25:42. > :25:50.To keep those pictures coming. If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of
:25:50. > :25:55.the aurora borealis, unfortunately we do not have great conditions. We
:25:55. > :26:00.have a bank of cloud coming in through the night. We have some
:26:00. > :26:10.clear spells at first along the eastern areas but eventually
:26:10. > :26:11.
:26:11. > :26:15.clouding over. Some heavy and persistent rain overnight. We will
:26:15. > :26:20.eventually lose that rain but it stays unsettled in the next few
:26:20. > :26:30.days. Tomorrow is damp at times but there will be a rise in the
:26:30. > :26:34.
:26:34. > :26:43.temperatures. The wind is fairly light coming in from the south-west
:26:43. > :26:53.and temperatures back into double figures. But it will not field to a
:26:53. > :26:54.
:26:54. > :27:02.private -- too pleasant in the breeze. Into the Wednesday, more
:27:02. > :27:06.outbreaks of rain pushing in. Tomorrow night will be milder. We
:27:06. > :27:11.have the wind building up and Wednesday itself will be a much
:27:11. > :27:20.wetter day with some heavy downpours. But we hold on to those
:27:20. > :27:26.mild temperatures. There is a cold front that is going to push an
:27:26. > :27:31.overnight into its Thursday so we make see some wintry weather across
:27:31. > :27:39.make see some wintry weather across the higher ground.
:27:39. > :27:45.Finally a reminder of the stories making the headlines. There is
:27:45. > :27:48.another possible case of infection at the Royal Victoria Hospital
:27:48. > :27:51.neonatal unit. Local Irish music representatives are to appeal a
:27:51. > :27:54.decision not to hold next year's all Ireland Fleadh in Londonderry.