12/03/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. This is BBC Newsline. Our top stories. The cruel blood

sport of badger baiting. We have exclusive access to a investigation

which has uncovered criminal activities of nearly 20 gangs.

Secret filming tracks one group in a especially converted pick up, as

they travel to dig up badger setts. This is savagery. Appalling cruelty.

And in 22 year, I have seen it all. This is the worst cruelty I have

seen. A man is in court accused of attempting to murder his elderly

uncle at the weekend. Religious orders tell victims of abuse they

are searching for evidence in their archives. Nearly 500,000 set aside

to spruce up the north coast in the run-up to the Irish Open Golf

tournament. We have an interview with the man swapping the blue

skies of Auckland for Ravenhill. Mark Anscombe on the challenge of

becoming the next Ulster coach. if you are hoping for brighter

skies tomorrow, you are very likely to be disappointed. This week on

BBC Newsline we bring you shocking details about the secret world of

badger baiting. We have exclusive access to a painstaking USPCA

operation aimed at disrupting the activitys of the gangs involved. We

have been working on this with the USPCA for several month, uncovering

disturbing evidence of cruelty. The badger is a protect -- protected

species and can lead to a jail sentence. That hasn't put off the

gangs, setting their dogs on the badgers and watching as the animals

are torn apart. We will be reporting on different aspects of

this barbaric crime. Tonight we look at the activities of one city

based gaining. The report contains disturbing scenes. The USPCA

believes these men went out the use dogs to hunt badgers. Instead they

became the hunted. This is one of the first times this has been

captured on camera, anywhere in the UK or Ireland, a group of men

digging at a badger sett. These pictures were taken last month by

the USPCA at a sett on the Irish peninsula. A few days have passed

since they were taken. We have come back to the sett to examine the

damage. Setts like the are protected by law. Digging sill

legal. It seems each week in the season running from September

through to March gangs like the one that did the damage here use small

terriers to pin the badger underground. They dig down allow

access for especially bred dogs like lur chers. We will give you a

flavour of what happens next. It is horrific and distressing, those

engaged in this seem to regard it as sport. The USPCA say they have

no doubt it is one of the worst forms of animal cruelty. Even at

home needs to get this out of their head this is some sort of sexy

country pursuit. This is absolute is a radgery ch appalling cruelty.

In 22 yearers I have seen it all. I have worked on all the big inquiry,

the dog fighting inquiries, all the major cruelty story, I have been

involved in them. This is the worst cruelty I have seen. There are no

winners, no winners at all in badger digging. In the early

stiefpblgs the investigation, the USPCA was given these pictures of a

group of vits digging a sett. Never broadcast before, this is what

happened as the badger was brought above ground. The pictures are too

distressing to show in detail but it takes several minutes for the

dogs to shake and tear the badger until it is dead. These particular

pictures are now a couple of years old but at the time they helped to

kick-start and operation against badger persecution across Northern

Ireland, an operation that is reaching its climax. As part of

that operation, this particular gang has been under USPCA

surveillance for some time, and these pictures were taken as they

dug an active sett. My opinion that is a very active badge ehole.

is one of the UK's leading experts on badger related crime. We brought

him to examine the sett. Targeted by the gang. Again typical, it is a

fresh dung pit. I don't know if you can see from the angle there Gordon,

that is last night's poo. Look how fresh and loose it is. That is,

they have been eating worms to make it that loose. That is typical of

badger again. So there are still badgers here. Heavily marked.

Scarred. Although badger digging is a rural activity not all those

involved come from the country area, several dog worst seized in this

raid in East Belfast in December. They were kept in kennels at the

back of a house in a city estate. The USPCA believes this individual

is also heavily involved in badger digging. He too comes from Belfast.

Inspectors came to believe he was using a especially prepared pick-up

truck to transport a gang to a number of individuals over a period

of time his vehicle turned up near badger setts. A lot of them are

city dweller, they organise themselves and they travel out into

the countryside and carry out these acts against defenceless animal,

all in the name of country pursuit, hunting. This isn't hunting. This

is savagery. Some form of criminality involved, they are

coming into the countryside, terrifying the locals, intem dating

them. Going on people's lands without permission and engage in

the cruellest of sport, if you can call it sport. I don't know what

else to call it. The authority says they are determined to take action

against all those involved in badger persecution across Northern

Ireland and they have compiled considerable evidence. The scale of

the activity and the number of individuals involved is shocking.

This police log listed calls from the public about setts being

targeted. They come from all over. In a series of disturbing reports

we will be showing you more of that footage compiled by the USPCA. We

will be asking if some farmers are ambivalent about digging takes

place, despite the damage it can cause and we will be asking how

easy will b it be to stamp out this cruel activity. Tomorrow Gordon

will report on the lengths the USPCA will go to track the diggers.

We will show you how the latest technology including unmanned

aerial drones is being harnessed to bring the gangs to justice. We will

be interested to hear your views on our Facebook page. There is content

on the news on line site. A 44- year-old man has appeared in court,

charged with attempting to murder his uncle. The charge relates to an

attack on a pensioner in Dromore yesterday. Our district journalist

reports. The police were called to the house in Dromore yesterday, and

found 73-year-old Brendan Hartop in a critical condition. He had been

struck with a hammer several times. Today, his nephew Paul Hartop was

carriaged with attempt murder. An officer told the court it had been

Paul Hartop who called the police. He said he believed his family were

conspiring against him and he travelled home from England

intending to kill his sister and her husband, or his uncle. The

officer said Mr Hartop had given graphic detail while being

interviewed. He told the police he had hidden waiting for his uncle to

come home and attacked him with the hammer once he had gone to bed. He

said he attacked him after sleeping for a time himself. Brendan Hartop

remains in a critical condition in hospital. Paul Hartop was remanded

in custody and will appear later this month by videolink. Religious

orders once responsible for running childrens homes are searching

records for documents are lating to allegations of child abuse. The

newss emerged after a meeting between the khrith church and

people who suffered abuse in the homes. -- Catholic Catholic.

Arriving at for the talks the survivors of clerical abuse said

they wanted guarantees the church would co-operate with the inquiry.

Inside they sad down with the Cardinal but with representatives

of four religious orders which ransom of the institutions where

the abuse happened. Afterwards, they emerged, apparently happy with

the outcome. Three of the orders that are there today currently have

archivists working, to compile what records they have. I think that is

the start, part of the difficulty, particularly with any inquiry is

ensuring you have people looking for any allegation or reports that

would have existed. They currently have people trawling through the

archives, and files, to see what they can put together. The store

mand inquiry is a two step process. Private story telling comes first

and is likely to start soon. The more formal element with witnesses

being called and documents sought will need a change in the law, and

may still be some way off. Cardinal Brady didn't speak after the

meeting but in a statement said the church would co-operate with the

inquiry. The survivors' group seems happy with the outcome of the

meeting. Not only have they got that commitment from the church and

orders they will co-operate fully with the wirery but they say they

will seek legal safe tkpwhards the discovery process to ensure that

commitment is up held and they get sight of all relevant documentation.

-- inquiry. You are watching BBC Newsline. A new self health group

for the thousands said to be suffering in silence with a stammer.

And an exclusive interview the Ulster rugby coach Mark Anscombe

and his recipe for success. They want to get that edge and they

realise to be successful over such a long season and a couple of

competition, you have to have a dominant pack to survive. It is

understood that the Regional Development minister Danny Kennedy

will be a candidate for the UUP leadership. Sources close to him

say he has been speaking to party members over the weekend and has

very clear majority support within the Ulster Unionist Party. Our

political editor is at Stormont. Is has he said anything? He hasn't. He

hasn't done any formal announcement, but those close to him have been

saying he took it over the weekend, and apart from majority support he

believes he has in the assembly party, he believes he has backing

from within the party's peers and the MEP Jim Nicholson, he has taken

out his nomination papers and we would expect to hear from him a bit

more formally before the deadline for nominations, which should be on

Friday. I say should be, because Ulster Unionist Party officers are

meeting tonight to formalise that, but we do believe they will rubber-

stamp what was said by the treasurer which is they intend to

press ahead, with a meeting which will take place on March 31st,

giving a tight timetable for this leadership election contest. Thank

you. The seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart are about to

receive just over �400,000 for a much-needed face-lift ahead of the

summer's Irish Open Golf tournament P The securing of the Irish open

will mean all eyes will be on Portrush, but that has prompted

concerns over derelict buildings, such as the former met poll hotel

which was described as an eyesore. Funding announced today will be

used to address the problem. There is � 400 how thousand to clear

these sites. Clean up the sites, improve them, so that all the

visitors who come here, including round the Irish open have better

experience, and that local people who live here, week in, week out

will have a better experience. money will be given to the council

to be used for repairs and landscaping an the demolition of

buildings. Work will begin at this site in the next few days.

contractors have just arrived on site. The former building that was

the Metropole will be razed to the ground, the site will be cleared,

the wall will be repaired and hopefully it will look much more

attractive. The funding will benefit a further 11 sites in

Portrush and the neighbouring town of Portstewart. While the

announcement has been broadly worked, one local businessman says

more can be done. It is my belief this isn't far enough. I think for

example things should have been done long before now. With the

Irish open coming upon us shortly, that more money needs to be spent

quickly. And for some locals it has come just in time. I think it is a

long time coming. They left the Metropole for too long, you know.

Last year, it was referred to as Beirut. I think it is great. It is

a big year coming up. Nice to see the place tidied up. In a few

months time thousands will be flocking here to the north Antrim

coast for the Irish Open. It is an area described in the past as the

jewel in the Crown of tourism. It is hoped this money will go towards

restoring it to its former glory. Thousands of people who have a

stammer are suffering in silence. That is according to the Royal

College of Speech and Language Therapists who are calling on the

Government to fund services which target adults. Men and women who

formed a self group have told the BBC they had no other option as the

NHS had let them down. Our health correspondent reports. 1976 and the

open all hours sitcom arrived on our screens. While a hit some

viewers felt uneasy about what they were laughing at. How much are

these? That will be 9, 9, 9, that, give us a shilling. Recent dramas

have triggered the stammering debate. While small in number this

self-help group has big plans for the future. I thought, if it is

good enough for kings and Queen, it is good enough for me. Speech

therapy is in demand. In the certain Health Trust area alone,

over 2,500 children are receiving help, while dozens of adults are on

a waiting list as posts remain unfilled. Since 2005 the Department

of Health has spent round �12 million developing the service but

there is criticism it mostly targets young people. We need to

get, you know, awareness, because we don't have enough specialised

speech and language therapists, who want to actually deal with just

stammering. While treating today's children will help the a dulls of

future, there is a call from those currently suffering not to be

ignored. We think stammerers are suffering in silence. The numbers

are so large, yet so few are coming forward to receive the help they

need. We think that is because there aren't sufficient services to

support them. We would like to see something similar to England w the

Government giving funding, to help people with stammering problems.

Adults who once shied away from public speak having found help

through various programmes but it's a privilege they have had to pay

for. We are helping ourself, we are helping each other. There is no

magic cure for stammering, we have to learn to work on tools and

techniques to manage speech. Danny Kennedy has also overcome his

stammer. With his eye now on the prize of leading his party, he says

a speech impediment shouldn't be seen as a barrier. Clearly people

with speech impediments or stammers can reach the very top in their

profession, in their chosen profession, that is a very good

thing. According to this help group adult programmes should not be

limited to those who can afford them. They want the Stormont

executive to listen now they have found their voice. Next, we have an

exclusive interview for you with the man who has been given the task

of leading the Ulster rugby team to bigger and better things. Mark

Anscombe who will take over as the new Ulster head coach in the summer

says his brief is to bring strength and depth to the province. In his

first television interview, he has also revealed why he got the job at

Ravenhill. Mark Anscombe can enjoy the sunshine for now, but he will

soon be swapping that Auckland blue for the rain at Ravenhill. Bringing

with him a particular set of skills. They are clearly one of, that is my

e pertease comes from, you have seen in the last couple of years

they have been developing and they made the Heineken Cup quarterfinals

and they are still in it this year, progressing up the ladder, and they

are looking at the depth of the squad, the players and they want to

get that dge and they realise to be successful over a long season and a

couple of competitions you have to have a dominant forward pack to

survive. He has cone especially with Leinster, and there is a few

coaches over there and they have done well. I suppose the

expectations are high, of us, so that is going to add to the

challenge of making sure I get out there and add my name to that list.

At Ulster he will inherit two countrymen, and a strong starting

line up of talent but believes a good first 15 is not enough.

think the key is that, you know, they have a number of player,

international players but it is about developing the depth. With

their top team they put on the park, they have a very competitive team,

but what we have to do to be successful over a long season is

develop our depth and in case injuries occur and we are not

reliant on just, you know, the key half a dozen players. He has a

clear vision forhis new team. He gets to work in June. Ireland may

not be able to win the six nations this year, but they can still end

England's chances of doing so at Twickenham on Saturday. That should

be motivation enough. After an emphatic 32-14 bin over Scotland on

Saturday, with Rory Best leading by example, Ireland are keen to fin

wish a flourish. It is important that this doesn't become a one off.

It is something we talked about during the week, consistency is key

for this team. If you want to win things you have to be consistent.

We can't win a Championship this year, but we can build and be a

better team next season. There are guys champing at the bit to get out

there. We have been there, and we have done it and hopefully we will

get the lads together, and rest up the next few dayings and go down

with the belief we can get a win. Rory McIlroy says he is

disappointed with his third place finish at the world golf

championship event in Miami even though he consolidated his number

one ranking in the game. He carded a five under par round of 67. This

eagle on the 12th brought him to within a shot of the lead at one

stage, but he dropped shots in the closing holes and fell back. He

will enjoy a couple of weeks off before he heads to Augusta for the

Masters next month. Ireland's hopes of sending a men's hockey team to

London 2012 were raised with two victories at the Olympic qualifying

tournament in Dublin p Ireland won both games beating Ukraine 12-0 and

here, despatching Russia 6-1. Only one country out of six will make to

it the games but with two wins out of two Ireland have got off to a

perfect start. The Olympics this summer might be too soon for Ben

Reynolds but the hurdler from Holywood shows he is one for the

future, reaching the semifinals of The Word indoors at Istanbul. His

first appearance at a major champion shies. And the Coleraine

rower Alan Campbell is heading to London 2012, that is him on the far

right. He won the single skulls title at the for an eight

consecutive year. An a special report on them tomorrow. Football's

goal-line technology debate wasn't confined to Queen's Park Rangers

and the English Premier League at the weekend. There was a similar

controversy here in the Carling Premiership during that draw

between Cliftonville and Portadown. I thought it was in. So did he.

Crucially the officials didn't think that the whole ball crossed

the line. Even though these replays would suggest otherwise. That could

well have been over the line. it wasn't only controversial

decision during an action packed game. John Connolly was sent off

late on for handling outside his penalty areas. I am suprised.

Normally we are told that the referee is better positioned. The

lines man from 60, 70 yards away, there was an incident in the first

half, it hit the post. People tell me it is a foot or two over the

line, but they can see 40 or 50 yards across the park. As I say, it

wasn't a good day for the officials. Things were a lot more

straightforward for Linfield as they defeated Carrick Rangers.

Jamie Mulgrew celebrated his 250th appearance with a goal. And glen

aifpb got three much-needed points. -- Glenavon. They ruled out a

system of introduced rel lated payment for interCounty managers.

It has decided to implement the official policy which bans payments

to managers other than agreed expenses. Armagh were given a

reality check by Dublin in Division One of the Allianz League. Dublin's

full forward doing much of the damage. There was better news for

Down who meat Mayo and Tyrone's prominence continues. Martin

Penrose's goal helping them to a win over Westmeath. And finally

back-to-back wins over Edinburgh capital's mean the Belfast Giants

can win the Elite League if they can beat shelf on -- Sheffield on

Friday. Let us get the latest Friday. Let us get the latest

weather next. Thank you. We have had an overcast and gloomy start to

the new week across much of Northern Ireland. Did have patches

of drizzle, although they faded away to leave us with dry weather.

Really, that is what we are holding on to until the middle part of the

week. Mainly dry before we start to see a change, but mostly cloudy.

That is what we ended up with today. There were a few bright spells, but

as you can see the southerly breeze filled that cloud in. So even if

they had a few bright intervals, this is how it looked over Derry. A

lot of cloud, sitting low on the Donegal hills. So pretty overcast

skies out there. It is still mainly dry. Through the night, the cloud

will tend to lower, so we are looking at mist sit setting in, and

it could produce a few spots of drizzly rain here and there. A bit

of dampness. Not amounting to too much. Many places staying dry and

mild with lows of six or seven. Still mild as we head into tomorrow.

Still a lot of cloud in the sky and it looks as if it will be dull.

Maybe a bit of dampness in this air. I think we will find any of that

dampness disappears. There is a chance we could see the odd bright

interval, almost anywhere by the afternoon. Perhaps parts of

Fermanagh and Tyrone being most favoured. But they will be few and

far between. We are looking at an overcast sky. Mainly dry conditions.

On the face of it ten or 11, it is mild but probably won't feel it

that way due to the lack of sunshine. So it could be the daff

fills are the only things cheering us up. Plenty of them there. As we