21/09/2012 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The headlines this Friday evening:

Two bombs in Londonderry - one in a bicycle by a riverside walk.

were lucky today, that these mindless thugs did not kill an

innocent member of society. Should taxis get a green light to

use city centre bus lanes? Donegal is beautiful and its people

are lovely, but this weekend they will be anything but!

For one night only - the free arts events on offer - I'm live with the

details. We are in for a very chilly night

with temperatures close to freezing for some, but another fine day is

on the way tomorrow. More details shortly.

Reckless in the extreme is how the police have described an attempted

bombing along the River Foyle in Londonderry last night. One device

was a booby trap bomb attached to a bicycle which was chained to

railings on a public walkway popular with walkers and joggers.

The second device was a pipebomb, which had been left in a rucksack

nearby and was picked up by a member of Foyle Search and Rescue

out on patrol. The Mayor of Derry, Kevin Campbell, says people are

outraged and demanding that dissidents stop their campaign of

violence. Here's our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

Police say dissident republicans had deadly intent. The Diddy device

with the time or was attached to this bicycle that was covered by

forensic officers this morning. It was Jane to railings at the back of

Derry City council's offices. Police believe it was intended for

officers who would arrive at the scene, or for bomb disposal experts

who had gone to defuse a device, at a bomb, a close by. This pipe bomb

was left in a public place. This is freshers week with a lot of

students and the City. We are lucky today that these mindless thugs

have not killed him and -- an innocent member of society in the

city. The booby-trapped bomb was similar in size to the device which

went off inside the Santander Bank in the city centre last year. The

pipe bomb was discovered by a group of volunteers from false search and

rescue who were patrolling the river bank. One woman picked up the

rucksack, but put it down again when she noticed an object inside.

Nobody gets paid to do this. People give up their free time to help

people in distress. To think their lives are being put in danger by

somebody leaving a device like that, for a member of the public to lift.

200 staff to work at Derry City Council's administrative

headquarters were not able to get into day, and 100 employees at a

call centre near by were all so unfair -- were also affected. The

owner of this bed and read the City had visitors staying last night,

but the tourists had to move to the back of the house. It is a disaster

for the town. Any publicity like this is bad for the city. We had

people booked in for tonight, but we don't know if they will arrive.

Some of them were staying three nights. A lot of times when

something like this happens, believe that a one night. They're

frightened. Detectives investigating this incident are now

studying CCTV images and are appealing for the help of the

public. They want to hear from anyone who noticed any suspicious

activity last night to get in touch. Three men have been arrested in

Lurgan in a police operation against dissident Republican

activity. They were arrested when two cars were stopped at Kiln Road

last night and a gun was recovered by the police. Eyewitnesses have

said officers surrounded one of the cars and took two men out of it.

A County Tyrone man who shot and killed his former girlfriend has

been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Fred McClenaghan, from

Broad Street in Magherafelt, murdered Marion Millican at a

laundrette in Portstewart, where she worked, in March last year. The

judge said there was evidence McClenaghan had planned the

shooting using an untraceable illegal shotgun. It also emerged

during the trial that he had attacked her in the past. Speaking

outside court today, the victim's daughter described him as an evil

man and a monster and described the 16-year jail sentence as too

lenient. More now on yesterday's news of a

massive multi-million pound order for the Ballymena firm Wrightbus.

The company was awarded the contract to build 600 vehicles,

dubbed Boris Buses, by the operator of London's transport network. It's

not yet clear if the order will create any new jobs. The contract

is due to be signed next week and more details may emerge then. Today,

the news was welcomed by political representatives.

This clearly sustains over a 1000 people in this manufacturing plants,

and the subsidiary manufacturers. It is about building on that and

sustaining it. It is a boost for Northern Ireland. We saw a few days

ago the loss of hundreds of jobs at its F G Wilson. That was

devastating news for those people. This is really good news enjoy this

-- shows that Northern Ireland is open for business.

Two provincial teams will contest for the All-Ireland football crown

this Sunday in Dublin. Still to come on the programme: Thomas

Niblock is in the heartland of the Ulster support.

Rory Kavanagh will be playing midfield for Donegal this weekend

and we are here at his local primary school where he's in a

class of his owner. Now, if you've been driving in

Belfast city centre this week, you've probably noticed the new bus

lanes that have come into operation. They are designed to speed up

public transport, but should they be used by taxis, as well? The move

is part of a proposal by the Department of Regional Development

to overhaul taxi services in the City, but not everyone is happy

with the prospect, as Kevin Sharkey reports.

There are two types of taxi services in Belfast, the public

hire taxis queue for business and could be flagged down on the street.

There can also use bus lanes. Private hire taxis must be booked

over the phone and they can't use bus lanes. That could be about to

change. From next January they can be flagged down on the street like

black taxis. The department wants to let them use bus lanes as well.

Like the taxis, there are two types of bus lanes. Into the city they

operate at peak traffic times only, while in the city centre there and

used all day. This is one of a new number of bus lanes introduced

recently. It is meant to be used only by buses and black taxis. The

four other taxes are given permission to use it, there is a

problem that other motorists are using it illegally. Even though

proper policing of the new and old bus lanes remains an issue, the

private hire taxis went into this lane. We are looking forward to the

private higher taxes being able to use the bus lanes. We think it is a

discrimination against us. We hope it goes in our favour. Others,

noticeably cyclists, are resisting it. The department says that

traffic levels of in bus lanes will double. It makes it a much less

attractive place for cyclists to be. If the department is trying to make

cycling more attractive, these regulations will potentially be

damaging both to those targets. department's consultation closes

today, but it will be the end of the year before a final decision is

taken. The Next an issue highlighted by one of our viewers.

It concerns a scheme which is meant to address a crisis in training for

trades. Some employers say the Programme-Led Apprenticeship, or

PLA, has become a scourge on the electrical industry - that it leads

nowhere and young people aren't getting the qualification they need.

Our district journalist Louise Cullen reports.

On the way to becoming a fully qualified electrician. We are

working on site with an electrician. Be on site electrics tend to be a

little different from what you see on a piece of paper. He is on a

traditional apprenticeship working with an employer while studying.

Because the economic downturn made it harder to find an employer, the

department's introduced the programme led of a dish of Skene

three years ago. It is mostly classroom-based and leads to a

level to qualification, not a level three that the industry recognises.

It is an arrangement which allows young people to develop some

technical skills, some employability and some transferable

skills which will allow them to progress to an apprenticeship and

employment at a later date. young person is going through an

apprenticeship. That will not be the case. We are seeing signs are

that at the moment. It is not going to produce an electrician at the

end of the four-year term. With PLA students in the classroom 15 hours

week, employers say can be hard to get level three apprenticeships.

haven't been able to recruit because there is no facility to the

employed people on at the traditional routes of the NVQ 3.

a statement, the department said it has reminded training suppliers

that the programme led apprenticeship shouldn't be

actively promoted, but it is a fall-back measure when all other

attempts to get an apprenticeship It is Friday and for many people a

night to hit the town. Julie McCullough is in Belfast City

Centre. It is culture night. More than 200

events to choose from at a host of strange venues, and it won't cost

The motto for the London Olympics was Inspire A Generation, and

there's no doubt the medal success of the Coleraine rowers has urged

young people in their hometown to follow in their footsteps. This

week one of those Olympians returned to his old school to show

its rowing team how it's done. David Maxwell reports. It is cold,

wet and very early, but the roars of Coleraine Inst is getting ready

to take to the water. An Olympics civil -- this past pupil has

returned to give a masterclass. am going to Spain's the day

training. Throughout the day, we have got different things for them

to talk about. We'll be talking about drugs in sport, supplements,

higher approached the sport. It is straight onto the River Bann for a

paddle session. Sound easy? Think again. This is continuous rolling

for 100 minutes. These guys are getting a test of what it takes to

be an Olympian. They have done 10 miles on the water and now it is

time for breakfast. The respite does not last long. It is back on

the water again for an hour of sprint racing. This is a training

regime without mercy. He has to do 300 days a year for four years.

I'll be ready for bed when I get home! 10 years ago he was draining

down here, and it just shows that anyone can do it if they have the

dedication. This is a school that has already produced a silver and

bronze Olympians and it doesn't intend to stop churning them out.

We currently have 100 boys participating in rowing. They have

picked up the training schedule that Olympians are engaged in an be

trained for five days a week. We have three boys could be identified

by us and rowing Ireland as potential international roars.

the school has high hopes of future success. How could the boys not be

inspired from the story of schoolboy amateur to world-class

athlete? I wasn't a typical make-up of a roar. I wasn't very strong! It

just shows you that it doesn't matter what size and shape you are,

if you work hard at its you can achieve something like going to the

Olympics. Donegal's Gaelic footballers, the

golfer Rory McIlroy and the boxer Carl Frampton are all chasing glory

this weekend. Stephen Watson is here.

It has been 20 years since Donegal's only All-Ireland victory.

They take on Mayo this Sunday in pursuit of Sam Maguire. Thomas

Niblock is live in Letterkenny. The question, is can the class of 2012

emulate that of 1992? It is funny you should mention that,

because we're at the primary-school where the teacher is Rory Kavanagh.

We're going to sneak in to his classroom. They are singing a

They are normally a very quiet bunch. What has the buzz been like?

Fantastic. The only colours you would see in Donegal from a

satellite picture would be green and yellow. Having Rory Kavanagh on

the staff has been fantastic. is your name? She in. He will win

this weekend? Donegal. He is going to win? Donegal is going to win by

1000 miles. Others the Donegal is going to win. They have the best

team, and Rory Kavanagh. Begin his life from 3:15pm on BBC

television. It is also on Radio Ulster. Who is going to win? ALL:

Donegal! It was all smiles between Rory

McIlroy and Tiger Woods last night as they went head to head in the

opening round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta last night.

World number one McIlroy finished three shots behind Woods, and four

behind the leader. He is still well in the hunt not just to win the

tournament, but the play-off series and a bonus of an amazing $10

million. McIlroy rolled in some impressive putts in his opening

round, and has just started round two.

Next week he joins Graeme McDowell in the European team in the Ryder

Cup. Carl Frampton reckons he is now

just two fights away from emulating Rory McIlroy and becoming the best

in the world. The Belfast boxer takes on two-time world champion

Steve Molitor of Canada in the Odyssey. This afternoon the two

fighters went head-to-head. I spent a long time away from my family. My

daughter is starting to be aware of me being away edgy get sad. I am

going to knock this guy out. Anybody can steer you down and make

a mean fees, but in their ring it is the skill that reveals.

Coleraine have made an impressive start to this year's Irish League

campaign. They are currently in second place under the guidance of

manager Oran Kearney. Tomorrow, he's up against his old club, and

he's done his homework. The students cured know that their

teacher is a man he is used to coming up with the winning formula.

Under his guidance, Chorion reached the League Cup final and finished

4th in the league last year. He believes they could do better.

year I felt our side was a bit young and experienced. He probably

punched above her weight at times. To get to the Cup Final in get the

experience was great for the lads. I think it has whet the appetite at

the club and we would love to go a stage further. Coleraine have

fought hard for results on the pitch this season. On paper they

should be Ballymena tomorrow, but derby matches can be unpredictable.

Ballymena have done very well. They haven't conceded many goals. They

are going well. I can see it being the tightest derby game for a long

time. They will know tomorrow whether it is a pass or fail with

their teacher! That is the sport for tonight. I am

off to the Ryder Cup! Now to something that only happens

once a year and gives people all over Northern Ireland the chance to

sample some arts events for free. Yes, it's Culture Night and our

reporter Julie McCullough is live with one of the acts performing

later. Julie. We are in a very appropriate venue

for this evening's act. Northern Ireland opera is performing pieces

from Sweeney told. We will hear more from then it in a couple of

minutes. Let me go to the organiser of culture night. Adam, at the top

line tonight is that everything is free. For people who do come along,

what can they expect? 220 events. There is something for everyone. We

have a carnival, children workshops, opera, theatre, and loads of stuff

just happening on the streets, street artists, making people can -

- Making Belfast come alive. It is not just in Belfast. Where else can

people go to take part? There are events all over islands. In

Northern Ireland's in Derry and at antrum and Armagh, Strabane and

Holywood. Why just in one night and not over a week? That is the magic

of it. If we had half as many We want so much stuff. We will have

to leave it there. For now I will leave you with a little taster of

There is plenty happening outside this weekend's! The weather

After sunset, it is going to turn cold, so do bring a coat. It will

stay dry. The temperatures will continue to fall. We are expecting

some frost to develop. It could drop below freezing in the

countryside. The North Coast will not be too bad but temperatures

around six degrees. We will get * Dr a cold start for the weekend.

Tomorrow will be dry and bright. To begin with there will be some mist

and fog, but that will burn away fairly quickly. Plenty of sunshine

to enjoy. There will be some clout from time to time. With the

sunshine, it will feel pretty pleasant for the time of year. The

temperature to see on the map are recorded in the sheered, so if

you're out and about in the sunshine, it will feel a bit warmer.

Towards the end of the day, we will still have the sunshine. Clear

skies again tomorrow night for some of us. They will be more cloud

around them tonight. For many towns and cities, not as cold as tonight

but you will still feel it. Sunday will get off to a cold start again.

We are looking at another dry and bright day. The sun will come out

from time to time. Temperatures will stay around 14 degrees. If

you're having to the All Ireland final, expected to be dry and

bright. It will change as you go towards next week. Low pressure

will pushing from the Atlantic and with that we can expect that to

turn much more unsettled. At least for the beginning of the week there

will be rain to come and the winds will pick up. Do enjoy the sunshine