:00:15. > :00:25.Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline - On a bumper weekend of
:00:25. > :00:28.
:00:28. > :00:36.sport, something's got to give between Ireland and England. A
:00:36. > :00:41.Polish factory denies handling horsemeat. Some businesses in East
:00:41. > :00:49.Belfast are closing, or going elsewhere. To have a shop is not
:00:49. > :00:53.viable, particularly in East Belfast with the protest. Why this
:00:53. > :00:57.hospital is developing as a centre of excellence for cardiac care. And
:00:57. > :01:07.it's not going to be too bad a start to the weekend but it looks
:01:07. > :01:12.
:01:12. > :01:18.like we'll have another taste of The Polish meat plant which is
:01:18. > :01:24.alleged to have been the source of contaminated beef has said it does
:01:24. > :01:28.not lot of horses. The company based near Warsaw said they are as
:01:28. > :01:35.interested in getting to the bottom of the incident as everyone else.
:01:35. > :01:39.It is understood that be PSNI had a meeting in Belfast as they assess
:01:39. > :01:45.whether to begin a criminal investigation.
:01:45. > :01:49.The Polish beef that contain significant amount of horsemeat was
:01:49. > :01:57.moved from the firm where it had been quarantined to an independent
:01:57. > :02:02.coal store. It has labelling linking it to a Polish plant called
:02:02. > :02:07.Food Service. They released a statement saying that they did not
:02:07. > :02:17.process, slaughter, de Beaune, or pack of Rees any horse meat. -- de
:02:17. > :02:21.
:02:21. > :02:31.Beaune. We supervised the disestablishment. -- this
:02:31. > :02:36.
:02:36. > :02:41.establishment. We check the cold store. The results showed the
:02:41. > :02:45.contamination was in Poland. prospect of a police investigation
:02:45. > :02:50.into the horsemeat moved a step closer. I understand there was a
:02:50. > :02:55.meeting between the food standards agency in Northern Ireland, which
:02:55. > :03:01.the PSNI attended. The purpose was to help the police assess whether
:03:01. > :03:04.there was any criminality, and whether they should be
:03:04. > :03:14.investigating it. Stormont is becoming more heavily involved.
:03:14. > :03:15.
:03:15. > :03:23.Officials from the Food Standards Agency have been summoned to make
:03:23. > :03:29.meeting next week. The man who reported the Polish beef said he
:03:29. > :03:33.had no idea why it was containing horsemeat. I just want to
:03:33. > :03:43.understand it. I'm still reeling from it, I haven't come to terms
:03:43. > :03:45.
:03:45. > :03:55.with it. The company got more good news today after tests testing for
:03:55. > :03:57.
:03:58. > :04:02.Adam -- testing for other animals came back is negative. They said
:04:02. > :04:09.they were fighting for their future, and the jobs, and the future of the
:04:09. > :04:11.industry. It's thought a number of rocket
:04:11. > :04:14.launchers were seized by Gardai when three men were arrested in
:04:14. > :04:17.County Tipperary last night. The men, all in their thirties, were
:04:17. > :04:19.held in Cahir as part of an ongoing investigation into dissident
:04:19. > :04:22.republican activity. A senior member of the Northern
:04:22. > :04:25.Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has resigned. In the past year the
:04:25. > :04:27.organisation has been hit by a series of scandals involving some
:04:27. > :04:30.of its highest ranking officers. It's also been the subject of
:04:30. > :04:40.several investigations - involving the department of health and the
:04:40. > :04:45.
:04:45. > :04:49.Public Accounts committee. Fighting fires and saving lives,
:04:49. > :04:53.these men and women front of organisation which has been coming
:04:53. > :04:58.under tremendous Brittany in the past year. It is not their actions
:04:58. > :05:01.under the spotlight, instead the people who manage them. Among them
:05:01. > :05:08.the director of finance and performance management, who
:05:08. > :05:12.resigned. He was responsible for implementing finance policy. It is
:05:12. > :05:18.a significant posts, every piece of equipment must be approved by his
:05:19. > :05:24.department. Investigations are making headlines, as it is just the
:05:24. > :05:29.latest development in a long- running saga. Last year, the
:05:29. > :05:35.organisation came to the public's attention following whistle-blowing
:05:35. > :05:44.allegations from him before, she raised the alarm on financial
:05:44. > :05:47.wrongdoing. She raised allegations regarding payments to none of
:05:47. > :05:53.uniform directors. They had not formally been approved by the
:05:53. > :05:59.Department of Health. It emerged that a name had been removed from
:05:59. > :06:05.an audit report, members of the health committee asked why it had
:06:05. > :06:15.been done? They also investigations to two harassment casings. Members
:06:15. > :06:21.of staff, including Linda Ford, were lead -- relocated. There is an
:06:21. > :06:26.issue of public confidence. It is in no way a reflection of
:06:26. > :06:31.firefighters on the ground. We need to sort out the management end of
:06:31. > :06:37.the fire service. In a statement of the BBC, union representatives said
:06:37. > :06:41.that he had decided to leave of his own choice. That he was not under
:06:41. > :06:44.investigation, or facing any charges, and totally refutes any
:06:45. > :06:48.allegations of that nature throughout his career. In an
:06:48. > :06:52.earlier investigation, we revealed that another senior member of staff
:06:52. > :06:58.had been allowed to run a private business selling uniforms and other
:06:58. > :07:05.protective equipment, at the same time as he was involved in
:07:05. > :07:09.procurement. There were allegations that fire service property was used.
:07:09. > :07:14.The problems in the fire service became so serious that Jim Wallace
:07:15. > :07:19.was brought in from Scotland as an interim chief executive. Following
:07:19. > :07:23.this latest departure, a source has told the BBC that the finance
:07:23. > :07:33.department has been left in disarray. Senior management post
:07:33. > :07:34.
:07:34. > :07:39.had been filled temporarily by agency workers. -- agency worker.
:07:39. > :07:43.Still to come: it was the place where thousands of children learn
:07:43. > :07:53.to swim, but now it is the end of an era for this north Belfast
:07:53. > :08:00.
:08:00. > :08:04.simple. -- swimming pool. A number of businesses are blaming
:08:04. > :08:09.the flag protest for closing down. For some, it was a last straw, as
:08:09. > :08:17.we have been finding out. This is one of the most fashionable
:08:17. > :08:27.shopping areas in Belfast outside the city centre. Some businesses
:08:27. > :08:31.
:08:31. > :08:38.are closing, others are following. The shopper is moving to Hollywood.
:08:38. > :08:43.Other clothes shops are also moving. The businesses say there are a
:08:43. > :08:50.number of reasons for moving, or shutting up shop. Some cite
:08:50. > :09:00.crippling rate bills, but they all agree that the recent protests have
:09:00. > :09:04.had the -- an impact, or force them to move. We are focusing on online
:09:04. > :09:09.business, we would prefer to do that alongside the shop, but the
:09:09. > :09:14.protests have created a situation, and the shop is not viable. It has
:09:14. > :09:20.had a catastrophic impact on our sales over the last ten weeks. We
:09:20. > :09:30.cannot stay anymore. We are planning to relocate at the end of
:09:30. > :09:36.
:09:36. > :09:44.the month, because of the lack of people through the doors.
:09:44. > :09:50.reputation for East Belfast is continuing to stuffer. -- suffer.
:09:50. > :09:57.It is bad body image. We are pawns in the process, we don't know what
:09:57. > :10:07.to do about it. Whatever the powers-that-be can do, it is
:10:07. > :10:15.
:10:15. > :10:24.crucial. These businesses say their plight has been overlooked.
:10:25. > :10:32.Collaboration is crucial in medical research. Commissions and patients
:10:32. > :10:37.are pulling in the same direction. This reported to cardiac care. --
:10:37. > :10:47.report into cardiac care. This doctor operates at the leading
:10:47. > :10:57.edge of cardiology. Today was a first, and up link by a video link.
:10:57. > :11:02.
:11:02. > :11:07.A it was a procedure that was a first. It is an exciting procedure.
:11:07. > :11:15.It allows us to give our patients access to technologies that would
:11:15. > :11:21.not ordinarily be available. It is expertise like these that the
:11:21. > :11:25.area's economic brains think it -- thing could transform the whole
:11:25. > :11:29.economy. We must be doing something right, we have be people, we have
:11:29. > :11:33.the skills, and the hospital. We have a lot of research and
:11:33. > :11:37.development on our doorstep. It seems the right time to do
:11:37. > :11:41.something. We can hopefully move on from there and create further
:11:41. > :11:51.opportunities. The idea is that conditions will work hand-in-hand
:11:51. > :11:55.
:11:55. > :12:00.with the industry, many of which are near by. We selected this area
:12:00. > :12:07.because we manufacture products, and we need clean air. That is
:12:07. > :12:13.guaranteed here. We still have a state-of-the-art laboratory, the
:12:13. > :12:23.top research scientists. Galway has been an excellent example of the
:12:23. > :12:23.
:12:23. > :12:32.benefit of strategic collaboration. We would like to benefit from that
:12:32. > :12:36.other collaboration. The benefits were underlined by today's
:12:36. > :12:46.conference attended by two government ministers. It is exactly
:12:46. > :12:47.
:12:47. > :12:50.the way to ensure a healthy population and economy.
:12:50. > :12:53.Is County Tyrone a hot-spot for giants? Well scientists believe it
:12:53. > :12:57.is and that the reason is in the blood. A rare gene which can cause
:12:57. > :12:59.people to grow to more than 7 feet tall has been found in several
:12:59. > :13:02.families living near Cookstown and Dungannon. It's a fascinating story
:13:02. > :13:12.but as our district reporter Julian Fowler has discovered - it's no
:13:12. > :13:17.tall tale. At 6 ft 4, I am not sure, but like most others I have to look
:13:17. > :13:24.up to brand and Holland. He is not even the tallest person to come
:13:24. > :13:32.from County Tyrone. He is related to Charles Burns, known as the
:13:32. > :13:42.Irish giant. He steered more than 7.5 feet tall. The question is, why
:13:42. > :13:45.
:13:45. > :13:48.Mi this particular height? Why me? It took 40 years to find out. To
:13:48. > :13:54.find out that you are a distant relation of someone he was quite
:13:54. > :13:58.famous 250 years ago, it was a bonus. The genetic link that they
:13:58. > :14:02.share has been shown in other families in the area, scientists
:14:02. > :14:09.are conducting a survey to find out how committees. We think it would
:14:09. > :14:14.be one of the cradles a giant civilisation. We have one or two
:14:14. > :14:19.people we have identified the were very tall. Certainly quite a few
:14:19. > :14:24.giants. Taking the test is no tall order, it requires a sample of
:14:24. > :14:31.saliva, so how many giants will they find? Although it is the land
:14:31. > :14:40.of the giants in many respects, I'm not so sure physically. Do you have
:14:40. > :14:46.any chance of your family? And not at all. I dated it is in my family.
:14:47. > :14:54.I would say I'm the tallest in my house. Any giants in your family?
:14:54. > :14:59.Not really. You don't have to be taught to have the gene, 80% of
:14:59. > :15:02.people who carry it they develop any symptoms. Scientists hope the
:15:02. > :15:12.study will establish if this area really does deserve its reputation
:15:12. > :15:19.
:15:19. > :15:23.The Grove Baths on the Shore Road once hosted the biggest names in
:15:23. > :15:27.the world of swimming. Mervyn Jess has been speaking to a city father
:15:27. > :15:32.with fond memories of the Grove Baths.
:15:32. > :15:36.Brick by brick, the Grove Baths are being picked apart. The building
:15:36. > :15:40.has been lying unused for some time and was broken into by a young
:15:40. > :15:44.people using it as a gathering spot. So it was decided for safety
:15:44. > :15:48.purposes to demolish the building. One of the city councillors
:15:48. > :15:55.involved in a project to replace it grew up in the area and has formed
:15:55. > :16:00.memories -- fond memories of what the poor meant to locals. The Grove
:16:00. > :16:08.Baths, my generation who lived in this area were born and reared in
:16:08. > :16:12.the Grove Baths. The name was changed many years ago to the Grove
:16:12. > :16:16.swimming facility but it will be met there anything other to worse
:16:16. > :16:21.than the Grove Baths. The Grove Bart's was the fastest ball in
:16:21. > :16:25.Europe, probably, because of the 12 ft end. It is about the dynamics in
:16:25. > :16:31.the water when you're swimming through and pushing down. But it
:16:31. > :16:36.wasn't just people who swam there. They used it one year, for dolphins,
:16:36. > :16:42.they brought dolphins in. They took all the water out and put sea water
:16:42. > :16:46.in, and there was dolphin shows for a few weeks. It's what every crash
:16:47. > :16:51.at this hydraulic claw, and other childhood memory disappears. The
:16:51. > :16:55.Grove Baths were for many years Northern Ireland's Premier swimming
:16:55. > :17:05.pool. In a couple of months time, this site will be levelled ready
:17:05. > :17:08.
:17:08. > :17:12.Very nostalgic film. Apparently, whenever the dolphins were there,
:17:12. > :17:16.they put so much salt in the water you couldn't swim underwater in it.
:17:16. > :17:22.That is something else. I know the Ireland rugby team by using salt
:17:22. > :17:26.water to aid the recovery process! A big rugby weekend coming up. At
:17:26. > :17:31.the heart of it, Sunday's Begin, seen as a potential championship
:17:31. > :17:34.decider. It is probably a bit early, but to say that, Ireland against
:17:35. > :17:40.England is always huge, and both coaches today have opted to change
:17:40. > :17:43.very little after strong opening performances.
:17:43. > :17:48.After the fine win in Wales, Chris Henry finds himself on the bench
:17:48. > :17:51.again as the coach opts to play the same hand against England. We take
:17:52. > :17:55.a look at each position individually in respect to the
:17:55. > :17:59.other guys training in the squad, but these lads played well
:17:59. > :18:04.individually and collectively, and even though the team was ticked up
:18:04. > :18:07.-- picked on a man by man bases, it turned out but it wasn't a complete
:18:07. > :18:11.surprise, but we took a look at them individually, but I suppose
:18:11. > :18:18.the way they went, so well last week, they are deserving of another
:18:18. > :18:20.go. He had a small chat with me and said it was very close, but
:18:20. > :18:23.unfortunately the boys in my position did well last week and he
:18:23. > :18:28.felt it was the right thing to keep the on the bench this week.
:18:28. > :18:34.Ulster's Craig Gilroy does start, and Rory Best is in a pack likely
:18:34. > :18:36.to face a stern test from England. We need to look past their
:18:36. > :18:41.physicality and their breakdown and attention to detail. Their
:18:41. > :18:45.breakdown last week was phenomenal. Things like scrum and line-out
:18:45. > :18:52.where there as well, so we will have our work cut out and have to
:18:52. > :18:57.be on top of our game to do well. Barely 12 trees retains his place
:18:57. > :19:01.for England, with Stuart Lancaster leading Manu Tuilagi on the bench.
:19:01. > :19:05.The one English change sees James Haskel in at flanker. An impressive
:19:05. > :19:09.sight, but statistics show England haven't won a Six Nations match in
:19:09. > :19:14.Dublin for 10 years. It seems there is something about a home fixture
:19:14. > :19:19.bringing out the best in Ireland. There is live coverage across the
:19:19. > :19:24.BBC from 3pm on Sunday. Tonight, Ulster are back in RaboDirect Pro12
:19:24. > :19:28.action against last season's champions Ospreys. It is a sell-out
:19:28. > :19:31.at Ravenhill and Gavin Anderson is there for BBC Newsline.
:19:31. > :19:35.There is a different look to the Ulster side tonight partly because
:19:35. > :19:43.of the Ireland game and key injuries. With me to look ahead is
:19:43. > :19:47.Maurice Field. How big a call as it 4 Mark and skill for? It is an
:19:47. > :19:52.excellent call. He has played exceptionally well for Ireland
:19:52. > :19:57.Under 20 his last weekend and is proving to play in the right shirt.
:19:57. > :20:02.He may only be 19 but has the benefits of players inside and
:20:02. > :20:06.outside his experience will give them a good ride. He deserves it
:20:06. > :20:10.based on the talent he has. We will ask your thoughts on the big game
:20:10. > :20:14.on Sunday, Ireland against England, doesn't get any bigger. It is
:20:14. > :20:18.massive and probably be defining game of the championship. I think
:20:18. > :20:24.Ireland have a better all-round balance. England will bring huge
:20:24. > :20:29.physicality throughout, but there is more guile and style in the
:20:29. > :20:34.Irish team. Maurice Field is going for Ulster and Ireland. Kick-off is
:20:34. > :20:37.at 7:05pm with live coverage on BBC Two at 7:00pm.
:20:37. > :20:43.The boxes Carl Frampton and Kiko Martinez almost came to blows ahead
:20:43. > :20:46.of schedule after a Belfast way in. The Spaniard puts his European
:20:46. > :20:49.super-bantamweight title on the line up against the unbeaten
:20:49. > :20:53.Frampton at the Odyssey Arena tomorrow night. Mark Sidebottom
:20:53. > :20:56.watched. When boxing brings its custom
:20:56. > :21:04.research has to town it is often difficult to determine what is real
:21:04. > :21:11.and what is contrived. From Spain, Kiko Martinez! Both men looking
:21:11. > :21:18.leaner and fitter, but Martinez's national flag in hand, goaded the
:21:18. > :21:22.challenger. And the ensuing pre- fight posturing, no blows were
:21:22. > :21:26.exchanged but appetites were whetted. He is a desperate man and
:21:26. > :21:31.his agitated, I don't think he wants it and he put on a show. We
:21:31. > :21:35.will see who is first to look away. He was making slashing throats
:21:35. > :21:41.signals at me but we will see. He thinks he is a hard man but we will
:21:41. > :21:46.see. Martinez has never been stopped. Frampton, unbeaten in 15,
:21:46. > :21:51.something has to give. It is the 6th round of the Irish
:21:51. > :21:54.Cup tomorrow in football, and the draw has thrown up three all-
:21:54. > :21:58.Premiership ties including table toppers Cliftonville against
:21:59. > :22:02.Donegal Celtic. As Denise Watson reports, the Reds will be wary of
:22:02. > :22:06.DC after last season. Cliftonville will come up against
:22:06. > :22:11.the team who ruined their Irish Cup team last year, Donegal Celtic.
:22:11. > :22:15.This goal from Ryan Henderson the difference. But this Irish Cup tie
:22:15. > :22:19.this year between the two teams will be different. Cliftonville are
:22:19. > :22:23.informed. Top of the Premiership, and they have also won the League
:22:23. > :22:27.Cup, plus there has been no shortage of goals with Joe Gormley
:22:27. > :22:35.and Liam boys in centre that leading form. But their manager is
:22:35. > :22:39.still cautious. And there is a big squad here, and we will rotate them
:22:39. > :22:44.and play with everyone fit. We want to do well in the League and the
:22:44. > :22:49.Cup as well. On the day, they are frightening. They have a good
:22:49. > :22:56.chance of winning the treble, but we will try to put up a show, and
:22:56. > :23:01.hopefully, we will see what happens after 15 minutes. Cliftonville
:23:01. > :23:05.thrashed, rain 5-0 midweek and must regroup to play Ballymena United.
:23:05. > :23:09.Statistics are on their side. Since the manager took over two years ago,
:23:09. > :23:16.they haven't lost a Derby. It is a competition we would love to do
:23:16. > :23:21.well in, and I have fond memories as a player, and it is 10 years
:23:21. > :23:29.since the Cup final in 2003. With Crusaders playing Glenavon in
:23:29. > :23:33.another cup-tie, three top teams And finally, just time to show you
:23:33. > :23:38.a sneak preview of this man, George Best, featuring on a new stamp
:23:38. > :23:40.collection celebrating 150 years of association football, on sale from
:23:40. > :23:45.May. Lots of interest in those today.
:23:45. > :23:49.Thank you. You may have noticed red lanterns on lamp-posts. There are
:23:49. > :23:54.some at Belfast City Hall. They are because this Sunday is the
:23:54. > :23:57.beginning of the Chinese New Year celebrations. 2013 is the Year of
:23:57. > :24:01.the Snake, and plenty of celebrations are happening across
:24:01. > :24:04.Northern Ireland. Ciara Riddell has been finding out how much
:24:04. > :24:09.preparation goes into what is for many a big family occasion.
:24:09. > :24:13.It is all hands on deck at this Chinese bakery in Belfast. This
:24:13. > :24:17.family are looking forward to a traditional New year's celebration,
:24:17. > :24:25.but there is lots to be done, including but not decorations and
:24:25. > :24:30.more importantly, the cooking. is crispy and there is pork inside,
:24:30. > :24:40.it is very nice. In Chinese New Year, the family come to visit you
:24:40. > :24:47.and they take snacks and make those for them. You give them to the
:24:47. > :24:52.people you love so they are very happy to. That will be the most
:24:52. > :24:56.traditional thing we do in Chinese New Year. It is the busiest weekend
:24:56. > :25:01.of the year at the Asian supermarket across the road. And it
:25:01. > :25:08.has stocked up with lanterns and treats to celebrate. All the family
:25:08. > :25:14.get together, and we Allcock, then after roads, we watch TV together.
:25:14. > :25:19.They have a special performance on TV, and that is it. Normally we
:25:19. > :25:23.have fireworks, we can't do it here, though! There may not be fireworks
:25:23. > :25:26.but there is plenty to do and see across Northern Ireland as part of
:25:26. > :25:31.the Chinese New Year celebrations, and if you get a chance to invite a
:25:31. > :25:38.lion dance like this into your home, you're almost guaranteed good luck
:25:38. > :25:42.of the arrest of the year. -- the rest.
:25:42. > :25:46.A great weekend ahead, gong hey fat choy, a very happy new year. Barra
:25:46. > :25:50.choy, a very happy new year. Barra is here for the weather. It doesn't
:25:50. > :25:56.look promising for Chinese year but it won't stop them celebrating any
:25:56. > :25:59.way. It is not too bad an evening to come, some wet weather across
:25:59. > :26:03.Eastern Counties but largely dry as we going to the early hours before
:26:03. > :26:07.we see further outbreaks of rain. Not especially cold tonight,
:26:07. > :26:11.temperatures four-six degrees so no frost to worry about, but the odd
:26:11. > :26:15.pocket of Mr of fog first thing tomorrow. After that, Saturday
:26:15. > :26:20.rather cloudy, a mainly dry to begin with but by the end of the
:26:20. > :26:22.day turning wet are once again. A few damp spots lingering across
:26:22. > :26:27.Eastern Counties, eventually clearing with brighter weather
:26:27. > :26:30.developing. But for the west across Fermanagh and Tyrone, probably
:26:30. > :26:34.staying cloudy with further outbreaks of rain, the best of the
:26:34. > :26:39.sun towards the north coast down towards Antrim, Belfast, County
:26:39. > :26:43.Down and Armagh. Temperatures tomorrow, seven-eight, light wind,
:26:43. > :26:46.so if you get sunshine it won't be too bad at all if you are out and
:26:46. > :26:49.about. But the cloud will thicken into the second part of the day,
:26:49. > :26:53.and we have the next band of rain readies pushing tomorrow evening
:26:53. > :26:58.with that, so all wetter night to come, but for these coasts here,
:26:58. > :27:02.for the beginning of the evening at least, largely drive. That rain
:27:02. > :27:05.progressively moves across into tomorrow night. Temperatures four
:27:06. > :27:10.or five degrees, so again no frost, but this rain will be stubborn to
:27:10. > :27:16.move away, and could cause problems as we going to Sunday. The colder
:27:16. > :27:20.air will come in, and we have an early warning for snow. So rain at
:27:20. > :27:23.first on such a -- Sunday, but the cold air will transform it into
:27:23. > :27:26.sleet and snow, perhaps several centimetres on high ground, some
:27:26. > :27:30.snow on lower levels perhaps, which snow on lower levels perhaps, which