05/12/2013 BBC Newsline

One, we join our teams where you are.

Good evening. The headlines on BBC Newsline: our main story - the

stormy weather. I'm in Donaghadee where the

strongest of today's winds have been recorded. Elsewhere, and huge waves

were recorded battering parts of the north coast, while in West Belfast

part of a building collapsed. Trees fell on the strength of the winds,

causing disruption to transport, and power lines were brought down,

leaving thousands without electricity.

Also on the programme: The Police say the organiser of Saturday's

loyalist protest could be prosecuted for breaching the Parades Commission

ruling. Motorists won't be needing these any

more after 93 years. The Justice Minister is to ask the

public about changing the law on abortion.

The Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt assures Ulster's Darren Cave he has

an international future. Power cuts, travel disruption,

fallen trees - today's stormy weather has caused a lot of

disruption. About 30,000 homes and businesses had no supply because of

damaged cables. Motorists were fortunate to escape serious injury

from falling trees and other flying debris. In West Belfast, part of a

gable wall collapsed onto the pavement. First we go to Barra Best

who's in Donaghadee in County Down. And Barra, the coast felt the full

force of those strong winds. We are here in Donaghadee. A short

distance away gusts of wind were carded at a kilometres an hour.

And, on the Beaufort scale, those were hurricane-force gusts. The

storm moved in from the Atlantic in the early hours of this morning as

weather warnings came into effect. The winds have caused disruption

across Northern Ireland, as Mark Simpson reports.

High tide on the North Antrim coast. Very high tide. This is the seafront

at Port Stewart. It is little wonder there was no one about. There was

water everywhere. Wave after wave after wave. It was all caused by the

strongest winds seen so far this winter. Some reaching more than 80

miles an hour. The dangers were all around. Anything above ground level

was vulnerable. A number of drivers narrowly avoided injury from falling

trees. The police had to close a number of roads. Never mind driving

in some parts of Belfast, even walking wasn't easy. And cycling. It

came on a very strong and then calmed down and then was bad again.

From one extreme to the other. It was desperate. The damage caused to

this shop in Belfast was bad but it could have been much worse. The wind

blew down a wall, but somehow no one inside or outside was hurt. It ended

like a car going into the wall. I'm still shocked. I haven't stopped

shaking. It is nerve wracking. I can't believe it. I'm devastated for

my boss and colleagues. Disruption was caused to the power supply of

more than 25,000 homes and businesses across Northern Ireland.

NIE Said there were more than 250 faults reported across the network.

Quick action was needed but getting around today has been treacherous.

It has been a difficult day on the travel front, whether by road, rail

or especially by C. The normally calm coastal waters near Bangor were

whipped up by the wind. It was even worse in North Antrim. You can never

underestimate the power of the water and the power of the sea. The whole

road was covered in water and rocks underneath it. In Belfast, it was

too windy for the Christmas markets to open this morning. We can cope

with rain and snow but wind is an unknown factor. With a construction

like this with lots of fixtures and fittings, I want to make sure it is

safe for people to be in and I'm not prepared to take that risk.

Normality is now returning. What fell down and is gradually being put

back together, including the Christmas tree at Stormont.

Of course, it's not unusual to have strong winds at this time of year.

We have to expect a few storms during the winter season. It's still

very windy around the coast with gusts here a short time ago close to

50mph, but the winds are subsiding as forecast. But as the warning for

wind expired this afternoon, a new warning for ice came into effect -

mainly in the north and east - with temperatures expected to fall to

freezing and below tonight. The police have interviewed the

organiser of last Saturday's protest in Belfast city centre for breaching

the Parades Commission's determination, and they say he could

be prosecuted. Loyalists gathered outside City Hall, before parading

to Tennant Street in North Belfast. -- he will be prosecuted.

About 2000 people took to the streets on Saturday to protest and

according to the parade application over alleged police brutality. The

parade was supposed to know. The police used large signs to warn

protesters. They also spoke directly to parade officials. Something one

steward didn't want us to film. Having breached the Parades

Commission ruling, the parade moved on. That breach was brought up

today. It is clear that there were breaches. I am wondering whether the

police have done anything to do with it. The organiser was spoken to on

Monday and will be prosecuted relating to offences relating to

that. We will continue to study the case and more prosecutions will

follow. The person being prosecuted as the person who signed the form

submitted to the Parades Commission. Police have spoken to him already.

The BBC understands the same man was responsible for a parade on the 21st

September which also breached a Parades Commission determination.

The Chancellor says the UK economy is expected to grow by 2.4% next

year - it's fastest rate of growth in a decade. Delivering his autumn

statement, George Osborne pledged some extra money for Stormont but

said that austerity policies would have to continue to tackle the debt

run-up during the recession. Our economics and business editor John

Campbell is here. The Chancellor was also talking about state pension

age. It is still a big thing for him to keep welfare spending under

control. Whether state pension it is

difficult to cut that, politically. Currently it's 65 and we knew it was

due to move up to 66 and then 67 by 2028. What was new today was that

the Chancellor said it would be 68 by the mid-2030s and 69 by the late

2040s. So what that means really is, if you are now in your 40s, you'll

have to work till you're 68. If you're in your 30s, till you're 69.

And realistically, if you're at the start of your working life in your

20s, you'll be 70 before you can retire. Some research this evening

says that a newborn baby born today will be 77 before they can claim a

state pension. And staying with benefits, the

Chancellor talked about a cap coming in by 2015.

Yes, what that means is that a figure for total annual spending on

benefits will be agreed by Parliament and it will be up to the

Government to stick to that. And really what that is intended to do

is keep downward on those benefits. That raises the prospects more

freezes and even cuts. It could have a disproportionate impact here.

So all these pressure on but still Stormont gets some extra money to

spend here? Because of the vagaries of the

formula used to work out spending for devolved administrations,

Stormont will get a small boost of ?136 million over the next two

years. That's in the context of an annual budget of abou ?11 billion.

The Secretary of State says that could be used to help consumers with

their energy bills. Earlier today I asked the Finance Minister Simon

Hamilton if that's how the money would be spent. We will decide what

our priorities are. There are lots of things including energy prices

and support for businesses and support for a normal per -- support

for the vulnerable. But you can't say that will help people with their

energy bills? There is a compelling argument that the government uses

the additional money to support business and the community where it

is needed. Rising energy bills is somewhere I'm sure we would be keen

to look at. As rate relief for small businesses something he would

consider doing with the money? Extending small business rate relief

for one year is something we have already agreed to. We brought it in

over one year ago. It is working successfully in Northern Ireland. I

can understand why they would want to do some thing for business rates

in England because over the last two years to increase in business rates

in England has been nearly doubled that of Ireland. Looking at giving

an extra thousand pounds to businesses is some thing we're

looking at doing. Will it be help for business or help for everyone

crushing work that has to be thrashed out around the business

table. Thanks John. The Chancellor also

announced the end of an era for something almost a century old. The

tax disc on vehicles is to be abolished - but not the charge which

goes with it. Our business correspondent Julian O'Neill

explains more. The tax disc has been a feature of

motoring life for more than 90 years but now it ended a paper exercise

that goes with it in offices like this one are about to vanish under

the puzzles announced today. Instead, electronic systems will be

used to maintain a register of tax vehicles. So, the disc will

disappear. The change will happen next October. A monthly direct debit

option will and while payment to be spread but at an extra 5%

administration cost. Stormont's department of the environment said

it was a matter for Westminster and therefore would be adopted

throughout the UK. But are we good to go? A recent government report

spoke of compatibility issues with computer systems. With aligning are

services more closely with the rest of the UK potentially cost jobs? The

end of jobs are threatened here. Stormont wants the local posts

spared and says this move does not further endanger those soft. Add the

road tax office, doing away with the disc is a talking point. It would be

good for direct debit instead of paying a large amount of money at

once. If it goes over to Swansea as the hardest to understand someone.

This is a cost saving measure. Losing a piece of paper from our

windscreen will save ?7 million. The DUP has said the Garda

Commissioner should public lay apologise for the way his force

responded to revolutions. The intelligent material suggested that

tarmac Garda liars dismissed it as nonsense.

Almost 25 years after the iron sheeting of the two most senior RUC

officers to be killed during the troubles, the incident casts a

shadow on the present. The Smethwick report this week said that they died

as a collision between Garda officers and the IRA. There were

questions about Harriet the Garda and tarmac had responded. This man

was the Chief Constable who is responsible these include the

intelligence branch of the PSNI. A lawyer speaking on behalf of the

Garda Commissioner said the PSNI had failed the two officers. He

dismissed the evidence is not just nonsense but nonsense upon stilts.

In his report, the judge said he had been impressed by the evidence given

and accepted it. Considering that everything has been vindicated

around the evidence that was given by Drew Harris, do not think it

appropriate that Commissioner should give an apology? It would be

inappropriate for me to comment but I would say again that I'm very

proud of the integrity of the PSNI. I am proud that the ACC next and he

was given that accolade by the judge. The commission refused to be

drawn on the issue yesterday. We have discussed it with our

colleagues in the PSNI and they have a position and we have a position

and it would be inappropriate for me to go any further publicly at this

point in time. The two police chiefs will meet shortly to discuss the

implications of the report into the killings.

The Justice Minister wants to consult the public on changing the

law on abortion so that in certain circumstances women do not have to

travel to Britain for a termination. Sarah Ewart came to prominence

recently. She had an abortion in England after she was told her baby

had a fatal abnormality and could not survive after birth. This report

from our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.

Sarah Ewart never imagined having an abortion but when she discovered her

unborn baby had a condition which meant it wouldn't survive outside

the one, that's what happened. She had to go to London because the life

you would not allow it. I had no choice. I am carrying a body. Unless

you are at suicidal stage, they will not offer you a termination. The

case of Sarah and another couple also provoked a huge public

response. Did it help lead to a change in the law? It will be an

open consultation. Some people will respond by saying there should be no

change and others will want a widening of the law. There is

another play a public case for a very narrow change which would deal

with these small number of very difficult and tragic issues. He

knows that even that prospect will be resisted by some with deeply

healthy is against abortion of any kind. This move may signal an

important change but it must be remembered we are only talking about

a consultation at the moment. The ultimate decision is one for the

executive parties. The health minister appeared before the Justice

committee today on another matter. His only comment on abortion came on

a statement from his department saying...

The Ulster Unionist leader was clear. A change has got to come. It

is a matter of conscious tarmac conscience for us. I will support a

mother's right to choose abortion when she is carrying a fatally

flawed foetus. I wish to record that such an reported issue should not be

treated with media coverage. A recent parliamentary commission

looked at this and one of the difficulties was where do you draw

the line. They looked at the 1967 act and said it probably wouldn't

pass today because it would be discriminatory against disabled

people. act and said it probably wouldn't

pass today because it would The argument has only just begun.

A pipebomb has exploded at the front door of a house in County Down. It

happened at about 2am in the village of Shrigley, near Killyleagh. No-one

was injured. The front door of the house was damaged. The police are

investigating a motive for the attack.

One of the reasons we have a skills shortage is said to be inflexible

childcare. A new survey of 5000 parents suggests that qualified

people are leaving the workforce because they can't find childcare

they can afford. Or that it doesn't fit their working hours. BBC

Newsline's Tara Mills reports. They may not be double trouble but

twins are definitely double the cost. That goes from food to nappies

and childcare. With most families already stretched paying for food

and fuel, tough decisions have to be made. This family was lucky. A

flexible employer allowed them to work shifts which means they have

cut their bill in half. Both of them are part-time so they make up the

place of one full-time child. Anyone on a quite a good wage with have

difficulty with ?1600. The average full-time nursery place now costs

?158 per week. That means a family with two children would spend over

?16,000 per year on childcare. Two thirds of parents surveyed said they

struggle to meet those costs. The cost of childcare don't just affect

individual families. There is a big impact on the economy, too. It

doesn't make sense for parents, particularly women, to train in the

workforce to go through qualifications and then just leave

because childcare and the cost and lack of flexibility is forcing them

out. This family believes Stormont could do more. A lot of mothers

stuck at home are very qualified and can't get to work because childcare

is to expensive. We'll help with PETA have funded nursery places from

a younger age. -- would be to have. Childcare strategies are being

looked at but we are already six years behind England and Wales,

where local authorities are legally obliged to provide adequate

childcare places. The Ireland rugby coach has been

responding to reports that one of Ulster's top players is unhappy with

his lot. Gavin's here. The English premiership clubs have

just confirmed any statement in the last ten minutes that they won't

compete in the Heineken Cup in the next season. They are pursuing other

options. Ulster centre Darren Cave has

speculated about why he's got just five Ireland caps in four years. He

said it could be because his "face doesn't fit". Cave was left out of

Ireland's tests in the Autumn international series but has been in

impressive form for Ulster. Ireland coach Joe Schmidt gave this response

today. He called me this morning and was disappointed with what was

written. Sometimes that happens. It makes for a good story. He felt that

reading through the full article that there were a lot of positive

things with the current set up. I like him as a character. He is a

smart rugby player and he is a good guy to have stopped I don't think

there is any personal animosity there but I certainly understand his

frustration. Ulster Table Tennis is 90 years old

this year and it has just been given a timely birthday present. For

decades, a haul of valuable trophies lay forgotten in a storeroom. Their

rediscovery has revived memories of legends in the sport from the

distant past. Mark Sidebottom reports.

This week I introduce to you Victor Barna from Hungary. In his day,

Victor Barna was to table tennis what Roger Federer is to tennis. A

holder of 22 world titles. He won the Ulster title some 70 years ago

is no surprise. Imagine the surprise when a routine rummage in a

forgotten store a few months ago on earth the Hospital Challenge Cup.

When I opened the box and pulled back several layers of newspaper, I

was struck by the quality of the silverware. These things are solid

silver. We looked through the various dates on them and the people

involved and discovered a very strong link with the history of

table tennis worldwide. This is a useful Tommy Caffrey. He played

Victor Barna 50 years ago. And he was also doubles champion 1952. I

said they are worth a lot of money and he said he knew. The doubles one

must be worth thousands. Table tennis's very own treasure trove

kept on giving. The ladies single trophy, also recently unearthed and

refurbished was donated by sorority Harcourt -- Sir Robert Harcourt.

They are worth several thousands of pounds but the memories are

priceless. Finally, Mark Allen is in action

shortly in the quarterfinal stage of the UK Championship in York against

England's Ricky Walden. We know all about the wind and rain

today now get ready for another weather extreme - ice. Geoff has the

forecast. today now get ready for another

Wasn't that a wet and windy day today? The problem tonight is not

strong winds. It is ice. The Met office have issued a yellow warning

for ice because it is going to get properly chilly overnight tonight.

We have got some wintry showers this evening continuing as temperatures

dropped down towards freezing. A little lower in rural areas. We

could see some snow on the hills at dawn tomorrow morning. Because it is

such a cold night temperatures tomorrow will not really recover

from that. It will be a cold day. Showers will continue and you could

catch one just about anywhere. Temperatures are nothing to write

home about. Nothing spectacular at all. Plenty of showers around. Some

good news is the wind. They will drop off quite markedly. The

south-west is a much warmer quarter. Over the next few days, things will

warm up. But we have had a properly wild day today. Tomorrow will feel

very different to that. We have seen some very strong winds, the

strongest for the last two years. The maximum gust was 84 miles an

hour with average wind speeds in excess of 53 mph. Thank goodness

things calmed down with high pressure in charge of the next few

days. The weather will have a very different feel. For Saturday, for

example, a bit more cloud and milder temperatures and a few showers,

still, around. Those temperatures are starting to warm up, though. For

next week, we can wave goodbye to the wild weather and say hello to

mild weather. Our Facebook page has news of a

peace project launched by schoolchildren in Londonderry and a

Christmas tree at Lisbon Cathedral. -- less