02/03/2014 BBC Newsline

Hello and welcome to BBC Newsline. Comments by the former Secretary of

State Peter Hain suggesting soldiers responsible for the killing of

civilians on Bloody Sunday should not be prosecuted have been

criticised by Sinn Fein as "ill-judged". The DUP says if it

emerges terrorists are not being sought for prosecution, it would be

unthinkable the courts would pursue killings related to the state.

Martin Cassidy reports. Again, Peter Hain finds himself

embroiled in Northern Ireland affairs. The former Secretary of

State said soldiers involved in the Bloody Sunday killings should not be

prosecuted. This column -- follows the disclosure that almost 200

paramilitary suspects were sent letters assuring them what they were

not being sought by police. He is now says there should be an

evenhanded approach to members of the British security forces as well.

If you have addressed the question of former terrorists involved in

activity then it should apply evenhandedly across the board to

members of the British security forces as well.

Sinn Fein says that given the ongoing police investigation into

Bloody Sunday, the comments are ill judged and ill timed.

He should have reflected the legal reality and that is the

investigation into what happened have to be pursued by the PSN I. We

are clear that there should be no amnesty for anyone and no one should

be immune from prosecution if they have broken the law. If we were in a

situation where it became evident that people involved in paramilitary

terrorist activity were not being pursued for prosecution, it would be

absolutely unthinkable that the courts would pursue those who were

involved in killings related to the state.

The justice minister says that by saying crimes committed during the

troubles should not be investigated, Peter Hain's comments

go against the rule of law. In Dublin, the convicted drug dealer

John Gilligan remains in a stable condition in hospital after he was

shot in the west of the city last night. He was shot six times by two

masked gunmen. Mr Gilligan had been accused of murdering the journalist

Veronica Guerin in 1996 but was later acquitted. From Dublin, Shane

Harrison reports. John Gilligan, perhaps the

Republicans most notorious criminal, was released last October

after serving -- server serving 17 years but within two months an

attempt was laid -- made on his life. The would-be victim played

down the incident. No problem whatsoever.

But last night he was not so lucky. He went to his brother 's house and

two gun men forced their way into the home and fired several shots at

him while he was in the living room. He was hit in the chest, a hip, leg

and stomach but the injuries were not life-threatening. He was taken

to a nearby hospital where he is stable. The gunmen escaped in a

silver coloured 4-wheel drive. He had warnings that his life was in

danger. Anyone with information is asked to come forward.

Golf and Rory McIlroy is one shot in the lead in the final round of the

Honda Classic at Palm Beach. He's currently ten under par with just

three holes left to play. Now news of a series we're bringing

you all this week on BBC Newsline on "World War One at Home". Tomorrow

night, a golf course in Whitehead is revealed as the site of an airship

mooring station, crucial in the fight against German U-boats. That's

our "World War One at Home" series this week on BBC Newsline.

Now, with the weather forecast for the next few days here's Cecilia

Daly. Frost and fog will be the main feature of tonight 's weather and

there is an ice warning in place as well. If pavements are not gritted

they will become slippery and fog will form over the fields and river

valleys by the end of the night. Temperatures will be several degrees

below freezing in rural areas. A cold start tomorrow so you may need

to defrost things. Some showers to come on Monday night and later in

the week. It will also turn milder. Cold and icy tomorrow morning with

the fog taking a while to lift. Some sunshine coming through eventually

and a good part of the day will be dry and bright. Early March

sunshine. An area of hill snow moving away from parts of Scotland.

It is not really until later in the day that the finger of the brain

moves to the west coast of Ireland. -- finger of rain. It will cloud

over by the end of the day and the main malingerer tomorrow night with

some snow mixed in, especially on high ground. As it clears away on

Tuesday morning, temperatures will fall and will be low enough for ice

on Tuesday morning. The high pressure is trying to build from the

south but there are weather fronts coming in towards the end of the

week and with them, there will be milder air. Tuesday, a knot of

places dry as the rain sinks away. Showers over Scotland and

temperature is about average. Milder on Wednesday, especially over

southern areas with rain moving into the Northwest and increasing winds.

That peters out on Wednesday but temperatures will get up to double

figures. Milder weather on the way later this week.

Our next BBC Newsline bulletin is at 6.25 in the morning. Until then, you

can keep up-to-date with local news on BBC Radio Ulster or on the local

news online service. From everyone on the BBC Newsline team, good bye.

Nowadays we take the issue of fairness in employment for granted.

I have never felt it important to ask anybody's religion