09/03/2014 BBC Newsline

four x 400 m relay team. That's

Good evening. Stars of the theatre have been paying tribute to the

Belfast born actor and writer James Ellis who died yesterday. He was 82

and took seriously ill almost two weeks ago. Our arts correspondent

Maggie Taggart looks back on his life.

James Ellis received an honorary doctorate for his service to the

performance arts as a tribute to his wife's work as an actor on the key

stage, as an actor and writer and translator. His early break came in

the 1960s in Z cars. His Belfast accent was the first to be held

regularly on network television. You are married to an angel!

In 1960, James Ellis courted controversy doing the play Over The

Bridge about sectarianism on the Belfast shipyards. They bucked the

trend and the establishment at that time, a very brave thing to do. A

new bridge is being built at the touring Park to commemorate his

life. On the BBC television series, Ali

Plays, he played the flawed father alongside Kenneth Branagh. Every

morning he came in with the new anecdote. He and acted the skin of

that character. He made frequent twits -- traps to Belfast and

attended the opening of an updated play. We are very sad but road as

well. Last night at the theatre there was a standing ovation for

him. We like to think that we were standing up for a man who stood up

for us. His family say he was locked Belfast and despite decades of

living in England he never forgot his roots. He never stops talking

about Belfast with great fondness. It is heartening when you talk to

Jenny Nisbet and Kenneth Branagh that the never stop seeing how they

blazed a trail for Northern Irish actors. He died in hospital at the

age of 82 following a stroke. His family say they will be buried in

the home city that he loved. A baby remains in a critical

condition in intensive care after an incident in East Belfast on Friday.

Forensic officers have been examining a property in Connsbrook

Avenue. It's understood the infant's mother has been arrested and is

being questioned by the police. A man's been injured in a hijacking

incident in Londonderry. Two men assaulted the driver of a van in De

Burgh Terrace before taking the vehicle. It was later involved in a

collision and was set on fire. The victim was taken to hospital for a

suspected broken cheek bone. Two men have been arrested. Two women and a

man have escaped injury during an attack on a house in Larne. The

front windows of the property in Greenland Parade were smashed and

paint was thrown over it during the incident which took place in the

early hours of Sunday morning. It's the second time the house has been

attacked in a week. To sport now and there was

disappointment for both Ulster counties in gaelic football's

national league Division One today. Derry lost to Cork by a point. Well

income are any, Tyrone suffered one of their heaviest defeats in recent

years. This goal helped Kerry to a 15 points victory. It is Tyrone 's

first defeat in 2014. Ireland can win the Six Nations

Championship next weekend if they defeat France in Paris. Yesterday

they set up an exciting finale to the CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Tournament by beating Italy 47 - 17. It was an emotional afternoon for

Brian O'Driscoll, who played any record-breaking 140th test match.

Stephen Watson reports. Preparing for his last international

opinions on home soil. On the day Brian O'Driscoll" mac most capped

player, Ireland's Talisman Energy world-class performance. He set up

tries for Jonathan Sexton. And Ulster's Andrew Trimble. O'Driscoll

produced a man of the match display on an unforgettable afternoon. I

haven't even let myself think about that, you know? It is so emotional.

It has been a huge part of my whole adult life and to leave here, it is

going to be hard, but awfully we will set ourselves up for a victory

next week. That is when Ireland will try to secure their second Six

Nations Championship in 29 years. The fairy tale is to win something

for Brian and people to do that by winning next week. That would be the

icing on the cake, I suppose. Brian O'Driscoll may have said goodbye to

the Aviva Stadium, but we have not quite seen the

Good evening, it is turning into a soggy end for the rest of this

evening. But we have some high pressure building as we head into

next week. It will not always be sunny but there will be some

brighter and sunny spells also some patches of Ford and frost likely.

Today we have had a weather front line across Northern Ireland which

is bringing this more persistent rain. They will linger for a time

this evening before moving away eastwards. Once they do, the second

part of the night as drier with clearer spells. Temperatures close

to freezing. We are looking at a touch of frost, maybe a few hazy

patches and some MS and fog patches to. -- mist and fog patches as well.

Tomorrow there could be some visibility issues. It will send out

and left, perhaps" for a period of time before the sun breaks through.

Similar start for the Republic of Ireland. Some low cloud and mist of

fog -- and fog. It should brighten up across Scotland and the North of

England. We have that weakened weather front moving across as well.

It will be cooler than to we be so highs of almost 21 degrees. For

Northern Ireland, the afternoon some decent spells of sunshine and highs

recovering to 10 degrees. Driver the rest of the week. Some patches frost

at night. Join us at 1015. Goodbye.