21/03/2014 BBC Newsline

That's all from the BBC News at Six News at Six,

Good evening. The headlines on BBC Newsline...

An angler from Armagh dies and another is missing after their boat

sank. I'm in County Westmeath with the latest.

As the search operation on Lough Ree continues, the loss of the men

shocks the community in County Armagh. Very well-known in the

community, well-known for being passionate about fishing and as the

news has spread out everyone is completely devastated.

Belfast bids farewell to the actor Jimmy Ellis, who is

and Ulster Unionist Party me and a says he will apologise to Anna Lo

for a controversial tweet. Paralympic skier Kelly Gallagher

returns home to a heroes welcome. We were there to meet our new golden

girl. And there'll be a taste of winter in

the forecast this weekend. I'll be back with the details.

One man is dead, another is missing, a third is in a critical condition

in hospital after a fishing trip turned to tragedy. The men from

Portadown Angling Club got into difficulties on Lough Ree in County

Westmeath yesterday afternoon. The man who died has been named locally

as David Warnock from Armagh. He was in his twenties. Our reporter,

Julian Fowler, has spent the day at the lough shore and joins us from

the marina at Hodson's Bay where the men set out.

Well, Donna, the men had waited for a break in the weather yesterday

afternoon but they were keen to meet up with a group of three friends who

have set out earlier. Although the weather is calm now, I have seen

myself today how quickly conditions can change. Just a few hours ago

there was driving wind and rain and the water out on the lough for those

carrying out the search operation was rough. The men had carried out

-- planned camping and fishing trip on the Lough Ree.

When weather conditions deteriorated a local man was quick to raise the

alarm. I was talking to them, they were excited, looking forward to

going fishing. They could not wait. You could see

that they had a passion for what they were doing, that was their

sport. They loved it. The last thing I said to the lads was, be safe,

enjoy yourselves. They just... The lifeboat found two men in the

water and brought them ashore. Searches have been continuing for

the third man and the boat. Where are the search is going on it is

around two or three miles from side to side.

It is a big expanse of water, it is quite deep, and, as you say, you get

strong winds there and they can whip up choppy waves very quickly. I

think that may be what caught the campers by surprise yesterday.

Searches have been taking place along the shore and on the cert --

surface of the lough and divers have been looking beneath the water.

Local fishermen have also joined in the search. We are members of

Athlone anglers, and the group were pike fishermen, they enjoyed the

water run the lake like ourselves. It is a sad accident that happened,

we were talking to one of the lads that actually came up. He came up

there today and he was saying that he has lost two Micro of his friends

so far, there is just praying we find this ladder and get him home to

his family. Now it is an anxious wait for news.

I have spoken with the missing man's wife this morning very

briefly. It is very raw, very emotional.

There was not an awful lot said, but, you know, we will see how we go

later on. The six friends had set off from

Portadown for what was meant to be a weekend but Michael fishing. The

fact that the trip turned to tragedy has shocked the town where the group

was based. Conor Macauley reports. Fishing is popular in Portadown. The

River runs through it. The draw of big fish took six friends from the

town to Lough Ree. By yesterday evening word was filtering back of

the tragedy that had befallen some of them. David Warnock was 27.

Now confirmed dead committee was a relative of Craigavon's Deputy Lord

Mayor. The community is reeling from this news.

I have found out in the last hour that one of the guys who has died is

a relative of mine and my family are devastated. It is understood the men

involved in the incident on Lough Ree were on a trip organised by the

Portadown Pikers, a fishing trip in the town.

These men were role well-known and would have regularly been seen

fishing along the banks of the River Bann. The missing man is understood

to be from Portadown and is the father of several young children.

I think this is a terrible tragedy that has affected the whole

community and especially the school community at this time. Our thoughts

and prayers are very much with the families affected. We are very, very

concerned, just for everyone who has been involved at this time. We want

to pursue them of our love and our prayers. Lough Ree is a popular spot

for northern anglers but its size means it can be dangerous, too.

Every angler across this island, when they heard that news, your

stomach rolls over because you think, that could be me.

All of us had been really close, no matter how experienced you are, that

wild environment can catch you out. Friends and relatives are now

praying for the family of David Warnock and hoping for the best

possible outcome for his two friends.

Well, the sun is starting to go down, and the first boats are

returning to shore. It is likely this search operation will likely

have to resume tomorrow morning. What began today with some optimism

with the shoreline being searched in the hope this fishermen may have

made it ashore last night as time those hopes are fading and this

becomes ever more likely a recovery operation for his body.

You are watching BBC Newsline. Still ahead on the programme...

I am at a factory in Bangor that started out making brushes for the

hair industry and ended up making parts for the Eurofighter.

A father and mother have pleaded guilty to a litany of sexual abuse

and other charges against their children over three decades. Two of

the children's uncles and two other men pleaded guilty to similar

offences against the youngsters. Our reporter, Claire Savage, was in

court, and I should warn you, you may find some of the details in her

report distressing. A court has heard today how four

children suffered horrific sexual abuse, neglect and cruelty by their

parents and two uncles, as well as two other men. Belfast Crown Court

also heard the abuse took place between the late 1970s and early

1990s in the childrens' home before they were taken into care. The

prosecution barrister said the children's mother had sex with

various men on different occasions, sometimes even with her two

brothers. He said the children's mother,

described as a prostitute in an earlier hearing, was often drunk and

made her very young children what are having sex. He added that one

girl was left so badly neglected she was still in a cot by the age of two

and could barely walk or talk. The judge, Mr Justice Warner, was

also told one child was a bed-wetter and was made to sleep in a heavily

soiled matter -- mattress. A social worker described the house

as squalid. It said the -- the board said the children were often left

starving. All six accused eventually appeared in the dock today.

One of the uncles had to be arrested by police and brought to court. The

father and mother both have pleaded guilty to 17 charges of cruelty and

neglect, the mother to six counts of gross indecency, and the father to

one of assault. Sentencing is due to take place later this month.

There was a fond farewell today to Jimmy Ellis, the veteran actor

remembered for his many roles on stage and screen. His family and

fellow actors gathered in Belfast for the 82-year-old's funeral

service. People lined the streets and applauded his cortege as it

wound its way through the city streets. Martin Cassidy reports.

Born and bred in the shadow of the shipyard, Jimmy Ellis never forgot

where he came from. Nor have the public he touched through screen,

stage and TV drama roles, none more so than as the graph cop with a

heart of gold in the long-running series, Z Cars. More than a few

tears were brushed away, but mostly it was music, laughter and applause

which ran out from St Mark's in east Belfast as family, friends and

fellow actors celebrated the life and work of Jimmy Ellis. He was a

great friend and a mentor, not just to me but too many people.

Most of us will remember Jimmy's lightness and is fun.

There have been many tributes. Sir Kenneth Branagh said he was highly

intelligent, funny man and that horrendous as Michael tremendous

actor. -- and a tremendous actor. It is overwhelming to see the level

of support. Honestly, dad would not believe how much attention this has

drawn, I promise you. Modest to the end, he would be overwhelmed, and

will be, I hope, overwhelmed, with this. That was my experience and the

experience of so many of us here today of Jimmy Ellis.

A man fully alive. A few days before his 82nd birthday,

it was a long life, a fulfilled life, he touched a lot of people's

lives. He touched people's lives he had never met and it is important we

celebrate the gifts he was given. This afternoon, a final episode, as

Jimmy Ellis's cortege revisited some of the special places in his life.

The former family home on a park avenue. And the school year tended

as a boy. An opportunity, too, for Belfast to say farewell and thank

you to one of its favourite sons. Jimmy Ellis, who died at the age of

82. Coming up a little later... Our paralympic golden girl Kelly

Gallagher receives a world-beating welcome back in Belfast.

The Alliance leader has described as bizarre the row over his party's

European election candidate and her declared preference for a United

Ireland. Anna Lo's comments threatens to overshadow the Party's

annual conference which starts tonight. Our political

correspondent, Martina Purdy, reports on that and an apology from

an Ulster Unionist for comments relating to Anna Lo which were

posted on his Twitter account. The Alliance leader has been

defending his party's European candidate over this interview in

yesterday's Irish news when Anna Lo declared her preference for a united

Ireland. The party leader says he finds the reaction rather strange. I

find it absolutely bizarre. Two years ago in a conference speech I

talked about the diversity of background with them -- backgrounds

within the Alliance party. I said some type -- some people

would have long-term nationalist or Unionist aspirations. Nobody batted

an eyelid when I said that and today it becomes an enormous news story.

The DUP demanded an apology from Anna Lo for implying Northern

Ireland was a colony. Now it seems maybe others should be

saying sorry over this tweet which appeared on Ulster and Michael

Copeland's account. It states, while back we asked what happened when you

vote yellow? Well, maybe it is more of a

yellowish green? And it links to the Irish news article. The reference to

Green is a cross reference to an's comments about her long-term

aspiration for a united Ireland. There was no racist intent in it.

As Michael Anna Lo's comments. This party has a zero tolerance policy of

racism and it is for that reason I had the tweet removed.

On inside politics this evening, the Alliance leader had this response. I

had not heard or seen exactly what was on his Twitter feed.

I understand he has apologised, or at least whoever put the thing up,

maybe not Michael Copeland himself. It does rather show the dangers of

some people who rushed to social media without engaging their brains

first. Anna Lo has thus far not commented.

The boy who was killed when he was knocked down in Banbridge was

14-year-old Mark Colgan. He was walking close to his home on Scarva

Road when he was hit by a van yesterday morning. A man known to be

a senior figure in dissident republican circles has been

critically wounded in a shooting in north Dublin. A gunman shot him in

the head as he dropped his child off at a creche in Donaghmede. It is

understood the victim, who is in his thirties, is wanted by the PSNI for

questioning about the murder of two men in Belfast in 2007.

Around 200 workers and supporters have held a rally to protest against

plans to close the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Coleraine. The

government has decided to move vehicle licensing services to

Swansea. A firm in Bangor has signed a ?1

million contract to supply parts for fighter jets used by the RAF. Denroy

Plastics, which already makes components for the Typhoon

Eurofighter, is to create further parts for what's described as the

world's most advanced combat aircraft. Two of the jets were at

Aldergrove today and BBC Newsline's Mervyn Jess was there.

Denroy employees 160 people and today, some of them got to see the

Eurofighter close for the first time. The staff work at Aldergrove,

where two of the aircraft and their crew had landed on a flying visit.

Denroy Plastics started out making brushes for the haircutting

industry, and now, it is making parts for the most sophisticated

combat aircraft in the world. We assemble about 180 different parts.

It will also help us to boost our employment levels, with business

managers, designers, right through to machine operators. This was a

chance to see some of the components being made, and the workers were all

over the finished product. It is a great opportunity. We manufacture

about 180 parts, and just be able to see what they going to and what it

makes, it is great. It is interesting for them to come and see

it, see all the components going into it and to show us the bits they

make. The aircraft is phenomenal, it takes what a lot of training to get

to this point. The aircraft is amazing. For the Chairman of

Denroy, who helped found the company, it was a rather special

day. Some of the materials used in the manufacture are extremely

expensive, high-technology materials. And indeed, I am looking

at one visible here. Well, it makes me feel immensely proud. The company

says the new order is for that might further proof of a growing

manufacturing base within Northern Ireland.

It's a year since we were hit with Arctic weather which killed hundreds

of animals and left many people snowed in for days. BBC Newsline's

Tara Mills has been back to meet some of those who were affected.

The pictures few of us will ever forget, hundreds of sheep buried for

days in Antrim. Cold and starving, most of this block did not survive.

This was one of the lucky ones. The former are skewed some of them, but

lost many more. We have a lot of snow. -- the farmer rescued. As we

get to the trees, the snow was level with the tops of those trees. Once

we get the roads opened, thanks to the council and others, we got dug

in ourselves to where we could feed them. We were able to get silage to

them on the Monday evening and on Tuesday. But it was another week

before they came on to their feed broccoli. They started complete

starvation in the heart conditions, it had given them a colossal shake.

Elsewhere, homeowners were stranded for several days. People like

Patricia, who was happy to see a familiar BBC Newsline face arrive at

her door. We are here to help. Looking back, she says it was a last

resort. We were stowed in for five days, with no electricity for three

days. -- Snodin. We phoned the BBC. We e-mailed the BBC, phone radio

Ulster, looking for help. My husband was running out of his tablets, his

medication, which he needed. He takes them every day. He cannot miss

it. We were getting desperate by then. Farmers here say they have not

seen anything like the weather last year since about 1968 three. They

are hoping it will be at least another 50 years before they see in

it like it again. -- since 19 city three.

Cecilia will be with us shortly with the weather forecast, which has snow

in it! First, a welcome home for the gold medal winning paralympian Kelly

Gallagher. I don't think she'll need her skis in Bangor.

Kelly will probably be too busy signing autographs and getting

photographs taken to worry about skis. She landed back in Belfast a

short time ago to a hero's welcome. And there to meet our new golden

girl was Dame Mary Peters, an Olympic gold medallist back in 1972.

Great to see the two golden girls together. Mark Sidebottom was at

George Best City Airport. There is flash photography in this report.

From the slopes of Sochi to the shores of Belfast, welcome, so

going, what is it like to be back rose-mac it is so exciting to be

home. I feel like I am bringing it home to all the people who have

supported a. We know how to put a party on. This is the reception I

get. How are you coping with the new fame? We normally go to ski races

and no one is there from my mum. Then we go to the Paralympics and we

bring back the gold medal. It is brilliant. By now, you will must

have this answer preplanned, but are you the proudest mum of them all? I

am, I am so happy for her role -- for her. And what a turnout. That's

right, all our friends from everywhere, it is brilliant. I know

you have an appointment with the people of North Down, what is your

message to them? Thank you so much. It has been really tough but I'm so

delighted to be able to finally achieve the dream I have had for so

long. IQ, Kelly and Maggie. -- thank you. Ulster face Edinburgh tonight

at Murrayfield in the Rabo Pro12, looking to consolidate their

position in the play-off spots in the table. Stephen Ferris, who came

off the bench in last week's win over Scarlets, is in the starting 15

this time. This is what Ulster have been

missing. Good news for the team-mates, even if Ferris is the

fans' favourite. It was a good welcome back. He has overcome a lot

to get there. It was great to see. With a handful of key names back in

recent weeks, Ulster take on Edinburgh tonight full of

confidence. They are a different animal at Murrayfield. They have

some new signings. I think if we go into the game and start how we did

in the last game, it will be good. The season run-in starts now. The

game is live on BBC Radio Ulster megawatts, coverage from 7:30pm.

Ireland are out of the World Twenty20 after a quite remarkable

game against the Netherlands in Bangladesh today, where big hitting

was the order of the day. It had all started so well for

Ireland. Kevin O'Brien and Andrew Poynter smashed 101 runs. In just 45

balls. It has gone for Miles! The Dutch were set a target of 190, but

the response from the men in orange was ferocious. They set about the

Irish bowling, hitting a world record of 19 60s to win the game

with com parody. -- 1960s. -- with comparative ease. Unbelievable

scenes. The Netherlands go through to the super tens, but Ireland are

heading home. From 7am this morning until 7pm

tonight, sport stars have all taken to our treadmill here in

Broadcasting House for the good cause of Sport Relief. Among those

helping us to get to a total target of 70 miles were the likes of David

Healy here. Golfer Michael Hoey, looking trim. Snooker's Mark Allen,

perhaps not so much! Nice headband! And Ricky "The hit man" Hatton even

turned up to join in all the fun. It's been a great effort by all

concerned, and if you want to see who else has been doing their bit,

check out the BBC Newsline Facebook site.

The weather is next, with Cecilia. This time last year, we had so

against no, temperatures have followed today and it has been

snowing as well. The snow has been falling over the hills, but it has

not been settling. It is now clearing away but there will be

further sleet and snow showers tonight. Later on tonight, there is

the risk of ice. The Met Office have issued a warning for icy surfaces.

Still some sleet and snow showers around tonight, mostly at low levels

and mostly in the West. Temperatures dropping to below freezing in some

places. The cold weather continues this weekend. There will be some

sunshine as well, especially on Sunday. Further Patricia to come,

particularly the next couple of nights. Tomorrow starts off chilly

but sunny in many places. During the second half of the morning, the next

area of showers moves in. There will be some hail and sleet, even some

snow. Hitting land just as the half marathon starts. Temperatures are

when we had the sunshine in. It will feel colder than that in the wind.

In the sunnier moments tomorrow, we're looking at top temperatures of

around eight or nine. Another cold one on Saturday night into Sunday

morning. Fewer showers to come on Sunday. More in the way of sunshine

but still that chilly wind. A sharp frost is likely on Monday morning. I

Tuesday, temperatures back into double figures.