09/05/2014 BBC Newsline

the English game couldn't ignore. That's

Good evening. There were dramatic scenes on the streets of Belfast

tonight as the Giro d'Italia began. Tens of thousands of spectators

lined the route - but hopes of Irish success were dashed early on when

rider Dan Martin was involved in a spectacular collision with his

team-mates after riding over a manhole cover in wet conditions. He

is now out of the race. BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson reports on

the day's events. On the Newtown North Road in East

Belfast, the sort of crash which every cyclist dreads. Commentator --

COMMENTATOR: Oh, my goodness.

Dan Martin, he is holding his elbow. He is rocking and rolling. He

wasn't. He's got a suspected broken collarbone and his Giro is over.

Heartbreak for the Irish rider. The crash was shown on the big screen at

Belfast City Hall. The entire team have hit the deck. It is all part of

cycling, but it does not make it any easier to watch. Especially for

friends and family of the riders. It was the low point on a day of highs.

As the Giro finally got under way. It started with a kiss. A day in

Belfast like no other. The riders were up early for a practice session

and so were the spectators. This is an incredible experience for the

people of Belfast. Our favourite colour is not green, white and gold

or red, white and blue, it is pink. I am dressed in pink, a wonderful

experience. Just before six o'clock, the Giro officially began. Five,

four, three, two, one... CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

. It wasn't long before they reached Stormont. Then, it was through south

Belfast, finishing at Belfast City Hall. Tonight's race is all about

speed rather than stamina. It is the battle against the clock. The

winners were the Australian team, Orica Green Edge. For most

spectators it was their first taste of the Giro and they seemed to like

it. To see this coming to Belfast, it is marvellous. It is amazing.

Everything is in pink, like a big hen party. It is nice to be known

for something good in Northern Ireland. I feel proud. As for the

riders, they have to do it all again tomorrow. This time, from Belfast to

the Causeway Coast and back. Great excitement.

To find out about when the roads are closing and re-opening tomorrow and

Sunday, check out the traffic website trafficwatchni.com.

Tributes have poured in for wee Oscar who lost his battle with

cancer yesterday. Among those praising his bravery were the First

and Deputy First Ministers who he'd met on a trip to Stormont. Ciara

Riddell reports. A little boy captured the hearts and

minds of many. Oscar Knox' short life was dominated by his

condition, neuroblastoma. His journey documented on social media

by his parents gathered followers from across the globe, including

local sporting stars. And it was via Twitter the heartbroken family

announced his death, saying, our beautiful, amazing and much loved

son Oscar Knox gained his angel wings yesterday afternoon. Sleep

tight, little man. We are heartbroken, it is very sad. Kind of

in shock because with the little man, I knew he was very sick but you

kind of just expected him to get better. He was such a fighter and it

is heartbreaking. Thanks to fundraisers the little boy travelled

to America for specialist treatment in 2012. Six months later in April

last year he was given the all clear but the rare and aggressive cancer

returned in August. The Wii Oscar fundraising and awareness campaign

run by his parents help promote blood donation. He was a typical

small boy, but full of beans and you could tell that he would make an

impact. That was proven by the impact he had on our business here,

with helping promote blood donation. Recruiting new donors. Oscar Knox

will be remembered as a little boy who 40s disease with a smile. His

fans in Glasgow Celtic say the five-year-old's courage was

inspirational. COMMENTATOR:

Special Belfast boy. An elderly man has been hit with a

hammer during a robbery at his County Down home. Three men broke

into the house in Ballynahinch late last night and stole jewellery. The

man, who's in his 70s, needed hospital treatment.

Trade unions are to ballot for industrial action over cost-cutting

measures at the City of Derry Airport. The airport management said

last month that five senior posts had already gone and that there

could be further redundancies. The unions, NIPSA and Unite, have called

for a halt to the restructuring proposals which they say could

result in the airport's closure. We have met with the staff in the

airport and they are very concerned for the future of the airport and

fear for their jobs. The airport has declined drastically in the last few

years and we are concerned if there is no change and we don't get growth

and new business that its days could be numbered.

The D-day landings of 1944 were remembered in Carrickfergus earlier

today with a wreath laying service at sea. The event is one of many

taking place in the build-up to the 70th anniversary on June sixth. Will

Leitch reports. EXPLOSION it was the biggest

seaborne invasion in human history. The D-day landings of June 1944

marked the start of the Allied liberation of those parts of

north-western Europe still occupied by the Nazis. More than 4000 ships,

several thousand smaller craft and 160,000 men crossed the Channel to

France and the Normandy beaches. Today, bagpipes used to pipe Lord

love and his commandos onto Sword Beach and Pegasus Bridge were

brought to Carrickfergus accompanied by a flotilla of small ships. We use

were laid in remembrance of those who died. Northern Ireland had a

large part to play in the last war. The munitions factory, the people

that went off to war, the people who helped. The flotilla is calling at a

number of UK ports before the anniversary next month. New

Lyon-macro In football, Derry City suffered another Premier Division

setback with a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers.

The Candystripes have won just two out of 12 games in the league this

season. Here's Cecilia Daly to tell us what

the weekend weather's going to be like for the cyclists and the rest

of us. Hello, the summary and forecast this

weekend, it it will not be raining all the time. Make the most of the

dry gaps. The rain is coming back, it will be wet for a good part of

the night, some of it will be heavy. An inch in hilly areas by the

end of the night. Most will have no -- move through bike tomorrow. It

could be down for a time early on. It will brighten up before the heavy

showers arrive later in the afternoon. Some sunshine breaking

through for a while, heavy showers developing. Some could have thunder

mixed in later in the day. I good scattering of showers for the

Republic of Ireland as well as Wales and south-west England. Strong and

gusty winds. The rain over England lingers -- with the way but it will

linger over Scotland and Northern Ireland, keeping it chilly. In

between the showers there will be sunshine tomorrow, which will allow

temperatures to reach 14 Celsius. Some will be thundery downpours. If

you get one, you will know about it. They edge away south eastwards

later in the day. For stage two of the Giro d'Italia, as it leaves

Belfast and heads north up towards the north coast and back down the

Antrim coast into Belfast, there will be some sharp showers en route.

There will be sunny moments, with light winds. On Sunday, the Giro

d'Italia heads south towards Dublin. It looks as though in some ways they

will have the wind behind them to help them move along. Some showers

arrive. Not quite so heavy. That is your local news and weather.

I am back tomorrow evening at 6:10pm with more. Enjoy the Giro and watch

those showers. Goodbye.