30/05/2014 BBC Newsline

than 40,000 have made the journey so far this year.

Dissident Republicans are blamed for a firebomb attack which has

An investigation begins after a man is found dead in a custody

Nine people, including a four month old baby,

are rescued during an arson attack on apartments in Downpatrick.

The next Chief Constable outlines his vision for the future

Rathlin island's nautical history is celebrated this weekend with a

As Roy Keane is linked strongly with the vacant Celtic job, we'll hear

And in the weather, standby with the sunscreen.

For one day only we could see 20 degree temperatures and some

The police say a quick response by staff undoubtedly saved lives after

a firebomb exploded at the Everglades hotel in Londonderry. A

masked man left a holdall containing the device and shouted a warning. It

It exploded as army bomb experts were

police commander described those behind the attack as cowards. Here's

our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

A masked man left the device in a holdall in the four-year of the

Everglades Hotel at 11:15pm last night. He said he was from the IRA

and shouted a 40 minute warning. Staff cleared the building of

several dozen people before bomb disposal experts arrive. As an

officer was dealing with the firebombing exploded into flames. I

absolutely believe lives were saved. At this fire spread beyond and had

the staff not carried out the effect duration, lives could have been

lost. I say this to them, they are coward scum it was a reckless,

dangerous attack that put innocent lives in danger.

When you attack one person in this city, new attack us all.

Guests involved in the drummer paid tribute to the prompt action of

staff. I'm glad everybody did get out. The

receptionist was quite shaken up last night. It is amazing they did

get everyone out and I am glad they did, but there were people sitting

in the lobby and stuff like that. If they had not given the warning when

the guy put a bag down and come if he had not said anything, it could

have been a much different situation.

Well, it is just stupid. Northern Ireland needs employment, money,

confidence. This sort of thing is likely to knock that, but I hope

not. I wish you all the luck, because I think it is a fabulous

city and the wonderful country. We have not had any problems at all

when we have been in Londonderry before in the past, so it is just a

shock, really. I don't think it can change anything, I don't understand

their motives. The town will rally round and

everything will go on as normal. It cannot change anything.

One dissident republican supporter recently elected to the new Derry

and Strabane Council who was attending a protest out of the

courthouse this morning refused to offer any condemnation.

Do you condemn it? You know, the politics of

condemnation will not achieve anything. What I will condemn is the

scenario that has made people feel the need to carry out actions such

as this. Do you justify it?

No, nor will I run out to condemn the people.

Other political parties were scathing.

Discussed and are tolerable and at what happened in the Everglades the

other night. Annoying that the code is wards were

going on in Belfast and the city won a number of awards and the City of

Culture last year, and at the same time some mindless people were

throwing a firebomb into a hotel. Like everyone else I implore --

polled by this, this is a throwback to the 70s and 80s.

These people have to understand this is not going to work. It did not

work then come it will not now and will not in the future.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness said Derry was a place

looking to the future and would not be held back by those living in the

past. The police suspect this car that was

found in Glendara in the Brandywell area may have been used in the

attack. The police say they have devoted a

considerable amount of resources in trying to track down those

responsible for this bombing. It is understood up to 40 detectives are

now actively working on this case. Those detectives have appealed for

witnesses to come forward. The Police Ombudsman is

investigating after a man died in He was 28-year-old David McGowan,

who was from Lisburn. David McGowan was arrested after

police were called to the beers Bridge Road in East Belfast.

The incident happened laced -- late last night.

Officers took him here to Lisburn police station, but he died in his

cell. As is the case with all deaths in custody, the police ombudsman is

investigating. Officials were at the station

throughout the night looking into the circumstances of the death.

David McGowan was 28 and from Lisburn. This afternoon,

investigators have spoken to witnesses who were at the scene of

the arrest. The ombudsman's office also says it will examine the

actions of the police from when Mr McGowan was detained to around the

time of his death at around 2am this morning.

The collar of his death is unclear. -- the cause of his death.

A four-month-old baby and an elderly couple were

among nine people rescued following an arson attack in Downpatrick

It happened at a block of flats on Saul Street,

Safe in the arms of her grandmother, just hours

A bin in a hallway set on fire and pushed against a door of one

Today the baby's mother and other residents were back to

look at the damage and assess the full scale of the attack.

During what residents have described as a frantic and terrifying

experience, there were frantic efforts to get the people out last

night. A policeman who arrived soon after

the alarm was raised had to smash a window to try and get a young man

out and above the baby and her mother had to make it through thick

smoke to get to safety. The child was taken to hospital for

tests but was soon back with relieved relatives, happy and doing

well. When I walked into the hall and saw

all the flames, the whole Norway was on fire.

-- the whole hallway. Whatever was their exploded and my door blew off.

I live in the very top flat and I could not get out through the smoke,

I had to wait for firemen to come up and get me.

Support came today from throughout the community. The society we live

in the moment, this is symptomatic of it, with parental control and so

on, it has got out of hand. I feel that, you know, it is

terribly sad and that we live in it as iodine which this can happen. As

investigations continue, there is a relief there was no loss of life in

this attack. An 80-year-old man is in a critical

condition following a house fire in Fire crews were called to

the fire at a terraced house They rescued the man,

who was unconscious, He was treated by paramedics

at the scene before being taken to Is Roy Keane going to Glasgow

Celtic? The Chief Executive is coming to

this Belfast will tell this evening and we will ask him shortly.

The DUP leader Peter Robinson is understood to have had a further

private meeting with members of the Muslim community today.

Last night he apologised to a Muslim delegation over remarks he made

in defence of controversial Pastor James McConnell, who attacked Islam.

Earlier I spoke to our political editor Mark Devenport and asked him

about criticism of Mr Robinson from within the Free Presbyterian Church.

It is unusual, and it is a free Presbyterians minister with the

famous surname, the son of Ian Paisley, the DUP leader.

He is in Suffolk in England but has been following what has happened and

he has lodged a strong criticism of Peter Robinson, actually calling the

First Minister condescending ignoramus. If I was on the receiving

end of that remark, that I would not send a Protestant to go to the shop

to buy me something, I would think that man was condescending, and in

that sense condescending and ignorance go together.

Any reaction from the DUP? DUP has said that Peter Robinson has

apologised to fans caused and looked forward to meeting people in Belfast

at the earliest opportunity. One DUP source was contrasting the

emphasis Kyle Paisley was placing not insulting anyone of another

faith with some of the abrasive language used by his father about

religious leaders in years gone by. As far as I know there has been no

consultation between Kyle Paisley and his brother, Ian Paisley. Both

men are free agents, one does not consult the other about religion,

they do not consult each other about Alex.

Anna Logan has -- Anna Lo has received a lot of attention this

week. Yes, Nick Clegg as we did his

support saying he is sad to find out she is quitting politics in Northern

Ireland and no person should be the subject of racial abuse and he

stands with her. She also has support from Sinn

Fein's clean Ruan who says she will raise in front of the policing board

an incident where Anna Lo faced abuse at a women's rally at Belfast

City Hall recently. -- Katrina Ruan. The new chief constable designate

designate George Hamilton has been speaking about his hopes

for the future in his new role. He says the PSNI needs

the support of all of the community Our home affairs correspondent

Vincent Kearney reports. It was all smiles

from the man soon to take on what's regarded as one of the

most difficult jobs in UK policing. George Hamilton described it

as a challenge and an honour. I care passionately about this

place. I have a stake in it, I have family there, I have lived here for

most of my life and I believe it is important that we all work together

and everyone makes the contribution they can to make Northern Ireland a

better place to live, work and visit.

Back in the building where he was yesterday interviewed and deemed the

best candidate for the job, he set out the approach he would take.

George Hamilton summed up the job of the police as keeping people safe

and said it is not one they can do alone.

It is too big, too important, too complex to be left to the police

service to deliver that in isolation. Therefore we will be

seeking to do that under my leadership with communities, in

partnership with PCS please, -- PCS Ps, the policing board, other

structures that were put in place as the building blocks of the new PSNI

under the Patten reforms. Peter Robinson was heavily

criticised for voicing support for Pastor Jack McConnell's comments

about results. I asked him if he believed political leaders have a

role to play in helping reduce tensions.

Around the crime issue and other things bubbling this week, when I

see it as a responsible lucky to keep the people of Northern Ireland

safe, that is all of the people of Northern Ireland, including those

minority groups who are the victim of vicious attacks. We take our

responsibilities seriously and we want to work with communities,

minority groups and other interested parties to tackle that. As for the

politicians, of course the politicians have a responsibility to

give political leadership and create the legislative framework with which

we operate and create a community level that reduces tension, rather

than raises it. He will take over as Matt Baggot

steps down over the summer. A husband and wife accused of a

string of sexual offences against women with learning difficulties

they allegedly kept as prisoner in their home have been committed for

trial. 58-year-old Keith Malcolm Baker, who

was given as having an address of Maghaberry prison, faces 12 charges

of rape and deceit -- indecent assault.

His wife is it accused of indecent assault as well as aiding and

abetting her husband to commit rape. Two men accused of setting a pet

dog on fire are to face trial. A judge refused an application today

to dismiss the animal cruelty charge The attack on a three-year-old

collie called Cody took place Martin Cassidy's report contains

graphic images She was a family pet whose suffering

touched tens of thousands of people. The three-year-old collie fought

bravely to survive an attack in which she was doused with

flammable liquid and set alight. Despite the best efforts

of her owners and vets, Cody had to be put to sleep just

over a week after the attack. Thousands of people sent messages of

support to Cody through Facebook, some from as far away as the United

States, South Africa and Australia. Appearing in Craigavon Crown Court

today, 22-year-olds Jamie Downey and Andrew Richard Stewart from Moira

pleaded not guilty to a single charge of causing unnecessary

suffering to Cody on 26 August 2012. Both were released on continuing

bail, ahead of a trial which is Aer Lingus cabin crew members have

begun a 24-hour strike in a dispute over rosters, with pickets placed at

Dublin, Cork, and Shannon airports. The airline has been forced to

reschedule thousands of passengers Several hundred cabin crew have

marched through Dublin Airport The strike is estimated to be

costing Now, few people in Northern Ireland

can be more attuned to all things maritime than the population

of Rathlin. And those links to the sea are being

celebrated at the moment, with a host of special events on land and

water in Ballycastle and Rathlin. It's all part of a festival

which runs until Sunday. Our north east reporter

David Maxwell went to the island Few stretches of water around our

coast have more maritime history than this one. For centuries vessels

have crossed to Ruslan to bring vital supplies to islanders and

right now, that special relationship with the sea is being marked. This

is the second year of the Ruslan sound maritime festival which seeks

to celebrate the maritime history of this area. All kinds of special

events are being held in Ballycastle and on Ruslan Island. At the centre

of the island, a large marquee host music, art and storytelling

sessions. It is putting us on the map. It is showcasing the local area

of Ballycastle and ourselves, putting it in the forefront of

people's minds. A church hall is the location of a exhibition of

shipwreck memorabilia. It is a small snapshot of some of the maritime

artefacts recovered by my father. There is a selection from sailing

ships to First World War armoured cruisers. The festival aims to

create better links between the island and mainland, and this

weekend boats but during the festival here and in Ballycastle

will race. A traditional boat would have come from Norway direction and

I suppose the local term here would be different, so we are flat out

here. Who will win? See what happens, but that was good

competition last year, and there is a brave amount of boat links between

us and the leaders last year. The festival celebrates the maritime

heritage of the area, a place known to the sea as much today as ever.

Last night we heard how Celtic had approached Roy Keane for informal

Tonight, Mark Sidebottom is at a gathering of supporters of

Thank you, Tara. We are at the supporters club. We invited the

chief executive, who is stuck in traffic. We will move with the rest

of the sport. Rory McIlroy has not done as well today as yesterday.

They came to something of a shuddering halt. There were three

early double bogeys in the first round. He managed to study the ship

somewhat, find a little bit of form, and is now three under par after

round two. That is five shots off the pace. A little dip in form but

he will make the cut and we have the rest of the week to look forward to.

As we stand here in the shadow of Casement Park, we will move to give

the games. The Roy -- the row over the development of that ground.

There is another debate over the GAA in Belfast and that is to do with

the help of the game at club level. Many respected figures are now

saying unless fast begins to mimic Dublin and in grassroots, Gillick

games are confronting a real crisis. Thomas Kane has been to one club in

the south of the city. Founded less than 20 years ago, Saint Bridget 's

inside Belfast is the fastest-growing GAA club in Belfast.

Numbers are not a problem for Antrim but winning championship games is.

We are going to play off him. Go out and enjoy yourselves. Success read

success and failure breeds failure, and over the last 40 years, Antrim

have been unsuccessful, when you see the amount of money the GAA is

throwing up Dublin, who don't need that as much as Belfast and Antrim,

it shows money should be invested in Belfast. The GAA is upgrading for

facilities across the city and Saint Bridget is set to benefit from some

of that investment. The club have also received grants and bond rates

to improve their maskrey Park pitch. Floodlights and other work will cost

?25,000. We are hoping for the day Dublin and Cork will look enviously

at Belfast, look at the place where it will have five or six centres of

excellence but that needs to be complemented by the fact the

association is dealing with an issue and a specific Belfast model works

with schools and clubs linked together and the idea of boundaries

for clubs and schools to work together that would address the

inadequacy at grassroots level. But there is also a word of warning,

money will not solve everything. There is far too much of an added

tune of what will be done for us, who will give us a hand-out, too

much of that goes on in Belfast. I think you need to things, you need

that ethos to change but because of how chronic the problem is here in

some clubs and areas, there is no doubt there must be work done by the

GAA to sending coaches and resources. Belfast needs to be

treated like an emergency case. Major surgery might be required, but

there is no short-term fix to this long-term problem. Thomas Kane

reporting. Herders and footballers are both in action this weekend.

At the European Rowing championships in Belgrade, the Coleraine brothers,

Richard and Peter Chambers, are through to the final

of the lightweight fours after they won their heat earlier today.

Another Coleraine man who has been very much in the mix is an Olympic

bronze medallist Alan Campbell. He won his heat. The rowing finals are

live on BBC Two from midday on Sunday. We have been beaten by the

traffic system and the chief executive of Celtic is less than 60

seconds away but we had a back-up file. Our colleagues in Scotland

spoke to him earlier so we can hear what he had to say on the mounting

speculation that Roy Keane, among others, is linked with that vacant

Celtic job. There is a time pressure on us

but there is no point getting it done quickly and getting it wrong,

so I am sure you will understand it It is difficult

for me or Celtic to say any more. Is Roy Keane perhaps

a leading candidate? There is no leading candidate at the

moment. We have asked permission

to talk to Roy. There was a brief initial informal

chat between Dermot and Roy and now we will sit down, have

a think and see where we go next. Has the board identified someone

as their preferred candidate? Not at the moment,

we are just meeting people Champions League fixtures are not

that far away but you can't put time on these things, you have to do

your job properly and get it right. And that was the Celtic chief

executive speaking earlier in Glasgow today. I will be out of a

job if I don't have him on the 10:30pm bulletin tonight so more

later. Now the weather with Jeff. It has been a cracking day today,

beautiful blue skies and overnight tonight, those clear skies will mean

in some places we could see temperatures down to four or 5

degrees. It will be milder than that where the cloud process overnight on

what is a mainly dry night, the odd shower here and there, but tomorrow

promises to be a very nice day, dry and bright and even warmer than

today. This is the picture you will wake up to. The rue the day there

are more bright spells, more breaks in the cloud and that will help the

temperatures on the way up as we go through Saturday. As we get into the

afternoon we will see highs of 17, maybe up to 20 degrees and along the

East Coast. Very pleasant especially as we have such light breezes. It

will feel nice in those dry conditions and those continue into

the early part of Saturday evening to make the most of it because we

have a bit of a change in our weather on the way. Things get more

unsettled in the weekend and into next week, more of a westerly flow

to the weather, systems coming in off the Atlantic and this is what

they look like. We have this weather front working as a way in from the

West, that brings a little rain overnight Saturday into Sunday and

an organised band of rain on Sunday. That rain spreads into all parts as

we go through the day. It might arrive just after the marathon which

gets under way in Derry, bright and early on Sunday morning, and by

Monday we are into that mix of sunshine and showers through the

day, so make the absolute most of tomorrow because it promises to be

the pick of the next few days. A final look at our headlines tonight.

Dissident Republicans are blamed for a firebomb attack which has

An investigation begins after a man is found dead in a custody

You can also keep in contact with us via Facebook and Twitter.

practice a shoot out? This is in good's goalkeeper and one of the

best in the world. He likes the idea of