02/06/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. The headlines on BBC Newsline:

Beaten and terrified - we hear from the men who say racist hate attacks

I still remember the face of that fellow, the Hague on his face, the

rage was coming out from his face and I do not know why.

A court hears a woman's claims of sexual abuse

I'm live at Belfast City Hall with the latest on the new Lord Mayor.

And as the new season gets under way, can we look forward to some

summer weather this week? Find out shortly.

Two men injured in a racist attack at their home in

north Belfast yesterday say they are going to leave Northern Ireland.

One of the men, who are originally from Pakistan, was treated

in hospital after being attacked at a house in Parkmount Street.

Hours earlier a bottle had been thrown through

Kelly Bonner's report contains some strong language.

Back home after a terrifying ordeal, yesterday afternoon a man approached

Muhammad Asif Khattak outside his home, screaming racial abuse before

assaulting him. He managed to get into the house but two men kicked

the door down and followed him inside. I managed to hide myself in

the toilet and I closed the door. He pushed the door and I was so scared

at the time and then he started beating me. He started punching me

and kicking me. He beat me everywhere, with a bottle in his

hand, he was beating me on my head. His friend was also attacked as he

tried to defend him. I still remember the face of that fellow,

the rage was coming out of his face and I do not know why. What was he

saying to you? Racially abusing us, saying dirty Arabs, get out of our

street, we do not want you here. This was the second attack on the

men in 12 hours. Earlier yesterday morning a bottle was thrown through

the window of their house. There was controversy over comments made about

Islam by Pastor James McConnell and the First Minister. Muhammad Asif

Khattak called on Peter Robinson to help the future situation. That is a

fire he let in the jungle and I am one of the victims of that fire ash

Mike defused the situation. If the First Minister came flawed and he

apologised on public, on air to the Muslim community, people would be

really happy. The MP for the area come down to the attack. Having

called with the two gentlemen, I am appalled at what happened to them.

This should never have happened and I share the outrage many of the

people living in this area feel. The rest of us are not racists, indeed

there are people living in that street of other ethnic minorities

and they feel outraged at being branded in this way. A 57-year-old

man was remanded and has been released on bail. An 18-year-old

woman has been charged with disorderly behaviour and will appear

in court. Earlier today, Pastor James McConnell arrived at the house

to offer the two men his support. He said he was ashamed and angry at the

attack, urging the two men to stay here in Northern Ireland. But in the

last hour, the two men have moved out of the house and look set to

leave Northern Ireland. The number of hate crimes reported

to the police has increased But figures show there are

very few prosecutions under And as BBC Newsline's Tara Mills

reports, that's in stark contrast to We must all stand up against six

Arianism and racism. -- sectarianism.

Saturday's rally was prompted by a number of recent racially

And there was another gathering in response to the controversial

remarks made by Pastor James McConnell, and those made by

The recent focus on Islam has done damage to our

But local Muslims say events like the rally have helped.

That's a good signal to show people from different minorities that

Northern Ireland and Belfast are open for all races, all religions

and colours and everyone will come here, and that was brilliant

support. But what is the picture when it comes to racism here, and

what is the justice system doing to tackle it?

According to the latest police statistics,

there's been a sharp year-on-year increase in the number of racist

In the 12 months from 2012 to 2013, 750 racist incidents were reported

That number went up to 982 last year.

That's a rise of over 30% in just a 12-month period.

And the figures also show that the police only solve one

Neil Jarman has carried out extensive research into hate crime.

He says the fact we lag behind the rest of the UK sends out

He feels there is less emphasis on pursuing the perpetrators. It sends

a message that these incidents are not being taken that seriously, so

even when people say they are tackling racism, if they see cases

are not being successfully rusticated, it tends to undermine

that message and victims say, why should we report if they do not do

anything about it? Others say hot additions are guilty of ambivalence

towards racism, which is not the place that like the case in other

parts of the UK. The legislation needs to be fit for purpose so we

can name hate crime for what it is and deal with it. No one from the

prosecution service was available for interview but a spokesman said

it is not appropriate for the PPS to comment on legislation as this rests

with the Department of Justice. A woman in her late 70s has died

after a house fire in Larne. The blaze started

in an upstairs bedroom of her home Firefighters rescued the woman

from the building, It's thought

the fire was started accidentally. An 18-year-old man has appeared

in court charged with attempting to murder a teenager

in Lisburn two years ago. Scott Vineer, who has autism,

was 17 years old when he was found unconscious on the Lagan towpath.

His head had been beaten. He remained in a coma

for three months. Today, he was in court alongside

his parents to see Ryan Craig from Ashmount Gardens in Lisburn charged

with attempting to murder him. The accused was remanded in custody

until the end of the month. Health care regulators have found

a County Antrim nursing home owner failed to report allegations

of potential abuse The RQIA found Dr Dean Harron, who

owns Cherry Tree in Carrickfergus, guilty of not complying with

safeguarding legislation. The home was the subject

of a special investigation Our health correspondent

Marie-Louise Connolly has the story. What is the nature

of the allegations? They involve one care assistant who

allegedly verbally abused to residents. The residence are

described as being vulnerable and elderly. One was being served their

evening meal and the other, we are told, was spoken to in a shower

manner. These incidents only emerged after the regulator inspected

allegations of abuse between workers. We are told it emerged

these other incidents had taken place between residents. We

understand the home's manager did carry out her own inspection but she

didn't report it through official channels, which isn't in line with

legislation. You investigated this nursing home

last year after being contacted Is this evidence that

things haven't improved? Some might argue these incidents

highlight that there is still an ongoing problem. Others might say

the regulators are on top of the job, keeping an eye on things, but

as we recall, the whistle-blower came to the BBC with her story about

the home and said her concerns had fallen on deaf ears about toilet,

cleanliness, staff not being properly trained. However, since she

came forward, there has been an independent investigation into the

home and we expect that to be published next month. Doctor Dean

Haran has been named as feeling in his statutory duty and a home has

been put on alert, which means it has until July to address those

problems. They said the staff are deeply

disappointed by what has happened, what has been reported, and patients

can expect the very best of staff, who take very seriously their

duties. Still ahead on the programme

before 7pm: 20 years on,

yet the families of those killed in the Chinook disaster say they

still don't know how it happened. The folk musician Francis McPeake

has gone on trial in Belfast accused The 72-year-old,

formerly of Eliza Street Close in Belfast, was aged around 67 at

the time of the alleged offences. His alleged victim has

been giving evidence. The musician sat quietly

in the dock as the details of 12 charges of underage sexual

relations were put to him. A prosecution lawyer told

the court that when interviewed by the police, Mr McPeake denied

everything, saying the allegations He made the denial

in a written statement. But when asked questions

about details to do with the alleged offences,

the prosecution said he replied, It was alleged that he first met

the schoolgirl in Belfast in 2008, and that the relationship

between the two became more The alleged victim,

who can't be identified, told the court she started having full

sexual relations with the musician when they returned to Belfast from

a music festival in the Republic. She said after

the first time it happened that Mr McPeake told her he was afraid and

that he had a lot to lose and that The woman,

who was under the age of 16 at the time of the first offences, said

she broke off the relationship. She told the court that

when she did, he said she'd wrecked his life because he had fallen

in love with her. Her cross-examination is due to

resume tomorrow morning. The DUP has praised

the outgoing Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mairtin O Muilleoir of Sinn Fein,

saying he has been In the past half-hour, the council

has been electing his successor. Our political correspondent

Martina Purdy is at the City Hall. There has been plenty of cheering

coming from the council chamber at this evening. The SDLP's Nicola

Mallon has made history because she is not only the last Lord Mayor of

the City Council as currently constituted, there will be a new

super council next year, but she is the first nationalist woman to hold

the post. She is only the third female Lord Mayor in Belfast's

disarray. Mark Simpson has this report on Mairtin O Muilleoir's year

in office. He never missed a photo opportunity. And with his telephone

in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, the Sinn Fein Lord Mayor

tried to speak to people from every corner of Belfast. It only backfired

once, when he went to Woodvale Parade, near the Shankill Road. He

was hurt by the experience but it didn't stop him trying to reach out

across the divide. A highlight of the year for me was that the

Shankill Woodvale Methodist congregation came into the parlour

with their study group. I said I would come in to say hello and when

I did they were praying for the Lord Mayor, and that was a special

emotional moment for me. He went pink for the Giro d'Italia and

brought some humour to City Hall. A far cry from 1987 when he first

joined the council. When I first came in I wore a flak jacket, I

wasn't allowed to speak, I was thrown after -- out of my first

meeting after ten minutes. I said let's not do the past too much,

because for every hurt and peace of devoted I could talk about, someone

else could talk about the heartbreak and grief that existed for them

during the years of darkness in this city. At one of his last engagements

he received a standing ovation and joining in the applause was the DUP.

On balance I think a more positive contribution than negative. He has

been a good Lord Mayor, not necessarily a Sinn Fein Lord Mayor,

and that may be why he has established a good reputation. The

next Lord Mayor will do things slightly differently. I am not into

selfie 's. That's not me. A bit more subdued but hopefully will bring the

same level of energy. Even his opponents say he will be a hard act

to follow. What can you tell us about the new Lady Mayoress? She is

young woman in her early 30s, a newlywed, and she hails from Ardoyne

although she no longer lives within the city limits. She lives North of

the city and says she hopes to come back to visit it soon. She is giving

up her post of special and to the environment Minister to focus on

this role. She wants to focus on a shared city, an unsung heroes, and

on the homeless. She is absolutely thrilled that the top posts in this

city are being held by women this year, such as deputy mayor, high

Sheriff and the chief Executive of the council. So plenty to celebrate

in the city tonight. 20 years ago, at this time

of the evening, a military helicopter travelling from

RAF Aldergrove to Scotland crashed Relatives of some of those who died

say they still do not accept the Ministry of Defence's version of the

incident and fear they may never Our investigations reporter

Kevin Magee has this story. This memorial has been erected

on the crash site on a remote It lists the names of the 25 senior

security personnel from the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Army

and MI5 who died alongside the four For one widow, Susan Phoenix,

who lost her husband Ian, 20 years on that it is still there.

If you have no great love, you always know it. I am not bitter, I

am not angry. I know I always have that love with me.

At first, the two pilots were blamed, but following a campaign,

The MoD now says after exhaustive investigations by it and independent

bodies, there was no evidence of technical or mechanical failure.

I think we always knew it was a faulty piece of kit. We may never

know. Flight data and cockpit voice recorders or not fitted to all

Chinook helicopters at the time, so there was a lack of evidence.

Anne Magee's husband Kevin was a detective inspector in the

She says she' never been given a proper explanation

It's infuriating not to know. I have lost the most important person in my

life and I don't know why. Multiply that by 29 and that is where we

are, but I suppose you cannot just keep going back and back and back.

A number of memorial services were held, including one on the Mull

We are very aware that there have been investigations since and it has

been a controversial subject at times. People 20 years on one to

look back on that and just end about those people who lost their lives.

This hillside was covered in cloud on the night of the disaster. 20

years on and a host of inquiry is and for some of the residents

affected, the mist has never cleared, with questions still being

asked over what precisely caused the crash, leading the RAF to describe

this as their worst peacetime disaster.

Racing at the Isle of Man TT motorcycle festival has been

overshadowed by the death of a competitor.

Stephen Watson is here with the latest details of that.

Yes, sadly a rider has been killed today. Bob Price, an experienced

veteran from Gloucestershire in England, died following an incident

on the third lap of the race. The circuit is regarded as the most

dangerous in the world. The news came after a weekend when the sport

paid its tribute to the late Simon Andrews,

who died after a fatal crash Thousands of bikers took part in a

special parade on the Isle of Man. Roy Keane is staying

as assistant boss of the Republic of Keane informed

the FAI that he does NOT wish to be considered for the manager's post

vacated by Neil Lennon. Last week some bookmakers suspended

betting once it was revealed there had been

an informal approach to Keane. The FAI confirmed that Keane will

travel with Ireland Former West Brom boss Steve Clarke

is the new favourite Northern Ireland manager Michael

O'Neill has said that Uruguay are a good side, capable of getting into

the last 16 of the World Cup - Despite some excellent goalkeeping

by Roy Carroll, the South Americans, who will be one

of England's group D opponents in Brazil, beat Northern Ireland

1-0 in a friendly on Saturday. But O'Neill took heart from his

team's defensive display and said Antrim's Gaelic footballers

will play Donegal in Liam Bradley's side edged a

thrilling contest against Fermanagh respects defensive systems have

typically dominated Championship matches in recent years.

Defensive systems have typically dominated Championship games

in recent years, but this match certainly bucked that

Antrim raced into an early lead - this goal

from Brian Neeson put Liam Bradley's side a remakable 11 points ahead.

But that seemed to kick-start a Fermanagh revival,

as the home side started to make an impact on the scoreboard,

with forward Sean Quigley finding the net before half time.

In the second period, Antrim began to dominate once more.

The hugely impressive Kevin Niblock struck their second goal of the game

before adding this outstanding point from play shortly after to further

Former All Star Barry Owens' strike gave them hope of a comeback,

and Marty O'Brien's late score left just two points between

Antrim hung on though for victory, altough it took this brilliant goal

line clearance from Kevin O' Boyle in the dying seconds to seal

We enjoyed the night and we will knuckle down for the next day. We

certainly do not fear anybody. It was a fascinating game in many ways.

Highly exciting. A lot of good scores by both teams. A lot of

mistakes by both teams, but at the end of it all, I would not doubt

that on the day, the better team probably got that result.

Victory for Antrim's footballers, but the county hurlers were knocked

Two goals in the first four minutes proved to be the springboard

The Coleraine rowers Peter and Richard Chambers have won silver

at the European Rowing Championships in Belgrade.

The brothers, silver medallists at the London Olympics two years

ago, were in the Great Britain Lightweight Four crew in Serbia.

They held off a strong challenge from France to come home in second

place and claim silver, behind the defending champions, Denmark.

We went over there with the intention of trying to beat them

that they are the current European and world champions. We have got our

work to do between now and Amsterdam. It is our first four

Greeks there. We have gone a long way. We will take that and the will

go out to win it. Well done to them, and there was plenty more happening

over the weekend. After a season of farewells,

Brian O'Driscoll's swan song lasted less than nine minutes in the

Pro12 Final in Dublin. Ireland's most capped player was

forced from the field with injury. Leinster went on to score 4-0

against Glasgow - two of which Their 34-12 victory means

they are are the first team In Ohio,

Rory McIlroy finished the Memorial Tournament with a level par round

of 72, which left him six under par Aileen Reid finished

in eighth place in the World Her season has been disrupted

by a back injury but she remains a medal hopeful at

this summer's Commonwealth Games. And three weeks

after its unforgettable start in Northern Ireland, the Giro d'Italia

has been won by the Colombian Movistar rider Nairo Quintana -

his first Grand Tour win. All over for the comeback tour, and

nobody sadder than are Donna. We wish him all the best. The

weather forecast is next. As we ended spring yesterday, it was

the third coldest spring since 1910. Cloud around today and a few showers

as well. It will continue to come and go but with a lot of cloud

around tonight, averages will fall no lower than ten or 11 degrees.

Into tomorrow morning, a lot of cloud around but it will brighten

through the day and there will be spells of sunshine as well, along

with sunshine and scattered showers. Tomorrow, scattered showers mainly

in western areas but they will drift East through the morning and into

the afternoon. Some of the showers will be heavier as well with the odd

rumble of thunder. But this will come out. Some areas may not get

such high temperatures, so below average for the time of year. We

should be at 16 or 17 degrees. For the second part of the afternoon

tomorrow, continuing the sunny spells and showers. Some of the

showers will be happy. A bit of a cooler night. Temperatures in single

figures especially in the countryside. But under cloud cover,

staying in double figures. Wednesday, getting off to a

promising start. Fine and dry weather to begin with but into the

afternoon, a scattering of showers coming in. Noticeably cooler,

especially to the North coast. Staying below average for the time

of year. If you do have anything planned for the outdoors this week,

Thursday will be the best day. The driest and brightest. But things can

change it slightly between now and then. Stay tuned. You can also

follow us on Twitter. The headlines: two men beaten and

terrorised in a racist attack have moved out of their home in North

Belfast. Our late summary is at 10:25pm, when

we will hear from the new First Citizen of Belfast. Plenty of people

are leaving their comments on our website about the outgoing Lord

Mayor. Good evening.