03/06/2014 BBC Newsline

That's all from the BBC News at Six. It's goodbye from me.

Some of the worst atrocities of the Troubles are now at the

centre of a row between the Police Ombudsman and the Chief Constable.

The police have refused us access to information and I find that

unacceptable. We have no choice but to take action against the Chief

Constable. I'm live at Belfast's Islamic Centre

where Peter Robinson is due to arrive,

but will he be publicly apologising The continuing problems at emergency

departments - an inquiry asks if it It's been called

the congestion capital, but is Belfast does not move. They got it

wrong. Stephen Ferris calls time

on his glittering rugby career for Ulster, Ireland and the Lions as

injuries finally take their toll. And it's been another day

of sunshine and showers. The Police Ombudsman is taking

the Chief Constable to court and has accused him of obstructing

investigations into allegations Michael Maguire is taking

the unprecedented legal action in an attempt to force Matt Baggott

to hand over sensitive intelligence material, including details

about police informers. Our home affairs

correspondent Vincent Kearney Six men, all Catholics, murdered in

a bar as they watched a World Cup game. It remains one of the worst

atrocities of the troubles. Today, two decades later, it is at the

centre of claims that police have not told all they know about it and

dozens of other killings. Those claims come from the Police

Ombudsman, the watchdog overseeing how police operate. He is putting

pressure on the police to explain everything they know about the

killings here and a litany of other murders. One suggestion is that a

full investigation was not undertaken because they were

protecting an informer and because there was collusion between police

officers and the killers. As in many other cases, no-one was convicted.

Al Hutchinson concluded that the RUC failed to properly investigate what

happened here, but that there is insufficient evidence of collusion.

Those findings were quashed. A fresh investigation is now being

conducted. The Chief Constable stands accused of Gobstop thing the

ombudsman by refusing to hand over intelligence material that he says

is essential to do his job. The ombudsman says that the Chief

Constable is making it impossible for his office to carry out its

duties. We are talking about complex investigations into over 16 murders

where there have been allegations of police criminality and missed

conduct -- misconduct. They may have been protecting individuals who were

involved in those murders. Answering those questions requires access to

quite a range of intelligence and sensitive material. I need access to

that in order to come to a view in order to make those allegations. He

has launched legal action against Mac I get after PSNI failed to meet

a deadline for handing over information. The police have refused

access to over 100 pieces of information, which I find

unacceptable and I have no choice but to take action. Michael Maguire

is legally entitled to the information. We do not do

investigations by negotiation. This is the mental to the independence of

my office and the requirement of me to undertake a clear and robust

investigation. This gets to the centre of independence,

accountability, and we cannot have a situation where those two are the

subject of investigation will determine what information is given

to those who are undertaking that investigation. Other cases the Chief

Constable Ahye clued -- is accused of blocking include cases where

police officers were killed. It is being claimed that the special

Branch had advanced warning of the attack and at least two IRA

informers were involved. Other cases are much more recent and involve

serious allegations against members of the PSNI. This is not just about

the past, but about a range of cases that go before the Good Friday

Agreement and then come after it. It relates to the RUC and the PSNI,

which is why it is extremely important in the context of the

ombudsman's office, which is there to provide independent

investigation, I cannot allow and in -- a situation in which the

authority and independence of my office is challenged. The ombudsman

is being represented white Keir Starmer, the former DPP for England

and Wales, and a former human rights adviser to the Policing Board. In a

statement, the PSNI said it believes it has responded appropriately to

each request on a case-by-case basis.

The Policing Board has described the legal action

by the ombudsman as very significant and a matter of great concern.

It said board members would discuss it with

Amid the continuing controversy over his

remarks on Islam, the First Minister Peter Robinson is meeting members of

The DUP leader was criticised for defending the Belfast pastor

James McConnell, who described Islam as heathen and Satanic, and accused

Our political correspondent Martina Purdy is at the

This is the First Minister's first visit to the Islamic Centre here in

Belfast, and it comes amid some controversy, but he was graciously

welcomed with flowers and formally greeted by Muslim leaders from

across Northern Ireland. I am told it is standing room only inside and

that we are expecting those Muslim leaders to talk to Peter Robinson

about Islam and what it means to be a Muslim. Obviously, the First

Minister Lund in hot water when he sought to defend pastor Jean

McConville's remarks. He said they were taken out of context -- James

McConnell's remarks. What was said? We found the First Minister and the

junior minister, Jonathan Bell, in the great Hall today and in the

Senate chamber giving Muslim leaders a tour of Stormont, and their

spokesman, an imam from Galway, said he was very accepting of Peter

Robinson, who he thought was very genuine, and he thought he had been

taken out of context. He had explained his position and that

things are taken out of context and exaggerated, and that is true. I

find him to be very warm and friendly and open, and that is

enough for me to say that he is genuine in what he says. The First

Minister will give a news conference after his visit and we will find out

if he's going to make a public apology. That is something his

critics from across Northern Ireland have been demanding.

MLAs have condemned the recent racial attacks here and expressed

their opposition to all racism, discrimination and intolerance.

The Assembly backed a motion calling on all parties to

show leadership and urging the First and Deputy First Ministers to bring

forward a racial equality strategy as a matter of urgency.

From Stormont we're joined by Our Political Editor Mark Devenport.

The motion was adopted without any opposition, but some MLAs were

critical of the First Minister and his absence from the chamber. That

is correct. What we heard here this afternoon was Sinn Fein's MLA who

brought this motion about what she said was an increase by one third of

racist attacks in the last year. The Ulster Unionist Party the supported

the creation of an improved Islamic Centre in Belfast, and another MLA

said a man had been arrested because of more racist slurs against on

social media. But it was the SDLP who said they were concerned that

the First Minister was not there to witness the debate. Given the fact

that we have an opportunity here to put to bed the intolerance and the

evil of racist attacks and intolerance in our society am I have

to ask this has, where is the First Minister? Why is he not here? Why is

he not making the statement in this house to clarify his position in

relation to James McConnell, and in relation to racism? His absence

hangs over this debate. Who spoke for the DUP? The First Minister was

taking part in a joint Unionist delegation that was lobbying the

parades commission about parades in North Belfast, so it was left to

some DUP backbenchers to make clear their app runs of racism. --

abhorrence of racism. Questions were raised about the media's

responsibility for what was described as the hype of recent

days. Despite recent media hype, I think that leadership has been shown

by this house. Certain sections of the media in some cases could cause

division and increasing fear about continual coverage of stories that

suit their agenda. I propose to ask the media what leadership it is

given in the circumstances. The racial equality is its -- strategy,

there is an indication that it could be brought forward quite soon. That

is true. It has been planned for some time in the office of the first

winner, but a junior minister said that Martin McGuinness has already

signed off on a draft. Apparently the working title is A Sense of

Belonging and it should be published in the next couple of days.

Still ahead on the programme before 7pm:

We'll be hearing from the rugby star who is calling

There is to be an investigation to establish

if patients who encountered problems in hospital emergency departments

The inquiry is the first of its kind by the Northern Ireland

First, a reminder of some of the problems that have prompted

We begin with the closure of Belfast City Hospital's accident and

emergency department. The closure of Belfast City Hospital's accident and

emergency department. Of service in the city of Belfast. We do not need

three accident and emergency departments.

An investigation has started into how a man died while waiting on a

hospital trolley at the accident and emergency department. Staff were not

able to cope. There were too many people, lined up on trolleys. Two

hospital departments are close at weekends from today. They will also

have juiced opening hours during the week. A major incident was declared

at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast last night. 130 people were

waiting to be seen, every inch of the corridors were lined with people

in wheelchairs and beds and it looked like a scene out of a natural

disaster. It is embarrassing. Doctors and nurses are in tears. How

can the health service impact on somebody's writes? Even under the

most difficult circumstances, even when a patient arrives at an

emergency department, it under the European Charter and the fundamental

rights of the European Union, the conditions should be in place to

ensure that a patient's human rights are respected. For instance, take

somebody's right to dig deep. When a patient arrives, after self the

question is it like that they should be treated on a hospital trolley in

a busy corridor with strange looking on? They should also be treated with

an acceptable time frame. Should they be treated after 18 hours while

lying on a hospital trolley? According to our human rights, no,

they shouldn't. And patients should also be treated in an inappropriate

-- and appropriate environment. We can now hear from the commission

interim chair. This enquiry will measure how well our emergency

health care system protects, respect and fulfil human rights law. This is

about how well patients are cared for, patient dignity, the

information patients are provided with, and how involved they are with

their decisions. Will it make any difference? This is the first report

of its kind, and I'm sure the commission will want to produce a

report of substance, because as it is the first of its kind, it will

receive a lot of international attention, and what makes this one

different from other reports, which have looked at hospital systems and

introduced hospital staff, this enquiry begins with the public and

ends with the public, and also, people will be held to account. So

anyone he did encounter a problem at the emergency department, how did

they get involved in all of this? While it is easy, it is crucial that

the public to get involved, and the commission is calling for people to

either write in, or phone in, which they can do by using this

confidential number. That evidence will be treated

confidentially, including any information which comes from

management, and I am also told that anything provided by whistle-blowers

will also be treated confidentially. Thank you very much.

Controversial bus lanes are said to have helped reduce the number

of vehicles in Belfast city centre by almost 11,000 per day.

That is according to figures released by a Stormont department.

But as our business correspondent Julian O'Neill reports, some people

still need to be won over by its Belfast on the Move initiative.

Belfast, UK capital of congestion. That is what one travel information

firm claims today, and while the department responsible for bus lanes

disagrees, there are people who need convincing. Take the man who owns

this cafe. He thinks traffic has not released and is putting some people

off coming into Belfast. We have all seen no benefit at all. People are

coming into town less, and then we can't trade. Taxi drivers arguably

the most vocal critics of the strategy to reduce the number of

cars in the city centre. They call it Belfast on the move. Have a look

at the city! Belfast does not move. They got it wrong. But still want

says a report on the impact of its traffic measures tells a different

story. It found 10,900 fewer vehicles in the city each day, down

16% on 2010. Where it has gone is the West Link, now carrying an extra

6000 vehicles. Belfast on the move created almost three kilometres of

new bus lanes, and part of the objective was to encourage more

people to use public transport. Public transport and especially

train travel is seeing strong passenger growth. The minister

responsible is encouraged by other patterns as well, such as more

people walking to work. Cycling is up 19%, so I think all of the

measures we are trying to bring forward, I am serious about them,

and they are working. There is proof. The current strategy began

three years ago. Stormont says its impact can be measured by today's

figures, and there appears to be no turning back on the drive to reduce

cars in the city centre. And that story is one

of the topics that's been lighting Our BBC Newsline page now

has more than 40,000 likes. And our thanks for getting involved

and adding contributing to The Department of the Environment is

moving 70 posts from Belfast to Coleraine to try to offset

the blow caused by the loss of 300 Today's announcement was welcomed

by DVA workers who gathered Dan Stanton was there for

BBC Newsline. Fifth and is running a refusal

normal all of what will these mood to Swansea. I work as manager and

their service second to none. Will they receive that when legal bills

were? Do they know what they are getting themselves in for? The

environment minister was welcomed at the rally. He said he is moving 70

posts but the majority of the workers are based. It is not enough

to cover other walkers. This is a town that needs the jobs. It needs

the money. The department says it is also asking ministers to tragically

possessions and Coleraine which Driver Vehicle Agency walkers can

apply for. A major two day music festival

featuring MTV is to be held Derry City Council says it's part

of its legacy programme from the The city played host to

BBC Radio One's Big Weekend concerts last summer and almost 40,000 people

saw acts like Robbie Williams, Calvin Harris and Bruno Mars

performing at Ebrington Square. Derry has being promoted as

Music City this year appealing to Now sport with Stephen Watson, and

for the second evening running, sad Yes - within the past hour it's been

announced that Karl Harris, a 34-year-old rider from Sheffield was

killed during the Superstock Race at the TT today following an incident

on the second lap of the race. Harris, a professional racer,

made his TT debut two years ago and was a former triple

British Supersport Champion. This news comes just a day

after another rider, Bob Price, The spirit was willing but

Stephen Ferris' body told him After 106 appearances for Ulster,

35 caps for Ireland, appearances in the Rugby World Cup and on a Lions

Tour and, of course, Grand Slam success, it's safe to say Stephen

Ferris will have a prominent place He already has the author of a

coaching role. Autographing the wall was Stephen Ferris and his last duty

as an official wheel. He quits the game as one of the most outstanding

wheels of his generation. It was not that long ago we were standing there

in front of 17 and a half thousand fans. I thought I would play Michael

for another few years. It is time to take but I have not every minute of

it. Stephen Ferris's approach to rugby eventually to test all. He

spent 16 months recovering from this CD is ankle injury which eventually

forced him to retire. He ripped onto the pitch before this year. He made

an immediate impact. He will be remembered for playing his part and

also's transformation. Seeing them going from a small clock, the

underdogs, two going into one of the biggest class, you could see the

progression and the rise. It is probably what I want back on and I

am quite happy after that. And he was also a star with Ireland,

winning a landslide. It was probably the best rugby I was clearing. I did

not have any injuries. It was good. It is great that I have achieved so

much. I can definitely finished with no regrets. The fast when he is

going to do is happy holiday! There are now 50 days to go until

the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Here on BBC Newsline, we're going to

countdown to the Games by looking With a 1500 metre swim,

20 kilometre bike race and 10 kilometre run, the Triathlon is one

of the more daunting sports... But in Aileen Reid, Northern Ireland

will be sending an athlete who can compete with the very best,

as Nigel Ringland reports. With a silver medal in last year's

unfeigned, Aileen Reid showed her class. But it has also raised

expectation that was ahead of the Commonwealth Games. You cannot take

on people and the predictions. I have said before, people always

predict things as soon as you get the middle, and it does not work

that way. I work on the things that I can control. My fitness and other

things like my skins. It is going to be the same outcome. An injury

forced Aileen Reid to mess an important part of our training. But

she is returning to form. I would not like to put a number on it, but

hopefully I will have some home support and I should really do well.

I have to remember, coming off the back of some injuries, hopefully I

can fit in time to compete that level. And in classical, Aileen Reid

will also lead the Northern Ireland squad and this clearly important and

popular sport. With four people in the team, it really should be for a

fantastic atmosphere. I'm looking forward to it. I am getting to

represent Northern Ireland and that is spectacular. Amusing. It is great

to be from such a small nation. I want to do them play. She has a real

chance of glory and classical. Today, we got some photos then and

that gave us the teams that made was the dullest since 1885. Despite the

closure, it was still warm and parts. Scattered showers for the

rest of us. Overweight, we will continue to see some springs of

reading. Some of the light weather will continue into tomorrow morning,

but went to do, then will be some stills of sunshine. When we totally

down with around the course but better in the West. We can expect a

few showers. Elsewhere, some will be hugely and the temperatures are

going to get to around 12 or 14 degrees. Temperatures, at this time

of year, should be 17 or so. Quite a few of us will end on a good note.

Maybe a little bit further east. Tomorrow, largely dry. Possibly some

time weather in the north-east. Thus the meeting of two what to do it is

going to improve. Certainly in terms of dry and late winner. Temperatures

are still below average. The neatly on the rise later on, you will see

some dry weather, but the wet weather is far away. Thank you for

watching. Goodbye.