30/09/2014 BBC Newsline

blustery. Thank you very much. That is all from us. Now

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline.

Two nuns die in a crash involving an unmarked police vehicle.

Budget cuts delay investigations into controversial Troubles murders.

A senior dentist is struck off the register after being found guilty of

Together again: Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill gives

Jim Magilton the nod as his second in command.

And a little bit of rain to end the dry September,

but October starts on a brighter note.

Two nuns were killed in a car crash this morning in County Down.

Both nuns are well known figures in the other vehicle,

in the wider north Belfast community.

The crash happened on the A1 about four miles from Newry near the

Our reporter Gordon Adair is close to the scene.

This is normally one of our busiest sections of dual carriageway. But we

can hear the recovery vehicles now lifting these two cars after what

was a horrific accident. Two lives dedicated doing good for the church

and wider society, ended in Sister Marie Dudley and Sister

Francis Ford, a retired school principal, had been travelling from

Belfast to attend a conference. They were only a couple of miles from the

destination when the accident happened. This afternoon, the small

car driven by the two nuns remains hidden from view behind a screen

erected by the police. Just yards away sits the police vehicle with

which it was in collision. What happened exactly will be the subject

of investigation by the PSNI and the ombudsman's office. We will

investigate what happened this morning. One of the ways we do that

is by speaking to people who saw and heard what happened so I would ask

anyone who was on that stretch of road, who has anything to offer, by

way of information, to contact us. There is an underpass used by some

locals to negotiate this fast stretch of road. A local MLA said it

was time that the underpasses were more widely used. There is an

underground tunnel which is originally designed to allow farmers

to use stop from one side to another without blocking the carriageway. It

is now used by local people, although it is not very well

signposted, if at all. So I think that is something that might be well

worth looking at for the future. It could possibly avoid a situation

like this happening again. There will be investigations, there will

be questions asked, they will look at whether the underpass could be

used. But it is best to leave the last word tonight to the sisters of

Mercy, who say that they are struggling to come to terms with the

sudden parting of these two women. Investigations into allegations

of serious criminal behaviour by the police in almost 300 killings

have been delayed because of cuts to And further cuts to the PSNI's

budget mean its historical enquiries Our Home Affairs Correspondent

Vincent Kearney reports. Kings Mills, January 1976. Ten

Protestant workers were shot dead by the IRA. The police ombudsman was

due to investigate claims that the police may have been able to prevent

the attack but did not do so, in order to protect an informant. That

investigation is one of the cases now delayed due to budget cuts. Hit

18 times, Alan Black survived, whilst Karen Armstrong's brother was

one of those killed. It just beggars belief that, after 39 years, we are

within touching distance of getting a proper investigation and then it

is snatched away on the excuse of money. That can be no excuse. Money

should be put into the Police Ombudsman. Justice should not have a

price tag. At the end of the day, murder is the ultimate crime. My

brother and nine others, their lives were so clearly and visually taken

on a roadside. We have lived with that loss for 39 years and we are

still waiting on some justice and truth. We will continue, we will not

stop. Society is put together on the rule of law, and that is what we

hope will be there when we needed, but have been totally let down. The

ombudsman faces other delays, including into the investigations

into the murders of nine Protestants at the Malthouse Hotel. The Messman

said that his budget has been cut by three quarters of ?1 million this

year. As a result he has terminated the contract of ten senior

investigators working for a unit dealing with historical incidents.

That is a cut of 25%, reducing the number from 40, 230. We were given

resources to undertake this work within a six-year period. The direct

impact of cuts is that we are now looking at 12 years to complete the

cases that we have, and when we do additional cases, there will be

further cuts. Campaigners for the families of victims are concerned.

Many of these cases date back up to 40 years and more. The families and

relatives of the breed, they depend on the Police Ombudsman to deliver

in these investigations are elderly, and in 12 years, many of them or not

seedy outcomes. It is a scandal and it is not acceptable. The historical

inquiries team has also suffered as a result of budget cuts to the PSNI.

The police today announced that more than 300 temporary agency staff will

not have contracts renewed, and that means that the historical inquiries

team will cease to operate by the end of the year. Quite rightly, we

deal with the threats and risks of today, we deal with keeping people

safe today, and danger in our society today, and we do that first,

before we deal with elements of dealing with the past. The news has

been welcomed by Sinn Fein which has been opposed to the historical

inquiries team since its inception. It has been discredited as a result

of a number of reports in the course of recent years. The chief constable

and police on button and say that these cuts are unavoidable -- and

police ombudsman. A soldier has gone on trial

in Birmingham accused of murdering Corporal Geoffrey

McNeill who came from Ballymoney. The prosecution alleges a colleague

killed him at the Royal Irish Regiment's barracks in Shropshire

after a night out in March. BBC reporter Joanne Writtle was

in Birmingham Crown Court today. The prosecution allege that Geoffrey

McNeill could have been murdered in a revenge attack after a punch-up in

a pub. They had that Geoffrey McNeill was violently and brutally

attacked at his room in tonal barracks in Shropshire in the early

hours. The prosecution say that he suffered significant, heavy blows to

his head, stomach and genitals, adding that he had been killed by

significant force being applied to his neck. Lands Corporal Richard

Farrell denies murdering him. Both men were serving with the Royal

Irish Regiment. What happened in court today? Both men had been out

drinking separately in the town of market Drayton, close to the

barracks. In one CCTV clip shown to the court you see the men talking,

it also showed Geoffrey McNeill punching Farrell once to the jaw,

and Farrell Forster the floor. Later in the early hours, both men arrived

back at the barracks, separately. The prosecution say that there were

then 3.5 hours in which the movement of Farrell cannot be accounted for.

Later, tests revealed that DNA found on his top matched that of Geoffrey

McNeill. The jury heard that there has been no ill feeling or animosity

between the men prior to that might, and it is said that Farrell had been

significantly affected by alcohol, and Geoffrey McNeill was described

as merry, but not drunk. Tomorrow, the jury will be taken to visit

tonal barracks. The court has been told that during this month-long

while, they will hear much about Army life and routine. -- this month

-long trial. MLAs have called on the

Home Secretary Theresa May to include abuses committed against

residents at the East Belfast Kincora Boys' Home in the remit of

a UK wide inquiry into child abuse. The Assembly approved without

a formal vote an Alliance motion which argues the inquiry to be led

by Fiona Woolf would be the most appropriate means of achieving truth

and justice for the Kincora victims. The unanimous support from MLAs was

welcomed by a victims campaigner and a Kincora victim who watched

the debate from the public gallery. We know that Naomi Long has raised

this in Westminster also and that Kincora comes under the Westminster

investigations. We have the whole support of everyone in Northern

Ireland, so it should be going ahead. I wake up in my -- in the

morning, it is in my head and it will never leave me. You still think

there is a chance of getting justice? Yes, I hope so.

A senior consultant at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast has

The sanction was imposed by the General Dental Council

who had earlier found Professor Philip Lamey guilty

of more than a hundred charges of misconduct between 2006 and 2010.

Those related to 27 patients who were identified

Four of those patients subsequently died.

Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

Professor Philip Lamey was one of the leading dental consultants in

Northern Ireland. He was a practising dentist at the Royal

Victoria Hospital School dentistry and a feature of thousands of dental

students. In 2011 135 patience of his had to be recalled after several

developed cancer and four of them subsequently died. The consultant

faced 160 charges of malpractice. Today in London, the professional

body monitoring dentists said it was satisfied that its findings

body monitoring dentists said it was there had been significant

deficiencies in the practice of Philip Lamey which were widespread

over a long period out Philip Lamey which were widespread

which were serious. In respect of patient three, Philip Lamey's

management of the case was inadequate. A significant feature of

this case is a letter that he sent to the doctor of the patient saying

that the patient had declined the opportunity of a biopsy, that very

day. That statement was untrue. Other professionals would consider

his behaviour particularly in relation to the letter sent, as

"deplorable". In another case the council found that Philip Lamey

failed to spot changes in a patient who, for years, had a dry and itchy

mouth condition, within developed cancer, despite seeing her on six

separate occasions. In delivering its judgement, the genomic -- the

General dental Council said it had, while it was not their

responsibility to punish but to protect the public, it had no other

option but to prevent the dentist from practising, immediately. Being

struck off is the most severe sanction that can be handed down.

The council said that was necessary as there was nothing to indicate

that Philip Lamey understood that his actions had placed patience at

risk and had brought the profession into disrepute. He has 28 days to

appeal. The Secretary of State is that Stormont must be in the best

possible shape if it is to take on the devolution of corporation tax.

In a speech at the Conservative Party conference,

Theresa Villiers also said it will be hard for the Executive to fund

a corporation tax cut while there's an impasse over welfare reform.

Devolution of coverage on tax would be a big step. If Stormont want to

to implement a tax cut, that would be very difficult, if they were

still locked in dispute about their budget and welfare reforms, so they

need to be in good shape to take on corporation tax rate setting. It is

important that we move towards a resolution of the budget dispute

that there is currently underway. Now some breaking news

and the company that planned to extract shale gas by fracking

in County Fermanagh has had The company had sought

an extension to the deadline to drill a borehole after its plans

were refused by the Department This evening the Enterprise Minister

Arlene Foster has said the company had failed to meet its obligations

under the terms of the licence. Our reporter Julian Fowler is

in Enniskillen. He is with the minister. Under the

terms of this license, the company had three years in order to make a

decision whether to go ahead and drill, or whether to drop its plans.

As part of this license the company had to do drill an exploratory

borehole to take rock samples. It moved onto the site of a quarry near

Belcoo in July. But full planning permission for that could take one

year or more. There was the deadline for its exploration licence, and the

enterprise minister has said that she is not going to extend that

license. She joins me now. What is the reason for that decision? We

have engaged with the company and assessed that they have not

completed their work plan in terms of the license, and, therefore, we

will not be extending it. The company might say that it was unable

to complete the terms of its licence because the Department of

environment refused permission to go ahead and drill. That is a matter

for the company and for the Department for the environment. As

far as the license is concerned, I had to excess whether they had

completed their work plan. They did have an extension granted to them.

Some ago year. And that ended today. I had to take the decision as to

whether they would be able to comply with the work plan and looking at

the evidence, I have taken the decision that I cannot give them

another extension. I had to look at all of the evidence. I have said

many times in relation to what is a very emotive issue, that I would do

so in an evidence -based way, and that is what I have done again. I

have looked at all the evidence available and I have assessed that

they will not be able to complete their work plan and therefore, I

cannot give them an extension. Is this the end of fracking in the

manner? -- in Belcoo? They will have to look at the license granted to

them by the department, but it is at an end. It is now up to the company

whether they decide to challenge this decision in the courts, or to

pull out of Northern Ireland altogether.

Two priests in neighbouring parishes in County Tyrone are calling for

a boycott of the First Trust Bank - because it is planning to close its

branch in Coalisland, leaving the town with no banks at all.

The First Trust says the branch is "no longer sustainable".

But the priests are concerned in particular for older people who

Once there were several different banks in call Ireland, but now the

only one left is closing down. When this bank closes there will be none

left in call Ireland. This will be just a traditional hole in the wall.

But two traditional parish priests think there is time to get the

banker changes mind. One in Coalisland and one in neighbouring

village. They are moving parish accounts and encouraging

parishioners to follow suit. The petition will be given to those

attending Mass this weekend. I am asking them to declare intent to

withdraw their banking from First Trust, to get First Trust to

reconsider this move. They are involved in business and in profit

but they need to be reminded that we are customers and we have power as

well. A spokesperson for First Trust bank said that they would be

disappointed to lose any customer. They added...

But some local people were unimpressed and saw an opportunity

for the Coalisland credit union. The credit union is good for the older

generation, they do not have to worry about online banking. This is

a golden opportunity. There is no loyalty with the bank. We're not

loyal to them, they are not loyal to us, so goodbye, First Trust. The

And on Thursday's BBC Newsline we'll be taking a closer look

at the issue of rural isolation, how some communities are feeling

cut off because of where they live, and the help that's available.

The University of Ulster is beginning new research

into the injuries suffered by children who play school rugby.

An awareness programme of the risks involved in such contact sports

has had the backing of the government and sporting bodies.

But the parents of a 14 year old rugby player

who died after several heavy tackles wants the issue of concussion to be

Contact is part of competition in rugby. And some injuries are an

inevitable. -- inevitable. In recent years, concussion has become a big

concern. I suffered a serious concussion last year. I fractured my

nose and eye socket with that. I had to take five weeks out of the game

even though I wanted to be on the pitch with the team, I couldn't. I

had to take my time out. The Irish Rugby union and schools have been

had to take my time out. The Irish programmes since the death of a

teenager from Carrickfergus a few years ago. An inquest found that

Benn Robinson died from what is known as second impact syndrome.

That is when a blow causes swelling to the brain before it has recovered

from another injury. He had been involved in several heavy tackles

and he collapsed at the end of the game. There was a video of the match

that day. He seemed to go down but then when he forced the ground his

natural reaction is to put his hands out in front of him. He ploughs into

the ground. He was checked and allowed to play on. And he then

collapsed. He was on life support for two days and then it was turned

off. His parents want all pupils to be taught about the danger of head

injuries, no matter what sport they play. At the University of Ulster

they aren't working with 25 schools to research the impact of injuries.

There is a need to develop much more stringent injury monitoring. And of

the true levels of risk associated with rugby and other sports. Coaches

know that sometimes they need to protect players from themselves.

There has been so much publicity around concussion it is getting

easier but it has to be like that about all injuries. Players and

coaches know that they cannot always are void injury, but sporting

organisations are trying to tackle the risks. -- avoid.

Now, an enforced reshuffle means the Northern Ireland manager will be

joined by an old friend on the bench for the next two international

matches. Here's Mark with the sport.

Not so long ago these two were going head to head for the manager's job.

Now Michael O'Neill has lost the services of Billy McKinley, who

So Jim Magilton steps up as Northern Ireland number two for

the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against the Faroes and Greece.

People know that Jim and myself go back a long way, we have worked at

club level, we have worked in Europe together, so it is comfortable for

me to work with him. The preparation of the team has always been in my

hands. Billy has assisted me but it has always been my thought process

and my approach to preparing the team. He has been an excellent help

to me in that. But the physician to bringing in Jim has been very

smooth. He has his own qualities and we have worked well together in the

past. No Irish league players made it

into Michael O'Neill's squad but

Crusaders have made it to the top of

the Danske Bank Premiership after last

night's 2-2 draw against Linfield. Crusaders took the initiative

courtesy of this stunning volley by Paul Heatley. Then Linfield restored

parity. A third goal and a frantic ten minute spell saw Gavin Wright

pouncing on a mistake by Sean Ward to make it 2-1 to the home side

heading into the break. But the league leaders were to be denied

victory. Michael Kaboul scored just before 60 minutes for his second

equaliser on the night. That takes one point clear at the top of the

table with Linfield edging up one place, to fourth.

After their surprise loss to Zebre at the weekend, Ulster Rugby will be

boosted by the return of their Internationals

Edinburgh. Among them Six nations winner Chris Henry.

My priority is to win something with Ulster. We have been building and

the team has been moving forward. I know that I experienced winning the

trophy with Ireland last season. For me, it is about winning something

with Ulster. And getting back in a green shirt. And then hopefully

having a successful World Cup. Finally, the Northern Ireland Darts

team we featured on Newsline last week, have won

a bronze medal after coming 3rd in the Men's Team Event at the European

Cup in Romania at the weekend. The weather forecast is next with

Angie Phillips. We did get a little bit of rain at

the end of the driest September on record, those records extending back

to 1910. Today, we did get some rain. Later than we got yesterday,

coming along in the afternoon instead of this morning. It was

mostly patchy. One or two showers remaining. For many of us it will be

that bit drier through this evening and the first part of the night with

a few clear spells. Then we have another weather front moving in. It

may bring persistent rain but nothing particularly heavy, and it

will be another mild night, generally in double figures. As we

start October, things are looking at a mostly dry day with a fair amount

of sunshine. First thing in the morning we have that weather front

that could start of cloudy with patchy rain moving through, then

things will start to brighten up. A lot of sunshine around and plenty of

blue skies. Behind these weather fronts, temperatures are down on

today, tomorrow, we're looking at around between 13-15 Celsius.

Perhaps the odd shower on the north coast, but most places dry. We

finished the day tomorrow on a dry note. Tomorrow night will be more

chilly with clear skies. These are the figures that we are looking at.

In some rural spots, it could get cooler than that. It means that on

Thursday, we start out fine and dry with some sunshine. Clouding over

with the wind picking up later, and as we head towards Friday, the first

signs of autumn, wet and windy.