05/11/2015 BBC Newsline

That's all from the BBC News at Six, so it's goodbye from me,

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:

A report finds that Maghaberry Prison is unsafe,

This is the most dangerous prison I have been into Stroud my times as a

The report also criticises health care at the jail and says it falls

They just kept putting them out of commission up and up and up. To the

point I was just sleeping 18 hours a day.

The Justice Minister stands by the head of the prison service and says

I will certainly not be resigning while I lead the important reform

A complaint's made to the police about remarks in Parliament nine

years ago by the DUP leader Peter Robinson.

Thought-provoking, or just provocative - the painting that's

How the rising cost of childcare is putting some families into debt.

He's back from the World Cup, back for Ulster - and all a year after he

suffered a mini stroke - Chris Henry on a remarkable year.

And there is a bit of sunshine in the forecast for tomorrow, but not

The government's chief inspector of prisons has said

Northern Ireland's high security prison at Maghaberry is the most

An inspection report published this morning describes the jail

as unsafe, unstable and in a state of crisis.

Inspectors said they had real concerns that if the issues

identified were not addressed as a matter of urgency, there could be

Our Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney reports.

Maghaberry Prison was built to hold Northern Ireland's most dangerous

criminals. But the prison itself is now considered a dangerous place.

We inspect about 40 prisons a year and I have been doing it for five

years. This is the most dangerous prison I have been into throughout

my time as chief inspector. There have been many reports

criticising prisons here but none quite like this one.

This inspection of ten won carried out in May 2015 was undoubtedly the

most concerning of all the reports published to date of any local

prison. A team of more than 20 inspectors

spent two weeks in Maghaberry Prison in May and they assess the prison's

performance against for internationally recognised criteria.

In three areas, safety, respect, and activity, they described performance

as poor. The lowest possible ranking. When it came to the fourth

area, resettlement, they described performance as reasonably good.

Ten won had become unsafe and unstable. -- Maghaberry Prison. This

was in our opinion a prison in crisis.

The Department of Justice says major changes and reforms have taken place

at Maghaberry Prison. The gunmen's Chief Inspector of Prisons does not

agree. It feels like going back in time.

Dickens could write about Maghaberry Prison without batting an night.

The justice minister said he only had time for a limited number of

questions about the report. This was his response to a BBC does not

report. The report criticised leadership of

Maghaberry Prison in May this year. The director-general has a fresh and

strengthened the leadership team in the prison and that is the team

which is now delivering significant improvements. That is the important

thing to focus on. They are not bringing in

improvements? Should you resign possibly? Is that on your mind?

You were told that I had time for two questions then I had to see the

Secretary of State. That is the position. I will certainly not be

resigning while I lead the important reform programme.

These vectors are highly critical of the resume. They are held here in

row house, a separate unit within the prison. They account for just 5%

of the total prison population but are much greater proportion of

resources. The report says giving preference to contain the resume for

separate prisoners over every other area in the prison is unfair...

There are harsh words about health care was in the prison. Concerns are

shared by this protest who served 17 months in Maghaberry Prison. He

suffered from a rare condition which means his jaw did not grow normally

and says he did not receive proper treatment.

I was in the cell 20 47 just to soar. Because the doctors did not

seem to understand they just kept putting my medication up and up and

up to the point where I was just sleeping 18 hours a day.

Improvements to the prison buildings are currently taking place but

bricks and mortar won't fix the problems identified in this report.

The inspectors will go back in January to assess what progress has

Sue McAllister is the director general of the prison service.

She is with me. How do you defend your leadership after hearing about

that? That damning report. I'm certainly not going to defend

the performance of Maghaberry Prison in May when the inspectors visited

will stop what they found was not a surprise to me and to my senior

colleagues. We were addressing the deficiencies that we had identified

and that is really, I think, what underpinned the very difficult

relationship between local management and the senior leadership

of the service. You were addressing issues but

actually the report is damning of your leadership and the local

leadership. In the jail it is not just about the issues that you were

trying to address,... That report is not damning of my

leadership. That report specifically criticises local leadership.

Sorry to interrupt you but I want to explain. The benefit of our viewers.

It says the report and the independent inspection has revealed

significant values and local leadership, as you have said,

combined with the ineffective relationship with senior management

within the prison service. That has contributed to the prison becoming

unsafe and unstable. Are you distancing yourself from any

responsibility that? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. But

the causation I have had since with Brendan Grogan confirmed that he

absolutely gets that I am the right person to lead this service. Above

is not the right person to lead the service I would not be here. I knew

when I do this job on that it was a challenging job and everybody

acknowledges that this is a very complex service. Maghaberry Prison

is a very complex prison and you would not expected to reform the

servers overnight. I'm here to finish the job that I started.

You're been in the position since 2012 if I'm correct. Though where

improvement is in a previous report but it has now deteriorated to be

the worst prison in Europe. There was significant improvement at

Maghaberry Prison and over a period of about 12 months there was

deterioration and that was about the capability and capacity of the local

leadership which we have now changed. And we're now seeing the

impact of having a really capable, strong, effective, if the black

experienced governor. This has all happened under your

watch in the past three years. This unscheduled inspection happened in

May this year. Things are not going to happen overnight but under your

watch you have seen that deterioration. Why are you still in

your job? I have overseen significant

improvements with the service acknowledged by the Minister, by the

independent oversight panel which includes the chief inspector of

criminal justice, there is much work left to do and I think I am the

right person to lead that would be a bishop point of no return. This is a

huge, huge reform programme and you would not expected to be delivered

quickly. But since 2012 only 16 of the 93

recommendations made in a previous report been achieved in full. 16 out

of 93! The report which is what has

informed our programme had 40 strategic recommendations delivered

35 of those recommendations. They've been signed up as delivered. There

was still work left. In full or in part? In full.

Some of the rest depend on finance being made available and some will

just take more time but I believe that we are on the way to reform,

that is acknowledged by many of our external stakeholders and I believe

that I'm the right person to lead the service.

A complaint has been made to the police about the

First Minister Peter Robinson in relation to remarks he made

Lawyers acting for the Belfast businessman Peter Curistan allege

there are grounds for an investigation.

Here's our business correspondent Julian O'Neill.

Peter Curistan accompanied by his lawyer called at the police

headquarters this afternoon and handed in a statement of complaint.

It calls for Peter Robinson to be investigated and veg in what is

termed misfeasance in public office. It all goes back to 2006 and

damaging remarks made by Mr Robinson as an MP in regard to Peter

Curistan's business interests as a developer.

Will the Secretary of State when he's winding up in this debate

ensure that the activities of the Sheraton group and its association

with the IRA's dirty money are fully investigated and Willie guarantee

that no further public money is challenged in their direction until,

if ever, they get a clean bill of health?

Peter Curistan has always rejected the claim and in the intervening

years a High Court judge said he was entirely innocent of the allegation.

But his lawyer says his business life never recovered.

It remains very much a part of his life. And even though Mr Robinson

said those words in Parliament the vast bulk of the damage to Peter

Curistan card in this jurisdiction and that is why we are engaging the

Chief Constable with our complaints. Peter Curistan was the developer

behind the Odyssey and a top QC has now told his legal team that

parliamentary privilege while covering defamation actions does not

extend to an allegation of a criminal offence.

Mr Robinson has been invited on a number of occasions to come out into

the public arena without the protection of parliamentary

privilege and repeated claims and put up or shut up in terms of

evidence against Peter Curistan. In the intervening years he has never

once done either of those two things.

In response, the DUP issued a statement on the half of the First

Minister. It said the police may have to waste their time on the

complaint but Mr Robinson does not. A public warning notice has been

added to an art exhibition at the Ulster Museum in Belfast following

a claim that one of the paintings The painting, entitled

"Christian Flautists Outside St Patrick's," is by the artist Joseph

McWilliams, who died recently. The DUP

and TUV have demanded its removal. But, as our arts correspondent

Robbie Meredith reports, It was a controversial parade and

now this representation of it is also making waves. Because of these

five figures. The artist has painted some of the Orangemen accompanying

the band in what appeared to be Ku Klux Klan masks. The Royal Ulster

Academy says artist should be free to express what they want but the

museum had put a warning sign up for visitors. Many people have come to

view the painting today. I think it is a tremendous painting.

And it is giving me a great deal of difficulty finding the controversial

part of that painting. I don't think it should come down

because of feel like art is really open to interpretation and it can be

provocative. I think it is a beautiful painting.

The movement captured with the band moving at the bottom.

But the DUP have condemned the painting. The Orange Order say they

don't want it to be removed. We are not calling for this painting

to be taken down four. This is not about censorship but this is about

acknowledging the fact that it is offensive to our organisation and

membership. We are going see the painting

yourself? I will make a point of going into

Cor. They did is good to see it in its own environment.

This curator of a gallery that regularly holds exhibitions says the

painting is doing its job. It's intended to provoke a stimulate

debate and illustrate ways of seeing things. This series we have got on

now, if there has been work that hasn't wouldn't have offended

someone, we're doing our jobs wrong.

The painting has already been sold to a private collector but it will

hang here at the Ulster Museum until mid-January. The irony is that the

publicity around it will undoubtedly mean that many more people will now

The Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin from Sinn Fein has told

a DUP Assembly member that he's a disgrace, claiming he accused her

The clash happened during a fractious committee meeting

at Stormont when she was accused of ignoring unionist areas for funding.

Here's our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.

The arts community wrote the fight against cuts right to the

Minister's door this week. Caral Ni Chuilin invited them inside so she

could hear their case in person. She faced an even more hostile audience

today. Unionists have accused her of diverting arts funding into pet

projects such as the west Belfast Festival and the Irish language.

In terms of the money being shifted across, is that the case of

re-prioritising? First of all, your premise is wrong.

There is Tory this territory. Could I finished answering my

question please could I finished answering my question, please.

-- Tory austerities. I did not say there was not Tory austerities.

It is a pity I couldn't put words in your mouth.

A bit more respect from you. It is demeaning and grading for you

to behave in that manner. She listed a series of rural areas

which had also received funding. This is what followed.

You didn't touch on many Unionist areas there, I noticed. Is that the

Minister's priority? I think that's a complete disgrace.

I think it's an absolute disgrace that you have accused me of being

sectarian. As the session drew to a close the

minister seemed to determine to have the last laugh.

I think that is disgraceful. I am glad you agree that there is Tory

austerities. I would love some of the money they're spending on

trading to be in the arts. Even with one fifth of a percentage.

The Minister and the committee meet again later this month.

Holidaymakers from Northern Ireland are among those caught up in the

uncertainty over flights out of the Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh.

The British and Irish aviation authorities have suspended all

flights amid fears that a bomb caused a plane which had just left

BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson has more.

It was supposed to be a stress-free luxury holiday. But not any more for

this Belfast couple. I came away on Friday with my fiance

to spend a day at Channel chic and every thing was very relaxing. Then

the news started to filter that thereupon plums are never going to

be delays with the crafts. The whole resort started to panic mostly

because it is mostly British people here. There are a lot of concerns

and a lot of people who were not in the position to pay for more

accommodation and pay for additional food costs. We hadn't told by our

tour operators that we will hear from them tomorrow morning at

whether or not we will get. As things stand, all flights from

here to Britain and Ireland are suspended. That may change.

Nonetheless, these are worrying times will. Not just the people

currently in this red Sea resort, and those due to travel here for a

winter break in the coming months. So what happens if you booked a

flight or a holiday but are now concerned about your destination?

You are advised to check out the official travel advice. From either

the Foreign Office in London or the Department for foreign affairs in

Dublin. So how was the local travel industry coping with all of the

uncertainty? People will still travel. You just

need to look at your window and look at the window the bad weather.

Despite the tragedy, someone else's misfortune is someone else's game.

It may look like the perfect holiday here but all are and Darren just

can't wait to get home. -- or allow.

BBC Newsline can reveal details of a new survey

which indicates that about a quarter of parents are getting

We have some of the findings of the survey which was commissioned by the

charity Employers for Childcare and is due to be published next week.

Of the five thousand parents interviewed,

nearly sixty per cent said they were under increased financial pressure

Nearly twenty five per cent said that to meet their childcare costs

they were forced to rely on credit cards, overdrafts or loans

Earlier Catherine Morrison visited a childcare unit in south Belfast.

This is an after-school club. It is a typical after-school club. The

kits come and have a snag, do their homework and play games. And it is

open until 6pm in the evening. These clubs charge somewhere between three

and ?4 an hour per child. So if you have more than one child, those

costs can certainly start to rise. But where it is really expensive as

with the younger children. This employer for childcare survey has

found that a full-time place in a day nursery or crash can cost up to

eight and have thousand pounds a year. Earlier we spoke to two

parents about their experiences of childcare.

They're both in childcare. Our youngest boy is full-time and oldest

boy is a nursery school in the morning and he is in preschool in

the afternoon. It is ?3000 a month during term time. When James goes to

nursery we are paying more. We have considered one of us leaving

our jobs because what we're out on childcare and what we earn sometimes

you're wondering, is it worth while actually working?

Lily is an primary seven the shares so she's just and 11. Lilly has been

in butter cups since she was in Nazareth. Been years and she was

four years old. It is the pounds 50 an hour, ?30 a day, which is when

you think about it? Is actually very good value more although it adds

up. It is challenging debate. We're very lucky that our employers

supports the childcare vouchers which means that we can get tax-free

an element of that and indeed national insurance contributions are

encountered. That makes it much easier for us to manage. I think we

would survive if we had to. If we did not have the assistance.

Because, at the end of the day, I don't think we could afford for me

not to work. I think it would make things very tough.

Joining me now is Rachel from employers the childcare and Emma, a

junior member at the office of the Deputy First Minister.

This service direct survey has confirmed what a lot of working

parents already know. Childcare is expensive. If bat that summer using

credit cards payday loans to pay for it, that is worrying?

Very concerning that are happy to admit having to rely on other means.

This is the 60 we have done the survey and every year parents are

struggling to meet that course. What can these are kids do to help

parents? There is a childcare strategy out

for consultation at the minimum that will help. What we're asking for in

that strategy targeted investment in making sure that every single parent

knows what they are entitled to a concert of childcare.

Surely it makes sense that if parents are entitled to benefits

they need to know that? Absolutely. The Government has been

clear that they know this is an issue. Childcare is expensive and we

want to do every thing that we can to help and support parents with the

costs of that. 80 months ago got a website up and running. We would

encourage parents to go on now am to see what help and support is

available. Giving the constraints the

department is working under, is that extra money in the budget for

parents? The offices doesn't actually a

policy responsibility for childcare but in the absence of another

department doing that we stepped up to the mark and two on this

initiative and we are redeveloping that strategy. The strategy is out

for consultation and their 22 key actions within that. We also secured

additional money. Of 12 marine pounds ring fenced to send the Mac

set up a centre. We're entering a budget negotiation very shortly and

we will be fighting to ensure that there are elements that are

supported childcare strategy. Hankey for joining me. We would love

to hear your thoughts on this issue and you can leave your thoughts on

our Facebook page. -- thank you for joining me.

Thomas Niblock is here to tell us about a special anniversary

On Sunday Ulster Rugby will face The Newport-Gwent Dragons, exactly one

year since this man, Chris Henry after suffering a mini-stroke while

In an exclusive interview, he's given us his thoughts

on a remarkable twelve months in his life.

Back healthy again, and back playing rugby!

One year ago away on Ireland's duty Chris Henry suffered a mini stroke

that threaten to end his rugby career. Remarkably not only made it

back, he ended up playing in this year's World Cup.

The first couple of weeks rugby was on the back burner. There was a safe

and I thought I would not come back but then I suppose as your girls

changing you realise you can get a sniff of something you really want,

I was in the World Cup four years ago but I was on stand-by, so for me

this was not just the guts of four months, it has been the making of a

few years on just a few years just alighted read part of that squad,

especially such a competitive squad at the World Cup but obviously it is

nice to be back on Ulster duties as well.

Even a seasoned pro has to adjust from international rugby.

I think it is very difficult. When you been away because the same sort

of thing. This is twice the length of the six Nations so you are

switching systems back into Ulster duty so it will be difficult for

some people but hopefully last week I got on for 30 minutes and I try to

fit in as quickly as I could. Hopefully this again well.

After a remarkable year on the comeback trail at international

level, it is now also's turned to benefit from Chris Henry. There are

certain moments that can prove difficult to capture on film.

Rory McIlroy overcame a bout of food poisoning to post a solid

There are certain moments in nature that can prove difficult

ranger in County Fermanagh when he grabbed a shot of this stag taking

Not too many pretty pictures today in that rain -

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and dipping dear. And

of course that photograph was taken before we had the change today. A

weather front moving its way in. Broadband of rain quite persistent.

It is now shifted away across Britain and for a time now we're

back into dry conditions, rather cloudy conditions rather like the

last couple of nights with the winds easing we will get some mist and

some low cloud around. A bit murky places do not particularly chilly

with lows of around nine or 10 degrees. Into tomorrow it is all

change again. Eventually we'll see some brighter skies that we have a

bit of pick up again tomorrow morning and this time the rain is

likely to arrive a little bit quicker. Through the rush hour don't

be surprised that is on surface water and spray on the roads and of

course we have that southerly breeze picking up as well. Freestone areas

the bank held on into the afternoon for a little while but in the west

we will probably see some brighter skies reaching their about midday so

as bad as guys will be extending eastwards through the afternoon and

then we're talking sunny spells and just the order blustery scattered

showers. More dry in wet weather at the stage and the temperatures will

drop very decent browse the November. Nearly 16 degrees. You

have to bear in mind we have a breeze as well. We go into the best

part of tomorrow night mainly dry again at by the end overnight we get

a sign of what is coming along on Saturday but not some showery rain

around and on Saturday so it could be very wet for a time but at some

heavy burst of rain and there are still doubts about it at the moment

but potentially very windy for a time due with the girls particularly

amused. We'll keep an eye on that. It does dry up later on Saturday and

beget a little bit at the breather, with another low coming in on

Sunday. More wet and windy weather in the forecast.

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