:00:14. > :00:18.Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:
:00:19. > :00:24.Shock as seven care homes across Northern Ireland are to close.
:00:25. > :00:29.The Stakeknife investigation is to look at more than 50 murders.
:00:30. > :00:31.The new technology making life easier
:00:32. > :00:41.How here-to-stay low interest rates are helping the housing market.
:00:42. > :00:51.The cheering's over, as a row kicks off over planned Euro celebrations.
:00:52. > :00:54.The sport of mixed martial continues to grow - tonight we'll be speaking
:00:55. > :00:56.to Leah McCourt, Northern Ireland's newest European champion.
:00:57. > :00:59.And we're now in less cold air but feeling cool in the wind, which
:01:00. > :01:08.Seven residential care homes privately owned by the Four Seasons
:01:09. > :01:16.Following the announcement the Health Minister has halted
:01:17. > :01:30.Lisa McAlister is at a Four Seasons home in East Belfast.
:01:31. > :01:35.I'm at Stormont nursing home where in the last few minutes a meeting
:01:36. > :01:41.has just got under way between management and relatives of
:01:42. > :01:46.residence, and similar meetings are taking place at all seven homes
:01:47. > :01:51.affect did across Northern Ireland. The Four Seasons group is one of the
:01:52. > :01:57.largest providers of care homes and the UK, today a spokesman said the
:01:58. > :02:05.closures were unavoidable, that all seven homes are operating at a loss.
:02:06. > :02:10.Four Seasons is the UK's largest private care home operator, it runs
:02:11. > :02:11.69 homes across Northern Ireland. But by February next year 's seven
:02:12. > :02:26.homes will close. That leaves more than 250 elderly
:02:27. > :02:29.residents looking for a new place to live and almost 400 staff either
:02:30. > :02:34.transferring to other homes in the group of looking for new jobs.
:02:35. > :02:37.Relatives of residence at the homes received letters by special delivery
:02:38. > :02:41.this morning telling them of the decision.
:02:42. > :02:44.Staff attended meetings this afternoon to hear more.
:02:45. > :02:50.They didn't want to speak afterwards.
:02:51. > :02:55.I don't think I'm allowed to say anything.
:02:56. > :02:57.Four Seasons revealed widening losses of ?25 million in its
:02:58. > :03:00.third-quarter results this week, because of rising costs and lower
:03:01. > :03:09.occupancy. The proposed closures had already
:03:10. > :03:12.been postponed, the Health Minister said today he was freezing all
:03:13. > :03:18.decisions in the light of the uncertain to in the private sector.
:03:19. > :03:21.It is only appropriate we pause and give careful consideration to what
:03:22. > :03:29.has been proposed in respect of some was eventual care homes to ensure
:03:30. > :03:31.that... Because some of these proposals to close these homes were
:03:32. > :03:39.predicated on spare capacity within the independent sector. One that has
:03:40. > :03:44.been reduced it is what we pause and consider the implications.
:03:45. > :03:47.But that has no impact on the closures announced today.
:03:48. > :03:49.Four Seasons says it will spend the next three months engaging with
:03:50. > :03:54.families and health trusts to ensure suitable alternative placements for
:03:55. > :04:00.residents, Bob Holmes will close by the end of February next year.
:04:01. > :04:07.-- but the homes. Tonight's meetings at the start of a
:04:08. > :04:09.12 week consultation period, but the utmost priority and concern for
:04:10. > :04:15.relatives is what impact this will have on their relatives who are in
:04:16. > :04:21.many cases already frail and a move may not be the best thing for them
:04:22. > :04:23.both physically and emotionally. We'll bring you any updates on these
:04:24. > :04:30.meetings tonight at 10:25pm. With me is Pauline Shepherd
:04:31. > :04:39.from a group that represents private What's the big problem here? It
:04:40. > :04:45.relates to the viability of the tariff, which does not meet the full
:04:46. > :04:50.cost of care. The money comes from -- coming from Government, it
:04:51. > :04:54.doesn't meet the pressures that the care homes are facing. They are
:04:55. > :04:59.facing additional pressures from nurse shortages, which has resulted
:05:00. > :05:05.in them needing to employee agency nurses which can cost three or four
:05:06. > :05:08.times the hourly rate. The permissive levels have increased
:05:09. > :05:17.with the complexity of care for older people. -- dependency levels.
:05:18. > :05:22.And the tariff is not kept in line with those dependency requirements
:05:23. > :05:24.and those needs. When your organisation and
:05:25. > :05:27.independent providers go to the Minister and tell them they can't
:05:28. > :05:35.make ends meet, what sort of reception do you get?
:05:36. > :05:38.Each year we would be asked to submit information to consider the
:05:39. > :05:43.yearly uplift of the tariff, but I have been expressing concern for the
:05:44. > :05:46.past probably year saying that Herath does not meet the
:05:47. > :05:56.requirements, and also specifying to them that they need to look at what
:05:57. > :06:02.the true cost of care is. -- the tariff does not meet. They need an
:06:03. > :06:07.independent economist to look at the figures and come up with a rate that
:06:08. > :06:10.meet the requirements of the individuals in care homes.
:06:11. > :06:16.For the 250 people affected by this closures, what does that mean in
:06:17. > :06:20.general for relatives? It is a difficult emotional time for
:06:21. > :06:24.residents and their families. There is uncertainty as to where those
:06:25. > :06:29.residents were replaced, which is an issue for the health and social care
:06:30. > :06:31.board, to liaise with Four Seasons and other providers to see if they
:06:32. > :06:38.can be accommodated in other homes. Detectives from outside Northern
:06:39. > :06:40.Ireland are expected to be brought in by the PSNI to investigate more
:06:41. > :06:43.than 50 murders linked to a man alleged to have been the army's most
:06:44. > :06:50.high ranking agent within the IRA. Our Home Affairs Correspondent
:06:51. > :07:00.Vincent Kearney has this exclusive Hundreds of Republicans and
:07:01. > :07:03.loyalists led secret double life is as informers and agents during the
:07:04. > :07:11.Troubles. Stakeknife was regarded as one of
:07:12. > :07:16.the most valuable. The only's must senior -- Abhi.
:07:17. > :07:22.-- army. An agent of the state, who killed
:07:23. > :07:28.other agents of the state. A former West Bell must -- Belfast
:07:29. > :07:31.man has denied reports that he was the agent.
:07:32. > :07:36.The investigation could be the largest ever in the UK into
:07:37. > :07:40.allegations against a serious -- single individual.
:07:41. > :07:47.The BBC understands it will investigate up to 53 killings
:07:48. > :07:50.between 1978 and 1995, and also look for evidence of possible criminal
:07:51. > :07:54.behaviour by those within the Ministry of Defence, the army and
:07:55. > :07:58.MI5 work Stakeknife. Sources have told the BBC the case
:07:59. > :08:05.could take a team of up to 50 list at this five years to complete.
:08:06. > :08:10.In an interview to be broadcast tonight, the Chief Constable
:08:11. > :08:16.outlined the scale of the task. This is so big and so vast ranging,
:08:17. > :08:21.a time period of about 17 years, everybody is fixated on the
:08:22. > :08:27.individual known as Stakeknife, and I'm quite sure he will be the
:08:28. > :08:32.subject of investigative rigour, but there will be other suspects in all
:08:33. > :08:36.of this. Relatives of some of Stakeknife's
:08:37. > :08:40.alleged victims launched legal action earlier this month in a bed
:08:41. > :08:43.to stop the PSNI investigation. It appears that legal challenge may
:08:44. > :08:49.no longer be necessary. Whilst the police haven't
:08:50. > :08:52.commented, understand the Chief Constable is likely to bring in
:08:53. > :08:56.officers from other UK police forces. The PSNI is expected to
:08:57. > :09:04.advertise for experienced detectives to apply to join a special major
:09:05. > :09:08.investigation team on secondment. News of the expected move has been
:09:09. > :09:12.welcomed by the daughter of Caroline Morlan.
:09:13. > :09:15.The IRA said the 34-year-old mother of three was an informer, and shot
:09:16. > :09:22.her dead in 1994. We didn't want the PSNI
:09:23. > :09:26.investigating. It is a step in the right direction.
:09:27. > :09:29.The director of public investigate -- prosecutions has told us the
:09:30. > :09:34.investigation should have taken place much sooner. The police have
:09:35. > :09:38.known of Stakeknife's alleged activities for at least 12 years.
:09:39. > :09:44.This should have been taken forward thoroughly and expeditiously as soon
:09:45. > :09:49.as the information became known to those whose statutory responsibility
:09:50. > :09:53.it was to carry out investigations. Bringing in detectives from other UK
:09:54. > :09:55.police forces may be easier said than done.
:09:56. > :09:59.Even if they are available, the money may not be.
:10:00. > :10:01.The question of who will pay has yet to be answered.
:10:02. > :10:03.And you can see Spotlight on BBC One tonight at 10:40,
:10:04. > :10:10.A senior police officer in Londonderry says
:10:11. > :10:12.a so-called punishment shooting in the Brandywell area last night
:10:13. > :10:17.ranks as one of the worst he's ever come across.
:10:18. > :10:19.The 23-year-old victim was shot in the legs.
:10:20. > :10:22.His mother told BBC Newsline she thought he was dead
:10:23. > :10:34.Here's our North West reporter, Keiron Tourish.
:10:35. > :10:40.23-year-old Jonathan Simpson was shot several times in both legs in
:10:41. > :10:49.what police described as a callous incident.
:10:50. > :10:53.His family say this was a particularly brutal attack. The
:10:54. > :10:58.gunman entered the house and shot him a number of times and the living
:10:59. > :11:01.room. The police say early indications are
:11:02. > :11:05.that Jonathan Simpson sustained potentially life changing injuries.
:11:06. > :11:08.His mother says that when she arrived home, she thought he was
:11:09. > :11:21.dead. I had never seen a scene like it in
:11:22. > :11:25.my life. How can anybody with grown-up
:11:26. > :11:29.children have that on their conscience?
:11:30. > :11:32.My son was rushed to hospital for a, his arteries were blocked and it
:11:33. > :11:38.was like he was dead. They dragged him from the living
:11:39. > :11:43.room to the hall, opened the front door and let everybody see him, so
:11:44. > :11:45.that everybody thought he was dead, my son.
:11:46. > :11:51.23 years of age. I think this ranks as one of the
:11:52. > :11:55.worst I have seen. This young man was shot in the upper part of both
:11:56. > :12:01.of his legs, twice in each leg, the femur in one leg and doing serious
:12:02. > :12:04.damage to the other leg. These are life changing injuries. I think
:12:05. > :12:08.we're looking at a situation where the attack could have caused this
:12:09. > :12:11.young man's my. Sinn Fein server can be no
:12:12. > :12:20.justification the attack. They have not just punished his
:12:21. > :12:22.mother, they have traumatised her and those who have seen the
:12:23. > :12:30.aftermath of what they did last night. Both the -- those people who
:12:31. > :12:33.are standing -- who think they are standing up for a community, they
:12:34. > :12:39.are nothing but love this. The police have appealed for
:12:40. > :12:42.witnesses to come forward. -- they are nothing but bullies.
:12:43. > :12:45.A former British soldier has told the inquest into the death
:12:46. > :12:49.of a man shot dead by the army in Belfast in 1971 that he believed
:12:50. > :12:53."Soldier C" was giving evidence anonymously at the inquest of
:12:54. > :12:55.Harry Thornton, killed by the Parachute Regiment on
:12:56. > :12:57.In 2012 the British government acknowledged
:12:58. > :13:00.that Mr Thornton was an innocent man and apologised for his death.
:13:01. > :13:19.Henry Thornton, known as Harry to his family. He was shot by a member
:13:20. > :13:22.of the Parachute Regiment. Only now has the coroner being able to make a
:13:23. > :13:26.start on what happened. So more than 44 years after his
:13:27. > :13:36.death, the inquest has finally begun, and the first witness spoke
:13:37. > :13:40.of a loving husband and father, a man who missed his children and
:13:41. > :13:49.tried to get home to see them every Saturday.
:13:50. > :13:52.The second witness is known to the inquest as soldier C.
:13:53. > :13:56.He was on a 4 month tour based in Springfield Road.
:13:57. > :14:02.It has always been believed -- believed Harry Thornton's van
:14:03. > :14:07.backfire twice and another soldier shot him, killing him.
:14:08. > :14:10.Soldier C said the van was being driven in a manner which concern
:14:11. > :14:14.him. He said he thought two shots were
:14:15. > :14:18.fired, with one bullet passing very close to him.
:14:19. > :14:23.Decades later he says he doesn't believe the vehicle was backfiring.
:14:24. > :14:26.The death sparked widespread rioting, while others held a vigil
:14:27. > :14:30.at the scene of the shooting. But no weapons were found in or
:14:31. > :14:35.around the van, and three years ago a British Government minister wrote
:14:36. > :14:39.to Mr Thornton's widow stating that he was an innocent man and
:14:40. > :14:43.apologising for his death. Today, counsel for the Thornton
:14:44. > :14:49.family suggested soldier C was Mike description of events was lie after
:14:50. > :14:54.lie to cover up what happened. -- soldier C's description.
:14:55. > :14:57.The success of the international soccer teams on both sides of
:14:58. > :14:59.the border has already led to some political squabbling over big screen
:15:00. > :15:11.Now an SDLP proposal for a joint civic reception at Belfast City
:15:12. > :15:19.Hall has fallen foul of the Ulster Unionists, as Mervyn Jess reports.
:15:20. > :15:24.There were branches and smiles from Northern Ireland and the republic of
:15:25. > :15:31.all and qualified for the European Championships. -- brought cheers.
:15:32. > :15:41.But now a plan for a joint celebration of the qualification has
:15:42. > :15:44.led to a squabble. An Ulster Unionist councillor says this is
:15:45. > :15:47.playing politics with sporting achievement.
:15:48. > :16:03.No, this is a simple recognition of two teams who have achieved great
:16:04. > :16:08.sporting achievements. It will reunify sport as being the
:16:09. > :16:12.winner. Reconciliation is the main theme of this, and the recognition
:16:13. > :16:17.of achievements. I personally will be supporting the
:16:18. > :16:24.four teams who have qualified from the British Isles, name -- namely
:16:25. > :16:26.Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
:16:27. > :16:31.I believe like many of my colleagues that the SDLP are politicking. They
:16:32. > :16:38.don't want to bring politics into sport. -- we don't. Sport unites us,
:16:39. > :16:42.and it is good for people, so therefore I would ask the proposer
:16:43. > :16:47.of this motion to reconsider it and to add on England and Wales as well
:16:48. > :16:51.as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
:16:52. > :16:56.That is not the only controversy brought on by this. Public screening
:16:57. > :16:59.of the two teams playing in the summer Championships has led to
:17:00. > :17:05.disagreement over which matches should be shown in a number of
:17:06. > :17:08.council areas. The civic reception proposal in
:17:09. > :17:12.Belfast is likely to stir up emotions among supporters of both
:17:13. > :17:16.teams when it is pitched at council next week.
:17:17. > :17:19.This issue is due to be brought up at a meeting at City Hall next
:17:20. > :17:21.Tuesday, and in footballing parlance that in itself could be a game of
:17:22. > :17:23.two halves. People with breathing problems
:17:24. > :17:26.have been given a new lease of life Thousands are taking advantage
:17:27. > :17:37.of new technology. As Maggie Taggart reports,
:17:38. > :17:39.they can now do a lot more activities than before,
:17:40. > :17:52.yet the technology is cheaper than This man needs help to brief cover
:17:53. > :17:58.24 a day. In the past, when he wanted to get out and about, even
:17:59. > :18:01.the portable should -- portable machines were big and heavy and
:18:02. > :18:10.didn't last long. I didn't want to go out. It was
:18:11. > :18:14.embarrassing, so it was. He uses a condenser and tube in the
:18:15. > :18:17.house but now Franciscan venture out more with the new equipment carried
:18:18. > :18:26.like a shoulder bag. It is brilliant. The ones now, I can
:18:27. > :18:31.fill those two containers, and the last May from eight to 16 hours, so
:18:32. > :18:37.I can go places in the car. Three years ago no one was given the
:18:38. > :18:40.new portable machines. Now almost 2,500 patients are supplied with
:18:41. > :18:42.them by the health and social care board.
:18:43. > :18:48.Because people can take more exercise, it can extend their lives.
:18:49. > :18:52.I have heard examples of farmers who can visit fields that were just too
:18:53. > :18:57.far away for them, and individuals who have been able to walk distances
:18:58. > :19:00.they never could before, and for some people it appears to have
:19:01. > :19:03.transformed their life, and we are delighted we have been able to
:19:04. > :19:07.provide that criminal -- chemical benefit.
:19:08. > :19:14.This technology has made a huge difference to 2,500 patients like
:19:15. > :19:19.Sadie. It improves their lifestyle and health prospects.
:19:20. > :19:24.It gives me my freedom and independence, and I really feel I
:19:25. > :19:29.don't -- I am not a burden with it. I feel I can go on and on my life as
:19:30. > :19:32.I want to plan it. There is a financial benefit as
:19:33. > :19:35.well, using the new machines costs about two thirds of the old system.
:19:36. > :19:38.A partnership between Google and the professional services firm PwC
:19:39. > :19:41.The companies formed the partnership last year, aimed
:19:42. > :19:50.at getting more business clients to use Google's software products.
:19:51. > :19:53.It is the first centre of its kind in Europe, but will not immediately
:19:54. > :19:57.However, it is understood that there will be recruitment in the coming
:19:58. > :20:01.Householders have been told by the Bank of England governor they
:20:02. > :20:04.can expect interest rates to remain low for some time.
:20:05. > :20:05.Locally the housing market continues to recover.
:20:06. > :20:08.But as our business correspondent Julian O'Neill reports, prices still
:20:09. > :20:22.The housing market has been in recovery mode for two years, but it
:20:23. > :20:26.is a long road back after the crash, with prices still around half
:20:27. > :20:32.of what they were a years ago. But sales are ticking over. Take
:20:33. > :20:36.here in Dungannon were one recent fire felt it was the right time to
:20:37. > :20:41.purchase. It was a stage I thought, should I
:20:42. > :20:45.sell my house and move into the renting market, but then the fear
:20:46. > :20:50.was how to get back onto the housing market again.
:20:51. > :20:52.So I am happy with what I've done now, and this is where I intend to
:20:53. > :20:58.stay. Prices here in Mid Ulster are up 11%
:20:59. > :21:01.over the year. That is the biggest percentage improvement of any
:21:02. > :21:07.council district. Over the past 12 months, house
:21:08. > :21:10.prices have risen in all areas. But there is significant regional
:21:11. > :21:15.variation. In the Derry and Strabane council
:21:16. > :21:18.area, prices are lowest. The cost of atypical has here is
:21:19. > :21:23.?98,000. The most expensive area is in
:21:24. > :21:30.Lisburn and Castlereagh, were it to become property is ?139,000.
:21:31. > :21:33.-- atypical property. In Dungannon this estate agent
:21:34. > :21:39.employs only half the number of staff at it in the room, but the
:21:40. > :21:46.recovery has arrived with this year's sales figures up on 2014.
:21:47. > :21:50.-- as it did in the boom. The further west you have come, the
:21:51. > :21:57.slower has been the recovery, and speaking to estate agents elsewhere
:21:58. > :22:02.they are behind us in the market recovery.
:22:03. > :22:06.Prices are rebounding, and the negative equity problem is easing.
:22:07. > :22:10.Also helping has been a delay in putting up interest rates.
:22:11. > :22:11.Experts predict they may remain untouched until the middle of next
:22:12. > :22:14.year. Thomas Niblock has the sport this
:22:15. > :22:17.evening, and joining him is Northern If Dublin has Conor McGregor,
:22:18. > :22:25.we have Leah McCourt; she's 22, she's a mum,
:22:26. > :22:27.she's works with children and adults And I'm delighted to welcome the
:22:28. > :22:49.European amateur mixed martial arts It is amazing, all the hard work's
:22:50. > :22:56.paid off. What was the experience like?
:22:57. > :22:59.It was really tough, it was an amateur tournament with people from
:23:00. > :23:04.all over the world. You can see the pictures right now.
:23:05. > :23:09.Yes, but it was an amazing feeling being able to show off my skill, and
:23:10. > :23:15.I worked so hard and train twice a day every day.
:23:16. > :23:19.You look absolutely fantastic, and winning the gold medal as Europe's
:23:20. > :23:22.best. Also your 4-year-old daughter
:23:23. > :23:27.Isabella, you have also pretend wrestled with?
:23:28. > :23:32.She loves it, she says as long as I bring home gold she doesn't mind me
:23:33. > :23:39.going away. She does judo as well so it is to stick to getting involved.
:23:40. > :23:43.Why is mixed martial arts so popular?
:23:44. > :23:49.People understand how highly skilled you. It is becoming more and more
:23:50. > :23:56.recognised. The likes of Conor McGregor, they relate to it, and if
:23:57. > :24:00.they go and watch an event themselves they see how amazing it
:24:01. > :24:01.is. Congratulations on the gold medal.
:24:02. > :24:02.Thank you for coming in. Now, Kyle Lafferty scored seven
:24:03. > :24:05.goals in nine matches to help Northern Ireland qualify for next
:24:06. > :24:07.summer's European championships, only Bayern Munich superstar Robert
:24:08. > :24:09.Lewandowski has scored more - but Lafferty can't get in the starting
:24:10. > :24:12.line-up for his club Norwich City. Well, last night the 28-year-old
:24:13. > :24:14.striker was playing against Manchester United U21s and hit
:24:15. > :24:24.this wonder goal for the Canaries. Lafferty is out
:24:25. > :24:26.of favour with Norwich manager Alex Neil, but desperate to prove
:24:27. > :24:29.himself in the Premier League ahead of Euro 2016 in France - and goals
:24:30. > :24:32.like that might just do the trick! Ulster's Iain Henderson has today
:24:33. > :24:34.dismissed suggestions that the top Pro12 teams can no longer
:24:35. > :24:37.compete against the bigger English Ulster play Leinster in Dublin
:24:38. > :24:55.on Friday, after both sides lost I don't think April 12 has one in
:24:56. > :25:07.the Champions Cup, so if you want to take a direct call it -- correlation
:25:08. > :25:10.-- Pro12. I still think the Pro12 has a lot of quality sides who can
:25:11. > :25:14.compete with those top-level sides. Finally, this evening,
:25:15. > :25:16.in a first for ice hockey. Four American college sides have
:25:17. > :25:18.arrived in Belfast; this coming weekend
:25:19. > :25:20.they'll play in the first ever competitive colleges fixtures to be
:25:21. > :25:23.staged outside of North America. We'll have a special report
:25:24. > :25:29.on tomorrow's BBC Newsline. Angie Phillips is here with
:25:30. > :25:41.the forecast. It was a little bit brighter times
:25:42. > :25:46.today, but there were quite a showers around particularly across
:25:47. > :25:50.parts of the north and west. Some of them quite heavy as well. The south
:25:51. > :25:54.and East got away with relatively few showers in comparison, and we're
:25:55. > :25:59.going to continue along that sort of theme throughout the course of this
:26:00. > :26:03.evening. For a time there will be dry gaps with clear spells. But
:26:04. > :26:07.through the night there was clear spells are going to be filling in
:26:08. > :26:13.with cloud. It looks like it could be a damp old end to the night, but
:26:14. > :26:17.not a chilly one. Frost free with lows of around five or 6 degrees.
:26:18. > :26:21.Tomorrow we hold onto that gusty wind. We still have some showery
:26:22. > :26:27.rain through the morning, it is likely to be quite damp and drizzly
:26:28. > :26:32.through the morning rush hour. Then we start to see a bit of a change, a
:26:33. > :26:39.drier but still quite cloudy conditions starting to move in from
:26:40. > :26:44.the rest -- the West. Probably clearing away from the East Coast by
:26:45. > :26:49.lunchtime. Nine at 10 degrees tomorrow, above average, but if you
:26:50. > :26:53.are exposed to that gusty wind from the North West it will feel cooler.
:26:54. > :26:58.The wind is is a little bit through tomorrow night. Still a bit breezy
:26:59. > :27:01.round the coast, but it will end up quite misty and market tomorrow
:27:02. > :27:09.night with patches of drizzly rain. Quite mild for the time of year. --
:27:10. > :27:17.misty and murky. Potentially quite heavy rain on Thursday night. As we
:27:18. > :27:23.head into Friday morning a weather front brings strong winds and gales,
:27:24. > :27:27.and rapidly will be cooling down again, we could be heading towards
:27:28. > :27:31.wintry showers. We're getting reaction to the
:27:32. > :27:36.closure of seven private care homes. You can share your views on our
:27:37. > :27:38.Facebook page and on Twitter. We will be back at 10:25pm.
:27:39. > :27:43.Goodbye.