26/11/2015 BBC Newsline

Friends and colleagues of two young Northern Ireland men

A community worker beaten with hammers in a playground speaks out.

People in this community, no action was taken.

Friends and colleagues of two young Northern Ireland men

killed while working in Australia pay tribute to them.

Four partners from KPMG accountants in Belfast have been

arrested in connection with suspected tax evasion.

The PSNI launches its annual Christmas drink driving campaign and

Also on the programme... Is shared education the way forward for

schools? We take a look. And we're

in for another chilly shock tomorrow after a mild but blustery and wet

start to the day. A community worker attacked with

a hammer has blamed police and politicians for not doing enough

to combat paramilitaries. Aaron McMann was attacked

by a gang of masked men He believes he was specifically

targeted for leading a campaign against UDA activity

in the Clandeboye area of Bangor. It was just after 4pm yesterday when

this door flew open and two masked men came into the workshop where

Aaron McMann was working. He had his back to the door. The first thing he

knew was being hit on the head by a hammer. My main concern was the

children, trying to keep them safe. I kept on screaming. Why do you

think this happened? Why were you targeted? Quite a few paramilitary

flags were erected. People were fearful and intimidated. There were

many complaints, not only about the flags, but about this sort of

sinister presence. I received a call very early on from the council,

asking me, would I be willing to meet with this group? I questioned

why. These are the people, 90% said, the flags made them feel fearful,

intimidated and frightened -- frightened. No action was taken.

This community and the people in this community, the young people, no

action was taken. Has it made to think again? Would you want to still

be so public and active in this campaign? They do not like people

who stand up and say it as it is. I had no choice but to stand. This

community was left high and dry. We do not have political leadership. We

talk about the police. You enforce the law. They do not force the law.

If I ran for cover, what does that help young people? Accept your lot.

This is Northern Ireland in 2015. It has made us more determined. It will

not scare us. We will not bow down to the way they want it. We will

still go forward on what we need to do, definitely. A couple of weeks

ago we had a statement from the joint loyalist paramilitary

leadership saying, we are no longer engaged in anti-social behaviour,

criminal behaviour. And yet he were beaten up yesterday. This pretty

much contradicts the essence of that statement. It is unfortunate that

everyone knows what happens but few are willing to stand up and say it.

I include our political representatives and I include senior

members of the police force. They are happy for communities to fend

for themselves in many respects. A 32-year-old man has been arrested

in connection with aggravated burglary. Tonight, and rally is

taking place in support of our McMann outside his home. Our

reporter is there. Yes, you can see just behind me here, the rally in

support of our McMann is still very much on going. It started at about

six p.m.. -- Aaron McMann. There are 200 people supporting him and

standing shoulder to shoulder to show their opposition to the people

who attacked him in his workshop. We have heard from representatives from

the village residents Association. The spokesperson told the crowd this

was a time for the whole community to get together and to oppose those

elements that have carried out the attack. Essentially there are

politicians here. The Green party MLA spoke to me just before the

rally started. He said he was here not just in his capacity as a

representative of the community but also as a friend of Aaron. He also

responded to the complaints from him that politicians and the PSN I had

abandoned the community. Stephen said he really did feel that people

here were rising against these elements. As I say, still very much

ongoing at the moment. Back to you. Thank you.

Construction workers in Perth, Australia have observed

a minute's silence for the two young Northern Ireland men fatally crushed

by a concrete slab at an apartment complex where they were working.

The families of Joseph McDermott from Omagh and Gerard Bradley

from near Macosquin in County Londonderry are making arrangements

Martin Cassidy reports. The construction site whether to

Northern Ireland men lost their lives remained closed today. An

investigation has begun into just how a contra -- a concrete slab fell

from a crane killing both men. Friends and colleagues have been

paying their respects at a place where police say the men were

trapped under a large piece of concrete. Back home, two communities

are dealing with the death of their brightest lights. If you met Gerry

once comic you would always remember. He was always laughing and

joking. He is the life and soul of the party. He will be very sadly

missed. In a statement, the family of Gerard Bradley will say it is not

possible to describe the hurt and lost they are feeling. They

described him as a wonderful son, grandson, brother and friend. In

Omagh, former colleagues have been paying should be to a young man who

until recently worked at this hotel as bar manager. He was the life and

soul of the hotel. He always had this infectious smile. You could not

help stop smiling when he smiled. When he left for Australia, he left

big gap, a big hole. To know that whole will never be filled is just

devastating. Absolutely devastating. The families are waiting for the

bodies to be flown home. The deaths are still being investigated in

Perth by police. The company which runs the site and health and safety

authorities. Seven former paratroopers who are

facing questioning over the Bloody Sunday shootings want judges

to rule that they don't have to be interviewed by the police

in Northern Ireland. The ex-soldiers have asked the

High Court in London for The court was told they were willing

to be interviewed in England Four partners at accountancy firm

KPMG in Belfast have been arrested They include one of the lead

campaigners for the devolution Our business correspondent

Julian O'Neill reports. The arrest took place here at

KPMG's this is in Belfast city centre in an operation carried out

by Revenue and Customs. But for men were detained yesterday and coming

in a short statement, HMRC said they were held in connection with

suspected tax evasion. KPMG said it was cooperating with the Revenue and

Customs investigation and that pending further information the four

partners involved are on administrative leave. In a

statement, KPMG added... One of the four men arrested is

well-known in the business world. Amen Donna Key had a lead role in

lobbying for corporation tax devolution. Here he is in the front

row on the right as Theresa Villiers launch the legislation. All four

individuals are directors of a property company. This is one of its

investments, a housing site in Donegal, and, according to accounts,

the business lost millions in the market crashed.

The Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt has accused the DUP

and Sinn Fein of incompetence after they took money from other

departments to pay for tax credits which is not now required.

The Executive now has to decide what to do with the ?240 million

Here's our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.

Just nine days ago, a fresh start. Money for welfare and a little left

over for what was coming from the Chancellor. The Executive will

provide ?345 million for welfare top ups and ?240 million for tax credits

support over the next four years. It seems like a good idea. That was

before George Osborne decided tax credits were not and scrapped the

plan altogether. The Executive put by many for a rainy day that never

came. What to do with ?240 million? The Ulster Unionist Party do once it

is averted in to help instead but claims what will happen if the

agreement itself will fall apart. We will now see the unravelling of this

so-called fresh start. We have mixed messages coming from Sinn Fein on

corporation tax. It will see an argument over what to do with the

240 million they now know they do not need to mitigate tax credits.

There is nothing to mitigate. No sign of that today. Quite the

opposite. The finance minister was taking part in the discussion about

possible implications for Northern Ireland leaving the EU. Yesterday it

was clear our budget would be cut in real terms by 5% over the next four

years. We have to factor that into what we do with the money. There are

many ways to help file for people in Northern Ireland. We need to have

that wider discussion. That is not far removed from what Sinn Fein were

saying at Stormont. It is a considerable amount of money to

mitigate against the cuts imposed by London. We have agreed that amount

money. What we need to do in light of the British Chancellor's decision

is about how we best then the money. The two biggest parties will not be

short of advice. Any money that is released that was supposed to go to

mitigating the tax credit cuts should now be reverted and devoted

entirely to training and skills and apprenticeships. What they will

actually do we, or they, still do not know.

A senior civil servant is to move to a new role as head of the

GAA's Casement Park redevelopment project in west Belfast.

Rory Miskelly has already been involved in the project through his

job at the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure but will now be

From Stormont to Casement. Rory Miss Kelly is going to work for the GAA.

He has been involved in other major projects in Belfast, including the

multi-million pound titanic visitor centre. And the recent revamp of the

rugby stadium at Ravenhill. Now comes Casement Park. He knows all

about the troubled project, having worked on it in his current job at

the Department of culture, arts and leisure. The brief for the final

capacity has not been ascertained. This was six months ago. At the same

committee, questions were asked about his move. Is the appointment a

permanent position? Has he is a condo to the GAA for a short

period? -- has he said condo? Rory now faces a huge challenge. Here is

what the GAA is trying to do. In the New Year they want to start a new

community consultation. By the summer, submit a new planning

application, in the hope that by 2017 building work can finally

start. The question remains. Just how big a new stadium are the GAA

intending to build? 38,000 remains their preferred option. It is

understood they are now prepared to consider a reduced capacity. Not

reduced by much. The police have launched their

annual anti-drink driving campaign. Our reporter Julie McCullough has

been finding out what goes on after someone has

a positive breathalyser test. It is that time of the year again

when the police go out in force to warn people of the dangers of

drinking and driving. What do you imagine happens if you are caught

drink-driving? If you thought it was just a matter of blurring into one

of these... And then waiting to find out what the consequences are...

Think again. This is just the beginning of the process. If you

want to follow me up to the Sergeant. You will be introduced to

the custody Sergeant. After a journey in the back of a police car,

you end up here in a police custody suite. Where are we now and what

will happen? We are in the evidential breath testing room

within the police station, the custody suite. What I need to do now

is obtained to evidential specimens of breath. If I can ask you to step

forward and just make a good seal around that bit at the top. Take

that breath right away. Take a good deep breath. Keep going, keep going,

keep going. That is it. Every person who registers above 35 micrograms of

alcohol in 100 millimetres of breath goes through this process. The

outcomes can vary. If you provide a breath specimen over 40 micrograms,

you will have the opportunity to have that replaced by one of blood.

If it is over 50, the process has ended. Ended at this stage but it is

far from over. The consequences in terms of penalties to be imposed, it

is an automatic 12 month disqualification minimum. Always.

Last year, 270 people were caught drink-driving over the Christmas

period. One of them was five times over the legal limit.

It was one of the headlines in both the Stormont House Agreement

and last week's Fresh Start announcement.

Around ?500 million to build new shared and integrated schools.

Both aim to educate children together,

but as Donna's been finding out, there are many differences too.

The practice of shared education has been carried out in our schools for

many years. Only recently, the MLA has voted to include it in

education. Now the Department for Education must facilitate and

encourage shared education. What does that mean? How different is it

from integrated education? In a moment, here at an integrated

college, I will be speaking to representatives from schools. First,

our education correspondent looks at the main differences. If Catholics

have their schools and buildings and Protestants have theirs, if we

cannot see ourselves in one another... President Obama and our

local politicians say our children should be educated together. How?

Pupils at integrated schools share one building, one U, one timetable,

no matter their background. Dell AI -- I did not think I would mix with

Catholics, Muslims and Chinese people. It is mixed. Around 50% here

are Protestant, 31% Catholic, and 19% come from other backgrounds. It

is important because it exposes our children to the diverse environments

that are out there. It prepares them for, I think, a society that has

become multicultural. It exposes them to different religious

backgrounds and different cultural traditions and identities. Here in

one in -- than one in ten children go to a mixed school. Differing

schools can come together for specific lessons or activities. That

is known as shared education. What we have focused on here today is the

battle of the Somme... Pupils at Saint Patrick 's College on

Belfast's Antrim Road are Roman Catholic. The shared education

programme we work with gives opportunities for the boys in this

college to work alongside, in small groups and mixed groups, pupils from

different schools across Belfast, across the political and religious

divides. It helped us to get a little bit less of a biased view and

help us to broaden the way we would think about how it affected the

Protestants. Critics of shared education say it still divides

children for the most part. This expert says it is a realistic way

forward. Surveys tell us consistently that significant

numbers of people want to send their children to integrated schools. In

reality, they do not do it. Shared education offers the type of

sustained contact between children that we know from evidence here and

internationally is likely to promote more positive relations. With more

money and legislation to back it, it seems shared education is the

education minister's favourite approach.

Jim, breaking down barriers with regard to shared education, how can

it be done on a daily basis when children are not sitting beside

others of a different faith? How do we live together? We live in streets

with people from different backgrounds. Not all in the same

house but they can get on together. Why should it be different with

education? The key issue is that young people have opportunities to

mix with people from a wide righty of social, religious and ethnic

backgrounds. Schools working together can achieve this. It does

not have to be through integrated schools, it can be through all

schools, collaborating. There is much greater that unity with all

schools involved in sharing than some schools. It is down to parental

choice at the end of the day. Why do we not have more children going to

integrated education? Only about 7% of our system is integrated. It has

been difficult for parents to set up integrated schools. Parents who want

to make an integrated choice have not had the same opportunities as

parents who want other kinds of education of the decade. For

example, in an area where there is no integrated provision, parents

have had to setup that school themselves. Often external funding.

This programme is to break down barriers and those religious

barriers. It is going to do your job for you, is it not? It is certainly

going to help. We would see integrated education as shared

education, probably to the optimum level. Where we had children in

classes every day from different backgrounds learning with each other

every day. So, for us, shared education is what we do. It is all

well and good to say shared education. If you look at the

policy, Jim, it looks fully. It is up to the schools themselves to get

involved with others of a different religion. You are talking

leadership. Have we got the schools that would do that? We are talking

leadership and need. Particularly imposed primary. For the framework

of range of subjects, to be available within an area, schools

need to collaborate. It is in their interests from curricular

perspective to engage with each other. That leads to other things

like staff working together more effectively, maybe some shared

services. The concept of children with different uniforms walking down

the same corridor and working and living together in that school at

that time is a very strong message. Thank you. Shared education,

integrated education, what is the future? What does it do in your life

and the life of your children? You can share your opinions on our

Facebook page. The last available tickets

for Sports Personality of the Year go on sale tomorrow morning at nine

via the SSE Arena box office. Tonight we can reveal the winner of

the BBC Sport NI Unsung Hero Award. It goes to a football coach

from West Belfast. Damian Linsey founded St James' Park

Swiss. He wanted to keep young people off the streets and away from

anti-social behaviour which has plagued the area. From fundraising

to coaching to his new role as chairman. He has worked tirelessly

to ensure his vision of a local team became reality against the odds.

There are people in our team who have been involved in anti-social

behaviour, came away from drugs and drinking at the weekends. People

come onto the pitch and shout at the players. We thought, how will this

work? Here is not just making a difference through football. He was

instrumental in setting up this urban farm, encouraging players to

volunteer and also sponsor animals. With produce from the farm gifted to

locals. We have not just been filming Saint James Swifts, we have

been filming to give you this. You are the 2015 BBC Sport and sung hero

for Northern Ireland. Congratulations! How did they keep

this from me? Sometimes one person gets picked out. People do work hard

to keep the community spirit going. As a regional winner, he will go

forward for the overall award which will be announced at the BBC sports

personality of the year event on 20th of December. Very generous in

victory. Now for the weather. Cold weather is not too far away. It

would be a brief cold snap which could be a shock to the system. Up

to 14 Celsius at Saint Helen 's Bay today. Not too cheery. A lot of

Cloud has come in through the course of the day. Not as damp as it was in

places earlier. It is mainly dry. The breeze is picking up and it will

continue to strengthen during the course of the night. We are likely

to get some drizzly rain coming in. Mild. Temperatures seven, 8 degrees.

The patchy rain is a precursor to tomorrow's active weather front.

Plenty of isobars packed in. A blustery spell. This weather front

is the boundary between the mild air and the cold air that will be

tucking in right behind it. It will be turning colder as we go through

the day tomorrow. Despite being mild to begin with tomorrow, the winds

are ready strong and blustery. It will have a band of rain heading

eastwards. Temperatures popped up in right behind it. It will be turning

colder as we go through the day tomorrow. Despite being mild to

begin with tomorrow, the winds are ready strong and blustery. It will

have a band of rain heading eastwards. Temperatures popped up

into. As we go through the day and the temptress ball away, it will be

turning wintry. That is how we go into the first half of tomorrow

night. More wintry showers, maybe some snow settling on the hills.

Maybe I see in places. Through the night slightly less cold air

starting to come in. Showers at lower levels will turn to rain was

that we should lose any icy patches. That takes us into

Saturday. Spells of rain and not as Chile. Less cold through the

weekend. Spells of rain to come and still pretty blustery. That is all

from us this evening. Join us for the late news. Until then you can

keep in touch on Facebook and Twitter. From everyone, stay warm.

The by. -- goodbye.