:00:15. > :00:16.Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:
:00:17. > :00:18.A former assistant chief constable questioned about bribery may sue
:00:19. > :00:24.The Rathfriland family whose home was destroyed by fire say they're
:00:25. > :00:28.overwhelmed by how generous people have been to them .
:00:29. > :00:30.Could an air ambulance take to the skies here
:00:31. > :00:35.Also on the programme: A glimpse at Christmas past with a poignant
:00:36. > :00:49.Santa letter written by a young boy called Bobby 80 years ago.
:00:50. > :00:52.The third of our Christmas carols, tonight by pupils from St Mary's
:00:53. > :01:05.Nick Williams is on the move at the end of the season.
:01:06. > :01:07.Tonight's weather is dominated by Storm Eva.
:01:08. > :01:09.I'll have the latest and the all important
:01:10. > :01:16.A former PSNI Assistant Constable is considering taking legal action
:01:17. > :01:18.against the organisation after being cleared of allegations
:01:19. > :01:24.of bribery and misconduct in public office.
:01:25. > :01:27.Duncan McCausland, who was a police officer for 30 years,
:01:28. > :01:30.also plans to lodge a complaint about his treatment with the Police
:01:31. > :01:39.Our Home Affairs Correspondent, Vincent Kearney, reports.
:01:40. > :01:49.Duncan McAusland was one of the most high-profile police officers before
:01:50. > :01:52.retiring in March 2011 under the patent redundancy scheme. 18 months
:01:53. > :01:57.ago he was arrested at his home by detectives investigating allegations
:01:58. > :02:00.of bribery in the awarding of contracts for police vehicles. He
:02:01. > :02:04.was questioned for three days at Antrim police station. The public
:02:05. > :02:08.prosecution service yesterday informed his solicitor that he will
:02:09. > :02:11.not face charges. The former Assistant Chief Constable today
:02:12. > :02:15.welcomed the decision, but criticised his former employer for
:02:16. > :02:19.arresting him because he had volunteered to assist the
:02:20. > :02:23.investigation. The police have to uphold the law and no one is above
:02:24. > :02:26.the law. The reality is 30 years ago when I was trained as a young
:02:27. > :02:31.constable I was always taught that if people are prepared to cooperate
:02:32. > :02:34.with you you take that cooperation and you exercise the power of arrest
:02:35. > :02:38.as a final resort. Even in terms of the Human Rights Act, it has to be
:02:39. > :02:42.proportionate and necessary to execute a power of arrest. It is not
:02:43. > :02:46.proportional if someone is fully cooperating with you, prepared to go
:02:47. > :02:50.with you, preferred to stay with you as long as they need to clarify any
:02:51. > :02:55.issue. That in my opinion was not necessary for an arrest to take
:02:56. > :03:00.place. Duncan McAusland says the way he was treated had a huge impact on
:03:01. > :03:03.his family and personal life. He was due to be appointed chairman of the
:03:04. > :03:06.Tourist Board but the minister responsible at the time, Arlene
:03:07. > :03:15.Foster, withdrew the offer after his arrest. I have no issue with Mr
:03:16. > :03:18.Foster. The organisation has become first. He plans to lodge a formal
:03:19. > :03:23.complaint with the Police Ombudsman. He may also take legal action
:03:24. > :03:29.against the PSNI. His lawyers claimed the decision to arrest was a
:03:30. > :03:35.breach of law. Within the police and criminal evidence act as a criteria
:03:36. > :03:41.for arrest. Sadly, a lot of police officers do not adhere to that. The
:03:42. > :03:45.arrest as a matter of form. I am saying that in this circumstance and
:03:46. > :03:51.in this instance, the criteria to arrest Duncan McAusland had not been
:03:52. > :03:54.met. Duncan McAusland was one of nine people questioned as part of
:03:55. > :03:58.the investigation. All have been told they will not face any charges.
:03:59. > :04:02.They included the owner of one of the largest car dealerships in
:04:03. > :04:08.Northern Ireland. Terence Donnelly has always maintained that he would
:04:09. > :04:12.be completely exonerated in relation to all allegations against them.
:04:13. > :04:17.Duncan McAusland has called on Chief Constable George Hamilton to issue
:04:18. > :04:20.an apology for his arrest. He isn't going to get an apology. In a
:04:21. > :04:24.statement, the Chief Constable said he was satisfied with the integrity
:04:25. > :04:26.and professionalism of the investigation.
:04:27. > :04:30.A man has died after he was struck by a lorry near Moira in County
:04:31. > :04:33.It happened this morning at about half past seven close
:04:34. > :04:35.to the roundabout on the Glenavy Road.
:04:36. > :04:38.The police say that the road will be closed from seven o'clock to eight
:04:39. > :04:40.o'clock this evening for a reconstruction.
:04:41. > :04:54.Police are looking for a 22-year-old man who escaped from custody before
:04:55. > :04:58.he was due to appear at Londonderry Magistrates' Court. The PSNI says an
:04:59. > :05:01.investigation into what happened will be carried out.
:05:02. > :05:03.A Rathfriland family who lost their home in a fire just
:05:04. > :05:06.days before Christmas say they're overwhelmed at the generous response
:05:07. > :05:10.More than ten thousand pounds has been donated online, and offers
:05:11. > :05:12.of help with accommodation, and even a new car, have been
:05:13. > :05:27.Christmas presents for two-year-old Stacey, delivered by well-wishers
:05:28. > :05:30.after hers were destroyed in a suspicious fire which claimed her
:05:31. > :05:36.family home. Her parents say they have been touched by the public
:05:37. > :05:42.goodwill and generosity. Christmas is a time forgiving and we have seen
:05:43. > :05:48.that. We have seen how people are and words cannot put how much we
:05:49. > :05:52.thank people for what they have done and how they have rallied together.
:05:53. > :06:00.It is overwhelming to think that people at this time of year, as
:06:01. > :06:06.everyone is getting tight, but seem to go that one step further and open
:06:07. > :06:11.their hearts to help us. This is why people are so keen to help Andy and
:06:12. > :06:15.Rebecca. In one devastating fire, they lost their home, their car,
:06:16. > :06:21.everything they own. They were lucky not to lose their lives. It doesn't
:06:22. > :06:25.bear to think about what had happened. We just had to think that
:06:26. > :06:32.the three of us are here and we can get on with our lives now and if
:06:33. > :06:38.those people are sitting at home who started the fire I just wanted to
:06:39. > :06:41.let them know that they haven't ruined our Christmas. In a way, they
:06:42. > :06:50.have made our Christmas better because now we know how much people
:06:51. > :06:52.care. After Christmas, the new year. A fresh start in a new house for
:06:53. > :06:57.this young family. Plenty to come before seven,
:06:58. > :06:59.including an update on a seven-year-old girl
:07:00. > :07:01.from County Antrim who's had The Health Minister has pledged
:07:02. > :07:13.to get an air ambulance off the ground in Northern Ireland
:07:14. > :07:15.within the next year. At the moment a consultation
:07:16. > :07:18.is asking some important questions So what factors need to be
:07:19. > :07:25.taken into account? Our reporter, David Maxwell,
:07:26. > :07:42.travelled to Wales to see how It is no ordinary ambulance and this
:07:43. > :07:47.one is heading to its new base for the first time. Below us, the Wirral
:07:48. > :07:52.coastal and urban environments in which it operates. There are three
:07:53. > :07:55.of these specially equipped helicopters based in locations
:07:56. > :08:00.throughout Wales. It allows them to get anywhere within 20 minutes.
:08:01. > :08:03.Between them they have done around 2000 missions a year. Northern
:08:04. > :08:06.Ireland is to get one of these next year, but before it lands on our
:08:07. > :08:11.doorstep, there are important questions to be answered. Whether
:08:12. > :08:15.government should pay for it or it should be funded by charity is
:08:16. > :08:21.probably the most important question. It will cost around ?2
:08:22. > :08:25.million a year. In Wales, the costs are funded by charity. The medical
:08:26. > :08:29.staff are provided by the NHS. Without the people of Wales,
:08:30. > :08:34.volunteers, we could not do it. We have a lot of donated goods. We also
:08:35. > :08:37.have our own in-house lottery that brings in a third. That is
:08:38. > :08:42.guaranteed income. You know we can from week that the money is coming
:08:43. > :08:48.in. We'll have it in shops. We just opened our first cafe. The new DUP
:08:49. > :08:52.leader and First Minister to be, Arlene Foster, believes it should be
:08:53. > :08:56.based in Enniskillen, but the decision has been made. In Wales it
:08:57. > :09:02.is relatively close to a major hospital. With the BSE have got to
:09:03. > :09:07.think about the radius, the area you are servicing, the weather and the
:09:08. > :09:13.impact that will have and also rural versus urban sites. The service
:09:14. > :09:18.operated in Wales with paramedics, but in the last six months, they
:09:19. > :09:22.have brought consultants on board. We can do everything good side now.
:09:23. > :09:28.There is no difference. We even do minor surgery if we have to did. We
:09:29. > :09:32.have all the kit and equipment. We carry blood, clotting products. Once
:09:33. > :09:36.we have done or interventions, they need better interventions. If you
:09:37. > :09:41.can take them on to a major trauma centre, you can reduce mortality by
:09:42. > :09:45.a factor of six. Computers to have limitations. The only fly in the
:09:46. > :09:50.late hours, low cloud and freezing weather can also mean the medical
:09:51. > :09:53.staff on rota are unable to get off the ground. Nevertheless, the Health
:09:54. > :10:00.Minister says we should not be the only UK region of one. Listening to
:10:01. > :10:03.the public, as I have been doing, there is a demand for this. I now
:10:04. > :10:07.think there is the infrastructure being put in place to deliver an air
:10:08. > :10:12.Ambulance Service that will come at the work we do in major trauma here
:10:13. > :10:15.in Northern Ireland. Attracting emergency consultants is a major
:10:16. > :10:19.problem here. In Wales they say the ambulance has been a great
:10:20. > :10:23.recruitment drive. It is perhaps another factor that will be taken
:10:24. > :10:31.into account those trying to get the service of the ground in Northern
:10:32. > :10:32.Ireland. We will keep you up-to-date on that consultation.
:10:33. > :10:34.People in Dungiven staged a protest this morning over the refusal
:10:35. > :10:37.by Causeway Coast and Glens Council to give the go ahead
:10:38. > :10:40.for a new sports centre in the town costing almost ?3 million.
:10:41. > :10:43.Campaigners say they're intensely angry at the decision and have vowed
:10:44. > :10:52.Here's our North-West reporter Keiron Tourish.
:10:53. > :10:59.People from a number of sporting organisations gathered in Dungiven
:11:00. > :11:03.to protest against the decision by the council. They voted against a
:11:04. > :11:07.sports complex being built here. Sinn Fein claim that ?2.8 million of
:11:08. > :11:12.funding was in place and the decision not to go ahead would be
:11:13. > :11:16.viewed as sectarian. It looks as if we have rolled back the clock. If
:11:17. > :11:22.that is the case, it does not hold out hope for the future. The council
:11:23. > :11:26.area is huge. Over 50 miles from east to west. There are a series of
:11:27. > :11:29.communities all looking for a new leisure provision and I think they
:11:30. > :11:34.all need to be provided for. They cannot all be provided for now. It
:11:35. > :11:40.is not sectarian question mark is absolutely not. There is no doubt
:11:41. > :11:46.that the passion for sport here. The community were looking forward to a
:11:47. > :11:49.new complex, complete with 3G pitch, Jim and changing rooms. After the
:11:50. > :11:54.local council deemed current facilities not fit for purpose. One
:11:55. > :11:59.former GAA all Ireland winning player says he hopes children are
:12:00. > :12:03.not being penalised due to politics. If it was to do with politics, there
:12:04. > :12:06.is no room for politics in sport. Sport is about people being active
:12:07. > :12:12.and enjoying themselves and having a bit of a life and excitement, about
:12:13. > :12:17.winning things and taking part. If it was a political decision, it is
:12:18. > :12:19.the wrong decision. While there is disappointment, those campaigning
:12:20. > :12:22.for the new facilities save their fight will continue. Present and
:12:23. > :12:26.future generations will benefit. The price of diesel has dropped
:12:27. > :12:29.below a pound per litre at some filling stations here for the first
:12:30. > :12:32.time in a number of years. Experts believe it's the lowest UK
:12:33. > :12:46.forecourt price since before It is the season to be happy,
:12:47. > :12:51.certainly if you drive a diesel car or truck. This County Fermanagh
:12:52. > :12:55.forecourt had a Christmas bargain. At least that is how it seems
:12:56. > :13:01.considering that three and a half years ago the price of the diesel
:13:02. > :13:10.cost a record ?1. That was then, this is now. We are below a pound.
:13:11. > :13:18.We have seen diesel trade quadruple from pasture. We haven't seen it
:13:19. > :13:21.blew up pound for ten years. It is not all that surprising that some
:13:22. > :13:26.filling stations are among the first to offer diesel at under ?1 per
:13:27. > :13:28.litre. In this instance, some filling stations away from the
:13:29. > :13:36.border have also dropped their prices. Here in Belfast, diesel is
:13:37. > :13:40.at its cheapest rate in years on this forecourt. City motorists are
:13:41. > :13:44.also benefiting from the sub ?1 price. Not too many of them.
:13:45. > :13:49.Elsewhere around the city, diesel prices are still above ?1 per litre.
:13:50. > :13:54.We are looking at a huge fluctuation around Northern Ireland and within a
:13:55. > :13:58.radius of several miles in Belfast. We have 300 members here and fuel
:13:59. > :14:03.represents 40% of operating costs huge benefit. Even more drivers will
:14:04. > :14:06.benefit if more suppliers much this price.
:14:07. > :14:08.Last night we brought you the story of Sophie Mathers,
:14:09. > :14:10.the little girl from Ballycarry who's had a special operation
:14:11. > :14:12.in England to help her cerebral palsy.
:14:13. > :14:15.Sophie, who's seven, had very stiff and rigid legs
:14:16. > :14:18.which made day to day living very difficult for her.
:14:19. > :14:20.But surgeons at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool cut nerves
:14:21. > :14:39.Sophie mothers get ready for physiotherapy just five days after
:14:40. > :14:45.operation. She was eight weeks premature and has cerebral palsy.
:14:46. > :14:51.Surgeons cut nerve roots in Sophie's spine to relieve stiffness and
:14:52. > :15:03.tightness in her muscles. Our DNS and this now? Her legs and... Are a
:15:04. > :15:11.much looser. Good girl. We will stop. Having the legs feel like
:15:12. > :15:14.jelly and she cannot rely on the stiffness to help understand. This
:15:15. > :15:22.is the first time she has tried to walk since the surgery. Can you do a
:15:23. > :15:26.half five? We have muscles that are weak because Sophie is moving in a
:15:27. > :15:34.different way and her muscles are not used to operating in that way.
:15:35. > :15:38.Sophie's new flexibility makes it easier for her to sleep and for her
:15:39. > :15:46.parents to lift her and put on her splints. Mum is delighted. The first
:15:47. > :15:50.time she woke up she said to me, mummy, daddy, my legs. They are not
:15:51. > :15:59.paid. That was an early Christmas present. It was fantastic to hear
:16:00. > :16:04.her say that. Big step. Big stretch. A fortnight later, Sophie is having
:16:05. > :16:08.more physiotherapy. Her movements are freer, she is more confident.
:16:09. > :16:14.Violence has improved and she has improved mobility and strength. Is
:16:15. > :16:21.fantastic. I know she will not be an independent Walker, but I do hope
:16:22. > :16:30.that she will be more comfortable. That is my hope. Sophie also has
:16:31. > :16:33.hydrotherapy. After today, Sophie is leaving Liverpool and heading home
:16:34. > :16:36.to Northern Ireland. The physiotherapy she were made after
:16:37. > :16:42.the surgery lasts for another two years. After three weeks, Sophie and
:16:43. > :16:49.her mum are looking forward to being reunited with dad and Sophie's baby
:16:50. > :16:53.sister Emily. I cannot wait to see them. Three weeks is a long time to
:16:54. > :16:58.not see your baby. It is very physically tiring for myself and for
:16:59. > :17:00.Sophie, so to get home and to relax and enjoy Christmas is going to be
:17:01. > :17:06.phenomenal. In an age of social media
:17:07. > :17:09.when texting and tweeting seem to dominate the way people
:17:10. > :17:10.communicate, the tradition of children posting letters to Santa
:17:11. > :17:13.appears to be alive and well. Our reporter, Mervyn Jess,
:17:14. > :17:16.has been finding out more about one rather special letter that has only
:17:17. > :17:25.recently come to light. So it is the time of year when our
:17:26. > :17:30.thoughts are on the big gap in the red suit and by now, most people
:17:31. > :17:35.will have sent the letters to Santa. Here in the public records office in
:17:36. > :17:41.Belfast, they have come across one Santa letter was posted years ago.
:17:42. > :17:46.The Santa letter was written in 1932 by and featuring boy called Bobby
:17:47. > :17:49.from Belfast. It was discovered within a collection of documents
:17:50. > :17:55.handed over to the public records office by the City Council. He was
:17:56. > :17:59.asking for Christmas presents for his father, his mother and his
:18:00. > :18:07.siblings and they were simple items such as Boots, schoolbags, tobacco
:18:08. > :18:10.and a paid for his father and the heartbreaking thing is that the
:18:11. > :18:17.family cannot afford it. The Christmas wish list said some other
:18:18. > :18:23.things that the dad had not worked for seven years and his mother
:18:24. > :18:27.needed new shoes will stop now, more than 80 years later and in an image
:18:28. > :18:33.of texting, tweeting and Facebook, it seems Santa letters are still
:18:34. > :18:43.being posted. I am getting a course with a dog. A gymnastics not. Did
:18:44. > :18:49.you not read one yet? I don't know how to write it. As a postscript to
:18:50. > :18:52.the letter, the young boy apologised to sound the same I would have
:18:53. > :18:55.written sooner but mummy had no end and it is rude to write with a
:18:56. > :18:58.pencil. One of Ulster rugby's
:18:59. > :19:00.star players is leaving. Popular New Zealander Nick Williams
:19:01. > :19:04.is joining the Cardiff Blues on a long-term contract before
:19:05. > :19:06.the start of next season. Ulster revealed the news today
:19:07. > :19:09.as they prepare for the big Boxing Day Irish derby
:19:10. > :19:14.against Connacht in the Pro 12. Williams is a fan favourite
:19:15. > :19:29.and as Nial Foster reports his At six foot three and weighing 120
:19:30. > :19:32.kilograms, Nick Williams is intimidating, which endeared him to
:19:33. > :19:38.the Ulster supporters and management. Everyone sees the
:19:39. > :19:43.physical nature of the big man, but forming his subtle skills, his
:19:44. > :19:46.passing and his deft touch and even his thought process to the way the
:19:47. > :19:52.game should be played, that is what will be missed here. Signed in June
:19:53. > :19:56.2012, the explosive player won Player of the Year his debut season
:19:57. > :20:01.and since then he has played 67 times for The Ulstermen, scoring 13
:20:02. > :20:05.tries. It is a shock to the boys. He has been massive for Ulster over the
:20:06. > :20:09.last four years. The fans love watching him play and we love
:20:10. > :20:12.watching him play with his barnstorming runs and off-loads. It
:20:13. > :20:19.put smiles on faces. He is a big personality. A physical, influential
:20:20. > :20:23.figure. Come the end of the season, Williams will be aiming to leave his
:20:24. > :20:25.mark in the history books with some silverware.
:20:26. > :20:28.The Belfast Giants will be busy over Christmas with six matches in less
:20:29. > :20:33.They start tonight with one of four games at the SSE Arena with a tough
:20:34. > :20:34.tie against the leaders Cardiff Devils.
:20:35. > :20:37.The Giants are six points behind Cardiff but have three games in hand
:20:38. > :20:43.as they try to make a strong charge for a fifth Elite League title.
:20:44. > :20:49.It could make or break our season. We have used it to springboard for
:20:50. > :20:54.the title. We have also come the stretch not doing so well and you
:20:55. > :20:58.end up finishing a few points behind the leaders at the end and this is
:20:59. > :21:02.the stretch where, if you come out of it in good shape, you are looking
:21:03. > :21:06.forward to the end of the season. The awe in a good position. If you
:21:07. > :21:11.thought it is harder to come back from. If we can go on the run it'll
:21:12. > :21:17.be hard to catch any team that that. The way teams win or lose one, win
:21:18. > :21:20.or lose a couple, it is important for us to get the momentum building
:21:21. > :21:21.and get some consistency. Northern Ireland's footballers
:21:22. > :21:23.will play Slovenia next March as part of their 2016
:21:24. > :21:25.European Championship The game will take place
:21:26. > :21:29.at Windsor Park on Easter Monday and the match will be live
:21:30. > :21:32.on the BBC TV and radio Boxing Day is derby
:21:33. > :21:34.day in local football. Crusaders are eight points clear
:21:35. > :21:37.at the top of the table and can increase that advantage with a home
:21:38. > :21:52.win against North Belfast rivals It is a huge fixture. The Boxing Day
:21:53. > :22:00.fixture at home is and has always got but wonderful sense of occasion.
:22:01. > :22:04.A big brewhouse expected. Christmas parade. There is just something in
:22:05. > :22:08.the air and we are enjoying our little run at the moment. Our moment
:22:09. > :22:13.in the sun. It is important to keep that going, tried to build for the
:22:14. > :22:18.future and hopefully we are here for a while and bubble doesn't burst.
:22:19. > :22:24.You can see all the Boxing Day football on BBC One and Ulster
:22:25. > :22:27.against Connacht in the pro 12 rugby on BBC Two.
:22:28. > :22:33.The holiday weather and the winds are picking up. Before the bridge
:22:34. > :22:36.has been closed to high sided vehicles with a 30 miles an hour
:22:37. > :22:45.speed limit on other vehicles. It is all about storm even tonight.
:22:46. > :22:49.We have seen the impact on the West Coast were winter gusted to more
:22:50. > :22:52.than 80 miles an hour on the Mayo coast. Winds will not get that
:22:53. > :22:57.strong in Northern Ireland, but there will be wet and windy weather
:22:58. > :23:04.coming our way. Got a nice night out. The club you can see me is
:23:05. > :23:08.either. The rain is on the way. The winds are picking up. They will
:23:09. > :23:14.continue to do so. The rain comes through around about midnight in
:23:15. > :23:20.most places. Some really heavy wind. Gusts of 60 mph in coastal areas.
:23:21. > :23:24.Fortunately, by the end is all gone. The winds have dropped, temperatures
:23:25. > :23:28.will have dropped and it is dry in many places. It is looking like a
:23:29. > :23:32.chilly, perhaps icy start to Christmas Eve. It will be a cold
:23:33. > :23:38.day. Traditionally it is today we want to get groceries for the big
:23:39. > :23:44.lunch. You will need to wrap up lots of showers around. A chilly wind.
:23:45. > :23:47.Try and bright gaps. Temperatures in the morning will be four or 5
:23:48. > :23:52.degrees in many places and it will be called in the breeze. Showers and
:23:53. > :23:57.because the error is cold, some showers will fall as sleet and heal.
:23:58. > :24:00.Snow over high ground. By the end of Christmas eve, there could be a
:24:01. > :24:04.dusting of snow over some of the hills because there will be a comp
:24:05. > :24:13.showers coming through late in the afternoon tomorrow. Christmas Eve
:24:14. > :24:19.night things will dry out. The winds dropped a good night for Santa and
:24:20. > :24:24.the windows. Christmas morning is dry and crisp. In this morning for a
:24:25. > :24:29.walk. It will turn cold and wet litter in the day. It would be a wet
:24:30. > :24:34.night on Christmas night. Minor error arrives for Stephen 's Day. A
:24:35. > :24:39.of dry weather around, so not bad for walking off the big dinners.
:24:40. > :24:42.Our final Christmas carol tonight comes from St Mary's Primary School,
:24:43. > :24:45.Bellaghy and they deserve a special round of applause because the rain
:24:46. > :24:47.came on heavy just as we started to film.
:24:48. > :25:10.The First Noel, the Angels did say was to certain poor shepherds
:25:11. > :25:20.In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold
:25:21. > :26:09.They looked up and saw a star shining in the East beyond them far.
:26:10. > :26:20.And to the earth it gave great light and so it continued both
:26:21. > :27:07.And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far
:27:08. > :27:18.to seek for a King was their intent and to follow the star