23/12/2015 BBC Newsline


23/12/2015

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Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:

:00:15.:00:16.

A former assistant chief constable questioned about bribery may sue

:00:17.:00:18.

The Rathfriland family whose home was destroyed by fire say they're

:00:19.:00:24.

overwhelmed by how generous people have been to them .

:00:25.:00:28.

Could an air ambulance take to the skies here

:00:29.:00:30.

Also on the programme: A glimpse at Christmas past with a poignant

:00:31.:00:35.

Santa letter written by a young boy called Bobby 80 years ago.

:00:36.:00:49.

The third of our Christmas carols, tonight by pupils from St Mary's

:00:50.:00:52.

Nick Williams is on the move at the end of the season.

:00:53.:01:05.

Tonight's weather is dominated by Storm Eva.

:01:06.:01:07.

I'll have the latest and the all important

:01:08.:01:09.

A former PSNI Assistant Constable is considering taking legal action

:01:10.:01:16.

against the organisation after being cleared of allegations

:01:17.:01:18.

of bribery and misconduct in public office.

:01:19.:01:24.

Duncan McCausland, who was a police officer for 30 years,

:01:25.:01:27.

also plans to lodge a complaint about his treatment with the Police

:01:28.:01:30.

Our Home Affairs Correspondent, Vincent Kearney, reports.

:01:31.:01:39.

Duncan McAusland was one of the most high-profile police officers before

:01:40.:01:49.

retiring in March 2011 under the patent redundancy scheme. 18 months

:01:50.:01:52.

ago he was arrested at his home by detectives investigating allegations

:01:53.:01:57.

of bribery in the awarding of contracts for police vehicles. He

:01:58.:02:00.

was questioned for three days at Antrim police station. The public

:02:01.:02:04.

prosecution service yesterday informed his solicitor that he will

:02:05.:02:08.

not face charges. The former Assistant Chief Constable today

:02:09.:02:11.

welcomed the decision, but criticised his former employer for

:02:12.:02:15.

arresting him because he had volunteered to assist the

:02:16.:02:19.

investigation. The police have to uphold the law and no one is above

:02:20.:02:23.

the law. The reality is 30 years ago when I was trained as a young

:02:24.:02:26.

constable I was always taught that if people are prepared to cooperate

:02:27.:02:31.

with you you take that cooperation and you exercise the power of arrest

:02:32.:02:34.

as a final resort. Even in terms of the Human Rights Act, it has to be

:02:35.:02:38.

proportionate and necessary to execute a power of arrest. It is not

:02:39.:02:42.

proportional if someone is fully cooperating with you, prepared to go

:02:43.:02:46.

with you, preferred to stay with you as long as they need to clarify any

:02:47.:02:50.

issue. That in my opinion was not necessary for an arrest to take

:02:51.:02:55.

place. Duncan McAusland says the way he was treated had a huge impact on

:02:56.:03:00.

his family and personal life. He was due to be appointed chairman of the

:03:01.:03:03.

Tourist Board but the minister responsible at the time, Arlene

:03:04.:03:06.

Foster, withdrew the offer after his arrest. I have no issue with Mr

:03:07.:03:15.

Foster. The organisation has become first. He plans to lodge a formal

:03:16.:03:18.

complaint with the Police Ombudsman. He may also take legal action

:03:19.:03:23.

against the PSNI. His lawyers claimed the decision to arrest was a

:03:24.:03:29.

breach of law. Within the police and criminal evidence act as a criteria

:03:30.:03:35.

for arrest. Sadly, a lot of police officers do not adhere to that. The

:03:36.:03:41.

arrest as a matter of form. I am saying that in this circumstance and

:03:42.:03:45.

in this instance, the criteria to arrest Duncan McAusland had not been

:03:46.:03:51.

met. Duncan McAusland was one of nine people questioned as part of

:03:52.:03:54.

the investigation. All have been told they will not face any charges.

:03:55.:03:58.

They included the owner of one of the largest car dealerships in

:03:59.:04:02.

Northern Ireland. Terence Donnelly has always maintained that he would

:04:03.:04:08.

be completely exonerated in relation to all allegations against them.

:04:09.:04:12.

Duncan McAusland has called on Chief Constable George Hamilton to issue

:04:13.:04:17.

an apology for his arrest. He isn't going to get an apology. In a

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statement, the Chief Constable said he was satisfied with the integrity

:04:21.:04:24.

and professionalism of the investigation.

:04:25.:04:26.

A man has died after he was struck by a lorry near Moira in County

:04:27.:04:30.

It happened this morning at about half past seven close

:04:31.:04:33.

to the roundabout on the Glenavy Road.

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The police say that the road will be closed from seven o'clock to eight

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o'clock this evening for a reconstruction.

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Police are looking for a 22-year-old man who escaped from custody before

:04:41.:04:54.

he was due to appear at Londonderry Magistrates' Court. The PSNI says an

:04:55.:04:58.

investigation into what happened will be carried out.

:04:59.:05:01.

A Rathfriland family who lost their home in a fire just

:05:02.:05:03.

days before Christmas say they're overwhelmed at the generous response

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More than ten thousand pounds has been donated online, and offers

:05:07.:05:10.

of help with accommodation, and even a new car, have been

:05:11.:05:12.

Christmas presents for two-year-old Stacey, delivered by well-wishers

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after hers were destroyed in a suspicious fire which claimed her

:05:28.:05:30.

family home. Her parents say they have been touched by the public

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goodwill and generosity. Christmas is a time forgiving and we have seen

:05:37.:05:42.

that. We have seen how people are and words cannot put how much we

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thank people for what they have done and how they have rallied together.

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It is overwhelming to think that people at this time of year, as

:05:53.:06:00.

everyone is getting tight, but seem to go that one step further and open

:06:01.:06:06.

their hearts to help us. This is why people are so keen to help Andy and

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Rebecca. In one devastating fire, they lost their home, their car,

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everything they own. They were lucky not to lose their lives. It doesn't

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bear to think about what had happened. We just had to think that

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the three of us are here and we can get on with our lives now and if

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those people are sitting at home who started the fire I just wanted to

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let them know that they haven't ruined our Christmas. In a way, they

:06:39.:06:41.

have made our Christmas better because now we know how much people

:06:42.:06:50.

care. After Christmas, the new year. A fresh start in a new house for

:06:51.:06:52.

this young family. Plenty to come before seven,

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including an update on a seven-year-old girl

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from County Antrim who's had The Health Minister has pledged

:07:00.:07:01.

to get an air ambulance off the ground in Northern Ireland

:07:02.:07:13.

within the next year. At the moment a consultation

:07:14.:07:15.

is asking some important questions So what factors need to be

:07:16.:07:18.

taken into account? Our reporter, David Maxwell,

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travelled to Wales to see how It is no ordinary ambulance and this

:07:26.:07:42.

one is heading to its new base for the first time. Below us, the Wirral

:07:43.:07:47.

coastal and urban environments in which it operates. There are three

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of these specially equipped helicopters based in locations

:07:53.:07:55.

throughout Wales. It allows them to get anywhere within 20 minutes.

:07:56.:08:00.

Between them they have done around 2000 missions a year. Northern

:08:01.:08:03.

Ireland is to get one of these next year, but before it lands on our

:08:04.:08:06.

doorstep, there are important questions to be answered. Whether

:08:07.:08:11.

government should pay for it or it should be funded by charity is

:08:12.:08:15.

probably the most important question. It will cost around ?2

:08:16.:08:21.

million a year. In Wales, the costs are funded by charity. The medical

:08:22.:08:25.

staff are provided by the NHS. Without the people of Wales,

:08:26.:08:29.

volunteers, we could not do it. We have a lot of donated goods. We also

:08:30.:08:34.

have our own in-house lottery that brings in a third. That is

:08:35.:08:37.

guaranteed income. You know we can from week that the money is coming

:08:38.:08:42.

in. We'll have it in shops. We just opened our first cafe. The new DUP

:08:43.:08:48.

leader and First Minister to be, Arlene Foster, believes it should be

:08:49.:08:52.

based in Enniskillen, but the decision has been made. In Wales it

:08:53.:08:56.

is relatively close to a major hospital. With the BSE have got to

:08:57.:09:02.

think about the radius, the area you are servicing, the weather and the

:09:03.:09:07.

impact that will have and also rural versus urban sites. The service

:09:08.:09:13.

operated in Wales with paramedics, but in the last six months, they

:09:14.:09:18.

have brought consultants on board. We can do everything good side now.

:09:19.:09:22.

There is no difference. We even do minor surgery if we have to did. We

:09:23.:09:28.

have all the kit and equipment. We carry blood, clotting products. Once

:09:29.:09:32.

we have done or interventions, they need better interventions. If you

:09:33.:09:36.

can take them on to a major trauma centre, you can reduce mortality by

:09:37.:09:41.

a factor of six. Computers to have limitations. The only fly in the

:09:42.:09:45.

late hours, low cloud and freezing weather can also mean the medical

:09:46.:09:50.

staff on rota are unable to get off the ground. Nevertheless, the Health

:09:51.:09:53.

Minister says we should not be the only UK region of one. Listening to

:09:54.:10:00.

the public, as I have been doing, there is a demand for this. I now

:10:01.:10:03.

think there is the infrastructure being put in place to deliver an air

:10:04.:10:07.

Ambulance Service that will come at the work we do in major trauma here

:10:08.:10:12.

in Northern Ireland. Attracting emergency consultants is a major

:10:13.:10:15.

problem here. In Wales they say the ambulance has been a great

:10:16.:10:19.

recruitment drive. It is perhaps another factor that will be taken

:10:20.:10:23.

into account those trying to get the service of the ground in Northern

:10:24.:10:31.

Ireland. We will keep you up-to-date on that consultation.

:10:32.:10:32.

People in Dungiven staged a protest this morning over the refusal

:10:33.:10:34.

by Causeway Coast and Glens Council to give the go ahead

:10:35.:10:37.

for a new sports centre in the town costing almost ?3 million.

:10:38.:10:40.

Campaigners say they're intensely angry at the decision and have vowed

:10:41.:10:43.

Here's our North-West reporter Keiron Tourish.

:10:44.:10:52.

People from a number of sporting organisations gathered in Dungiven

:10:53.:10:59.

to protest against the decision by the council. They voted against a

:11:00.:11:03.

sports complex being built here. Sinn Fein claim that ?2.8 million of

:11:04.:11:07.

funding was in place and the decision not to go ahead would be

:11:08.:11:12.

viewed as sectarian. It looks as if we have rolled back the clock. If

:11:13.:11:16.

that is the case, it does not hold out hope for the future. The council

:11:17.:11:22.

area is huge. Over 50 miles from east to west. There are a series of

:11:23.:11:26.

communities all looking for a new leisure provision and I think they

:11:27.:11:29.

all need to be provided for. They cannot all be provided for now. It

:11:30.:11:34.

is not sectarian question mark is absolutely not. There is no doubt

:11:35.:11:40.

that the passion for sport here. The community were looking forward to a

:11:41.:11:46.

new complex, complete with 3G pitch, Jim and changing rooms. After the

:11:47.:11:49.

local council deemed current facilities not fit for purpose. One

:11:50.:11:54.

former GAA all Ireland winning player says he hopes children are

:11:55.:11:59.

not being penalised due to politics. If it was to do with politics, there

:12:00.:12:03.

is no room for politics in sport. Sport is about people being active

:12:04.:12:06.

and enjoying themselves and having a bit of a life and excitement, about

:12:07.:12:12.

winning things and taking part. If it was a political decision, it is

:12:13.:12:17.

the wrong decision. While there is disappointment, those campaigning

:12:18.:12:19.

for the new facilities save their fight will continue. Present and

:12:20.:12:22.

future generations will benefit. The price of diesel has dropped

:12:23.:12:26.

below a pound per litre at some filling stations here for the first

:12:27.:12:29.

time in a number of years. Experts believe it's the lowest UK

:12:30.:12:32.

forecourt price since before It is the season to be happy,

:12:33.:12:46.

certainly if you drive a diesel car or truck. This County Fermanagh

:12:47.:12:51.

forecourt had a Christmas bargain. At least that is how it seems

:12:52.:12:55.

considering that three and a half years ago the price of the diesel

:12:56.:13:01.

cost a record ?1. That was then, this is now. We are below a pound.

:13:02.:13:10.

We have seen diesel trade quadruple from pasture. We haven't seen it

:13:11.:13:18.

blew up pound for ten years. It is not all that surprising that some

:13:19.:13:21.

filling stations are among the first to offer diesel at under ?1 per

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litre. In this instance, some filling stations away from the

:13:27.:13:28.

border have also dropped their prices. Here in Belfast, diesel is

:13:29.:13:36.

at its cheapest rate in years on this forecourt. City motorists are

:13:37.:13:40.

also benefiting from the sub ?1 price. Not too many of them.

:13:41.:13:44.

Elsewhere around the city, diesel prices are still above ?1 per litre.

:13:45.:13:49.

We are looking at a huge fluctuation around Northern Ireland and within a

:13:50.:13:54.

radius of several miles in Belfast. We have 300 members here and fuel

:13:55.:13:58.

represents 40% of operating costs huge benefit. Even more drivers will

:13:59.:14:03.

benefit if more suppliers much this price.

:14:04.:14:06.

Last night we brought you the story of Sophie Mathers,

:14:07.:14:08.

the little girl from Ballycarry who's had a special operation

:14:09.:14:10.

in England to help her cerebral palsy.

:14:11.:14:12.

Sophie, who's seven, had very stiff and rigid legs

:14:13.:14:15.

which made day to day living very difficult for her.

:14:16.:14:18.

But surgeons at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool cut nerves

:14:19.:14:20.

Sophie mothers get ready for physiotherapy just five days after

:14:21.:14:39.

operation. She was eight weeks premature and has cerebral palsy.

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Surgeons cut nerve roots in Sophie's spine to relieve stiffness and

:14:46.:14:51.

tightness in her muscles. Our DNS and this now? Her legs and... Are a

:14:52.:15:03.

much looser. Good girl. We will stop. Having the legs feel like

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jelly and she cannot rely on the stiffness to help understand. This

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is the first time she has tried to walk since the surgery. Can you do a

:15:15.:15:22.

half five? We have muscles that are weak because Sophie is moving in a

:15:23.:15:26.

different way and her muscles are not used to operating in that way.

:15:27.:15:34.

Sophie's new flexibility makes it easier for her to sleep and for her

:15:35.:15:38.

parents to lift her and put on her splints. Mum is delighted. The first

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time she woke up she said to me, mummy, daddy, my legs. They are not

:15:47.:15:50.

paid. That was an early Christmas present. It was fantastic to hear

:15:51.:15:59.

her say that. Big step. Big stretch. A fortnight later, Sophie is having

:16:00.:16:04.

more physiotherapy. Her movements are freer, she is more confident.

:16:05.:16:08.

Violence has improved and she has improved mobility and strength. Is

:16:09.:16:14.

fantastic. I know she will not be an independent Walker, but I do hope

:16:15.:16:21.

that she will be more comfortable. That is my hope. Sophie also has

:16:22.:16:30.

hydrotherapy. After today, Sophie is leaving Liverpool and heading home

:16:31.:16:33.

to Northern Ireland. The physiotherapy she were made after

:16:34.:16:36.

the surgery lasts for another two years. After three weeks, Sophie and

:16:37.:16:42.

her mum are looking forward to being reunited with dad and Sophie's baby

:16:43.:16:49.

sister Emily. I cannot wait to see them. Three weeks is a long time to

:16:50.:16:53.

not see your baby. It is very physically tiring for myself and for

:16:54.:16:58.

Sophie, so to get home and to relax and enjoy Christmas is going to be

:16:59.:17:00.

phenomenal. In an age of social media

:17:01.:17:06.

when texting and tweeting seem to dominate the way people

:17:07.:17:09.

communicate, the tradition of children posting letters to Santa

:17:10.:17:10.

appears to be alive and well. Our reporter, Mervyn Jess,

:17:11.:17:13.

has been finding out more about one rather special letter that has only

:17:14.:17:16.

recently come to light. So it is the time of year when our

:17:17.:17:25.

thoughts are on the big gap in the red suit and by now, most people

:17:26.:17:30.

will have sent the letters to Santa. Here in the public records office in

:17:31.:17:35.

Belfast, they have come across one Santa letter was posted years ago.

:17:36.:17:41.

The Santa letter was written in 1932 by and featuring boy called Bobby

:17:42.:17:46.

from Belfast. It was discovered within a collection of documents

:17:47.:17:49.

handed over to the public records office by the City Council. He was

:17:50.:17:55.

asking for Christmas presents for his father, his mother and his

:17:56.:17:59.

siblings and they were simple items such as Boots, schoolbags, tobacco

:18:00.:18:07.

and a paid for his father and the heartbreaking thing is that the

:18:08.:18:10.

family cannot afford it. The Christmas wish list said some other

:18:11.:18:17.

things that the dad had not worked for seven years and his mother

:18:18.:18:23.

needed new shoes will stop now, more than 80 years later and in an image

:18:24.:18:27.

of texting, tweeting and Facebook, it seems Santa letters are still

:18:28.:18:33.

being posted. I am getting a course with a dog. A gymnastics not. Did

:18:34.:18:43.

you not read one yet? I don't know how to write it. As a postscript to

:18:44.:18:49.

the letter, the young boy apologised to sound the same I would have

:18:50.:18:52.

written sooner but mummy had no end and it is rude to write with a

:18:53.:18:55.

pencil. One of Ulster rugby's

:18:56.:18:58.

star players is leaving. Popular New Zealander Nick Williams

:18:59.:19:00.

is joining the Cardiff Blues on a long-term contract before

:19:01.:19:04.

the start of next season. Ulster revealed the news today

:19:05.:19:06.

as they prepare for the big Boxing Day Irish derby

:19:07.:19:09.

against Connacht in the Pro 12. Williams is a fan favourite

:19:10.:19:14.

and as Nial Foster reports his At six foot three and weighing 120

:19:15.:19:29.

kilograms, Nick Williams is intimidating, which endeared him to

:19:30.:19:32.

the Ulster supporters and management. Everyone sees the

:19:33.:19:38.

physical nature of the big man, but forming his subtle skills, his

:19:39.:19:43.

passing and his deft touch and even his thought process to the way the

:19:44.:19:46.

game should be played, that is what will be missed here. Signed in June

:19:47.:19:52.

2012, the explosive player won Player of the Year his debut season

:19:53.:19:56.

and since then he has played 67 times for The Ulstermen, scoring 13

:19:57.:20:01.

tries. It is a shock to the boys. He has been massive for Ulster over the

:20:02.:20:05.

last four years. The fans love watching him play and we love

:20:06.:20:09.

watching him play with his barnstorming runs and off-loads. It

:20:10.:20:12.

put smiles on faces. He is a big personality. A physical, influential

:20:13.:20:19.

figure. Come the end of the season, Williams will be aiming to leave his

:20:20.:20:23.

mark in the history books with some silverware.

:20:24.:20:25.

The Belfast Giants will be busy over Christmas with six matches in less

:20:26.:20:28.

They start tonight with one of four games at the SSE Arena with a tough

:20:29.:20:33.

tie against the leaders Cardiff Devils.

:20:34.:20:34.

The Giants are six points behind Cardiff but have three games in hand

:20:35.:20:37.

as they try to make a strong charge for a fifth Elite League title.

:20:38.:20:43.

It could make or break our season. We have used it to springboard for

:20:44.:20:49.

the title. We have also come the stretch not doing so well and you

:20:50.:20:54.

end up finishing a few points behind the leaders at the end and this is

:20:55.:20:58.

the stretch where, if you come out of it in good shape, you are looking

:20:59.:21:02.

forward to the end of the season. The awe in a good position. If you

:21:03.:21:06.

thought it is harder to come back from. If we can go on the run it'll

:21:07.:21:11.

be hard to catch any team that that. The way teams win or lose one, win

:21:12.:21:17.

or lose a couple, it is important for us to get the momentum building

:21:18.:21:20.

and get some consistency. Northern Ireland's footballers

:21:21.:21:21.

will play Slovenia next March as part of their 2016

:21:22.:21:23.

European Championship The game will take place

:21:24.:21:25.

at Windsor Park on Easter Monday and the match will be live

:21:26.:21:29.

on the BBC TV and radio Boxing Day is derby

:21:30.:21:32.

day in local football. Crusaders are eight points clear

:21:33.:21:34.

at the top of the table and can increase that advantage with a home

:21:35.:21:37.

win against North Belfast rivals It is a huge fixture. The Boxing Day

:21:38.:21:52.

fixture at home is and has always got but wonderful sense of occasion.

:21:53.:22:00.

A big brewhouse expected. Christmas parade. There is just something in

:22:01.:22:04.

the air and we are enjoying our little run at the moment. Our moment

:22:05.:22:08.

in the sun. It is important to keep that going, tried to build for the

:22:09.:22:13.

future and hopefully we are here for a while and bubble doesn't burst.

:22:14.:22:18.

You can see all the Boxing Day football on BBC One and Ulster

:22:19.:22:24.

against Connacht in the pro 12 rugby on BBC Two.

:22:25.:22:27.

The holiday weather and the winds are picking up. Before the bridge

:22:28.:22:33.

has been closed to high sided vehicles with a 30 miles an hour

:22:34.:22:36.

speed limit on other vehicles. It is all about storm even tonight.

:22:37.:22:45.

We have seen the impact on the West Coast were winter gusted to more

:22:46.:22:49.

than 80 miles an hour on the Mayo coast. Winds will not get that

:22:50.:22:52.

strong in Northern Ireland, but there will be wet and windy weather

:22:53.:22:57.

coming our way. Got a nice night out. The club you can see me is

:22:58.:23:04.

either. The rain is on the way. The winds are picking up. They will

:23:05.:23:08.

continue to do so. The rain comes through around about midnight in

:23:09.:23:14.

most places. Some really heavy wind. Gusts of 60 mph in coastal areas.

:23:15.:23:20.

Fortunately, by the end is all gone. The winds have dropped, temperatures

:23:21.:23:24.

will have dropped and it is dry in many places. It is looking like a

:23:25.:23:28.

chilly, perhaps icy start to Christmas Eve. It will be a cold

:23:29.:23:32.

day. Traditionally it is today we want to get groceries for the big

:23:33.:23:38.

lunch. You will need to wrap up lots of showers around. A chilly wind.

:23:39.:23:44.

Try and bright gaps. Temperatures in the morning will be four or 5

:23:45.:23:47.

degrees in many places and it will be called in the breeze. Showers and

:23:48.:23:52.

because the error is cold, some showers will fall as sleet and heal.

:23:53.:23:57.

Snow over high ground. By the end of Christmas eve, there could be a

:23:58.:24:00.

dusting of snow over some of the hills because there will be a comp

:24:01.:24:04.

showers coming through late in the afternoon tomorrow. Christmas Eve

:24:05.:24:13.

night things will dry out. The winds dropped a good night for Santa and

:24:14.:24:19.

the windows. Christmas morning is dry and crisp. In this morning for a

:24:20.:24:24.

walk. It will turn cold and wet litter in the day. It would be a wet

:24:25.:24:29.

night on Christmas night. Minor error arrives for Stephen 's Day. A

:24:30.:24:34.

of dry weather around, so not bad for walking off the big dinners.

:24:35.:24:39.

Our final Christmas carol tonight comes from St Mary's Primary School,

:24:40.:24:42.

Bellaghy and they deserve a special round of applause because the rain

:24:43.:24:45.

came on heavy just as we started to film.

:24:46.:24:47.

The First Noel, the Angels did say was to certain poor shepherds

:24:48.:25:10.

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold

:25:11.:25:20.

They looked up and saw a star shining in the East beyond them far.

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And to the earth it gave great light and so it continued both

:26:10.:26:20.

And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far

:26:21.:27:07.

to seek for a King was their intent and to follow the star

:27:08.:27:18.

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