27/01/2016 BBC Newsline

I will have more details throughout the evening.

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline.

Policing the Past - the Chief Constable says the PSNI

are struggling with a tsunami of requests on Troubles related cases.

The whole organisation is going to grind to a halt. And this is the

whole mess that we are in. and personal items that have been

stolen from police stations over The film rental firm Xtravision goes

out of business with the loss The school children marking

Holocaust Memorial Day with a unique A ticket windfall for

Northern Ireland football fans heading to the european

championships in France this summer. And a brief colder snap at first

tonight but less cold again tomorrow The Chief Constable says the PSNI

are struggling to deal with a "tsunami" of requests

from the courts on Troubles cases that's threatening to grind

the organisation to a halt. George Hamilton said the current

infrastructure is inadequate to deal with the sheer weight

of material under examination. He was responding to criticism

that the police are taking too long Row after row, file after file -

these contain the stories They're just a fraction of the 10

million documents stored Any one of them could

contain vital evidence might secure justice

for a bereaved family. But the system is sagging under

the sheer volume of material. And that's putting

the Chief Constable of taking too long to hand over

Troubles-related documents Last night at an event

at Queen's University, When you get a Zune army of requests

coming in from the courts through judicial reviews, and every single

one of those is a compelling case and it has legal weight behind it

and judicial authority for us to do this, the whole organisation is

going to grind to a halt. And that is the mess we are in around this. I

have never pretended as is any different.

from the courts, including the ongoing review of 56 legacy

Last week he criticised the police for being too slow to hand over

classified documents relating to the deaths.

Lawyers for victims' families have accused the police

For one group of victims, it has been a frustrating process.

For families like ourselves it is a roller-coaster of emotions. Families

go in expecting something and they are getting the same old, same old.

an allegation that the RUC had advanced warning of the Shankill

bombing, the Chief Constable was definitive.

As I sit here tonight, I am 100% convinced that the police service at

the time had no knowledge of the Shankill bombing that could have

prevented it from happening. That statement will be tested,

investigated and found to be right or otherwise by the police

ombudsman. inquests has put the issue of how

to deal with the past back The police have made it

clear they don't believe Politicians can't agree

on the way forward. Victims groups say they feel

abandoned and betrayed. They all agree on one thing -

that the legacy of the Troubles has Now, they may be our first port

of call after a burglary, but even the police can

fall victim to thieves. Freedom of Information figures

obtained by the BBC show that thousands of pounds worth

of equipment and personal belongings have been stolen from police

stations and vehicles You might have thought that the best

place to keep goods safe from thieves would be

with the police. But expensive racing bikes, cash,

drugs and even police uniforms are among an eclectic list of items

stolen from PSNI stations and vehicles over

the past four years. The biggest single theft

was here in Antrim in November 2012 where more than 30 pieces

of PSNI kit were stolen. Ironically, police were responding

a report of theft when two kit bags The bags contained items of uniform

such as high visibility jackets and police issue boots,

fixed penalty notice books, evidence bags, name badges

and business cards. A few months later, workmen

in the area discovered the kit bags which had been discarded by thieves

and handed them back to police. Among the more unusual items stolen

between 2011 and 2015 were six cigars worth

?150 from Strand Road, a heat gun and battery

charger in Coleraine, copper piping from Portstewart,

cannabis and a pair of Nike Air Max trainers worth ?110

from Musgrave Street, ?73 of white hand towels

from Lisburn and an ?80 spanner Police said not all

stolen property belonged In a statement they said the number

of thefts was relatively small, and added that all such incidents

are fully investigated. While this may be the case,

it seems that even the people tasked to catch thieves are not immune

to falling victims themselves. Three people are in a stable

condition in hospital after a six-vehicle crash

on the Westlink in Belfast. and four other vehicles,

happened at about 4am. The road has since reopened,

but the accident caused severe delays to rush hour

traffic across the city. The grey partridge died

out decades ago here. We've been to visit one farmer,

who's determined to bring The DVD rental chain Xtravision has

gone out of business. All 83 shops across

Ireland have closed. The company had 11 outlets

here employing about 60 staff. Our Economics and Business Editor

John Campbell is here. No, Xtra-vision used to be a treat

for families on a Saturday night to go and rent a blockbuster as a

treat. It is recent years it has been struggling. If we look at one

set of figures, that might explain why. In 2001, nearly 200 million

DVDs videos were rented out across the UK. In 2014, that had gone down

to 36 million and most of those were done through the post. When you look

at those figures, it is a miracle that Xtra-vision survived as long as

it did. And like so many other businesses

the internet has changed everything? The Internet is having a huge effect

on the way we consume media and entertainment. The question might

be, why would you go along to a shop on a Saturday night to look for a

DVD which might not be there? The alternative is to sit on your sofa,

fire up your online service and you have much better choice than you had

at Xtra-vision and it is more convenient. That is what has put

Xtra-vision out of the business and it raises the question on the future

of DVD as a format. A senior judge has said

the government has an obligation to provide the necessary resources

to investigate the past. Lord Justice Weir has been

conducting review hearings of them controversial.

Troubles inquests, many As Ita Dungan reports,

he made the comment about resources as he heard details of the shooting

of a teenager more than 40 years A senior old Daniel Rooney was shot

dead by the Army in 1972 as he stood talking to his friends. The killing

featured in a BBC panorama programme. His family believe a

secret undercover army unit were responsible. A solicitor for the

police told the court that the unit's activities are currently

under investigation by the PSNI's legacy branch. Today Lord Justice

Weir raised the issue of just how well the PSNI is resolved to deal

with such cases. He says the state had an obligation to make such

resources available. He added... Another hearing dealt with the

deaths of two people in a loyalist feud in 2000. There were allegations

of police collusion. A lawyer for the police ombudsman said the issue

of resources had been raised with several relevant agencies. When Lord

Justice Weir asked what the result had been, he said his office had

been getting cuts every year for the last number of years and that it was

going to take months rather than years to make progress if where

there were no extra resources. To today a public enquiry was called

for his death. The delay was because of ongoing criminal proceedings

which may or may not have been linked to the murder. It is believed

those proceedings relate to the former leader of the UVF who'd

turned supergrass six years ago. What is needed is an enquiry into

the special Branch in the Troubles. Another high profile inquest looking

into the death of Castlederg A hearing's been told a final tranch

of files had just been handed over They need to be considered before

the inquest opens so the coronor has The fifteen year old,

whose body has never been found disappeared

after a night out in Donegal. The man suspected of her murder,

Robert Howard died The inquest is now due to start

on the 15th of February. The GAA insists a new stadium

will be built at Casement Park in spite of the difficulties

and delays which have hit The BBC has learned that

consideration is being given to adding an extra exit

to the stadium to try to overcome concerns over

emergency evacuation procedures. Just some new fencing

round Casement Park. It's now more than a year since

planning permission was overturned. But another planning

application is being prepared, and BBC Newsline has seen some

of the changes being considered. The draft papers didn't give any

detailed measurements, but they did suggest a capacity

crowd somewhere between The original plan for

the new stadium involved a number of exits, now another

is being considered here at the south-east corner

of the stadium between Moreland Park When asked about

the proposals today, They said the information

was confidential. The number of emergency exits

at the proposed stadium has been one It's led to fears that the new

Casement might never be built. But in recent days the GAA has

re-affirmed its commitment to the project, and the Sports

Minister has told the Assembly Notwithstanding the fact that there

are challenges, if we continue on the basis of being open minded, we

all collectively need to build. If all had gone according to plan, the

new stadium would have been built by now. That is not going to happen,

the project is way behind schedule but it remains still very much alive

and a new planning application is expected to be submitted later this

year. The proposer of an organ transplant

bill says that it's been gutted The Ulster Unionist Jo Anne Dobson

wants legislation requiring people to opt-out if they do not

want their organs used This clause was one of a number

opposed by the committee, which is mostly made up of DUP

and Sinn Fein members. She says there should

have been a compromise. In essence, the two big parties

joined together to kill the bill. They have got it and left nothing of

the bill intact. I am not disappointed for me, I am

disappointed for the army of volunteers. Those people who are

waiting on and Morgan out there and the hope that they had that this

would happen and save lives. Having spoken to experts, they came to the

same conclusion that I did that it is unnecessarily and potentially

counter-productive. We need to this and to clinicians working entrance

plants and organ donation and when they tell us they don't want a bill

like this, we have to listen to them.

The Human Rights Commission says it will challenge all appeals

against a High Court ruling which found abortion law here to be

"incompatible" with human rights legislation.

The ruling is currently being appealed by the Attorney

General John Larkin and the Department of Justice.

The Justice Minister David Ford says he's concerned that the lack

of what he calls "legal certainty" in the ruling could inadvertently

It did seem to me and my legal advisers that there was a danger

that there was an expansive reading of the rights of the woman as

opposed to any possible rights of the foetus which would not have

allowed effectively abortion, could have been on a wider basis. I don't

think that is what people in Northern Ireland want. They should

be some allowance for abortion in the case of any particular

abnormalities and the woman's health and long-term welfare.

A tidal energy turbine installed in Strangford Lough

The SeaGen was lowered into place in 2008 and generated

electricity from two massive underwater propellers.

It was licensed for use up until 2018.

However, its owners, Atlantis Resources, said it will be

The firm said the turbine had been essential for research into

this year's 6-nation championship is officially launched, there is good

news for Ireland. Students in the north west have been

making an educational trip They're taking part in a unique

project inside Magilligan Prison to mark Holocaust memorial

day which officially Our reporter Keiron

Tourish has more. Students from primary and secondary

schools have been arriving at Magilligan Prison to take part in

the project to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust

and in other acts of genocide, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia. Prisoners

have converted huts similar to those used in Second World War so they can

watch audio displays. I have family who are Jewish so it is interesting

for me and powerful for me to come and see this display. It is powerful

to see the names of people who were killed. The project uses resources

to tell the story of persecution and reflect on millions of deaths.

Prisoners provided much of the artwork is part of the. Before I

came here I was interested in the Holocaust. What happened was

terrible, I used to watch documentaries on it. Working on

this, it's a great way to spend your time. If you change one pace -- one

person's view, then you've done a great thing. We are about creating

safer communities that I think this puts us at the start where we are

looking to get schoolkids in, talk them about the importance of

tolerance so we hopefully don't have people coming into jail later down

the line. More children will be coming to visit the prison as part

of the project. They will also be given special educational material

so they can learn more about these deeply traumatic events in our

history. A County Down farmer is attempting

to bring this little fella back, a bird that hasn't been seen

in the fields of Northern Ireland The grey partridge was once common,

but changes in farming and its own tendancy

to stick up for itself Our Agriculture and Environment

Correspondent Conor Macauley 40 years ago it was

a common sight and sound. But changes to farming hit habitat

and food availabiliity until the native grey partridge

disappeared from our fields. Now one man is trying

to bring them back. Cereal farmer David Sandford has 210

acres near Strangford Lough. He's begun rearing and releasing

grey partridge, a bird he remembers You hidden in the morning, and they

would always be looking for food. They are a nice iconic bird. The

great thing about them is they are great parents and that has probably

been their demise. When Fox's calm, they would stand up to foxes to

protect their babies. As well as predators

and dimishing food and cover, the birds also have

to cope with climate. The hens will lay in April and in

June the chicks will hatch. By autumn the young birds will be

released on the farm. helps the birds survive and thrive

and there's a grant to balance David is a committed

conservationist, here helping to train other farmers

and environmentalists who're taking part in our first survey of farm

birds - part of a wider UK project. And while conservation is easier

on cereal farms because you don't have to fence off the habitat

areas from animals, beef, sheep and dairy farms can

also play their part There are still things that people

can do. Little rough areas, anywhere you can get seed bearing habitat in,

it can make a big difference. In one small corner

of County Down at least, But don't go looking for them

in pear trees as the song suggests, they're really not very

good at flying. Time now for sport,

and some good news for The IFA has been inundated with over

50-000 ticket applications Today came confirmation that

an extra 4,000 tickets have been The initial allocation

of 25,000 has been increased to just over 29,000

for the games against Poland, There'll now be an extra 800 tickets

for the game against An additional 1,700 fans will be

able to attend the Ukraine game with the total for the Germany game

on June 21st jumping from Supporters will find out

by the end of February whether their applications

have been successful. I believe there is 270,000 applied

for ticket. They have been fantastic in their support. They have

travelled everywhere in their team and the malt they can get out to

support the team, the better the chance the team has. Hopefully there

will be more tickets along the way. There was confirmation today that

Johnny Sexton is winning his battle to be fit for Ireland's 6 Nations

opener against Wales on Sunday week. The news came at the launch of this

years tournament in London marked the first official outing

for the Ireland captain from Ulster. Gavin Andrews was there

for BBC Newsline. This had the feeling of the first

day of school. I learnt's new head boy was paraded in front of the

press but boozed quiet confidence. The last thing you want to change.

Everyone is looking from the outside, what is the magic

ingredient you are going to bring? You just have to stick to the core

principles you have and lead by example. What do you make of this

today? You come along way. It's a bit of a circus now. He's got plenty

of time contribute two days like this. I don't know if he knows where

the cattle are now because he's either playing football or part of

the media circus that today is but he is a fine feller, a fine player

and outstanding professional. If Rory Best is acclimatising to the

spotlight, this man is well used to it. Dylan Hartley had his kind words

for his Irish counterparts. A good bloke, I chat to him whenever I play

him. At least with the captaincy thing, I will be able to speak to

him on the field. A good guy. The two will get their chance to go head

to head in a month's time at Twickenham. For now, the focus for

the new Ireland captain is the first Sunday in February.

One of Ulster rugby foreign players has signed a one year extension

says committing to another year was easy.

The 32-year-old has made 42 appearances for Ulster,

starting 15 of the 17 matches this season.

The Belfast Giants are through to the semi-finals of ice hockey's

They beat Manchester Storm 6-2 last night in the second leg

The Belfast Giants took a 3-goal league into the second leg at home.

With the game tied 2-2. Colin Shields quickly made it 4-2. Two

more goals followed. As the Giants ran out 6-2 winners on the night,

and 11-4 on aggregate. We started getting it back under control on the

third. It is hard, it's one of those hard games when you know you are up

three nothing. You always respect your opponent and they have skilled

forwards and firepower. We didn't do a good job in the first half but as

the game went on I thought we had a better job. The Giants will meet

either Cardiff or Dundee in the semifinals.

Finally this evening, congratulations to Ireland hockey

He has been named coach of the year by the sports world governing body.

To the weather now. As we all know, the weather and temperature has been

fluctuating recently and it continues to do so. This morning we

had a wet start that parts of east and south-east had quite a mild

start to the day. Call air in the West has been billing behind through

the afternoon and temperatures have been falling. They continue to do so

this evening and the first part of the night. Showers feeding in which

will increasingly fall as sleet and snow in the hills. Clear gaps in

between with temperatures dropping to freezing so icy patches. Perhaps

not all night because I think we will see temperatures creeping up a

couple of degrees towards the end of the night and we will find wintry

showers turning back to rain again. Tomorrow, more rain. Wind is

certainly going to be featuring. It will continue picking up through the

day. The odd bright intervals throughout the East but showers

going towards the north and west and if anything they will gather further

skill. This is just the first of three batches of rain to come

through tomorrow into tomorrow night. Temperatures less cold again.

It will feel colder than that due to wind and rain. Temperatures don't

change and not -- a lot. Wind is strengthening, gale is developing.

In the West, saturated ground, more rain. It looks as if they could be

issues. A warning in place for localised flooding which could lead

to travel disruption. Windy and wet conditions. Into Friday, isobars

tightly packed together. A cold front moving through. The mildest

part of the day on Friday morning, through Friday nights and into

Saturday, ice and snow in the forecast.

The Chief Constable says that the PSNI is struggling to deal with

cases that are threatening to ride the organisation to the vault. The

film rental firm Xtra-vision goes out of business with the loss of 63

jobs. You can also keep in contact with us

via Facebook and Twitter. bought on the streets

of east Belfast,