29/02/2016 BBC Newsline

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline: New revelations

about the man at the centre of the Nama controversy.

London's Mayor swings into town to announce a big investment

Counting continues in the Republic's election, but with no outright

winner, how can a coalition be formed and will it last?

A Catholic priest is caught on camera appearing

What's next for Belfast boxer Carl Frampton,

after he returns home a double world champion?

And tomorrow is a new month and the start of a new season.

Spring can still have a few wintry bites though.

I'll be a looking at the week ahead later in the programme.

We begin with that new revelation about the prominent Belfast

businessman, Frank Cushnahan, who's been at the centre

He has claimed he was due to be paid a fixer fee in relation

to the billion pound sale of Northern Ireland's property

The admission is made on a covert recording obtained

Mr Cushnahan, who had been an adviser to Nama,

has previously denied that he was due to receive money.

Here's our Economics and Business Editor John Campbell.

This is lana-macro. Former banker, corporate fixer and Nama advisor.

Nama is the Republic's bad bank. After the financial crisis, it took

effective control ball properly loaned portfolio in Northern Ireland

with more than ?1 billion. It set up an advisory committee to deal with

Northern issues. Frank Cushnahan was appointed to that committed by the B

U P. And the former First Minister praised his role when he appeared

before Stormont committee which was examining the deal. I think the

general view of Frank Cushnahan is that he wasn't used very

considerably as an expert in these areas. -- was used. I was almost

going to use the word recurring in backing financial issues. But

unknown to Nama, they had been talking to a US investment fund who

are interested in buying the entire Northern Ireland portfolio. -- who

were. Prior to leaving his post, Frank Cushnahan continue to meet

with them. He was due to be paid ?5 million if the bid succeeded, but it

collapsed when a Nama learned of his role. Another company then bought

the loaned portfolio for more than ?1 billion. Lana-macro was also due

to benefit from that deal. He has consistent they denied it. -- Frank

Cushnahan. But in discussing the deal, is says he was due a fee. He

did that because he was unable to settle. This revelation raises major

issues for Nama. Should it have stopped the process entirely when it

learned of Frank Cushnahan's role in the proposed sale? To my's Scott --

Spotlight will reveal details of a whistle-blower alleging corruption

and bribery. Much of what he has to say relates to the Nama Northern

Ireland portfolio. And you can see that special edition

of Spotlight tonight at 8:30pm, The London Mayor Boris Johnson has

delivered a manufacturing boost to the local company Wrightbus

with a ?62 million pound that He was in Northern Ireland this

morning, just 48 hours David Cameron said thousands

of local workers would face an uncertain future

if the UK left the EU. There is some flash photography

in this report from our business Boris Johnson arrived in good

spirits and with good news. This is him at a Wrightbus factory in Antrim

where he announced that London is to order a further 195 Route Master

buses. Outside the UK, the firm's top markets beyond Europe and the

bricks it supporting Mayor says it is an example to other businesses.

Look at the achievement of the workforce in this United Kingdom

factory that has been able to get a huge share of the bus market. Not

just in London, but in Singapore and Hong Kong I think we need to lift

our eyes to see Hong Kong I think we need to lift

around the planet and I'm afraid that the sad thing is that they are

not in Europe at the moment, but across the world. Many Northern

Ireland exporters worry that Brexit poses a risk to the economy and then

the Prime Minister who was in county Antrim at the weekend, they have an

ally. We have privileged access to a market of 500 million people in the

free trade single market, and that gives us jobs, investment, the

chance to build on what is already a strong economy. And we can put that

at risk if we leave. But today was about positive views for money

factoring, with the bus order removing uncertainty around 300

jobs. The Route master bus is only about a fifth of what Wrightbus

does, but it has become a calling card and not just

does, but it has become a calling but for Northern Ireland plc. As

Boris Johnson said, this but for Northern Ireland plc. As

brand, we have seen it in films and across the world and in some of the

trade missions I was across the world and in some of the

bus with us and it has become an icon of British money factoring. It

is a massive endorsement for a really good products. It takes us

from 800 buses to 1000 buses, which is the size of order we originally

contemplated when we had back in 2009, and it is brilliant to see it

coming off. Boris Johnson also visited to other parts of the boys

for London buses and trains. This place in Lisbon makes P VC products.

There was also a firm that produces place in Lisbon makes P VC products.

glass. All in all, last year, transport from

glass. All in all, last year, worth of business with Northern

Irish companies. -- transport for London.

Boris Johnson is this evening speaking at a business event

Beforehand, BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson asked him

would happen at the border if the UK voted to leave the European Union.

I that there has

I area between the United Kingdom and

the Republic of Ireland for getting on 100 years. There's no

the Republic of Ireland for getting case. What about farmers? There are

many Northern Ireland. Can you guarantee they would be better off

out of the EU? I can certainly guarantee they will be no worse off

and in many ways, better off, because you would be

and in many ways, better off, the subsidy and we would get money

back from the EU which currently goes to Brussels and goes on heaven

knows what. We lose about ?9 billion a year. And we never see it again.

What they were said to your critics who say it is not about what is best

for Birmingham or Belfast, but about what is best for Boris? Obviously I

totally reject that. It was a very difficult to take a side, because I

was trying to persuade myself that we had reformer. And you remember

the Prime Minister went out and tried to get along -- a deal and we

were told it would be fundamental. Is it a legal trip? I don't think we

have the reform we need an bomber pieces, I have always said we should

be confident about the future of this country in striking a new

series of relationships. One final thing, if I had 10 euros in my

pockets, should I put my money on a Brexit? Will we win? There is every

chance that the people will see this is their chance to get our back from

Brussels. And to get our people and give them a gain the chance to kick

out at elections the people who are taking the decisions. Time for

freedom is what I would say. Boris Johnson talking to Mark Simpson.

England is doing the post match slap, that is never a good sign.

I'll's six Nations aspirations are over.

A Catholic priest caught on video appearing to snort cocaine has taken

Father Stephen Crossan is reported to have taken the drug on a night

of drinking last night in his house at St Patrick's church in Banbridge.

Our correspondent Chris Buckler is with me.

A Sunday newspaper obtained this video.

It was obtained by the Some On Sunday and filmed the last July. It

seems Father Stephen Crossan had been out with people and invited

them back to his parochial home. We can show you some of the video, it

is clear they were drinking and talking and at one stage, he is

offered by one of the people there a line of powder. We will not show

that specifically, but in this footage, we can see a ?10 note and

he goes over and he snorts that a drug. It is also claimed by the

paper that the group he was with found in a thousand maxi memorabilia

and a van flags, hats, and an eagle with a swastika on a plinth on his

mantelpiece. -- not see memorabilia. Stephen Crossan has said he collects

historical items from all over the world.

he says this happened in only one occasion and was on sick leave and

suffering from depression and has taken a leave of absence from the

church. We have also had a statement from the Bishop of Birmingham or who

said that for the Crossan asked for the leave of absence at the start of

this month and he has been receiving counselling and is considering his

future. He also made it clear that he is concerned for Father Crossan's

welfare. A man who is thought to be well

known for dissident Republican The shooting was at

McKee Road in Finglas in the north of the city at around

a quarter past three this afternoon. The victim's condition in hospital

is described as serious. Counting is still going

on in constituences As our Dublin correspondent

Shane Harrison reports, the formation of a new Government

is likely to be drawn-out with no Day three in the Republic election

count. The people have spoken, but it is not quite clear what they have

said. The only two parties that would have a working majority as a

coalition of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Both centrist, with origins in

the Civil War of the early 1920s. There is growing opposition within

Fianna Fail and to any arrangement with police. Some may see this as a

reconcilable similarities. A former Taoiseach is not ruling out another

election next year as he sees no prospects of the two parties working

together, not even on what was called a strategy when in the 80s, a

minority Fianna Fail administration was supported into budgetary

decisions. I think a grand coalition I do not see. I just do not see it.

They might be different in a month, but I don't see it now. They had a

strategy which is minority support for a Government. An arrangement

like that I can see. If a Fianna Fail was the big winning the

election, rising almost Lazarus like from the near dead, then Fine Gael

and labour, the outgoing coalition, were the losers. Among those not

returned whether Fine Gael deputy leader and Minister for children's

affairs. We are a gate country great people and have shown we have a

stronger backbone in terms of surviving processions and what

people want to see in our is a recovery that does hit every door

and gets into every family home. The Dail will meet on March the tend to

choose a speaker. For the first time this will happen by secret ballot.

If Bertie Ahern is correct, it will be a least another month before I

knew Government is formed and a tea shop collected. -- teashop.

The Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has dismissed any suggestion

he's disappointed at his party's results and insists

While it made gains in a number of areas, there was one setback

in County Donegal where it lost a seat.

Our Political Correspondent Stephen Walker was at Gerry Adams' Louth

count over the weekend and assesses what this election means

Sinn Fein's vote has gone up, nearly doubling in the nine years and the

parties now the third largest in the Republic. Over the weekend in Louth,

there was much to celebrate with the re-election of Gerry Adams and

victory for an older Munster, their area's first ever woman TD. Gerry

Adams says his party's performance is the best in his lifetime and one

of a number of seats that he expected to win he has won. But

could they have done better? Some commentators .com parent our turnout

with their opinion polls. But the only real opinion poll is on the

day. What do you think you could have done better? You can always do

better. I loved that we had a majority, but that takes time. There

were Sinn Fein successes in places like Limerick, Waterford and

Wexford. In Donegal, only one candidate was elected, despite three

being on the ballot paper which the party knew was a gamble. You say it

is. Why? When you stand three candidates and you're looking to

manage the vote, it puts the other TD's in jeopardy. So how should we

assess that Sinn Fein's performance? They have 14 TDs, that is a success

story. They bowled on that base all the time. Given the rise in how well

the hard left have done, I think there will be disappointed that they

haven't gone closer to the 30 mark. Some political commentators have

suggested that Gerry Adams's media performances during the campaign and

his leadership or restricting the party's growth. Gerry Adams, in my

opinion, when you look at the people who criticise and he felt -- either

from the political establishment or elsewhere, they forget the work he

has done in bringing peace. Political uncertainty in the

Republic says -- means it could take another Paula for a working

Government can be formed. Gerry Adams says his party is on an

election footing. Our political editor Mark Devenport

is in Dublin for us. These last ten seats seem to be

taking a lot of time, That is fair enough. We did get some

movement within the last hour or so. Not here, but an Wexford where

Fianna Fail got a few more TDs declared. We are still waiting for

eight seats in places like Dublin bay north. The process of the

recount seems to be glacially slow. So far as the talks of forming

a Government are concerned, Well, we have already heard there in

the report from Bertie Ahern, appearing to rule out a grand

coalition between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael because of those historic

differences and the opposition within Fianna Fail's grass roots. He

has also done on the notion of minority Government, but it didn't

go one of those options, you do need to go for a fresh election. Those

big traditional parties do not want to see a realignment in Irish

politics where they form one block and the likes of Sinn Fein and the

newer parties to the left formerly of the block. They do not want to

usher in a new era in that sense. Fianna Fail stressing not just

the need to form a government, How realistic is that change? Well,

it has been said that talks on a reforming the Dail, making it more

independent of the Government of the day should precede any talks on

forming a Government. If you are cynical com you may suggest this was

a convenient siding for him to shunt things into. But what is may allow

the parties to do is talk about issues rather than directly about

forming a Government and somewhere down the road, one of talks a segue

into the other. Thank Mark. The police have been granted more

time to question three men about the murder of a man

in south Belfast last week. 28-year-old Stephen Carson was shot

at his house in Walmer Street in front of his partner

and young son. Eight people have been arrested

by police officers investigating The seven men and one woman are aged

between 22 and 52. It is not every day we have a local

boxer who is a double world champion. Carl Frampton is one now.

He now holds the IBF and WBC superbantamweight crown after his

split decision over Scott Quigg. Frampton said he would love to

defend his title in his hometown at Windsor Park this summer. Reflecting

on a job well done. He's made a real sacrifices for

this. It may have been Manchester, but with thousands of farmers are

making the trip, it felt like Belfast. Frampton was in control.

With so much on the line at though, he wasn't taking any risks. --

neither fighter was taking any risks. This was the most telling

blow, Scott quick revealed after that the punch-up broken his jaw.

Knowing he needed a knockout to win, the Bury man up the intensity of the

night belonged to Frampton. -- put the night. What next to him? There

were loads of options. I said all along, I have a few feelers put out

already, that is difficult end of the year. I want to defend the world

title. He has always supported us at Windsor, so it is about time. What a

performance. What is on your wish list? Santa Cruz is fond of him. He

has the WBC, he'll go to America for that. In the other dressing room,

Wayne Rooney, sold and injected Scott quick. He, Governor to --

uppercut. It put a spanner in the works. I had to re-evaluate things

and see how painful it was. Would you like another go at him? It was

the uppercut. I'm talking so you know, and I can't hear out of this

year. My joy is cracking but it is what it is. Two bells. His unbeaten

record now, is any stopping Carl Frampton? -- is there any stopping.

Jonathan Rea made the perfect to the start to the defence

of his world superbike title in Australia.

Rea is aiming to emulate the achievement of Carl Fogarty,

who successfully defended his title twice in the 1990s.

Rea's double victory has given him a 14-point lead.

The second round is in Thailand in two weeks.

In the Six Nations Rugby, Championship Ireland lost 21-10

Coach Joe Schmidt handed three players their international debuts,

including Ulster's Stuart McCloskey on a day that

Supporters love it when England play Ireland. But the week is extra

special for at least one couple. We are the mother and father of

Stewart. You must be very proud? Exceptionally proud. And very

nervous! You have to play first game at some stage and where better

stadium to play? Today will be a bit emotional I suspect. I have

waterproof mascara on today! Just in case. The Glasgow had a solid start

to his international career, but the waterproof mascara was needed for

pretty much anyone else wearing green. It could have been different

had Ireland taken chances. But they didn't and England did. They can

only reflect now on what might have been. At this level, you will not

get loads and loads of chances. You have to take as many as you can. One

return up from six or seven is a have to take as many as you can. One

disappointing for us. When you come to England and always stash my goal

penalty will never be enough. That's what happened today. England won and

Ireland lost. From an English perspective, the grand slam

expectations remain alive but I'll's grip on the six Nations trophy is

over. Ulster remain fourth in the table

after a defeat at Cardiff yesterday, but are now fighting

for a place in the Play-Offs, as well as the European

Rugby Champions Cup. A Craig Gilroy try gave Ulster

a ten-point lead early But Cardiff fought back through two

quick-fire tries in the closing minutes and snatched

a 23-13 victory. Crusaders remain top

of the Danskebank Premiership, but they relied on a late penalty

to rescue a point in a one-all And there was penalty drama

at Windsor Park where Linfield keeper Ross Glendenning saw red,

but defender Mark Haughey put on the gloves and saved

Kevin Braniff's spot-kick In Gaelic Football's

Allianz League, Donegal were impressive winners against Mayo

and Tyrone won again while Armagh beat Fermanagh

by a single point. A final round of 69 saw

Graeme McDowell finish fifth at the Honda Classic

and the Belfast Giants are third in the Elite League,

after two wins at the weekend, And that was a very

busy weekend in sport. And when many of us woke up

to a new week this morning, And although the road was clear,

motorists had to take extra care Cecilia Daly is there

with the forecast. It is almost over. Today's the last

day of winter, so it's appropriate there a bit of snow. Tomorrow is the

start of a new month, a new season, but it doesn't mean march cannot be

a bit wintry at times. March 2013 was when we had snow from most of

the month. Don't be surprised if there is a bit obsolete or hill snow

at times mixed in with rain. It will still be quite cold this week and

unsettled. Not a particularly good week if you are looking for dry

weather. But this morning, there was snow and ten nights, we have rain

and some will be quite heavy. It is getting milder, temperatures are

currently 6-7d. By the end of the night, the heavy rain will have

moved on and temperatures will be up to 9-10d. A mild start tomorrow, but

things will flip and it will get colder and quite wintry in places

late in the day and particularly tomorrow night. By the time many

it will be mild and breezy, it will be mild and breezy,

temperatures around a camera-9 degrees. Bits and pieces and

temperatures around a camera-9 and drizzle, no sleet, snow or ice,

and it should dry and drizzle, no sleet, snow or ice,

of the morning and even brighten up and drizzle, no sleet, snow or ice,

a bit. And it's better compared to and drizzle, no sleet, snow or ice,

today. Mild to begin with. But of the afternoon

showers move in and temperatures fall. 4-5d by this time tomorrow.

That means late indeed and particularly tomorrow evening and

night, the showers. Still fall as sleet and snow again. There could be

night, the showers. Still fall as a few centimetres of snow by

Wednesday morning and quite icy conditions as temperatures drop to

freezing or below. Wednesday morning could be another challenge was snow

in places and not necessarily on the high hills. A real bite to the wind

picking up. So do not pick -- back away our coats and wellies yet,

because there is still cold weather to come. It will rain, but weather

systems will bring more rain on Thursday and it is back to the

wintry showers on Friday with the end of the week.

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