:00:15. > :00:18.Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline: An under-car bomb
:00:19. > :00:23.explodes, seriously injuring a prison officer.
:00:24. > :00:27.The police say another attack before Easter is highly likely.
:00:28. > :00:33.I believe that there are people within dissident Republican group
:00:34. > :00:38.thinks who want to mark this centenary by killing prison
:00:39. > :00:43.officers, police officers all soldiers. -- or soldiers.
:00:44. > :00:54.They come and justification, absolutely no justification
:00:55. > :00:55.whatsoever were for anybody can go with a gun or a bomb.
:00:56. > :01:04.County Armagh school doubled the number of GCSE passes
:01:05. > :01:13.A song for Europe, Northern Ireland farmers are junior got before
:01:14. > :01:18.France! Ulster look to get back to winning
:01:19. > :01:24.ways in the Pro12 tonight The first week of March has
:01:25. > :01:29.certainly roared in like a lion, but it looks much
:01:30. > :01:30.quieter this weekend. A senior police officer says another
:01:31. > :01:34.attack is highly likely following this morning's murder
:01:35. > :01:37.attempt on a prison officer. The 52-year-old, who works
:01:38. > :01:41.in Hydebank Wood, is in a stable condition in hospital
:01:42. > :01:48.after surgery on his legs. A bomb exploded under a van
:01:49. > :01:52.as he was driving it away In a moment, our home affairs
:01:53. > :01:58.correspondent will assess the scale of the threat from dissident
:01:59. > :02:00.Republicans in the run up to the centenary
:02:01. > :02:02.of the Easter Rising. But first, Mervyn Jess
:02:03. > :02:17.is in East Belfast for us this It was just after 7am this morning
:02:18. > :02:22.that people living here in the Woodstock Road work woken by a sound
:02:23. > :02:28.that isn't that familiar anymore. The sound of a bomb exploding. The
:02:29. > :02:31.blast blew the front bumper off the van and damaged the cab of the
:02:32. > :02:35.vehicle. The prison officer driving it suffered what had been described
:02:36. > :02:42.as serious leg injuries, however, they was able to get out and stagger
:02:43. > :02:46.away from the scene. It woke me from I sleep. I heard the bang and it
:02:47. > :02:54.sounded like a building falling. That is all I heard. What did it
:02:55. > :02:59.make you think? It was frightening. The explosion happened at the van
:03:00. > :03:03.was going over a speed bump on Hillsborough dry, before emerging
:03:04. > :03:07.onto the Woodstock Road. Police are investigating weather that action of
:03:08. > :03:12.driving over the ramp may have dislodged or partially activated the
:03:13. > :03:16.device. The intention of this device was to kill. Someone prepared this
:03:17. > :03:22.device, someone transporter that this device and someone planted this
:03:23. > :03:24.bomber. There are people watching these media broadcasts who have
:03:25. > :03:34.information that would help us catch those responsible. We need that
:03:35. > :03:37.information and support. This repeal -- appeal was repeated by the
:03:38. > :03:42.Justice Minister who went to the scene of the bombing this morning.
:03:43. > :03:47.This would certainly be seen to be with what we associate with
:03:48. > :03:51.dissident Republicans. Evidence is being gathered and there is a lot of
:03:52. > :03:57.work to do, but what is crucial is that anybody who has any information
:03:58. > :04:00.must supply it. I have today asked for an updated threat assessment,
:04:01. > :04:05.the threat level against our staff is currently at severe. That is the
:04:06. > :04:08.threat that our stuff, my colleagues face on a daily basis so we will
:04:09. > :04:13.continue to work to keep ourselves and each other safe, but it is
:04:14. > :04:18.important to go about our work, this will not deter us from continuing
:04:19. > :04:21.the job that we do to keep people in Northern Ireland and safe. The Army
:04:22. > :04:32.bomb disposal team has been carrying out a carefully examining and of the
:04:33. > :04:34.scene. If, as has been suggested, that this device is only partially
:04:35. > :04:37.exploded, it may be that important clues to the bombers will be able to
:04:38. > :04:40.be drawn from it. It is over three years ago that dissident Republicans
:04:41. > :04:43.shot dead prison officer David Black as he drove along the motorway on
:04:44. > :04:46.the way to Maghaberry. Since then, the prison officers Association has
:04:47. > :04:50.been warning about threats to kill more officers. I can only assume
:04:51. > :04:55.these Republicans, because we are aware that threats are imminent
:04:56. > :05:01.against prison officers. The threat level is high. We have no doubt they
:05:02. > :05:05.carried it out. A number of people were moved out of nearby homes and
:05:06. > :05:09.join today's follow-up security operation. Several shops and
:05:10. > :05:16.businesses inside the cord and were forced to close. As you, publicity
:05:17. > :05:21.behind me, traffic is flowing again. The security cordon has been lifted
:05:22. > :05:25.and that the van taken away for further frenzied examination. But
:05:26. > :05:29.there is no doubt this prison officer, one seriously injured, had
:05:30. > :05:34.an extremely fortunate escape and to be able to walk away with his life.
:05:35. > :05:37.And once again this points open up people who are targets by dissident
:05:38. > :05:49.Republicans cannot afford to drop their guard for a moment.
:05:50. > :05:53.There's been widespread political condemnation of the attack.
:05:54. > :05:58.We need to be alert and the possibility of these evil men using
:05:59. > :06:02.tactics to thwart. We have been building a peaceful, positive future
:06:03. > :06:07.and people who want to drag us back to the past need to be worked
:06:08. > :06:11.against them brought to justice. They come in and justification
:06:12. > :06:16.whatsoever for anybody going out with a gun or a bomber against a
:06:17. > :06:19.backdrop of the massive transformation that is taking place
:06:20. > :06:25.in our society over the last 20 years, to try and take someone's
:06:26. > :06:30.life. There are only lessons to be learned from this incident. I can
:06:31. > :06:33.assure all police and prison officers that huge efforts to go
:06:34. > :06:36.into ensuring that we keep them as safe and possible, but the reality
:06:37. > :06:40.is that this threat is a lethal one and that is why we will be vigilant
:06:41. > :06:41.in combating it now and for the foreseeable future.
:06:42. > :06:45.Our home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney is with me.
:06:46. > :06:54.What do we know about the nature of this bomber? As we heard then, it
:06:55. > :06:59.appears this bomber only partially exploded, so the remains of this
:07:00. > :07:02.device are being examined by bomb experts. But there were similarities
:07:03. > :07:09.between this device, I understand, by once used by dissident Republican
:07:10. > :07:13.group referred to as the New IRA. It is likely the device contained some
:07:14. > :07:17.commercial explosive, possibly send the text, we know large quantities
:07:18. > :07:25.of that were given to the provisional IRA by Libya in the 80s,
:07:26. > :07:27.and we also know... We heard in the report the police referring to the
:07:28. > :07:32.centenary of the Easter Rising at the end of the month. They have been
:07:33. > :07:36.saying for some time about the threat from dissident Republicans,
:07:37. > :07:41.but in particular, to coincide with that centenary. Indeed they have.
:07:42. > :07:45.This is the kind of attack the police have been expecting and
:07:46. > :07:49.fearing for some time. They've been saying for some month that dissident
:07:50. > :07:52.Republicans were likely to make some concerted effort to step up their
:07:53. > :07:57.activities to mark the Easter Rising centenary. Steve Martin said this
:07:58. > :08:01.morning that it appears at Easter this year there will be extra
:08:02. > :08:04.significance for many within the Nationalists and Republicans
:08:05. > :08:08.community because of the centenary. Many events are planned across
:08:09. > :08:11.Northern Ireland and the police need to work with event organisers to
:08:12. > :08:15.make sure the events pass off peacefully, but he issued a stark
:08:16. > :08:19.warning about the intentions of dissident Republicans. He said the
:08:20. > :08:25.PSNI is deeply concerned at the threat level at this time. There are
:08:26. > :08:29.people within dissident Republican grouping that want to mark the
:08:30. > :08:35.Easter 2016 centenary in an entirely more sinister way. Who want to kill
:08:36. > :08:40.police officers, prison officers or soldiers. We believe the threat is
:08:41. > :08:44.extremely high at the moment, the upper end of severe and we need
:08:45. > :08:49.community support. It is not inevitable that anyone needs to lose
:08:50. > :08:52.their life. We will be working hard to prevent that and ask for the
:08:53. > :08:58.support from the community. Be vigilant and if you see anything
:08:59. > :09:03.suspicious, tell us. The upper of Sophia. So they do expect further
:09:04. > :09:08.attacks? Absolutely. It is much more than a simple, general warning.
:09:09. > :09:11.Please don't often give an insight into their intentions, but they did
:09:12. > :09:16.so today. Steve Martin chose his words carefully and those words were
:09:17. > :09:20.very strong and direct. He spoke of deep concern and said another attack
:09:21. > :09:24.was regarded as highly likely and we worked all police have increased the
:09:25. > :09:28.number of patrols and will continue to do so. We were also told police
:09:29. > :09:32.officers and civilians working for the PSNI were told recently to
:09:33. > :09:36.increase their security awareness and I understand that applies to
:09:37. > :09:40.prison officers and soldiers. It is clear the police were expecting an
:09:41. > :09:44.attack of this kind for some time. It is also clear they are expecting
:09:45. > :09:49.further attacks. This warning clearly demonstrates the police have
:09:50. > :09:52.credible and believe that dissident Republicans are trying to increase
:09:53. > :09:58.what they call their operation tempo to mark the Easter Rising with a
:09:59. > :10:00.series of attacks with it is being police officers, prison officers and
:10:01. > :10:03.soldiers. Thank you. You're watching BBC Newsline
:10:04. > :10:10.and still to come on the programme: A former members club opens its
:10:11. > :10:13.doors as a hotel. A County Armagh school has increased
:10:14. > :10:16.the number of GCSE passes among boys St Paul's High School in Bessbrook
:10:17. > :10:31.has over 1,500 pupils. Before a new programme
:10:32. > :10:33.of measures was introduced, one third of the boys
:10:34. > :10:35.achieved five GCSE passes. Our Education Correspondent Robbie
:10:36. > :10:49.Meredith discovered how This man has a crucial part in a
:10:50. > :10:53.battle to raise boys and their results. Some students are
:10:54. > :10:57.disillusioned and unfocused and we don't have a male role model at
:10:58. > :11:02.home. That may be for different reasons, maybe their cousins are
:11:03. > :11:10.younger and they can relate to them. This call deliberately hired more
:11:11. > :11:15.male classroom assistants and their involvement works in other ways. The
:11:16. > :11:20.boy may be struggling academically or personally, and we actively try
:11:21. > :11:23.and speak to their grandad, uncle or Big Brother or whatever. Mail
:11:24. > :11:28.abilities are encouraged to attend all parents meetings. I think it
:11:29. > :11:34.makes a great difference. From afar the's point of view. We feel we know
:11:35. > :11:38.what is going on on a day-to-day education bases in the school. The
:11:39. > :11:41.school introduced new GCSEs in subjects like agriculture and
:11:42. > :11:47.horticulture and revamped the ripe Brie -- library to encourage boys to
:11:48. > :11:56.read more. In 2013, 30 6% of boys at the School got five GCSEs including
:11:57. > :12:02.maths, but in 2015, that had risen to 65%. This intensive focus on boys
:12:03. > :12:05.has brought startling results here at St Paul's High School. But is it
:12:06. > :12:12.an approach that can also work elsewhere? I think it could. We are
:12:13. > :12:16.locally based, so we know the people inside it. For the schools, if you
:12:17. > :12:22.get to know the students as well as we do, that is key. And who better
:12:23. > :12:27.results, comes more ambition. Boys were dropping out in fifth year,
:12:28. > :12:31.they had no interest. More of them want to go to university now. It's
:12:32. > :12:35.opened your eyes to the wider world of work, so the opportunities at
:12:36. > :12:40.University present themselves to you. Education inspector has praised
:12:41. > :12:43.as outstanding. -- their work as outstanding.
:12:44. > :12:45.This former private members club in Londonderry that once hosted
:12:46. > :12:48.famous figures like Sir Winston Churchill has been given new lease
:12:49. > :12:53.The listed building at Bishop's Gate fell into serious disrepair
:12:54. > :12:56.in recent years, but has now been restored by a Heritage charity
:12:57. > :13:06.Here's our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.
:13:07. > :13:13.Restored to its former glory, the Bishop's Gate Hotel in the city
:13:14. > :13:19.centre. It was first built here in 1831 as a dwelling house. At the
:13:20. > :13:23.turn of the 20th century, in 1901, it was transformed into a private
:13:24. > :13:27.members club where business and civic leaders met to discuss the
:13:28. > :13:31.issues of the day. The Northern counties building, as it was known,
:13:32. > :13:37.attracted people from near and far. The building has had some well-known
:13:38. > :13:41.people staying here over eight -- is longer an illustrated history.
:13:42. > :13:47.House-macro illustrious. Edward Carson, WB Yeats and Winston
:13:48. > :13:51.Churchill. As part of a project to restore the Heritage, the inner-city
:13:52. > :13:58.trust charity purchased the listed building in 2012. We lost a number
:13:59. > :14:03.of historic buildings to ring the recent Troubles and his important a
:14:04. > :14:09.bit managed to restore what is left of that. The new operator of the 31
:14:10. > :14:13.bedroom hotel, say in needs additional accommodation to cater
:14:14. > :14:17.for increasing numbers of tourists. We had a great vision to find this
:14:18. > :14:22.property and bring it back to life. We are looking at over 60 jobs and
:14:23. > :14:26.the full nationalisation of the hotel in about a month when we are
:14:27. > :14:29.completely open to the public. Two Government departments and the
:14:30. > :14:33.lottery helps fund the restoration. They believe it is money well spent
:14:34. > :14:35.on an historic landmark in the city centre.
:14:36. > :14:37.Coming up on the programme: The County Armagh clash.
:14:38. > :14:40.A team that's never before made an Irish cup quarter final faces
:14:41. > :14:51.It's 30 years since Northern Ireland qualified
:14:52. > :14:54.for a major football tournament, so it's 30 years since there's
:14:55. > :15:00.Back in 1986, the players sang one, this time it's the turn of the fans.
:15:01. > :15:16.BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson went along to the rehearsals.
:15:17. > :15:23.No matter what happens on the pitch in France this summer, Northern
:15:24. > :15:31.Ireland fans are hoping to win the singing contest. # Northern Ireland!
:15:32. > :15:36.# Northern Ireland! # the song was written by Vincent he. 30 years ago,
:15:37. > :15:43.it was also involved in writing the Northern Ireland song. #, come on
:15:44. > :15:54.Northern Ireland, we'll support you for evermore. We are with you when
:15:55. > :15:57.you need us of all. #. It has been a long wait for Vincent to write
:15:58. > :16:06.another song but it has been worth it. The # they said we'd never make
:16:07. > :16:11.it, we didn't have a chance #. So how did the two recordings combo?
:16:12. > :16:18.Well, last time, it was all of the team. This time there was more,
:16:19. > :16:24.we've got a few hellions in here. I think it is time to make more lively
:16:25. > :16:32.and so forth. What you think of the song? It is a lovely, catchy number!
:16:33. > :16:38.I only got the lyrics today. This catchy, we number! What you think of
:16:39. > :16:47.the sinking? Well, we are not West life. And they Brazil, they are
:16:48. > :16:55.Northern Ireland. -- they are not Brazil.
:16:56. > :17:01.# we are the green and white army we are on our way. #.
:17:02. > :17:03.The fans are certainly in good voice.
:17:04. > :17:05.As for Ulster rugby fans, they will be singing loudly
:17:06. > :17:08.and proudly tonight when their team take to the pitch tonight.
:17:09. > :17:10.Thomas Niblock is here and the players have something
:17:11. > :17:14.They do, for a variety of reasons, Donna.
:17:15. > :17:17.One, to keep alive their hopes of winning the Pro12,
:17:18. > :17:19.and two, qualification for the European Champions Cup next
:17:20. > :17:23.Ulster Rugby have lost their last two games, tonight they make four
:17:24. > :17:27.changes for the arrival of Italian side Zebre in Belfast.
:17:28. > :17:30.And because of those poor recent results,
:17:31. > :17:36.the players know tonight's game is simply a must-win!
:17:37. > :17:42.It has been disappointing and we hold ourselves to high standards. Or
:17:43. > :17:47.just the last fortnight, but for the last month we have not been playing
:17:48. > :17:51.as well as we liked. Even last week, we had a future of conversations
:17:52. > :17:55.within the squad and are looking to stay positive and we know we are
:17:56. > :18:00.going to have a big reaction that this week and we owe the fan is a
:18:01. > :18:05.good game, a good performance. They still massive self belief in the
:18:06. > :18:09.squad among individuals and collectively, but we are still
:18:10. > :18:13.sitting in fourth position, which is poor position for the Play-Offs so
:18:14. > :18:17.if we can crack on and getting a few more winners, we will put ourselves
:18:18. > :18:19.in good stead for the end of the season. That game is on BBC Two at
:18:20. > :18:20.7:30pm. At the World Golf Championship event
:18:21. > :18:22.at Doral in Florida, Rory McIlroy started the day five
:18:23. > :18:25.shots off the early pace. The World Number Three
:18:26. > :18:27.is back out on course now, early in his second
:18:28. > :18:39.round and so far. On this the very first hole after a
:18:40. > :18:43.magnificent chip to the pain be living in to bogey the second. He is
:18:44. > :18:45.currently one under for the tournament, five shots off the lead.
:18:46. > :18:48.Now, if there's to be an upset in tomorrow's Irish cup quarter
:18:49. > :18:50.finals, it could very well come at Shamrock Park,
:18:51. > :18:52.where Championship One side Lurgan Celtic make the short trip
:18:53. > :18:54.to take on last year's beaten finalists Portadown,
:18:55. > :18:58.Mark Sidebottom has been to meet the Lurgan lads with nothing
:18:59. > :19:09.They've been around for over a century, tomorrow, for the first
:19:10. > :19:17.time they play in the quarterfinals of the Irish cup. And this is what
:19:18. > :19:22.they will tackle. What a goal from Philip Lowry! The pressure is all on
:19:23. > :19:25.Portadown. It is all on big money, I'm afraid. We are just couldn't
:19:26. > :19:34.enjoyed the day one way or another. You would say that. It is football,
:19:35. > :19:37.and that is just the way it is. Dog eat dog. And this pack is hungry,
:19:38. > :19:49.especially the strays who joined from Portadown. I'm looking forward
:19:50. > :20:00.to it. We won our last six, may be Portadown will be on former. Its
:20:01. > :20:04.first time in the quarterfinal, so if it happens, it will be history as
:20:05. > :20:10.well. Tomorrow, somebody's got to take a tumble. There will be
:20:11. > :20:12.coverage on BBC Radio Ulster sports from 2pm.
:20:13. > :20:15.A month ago, the Belfast Giants looked to be out of the Elite League
:20:16. > :20:18.title race, but after an impressive run of wins, they are back
:20:19. > :20:21.They face the Braehead Clan at the SSE Arena tomorrow,
:20:22. > :20:24.in front of what's anticipated, to be their biggest home crowd
:20:25. > :20:38.He flicks it through and it's a goal! The Giants win 5-2 over the
:20:39. > :20:42.Braehead Clan has revived their title chances. They closed the gap
:20:43. > :20:46.at the top to just three points and breaking down the necks of Cardiff
:20:47. > :20:50.in Sheffield. The pressure is on them now. They've got to hang onto
:20:51. > :20:54.it and we have three games against them and Sheffield is right there
:20:55. > :20:58.also. It is great for the league but you have got to worry about each
:20:59. > :21:02.game and try to get better and we are peaking at the right time. Extra
:21:03. > :21:08.seating is being put in to media and for the largest crowd of the season,
:21:09. > :21:11.six and a half thousand. And with four of their six games remaining at
:21:12. > :21:16.home, the Giants will have to take advantage. We've had some great
:21:17. > :21:22.games this year. It's pretty much sold out. Things had been going our
:21:23. > :21:27.way, so we are looking to run around the fans and get a big win on
:21:28. > :21:31.Saturday. The champagne is not an icy yet, but the Giants are on
:21:32. > :21:34.course to smash their way to a Championship. And good look to them.
:21:35. > :21:36.Finally, Gaelic games, and there's a full programme
:21:37. > :21:38.in the Allianz National League this weekend, with coverage
:21:39. > :21:41.on BBC Radio Ulster on both Saturday and Sunday.
:21:42. > :21:43.The pick of the ties arguably Derry and Tyrone's first clash
:21:44. > :22:14.many of us woke up to snow this morning. A great time to take pretty
:22:15. > :22:19.pictures and send a minute to Cecilia. You did get some, but I
:22:20. > :22:20.like the still, Cecilia. Not too much though. I hope it
:22:21. > :22:29.will not be to buy this weekend? No, not too much snow this weekend. We
:22:30. > :22:35.have had it two mornings this week and it is March and spring! Is no
:22:36. > :22:40.record was the south-east, in County Armagh and County Down. This is how
:22:41. > :22:44.it looks on this morning. Debbie here got up at 3am and rushed out
:22:45. > :22:51.into her car in her wellies to get this picture for us. Thank you for
:22:52. > :22:54.that. If you are heading to Ravenhill this evening or to be
:22:55. > :23:00.Ulster match, there will be no snow, but it will feel very, very cold,
:23:01. > :23:03.mainly because of the wind. It is a very cold wind this evening and it
:23:04. > :23:09.will gradually ease off through the weekend. It will stay on the cold
:23:10. > :23:13.side. Lots of time it will be dry and bright, so hopefully you will
:23:14. > :23:15.get out into it and wrap up warm. We have a couple showers tonight, a
:23:16. > :23:33.cold wind blowing them through quickly.
:23:34. > :23:36.Mostly rain showers, maybe a bit of sleet and snow on the higher hills.
:23:37. > :23:39.By the end of the night, dry and clear and temperatures and shelter
:23:40. > :23:41.will get down to close or freezing. One or two icy stretches are
:23:42. > :23:43.possible to night or Saturday morning. Lots of cold, dry and
:23:44. > :23:46.bright weather on Saturday. A few early morning showers and that nasty
:23:47. > :23:49.wind coming in from the north and lots of dry weather, blue sky and
:23:50. > :23:53.sunshine. It will look nice, but in the wind, feel cold. Parts of the
:23:54. > :23:59.East Coast, really bitter. Temperatures 5-6d, but when you take
:24:00. > :24:04.the wind into account, it will feel more like freezing. But in shelter,
:24:05. > :24:08.the march sun is getting a bit stronger and it will feel a nice.
:24:09. > :24:12.Clear skies persist in the wind drops and temperatures will fall
:24:13. > :24:18.quickly towards evening and tomorrow night, we will see a sharp frost.
:24:19. > :24:24.Lots of blue on the map, -3, maybe minus 4-5 in one or two spots. A
:24:25. > :24:28.sharp frost for Sunday morning. That Sunday morning will have light winds
:24:29. > :24:33.and sunshine and feel a lovely. We have a bit of a problem later in the
:24:34. > :24:36.day, cloud increase is from the West, threatening rain, sleet and
:24:37. > :24:41.snow for western counties which is tied into a weather fronts. Most of
:24:42. > :24:45.that rain or snow will be to the south and will move away and then we
:24:46. > :24:50.will see a bit less cold air as we move into the new week. I like it!
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