:00:15. > :00:17.Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline:
:00:18. > :00:20.The prison officer injured in a dissident republican bomb
:00:21. > :00:35.He was always active, making Northern Ireland a better place and
:00:36. > :00:38.it is a tragedy we lost him so young.
:00:39. > :00:43.Sixth form pupils walk out of a West Belfast school
:00:44. > :00:46.because of concerns about their education.
:00:47. > :00:54.The scale of a Dublin crime gang's global
:00:55. > :00:57.drugs empire is revealed, including plans to buy
:00:58. > :01:09.This is the Hotel where Northern Ireland's team will be staying
:01:10. > :01:11.during the Euros. How children are helping
:01:12. > :01:14.to introduce salmon into a river A great day for the Irish
:01:15. > :01:20.on Day One at Cheltenham - especially jockey Ruby Walsh
:01:21. > :01:24.with a hat-trick of victories. And after another stunning day
:01:25. > :01:28.with temperatures in the low teens, find out if the sunshine
:01:29. > :01:32.is here to stay. Adrian Ismay, the prison officer
:01:33. > :01:35.whose van was blown up by dissident The 52-year-old had been recovering
:01:36. > :01:42.but was re-admitted It's unclear whether his death
:01:43. > :01:47.is related to injuries he sustained It also emerged today that some
:01:48. > :01:52.dissident republican inmates in Maghaberry Prison celebrated
:01:53. > :01:56.in front of prison officers Our home affairs correspondent,
:01:57. > :02:11.Vincent Kearney, reports. Police believe these cars were used
:02:12. > :02:16.by dissident republicans who put the bomb under Adrian Ismay's van. Yards
:02:17. > :02:23.from his home today, floral tributes were placed in memory of a man who
:02:24. > :02:27.was a prison officer for 28 years. It was here that the bomb exploded
:02:28. > :02:32.as he drove to work 11 days ago. He was said to have escaped death
:02:33. > :02:37.because the device was dislodged as he drove over his bum. He was
:02:38. > :02:43.released from hospital a few days later. His death has come as a shock
:02:44. > :02:54.to family and friends. -- over speed bumps. His injuries were described
:02:55. > :03:00.as neither life-threatening or life changing and he was expected to make
:03:01. > :03:04.a full recovery. It is understood he suffered a heart attack this
:03:05. > :03:10.morning. He was taken to hospital where he suffered a further seizure
:03:11. > :03:15.and died a short time later. It has not established whether his death
:03:16. > :03:21.was a direct result of the injuries he suffered in the bomb attack.
:03:22. > :03:23.There will be a postmortem, investigations will be ongoing.
:03:24. > :03:25.We shouldn't lose sight of this human tragedy,
:03:26. > :03:28.the deep grief and sadness that has been visited on this family,
:03:29. > :03:30.yet another family unnecessarily traumatised and grief
:03:31. > :03:33.brought to bear on them as a result of people using violence in this way
:03:34. > :03:41.One man has a ready appeared in court charged with the attempted
:03:42. > :03:46.murder of the prison officer. The officer leading the investigation
:03:47. > :03:51.today released CCTV footage and photos of two cars believed to be
:03:52. > :03:58.used by those least thing carried out the attack. I am keen to hear
:03:59. > :04:02.from anyone who may have information about a red Citroen C three which I
:04:03. > :04:09.believe was used by those planting the device around 2:30am on Friday
:04:10. > :04:14.4th of March. The second vehicle has a silver Skoda. It is my
:04:15. > :04:19.understanding that a male was dropped off by this vehicle in the
:04:20. > :04:28.pilot Street vehicle of El fast, in the docks area, around 3am on Friday
:04:29. > :04:32.4th of March and I am appealing for anybody who saw this or nosed the
:04:33. > :04:39.edited the of the mail to come forward. The Justice Minister spoke
:04:40. > :04:43.of his shock at news of the death. We thought he was making a recovery,
:04:44. > :04:49.he actually went to Hydebank to meet the most recent group of recruits
:04:50. > :04:53.passing out on Friday and today our thoughts and prayers are with his
:04:54. > :05:02.family and friends. Prison sources say some Republicans in Maghaberry
:05:03. > :05:05.celebrated his death and taunted cards by smoking cigarettes in the
:05:06. > :05:07.exercise wing of the prison. The Prime Minister, David Cameron,
:05:08. > :05:09.has said he is deeply saddened There's been reaction too
:05:10. > :05:14.from the other side of the Atlantic, where the First and Deputy First
:05:15. > :05:16.Ministers have been attending St Patrick's week events
:05:17. > :05:19.during a trip designed to boost Our Business and Economics Editor,
:05:20. > :05:36.John Campbell, This morning I was at the Northern
:05:37. > :05:43.Ireland Euro St Patrick's breakfast, an annual event where politicians
:05:44. > :05:48.and leaders come to gathered to renew links made in Washington, and
:05:49. > :05:50.it was as guests arrived that news of this tragic death began to fall
:05:51. > :06:00.so through. This trip was all about the new
:06:01. > :06:03.Northern Ireland, the promotion of a forward-looking investment location
:06:04. > :06:08.but then a dark echo of the past. The First Minister said she had been
:06:09. > :06:13.texting Adrian Ismay, wishing him a speedy recovery. His wife and family
:06:14. > :06:20.have my deepest sympathy and condolences. I had been in touch
:06:21. > :06:25.with him after his trauma and he had indicated he was doing well and it
:06:26. > :06:31.is so sad to hear this morning he has passed away. There is nothing
:06:32. > :06:36.but determination on our part to move forward. The Deputy First
:06:37. > :06:44.Minister said those who attacked Mr Ismay was not stop political
:06:45. > :06:47.progress. This symbolism of the Chief Constable and Arlene and
:06:48. > :06:53.myself standing together in solidarity with the family, with all
:06:54. > :06:57.those who support peace, sent a clear message to those who were
:06:58. > :07:04.still committed to violence that it is absolutely futile. Almost all the
:07:05. > :07:08.local party leaders have travelled to Washington for St Patrick's day
:07:09. > :07:13.events and all were shocked and dismayed by news of the prison
:07:14. > :07:19.officer's death. I remember being there 20 years ago when Rosemary
:07:20. > :07:25.Nelson, this list was Brown up and murdered, and that took the edge off
:07:26. > :07:34.what was happening and that has taken the edge off this trip -- the
:07:35. > :07:38.solicitor, was blown up. The idea these people are fighting the
:07:39. > :07:41.British state is a nonsense, they are fighting the people of Ireland
:07:42. > :07:49.and that is a battle they will never win. The Secretary of State added to
:07:50. > :07:54.the chorus of condemnation. I am shocked and saddened to hear the
:07:55. > :07:58.news, Adrian Ismay had a long and distinguished career of service and
:07:59. > :08:05.my thoughts are with his family at this sad time. The First and Deputy
:08:06. > :08:09.First Ministers seem determined that the purpose of their visit will not
:08:10. > :08:13.be derailed. They are due to have meetings at the White House this
:08:14. > :08:17.evening though they would have hoped for those to be happening in
:08:18. > :08:22.different circumstances. This trip will continue. The First and Deputy
:08:23. > :08:27.First Ministers are due to meet Barack Obama this evening. Martin
:08:28. > :08:32.McGuinness will remain in Washington for a series of events while Arlene
:08:33. > :08:34.Foster will fly to Silicon Valley for meetings with investors.
:08:35. > :08:37.Still to come before 7pm: A look back at the highs and lows
:08:38. > :08:39.of the Assembly as it meets for the final time
:08:40. > :08:47.To Dublin now, and a gangland feud has left the authorities in the city
:08:48. > :08:53.Garda investigations into last month's shootings are ongoing.
:08:54. > :08:57.Meanwhile, the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau is targeting
:08:58. > :09:01.the financial activities of a Spanish-based Irish crime gang.
:09:02. > :09:05.Tonight, Spotlight will reveal new evidence about the Kinahan drugs
:09:06. > :09:10.cartel run by an Irish gang that stretches across the globe.
:09:11. > :09:13.The recent spate of gangland killings in Dublin has focussed
:09:14. > :09:18.attention on the Kinahan cartel - a drugs trafficking operation based
:09:19. > :09:22.on the Costa Del Sol set up by this man, Christopher Kinahan,
:09:23. > :09:24.and now widely reported to be run by
:09:25. > :09:29.Tonight's Spotlight programme reveals for the first time files
:09:30. > :09:32.from a Spanish police investigation into the cartel.
:09:33. > :09:35.The documents reveal a vast network of properties,
:09:36. > :09:38.businesses, and bank accounts around the world,
:09:39. > :09:42.all of which are considered by Spanish police to be a network
:09:43. > :09:45.used to traffic drugs and launder the proceeds.
:09:46. > :09:49.The files also contain transcripts of recorded phone conversations
:09:50. > :10:04.in which members of the gang discuss taking delivery of guns.
:10:05. > :10:08.The files also reveal how the cartel became so wealthy,
:10:09. > :10:10.they were able to invest heavily in their global
:10:11. > :10:18.It says that at one point the cartel considered
:10:19. > :10:24.And on tonight's programme, at a meeting with Spotlight
:10:25. > :10:27.in Spain, representatives of the Kinahan gang,
:10:28. > :10:30.for the first time, issue a public statement about
:10:31. > :10:40.The statement will be shown in full in tonight's edition of Spotlight.
:10:41. > :10:43.And you can see that Spotlight programme on BBC One this evening
:10:44. > :10:54.Around 50 sixth-form pupils walked out of De La Salle school
:10:55. > :10:56.in West Belfast this morning in protest at the number of teachers
:10:57. > :11:00.The BBC understands that over a third of the teaching staff
:11:01. > :11:03.in the school are off for a second day in a row.
:11:04. > :11:06.It's alleged that there have been delays in the implementation
:11:07. > :11:11.of an action plan to address some of the problems in the school.
:11:12. > :11:14.Our education correspondent Robbie Meredith reports.
:11:15. > :11:17.An extraordinary sight in the middle of a school day -
:11:18. > :11:21.sixth-formers leaving their own school due to concerns
:11:22. > :11:27.There's not enough teachers in to cover classes
:11:28. > :11:30.and it's affecting everyone in the class as we are all
:11:31. > :11:32.falling behind, it's not just some, it's everyone
:11:33. > :11:36.I'm studying three A-levels, I have substitutes in place and I'm
:11:37. > :11:40.grateful there is someone teaching me but at the same
:11:41. > :11:45.time there is not the emotional connection and a friendly connection
:11:46. > :11:49.as there was with the original teachers.
:11:50. > :11:57.Earlier around 20 parents had also gathered at the school gates.
:11:58. > :12:06.My son is doing the as part of his coursework and they are not getting
:12:07. > :12:08.to do a lot of PE. Yesterday that the whole was cordoned off and the
:12:09. > :12:11.boys had to go to study hall. He needs the two grades to get
:12:12. > :12:14.into Queens, so I am very concerned and at one point
:12:15. > :12:17.he was talking about dropping out I understand at least 24 teachers
:12:18. > :12:22.out of a full-time teaching staff of around 70 were
:12:23. > :12:23.absent again today. Two parents did go in for a meeting
:12:24. > :12:28.with the principal. I asked if this situation would be
:12:29. > :12:32.resolved any time soon and she didn't say
:12:33. > :12:36.yes or no, and I said this was nearly a year and I don't
:12:37. > :12:39.feel it will be resolved I have been into the school briefly
:12:40. > :12:45.this morning, but no-one A member of staff did tell me
:12:46. > :12:50.the school was fully functioning. But given the high levels of staff
:12:51. > :12:54.absence and the walk-out by some pupils, it's hard to see how
:12:55. > :12:59.there can't be some disruption. The pupils later returned to school,
:13:00. > :13:03.but there's no sign that the ongoing industrial problems will be
:13:04. > :13:12.resolved so quickly. The INTO union said it would ballot
:13:13. > :13:17.its teachers for further industrial action.
:13:18. > :13:19.And a short time ago, the Education Minister,
:13:20. > :13:21.John O'Dowd, has said he's concerned about what's happening
:13:22. > :13:25.He told the BBC that the stand-off needs to be resolved quickly
:13:26. > :13:28.as the quality of education is being impacted.
:13:29. > :13:32.He said he's keeping the situation under review but only the board
:13:33. > :13:40.of governors and CCMS have the power to act.
:13:41. > :13:43.Northern Ireland have made one of their most important selection
:13:44. > :13:45.decisions ahead of this summer's European Championships -
:13:46. > :13:51.They've chosen a luxury four-star chateau, Le Chateau de Pizay.
:13:52. > :14:04.With all the travelling the Northern Ireland team will do, it makes sense
:14:05. > :14:10.for them to choose a hotel somewhere in the middle and that is what they
:14:11. > :14:23.have done. Their hotel is near Lyon and I have been for a look.
:14:24. > :14:36.The hotel manager showed me around. There is a leisure area and bedrooms
:14:37. > :14:44.for the players, so you have 48 rooms and a swimming pool, tennis
:14:45. > :14:50.court, and a beautiful view. The players all get their own room and
:14:51. > :14:54.do not have to share. The rooms come with all the luxuries you would
:14:55. > :15:00.expect. You have a huge double bed, and upstairs and downstairs, two
:15:01. > :15:16.televisions, a prince cabinet with soft ranks. You are spoiling them!
:15:17. > :15:23.We don't spoil them. The word in French is chouchoutter, we take care
:15:24. > :15:30.of them. Northern Ireland team management have already told the
:15:31. > :15:36.hotel what they expect. They said to very important things for them, very
:15:37. > :15:44.fast Wi-Fi connection and TV channels, BBC sport, Eurosport. What
:15:45. > :15:51.about food? Have they made any specific requests? Vegetables for
:15:52. > :15:57.all the meals, low-fat, margarine, not after, and dressing and sauce
:15:58. > :16:07.always on the side, never on the food. What about alcohol? No
:16:08. > :16:15.alcohol, just fruit juice and water, never alcohol. Never? For the
:16:16. > :16:24.moment. Maybe after success, why not? If all goes to plan for
:16:25. > :16:29.Northern Ireland, they will be in France for three or four weeks and
:16:30. > :16:32.here on BBC Newsnight we will follow them every step of the way.
:16:33. > :16:35.The leader of NI21, Basil McCrea has said he is leaving politics.
:16:36. > :16:38.The MLA told the Belfast Telegraph he would not contest the Assembly
:16:39. > :16:40.election and was seeking a new career in business
:16:41. > :16:44.The party imploded on the eve of the elections two years ago
:16:45. > :16:48.when Mr McCrea fell out with deputy leader John McCallister over
:16:49. > :16:52.whether the party should define itself as unionist.
:16:53. > :16:55.Earlier this month, the Assembly Standards Commissioner dismissed all
:16:56. > :17:04.complaints of misconduct brought against Mr McCrea.
:17:05. > :17:06.MLAs are meeting at Stormont for what it's thought will be
:17:07. > :17:09.the last sitting of the Assembly before May's election.
:17:10. > :17:12.The DUP and Sinn Fein trumpeted the achievements of the last five
:17:13. > :17:16.years during which the very future of the institutions were threatened
:17:17. > :17:19.by rows over welfare reform and alleged IRA activity.
:17:20. > :17:22.But others warned that the mere survival of the Assembly was not
:17:23. > :17:31.Our political correspondent, Gareth Gordon, reports.
:17:32. > :17:39.This Assembly met for the 337th and final time, a journey which often
:17:40. > :17:45.looked like ending before it was meant to. Allegations of IRA
:17:46. > :17:48.involvement in the murder of Kevin McGuigan last year were a reminder
:17:49. > :17:54.of the pressures which have made devolution difficult but it was
:17:55. > :18:01.welfare reform which provided the greatest threat. Then came the fresh
:18:02. > :18:06.start agreement. It failed to properly address the needs of
:18:07. > :18:10.victims and survivors, it had Sinn Fein and the DUP handing welfare
:18:11. > :18:17.cutting powers back to Westminster and not resolving it. We need to
:18:18. > :18:21.move on from Saint the end to choose are surviving and that is good to
:18:22. > :18:26.the point we can genuinely say they are delivering. What has this
:18:27. > :18:35.Assembly achieved? Corporation tax is to be reduced from 2018, paying
:18:36. > :18:40.for sex has been banned, the number of departments will be reduced and
:18:41. > :18:44.they tax and carrier bags, but there is still no agreement on dealing
:18:45. > :18:52.with the legacy of the Troubles, abortion in the case of fatal beetle
:18:53. > :18:56.abnormalities and same-sex marriage. It also saw the election of the
:18:57. > :19:04.first Sinn Fein speaker, who is now retiring. I am relying on change
:19:05. > :19:09.because I think many MLAs in the current and past mandates are people
:19:10. > :19:15.who have been hurt worker from ties to buy the conflict but the risk a
:19:16. > :19:19.new generation coming through, children of the peace process who
:19:20. > :19:24.are now voting age, they will become politically active in this mandate
:19:25. > :19:32.or the next one and will bring different politics. Curry might
:19:33. > :19:39.yoghurt... The man responsible for want of this Assembly's most
:19:40. > :19:45.difficult moments is also leaving. Who knows what next year might bring
:19:46. > :19:49.in terms of something resurrecting itself, those things happened in the
:19:50. > :19:54.past and I am sure they will happen again but we have to deliver for
:19:55. > :19:58.people and that is why these institutions I hear, not as a
:19:59. > :20:04.stand-alone body for politicians to make careers out of, they have to
:20:05. > :20:11.deliver for the public. With a third of us politicians alike had in 2011
:20:12. > :20:16.not standing this time, the next Assembly will look different but if
:20:17. > :20:17.public confidence is to be restored it will have to do things
:20:18. > :20:19.differently as well. Almost ?2 million is to be spent
:20:20. > :20:22.inspiring the next generation The money will provide environmental
:20:23. > :20:26.projects that will be made available One such project has seen Atlantic
:20:27. > :20:30.salmon being raised in a primary school classroom and released
:20:31. > :20:32.in a Belfast river. Our Environment Correspondent,
:20:33. > :20:43.Conor Macauley, reports. On a lovely spring day, school is no
:20:44. > :20:45.place for nature lovers. So these pupils from
:20:46. > :20:47.Ballymacward Primary near Lisburn They're at the Colin River
:20:48. > :20:51.in Belfast to release hundreds of juvenile salmon they've been
:20:52. > :20:59.baby-sitting for months. I love watching nature grow and
:21:00. > :21:07.watching how they survive and learning more about them. We know
:21:08. > :21:12.how we grow but how do they grow? They are living in the wild, how do
:21:13. > :21:15.they hide from predators and stuff like that? It's fascinating.
:21:16. > :21:17.While looking after these fish, the children have been learning
:21:18. > :21:19.about them, bringing their life cycle alive.
:21:20. > :21:25.And now the day has come to say goodbye.
:21:26. > :21:34.I think the children, having nurtured the animals in the room
:21:35. > :21:39.here, will take a very close interest in all things to do with
:21:40. > :21:45.Rizzo -- River conservation in the future. The water in the tank is
:21:46. > :21:51.water from the colon ref and we think salmon used the chemical
:21:52. > :21:55.composition of that to guide them back to their spawning spot after
:21:56. > :21:57.years in the Atlantic Ocean. This is part of a new project
:21:58. > :22:00.which will see 15,000 young people encouraged to develop
:22:01. > :22:02.a love of nature. The lottery money will fund
:22:03. > :22:04.environmental schemes by Ulster Wildlife and
:22:05. > :22:12.the Belfast Hills Partnership. It's all about the next generation,
:22:13. > :22:18.to encourage young people to learn about the environment and to be
:22:19. > :22:22.excited about it, so they are the people who will be standing up,
:22:23. > :22:23.making the policies and making a difference.
:22:24. > :22:26.They've been taught too about the harsh side of nature -
:22:27. > :22:28.the risks these fish will face like predators and pollution.
:22:29. > :22:32.They know that only 3% of them will return to the Colin to spawn
:22:33. > :22:45.in a few years - and that is just five adult salmon.
:22:46. > :22:47.Very enthusiastic young nature lovers there.
:22:48. > :22:50.Now sport, and day one of the Cheltenham festival saw
:22:51. > :22:52.a great day for the Irish but gloom for the bookmakers.
:22:53. > :22:58.It couldn't really have gone much better.
:22:59. > :23:00.Yes, a treble victory for jockey Ruby Walsh on horses trained
:23:01. > :23:03.by Willie Mullins gave the Irish punters plenty to cheer on day
:23:04. > :23:07.And plenty for the bookmakers to ponder, with Walsh's success
:23:08. > :23:09.on the opening day of the festival costing them
:23:10. > :23:14.In 2015 the horse Annie Power was a big favourite to win
:23:15. > :23:21.The watching and retired AP McCoy said it's the best
:23:22. > :23:30.In horse racing terms, today was something special.
:23:31. > :23:34.The first mare to win the Champion hurdle for 22 years.
:23:35. > :23:37.The reaction said it all - only the first day at Cheltenham,
:23:38. > :23:40.but it belonged to the Irish, it belonged to Ruby Walsh and,
:23:41. > :23:42.not for the first time, trainer Willie Mullins became
:23:43. > :23:52.Ruby had already tasted succcess at this year's festival.
:23:53. > :23:58.And there was more to come for Ruby Walsh.
:23:59. > :24:01.He took part in four races this afternoon and ended up winning
:24:02. > :24:05.It's only day one of the festival, but from an Irish perspective -
:24:06. > :24:10.and specifically a Ruby one - it couldn't really
:24:11. > :24:15.Derry City made it back-to-back wins in the League of Ireland Premier
:24:16. > :24:17.division last night away to Bray Wanderers.
:24:18. > :24:19.Derry took the lead during the first half, former Sheffield United
:24:20. > :24:23.defender Aaron Barry scoring a header to make it 1-0.
:24:24. > :24:25.Derry doubled their advantage after the break.
:24:26. > :24:28.The ball was pulled back to Rory Patterson, who rolled it
:24:29. > :24:33.Then Patterson scored Derry's second and his third, rounding
:24:34. > :24:40.The win leaves Derry with six points after three games.
:24:41. > :24:43.The former Northern Ireland captain Neil Lennon has parted company
:24:44. > :24:47.He had been the club's manager for the last 17 months.
:24:48. > :24:50.Bolton are currently bottom of the Championship.
:24:51. > :24:56.The team had also failed to win in their last seven matches.
:24:57. > :24:58.Finally, world champion boxer Carl Frampton has been presented
:24:59. > :25:04.The Belfast fighter was granted the award in the Queen's New Year's
:25:05. > :25:06.Honours list in December, with the formal presentation
:25:07. > :25:10.He's described it as "a very proud day."
:25:11. > :25:16.It's been a beautiful day out there, Cecilia is here with the weather
:25:17. > :25:31.Indeed, another great day, temperatures up to 14, well above
:25:32. > :25:35.average for the time of year and we are loving our sunsets. This was
:25:36. > :25:39.taken last night in County Tyrone and you have kept them coming,
:25:40. > :25:45.probably because we have been starved of sunshine recently. This
:25:46. > :25:50.is close to one of our weather stations in the Sperrins and this is
:25:51. > :25:56.from last night, so we have had some amazing sunset and tonight the risk
:25:57. > :26:01.a chance of a week or because there will be clear skies. It will get
:26:02. > :26:05.cold over parts of Tyrone and Fermanagh and that could lead to one
:26:06. > :26:11.or two patches of fog first thing tomorrow and it will not start right
:26:12. > :26:15.or sunny everywhere, there will be green us in the skies so don't be
:26:16. > :26:21.surprised if first thing it is not beautiful, it should improve. Quite
:26:22. > :26:27.cold initially, especially in the South West, mist and low cloud
:26:28. > :26:32.especially towards East Antrim, towards parts of Belfast and County
:26:33. > :26:37.Down vote temperatures here will be higher, but a fine and dry dates and
:26:38. > :26:43.it will brighten up, the best sunshine in the West. Temperatures
:26:44. > :26:47.to date were up to 14 degrees, the average for this year is nine or ten
:26:48. > :26:53.so 12 is still above the average though it may not be as sunny
:26:54. > :26:59.everywhere as it was today. This was Belfast Zoo today, if you were lucky
:27:00. > :27:05.enough to have a day off tomorrow for our off on Thursday, things are
:27:06. > :27:08.still settled with light winds, high pressure but we expect skies to turn
:27:09. > :27:14.cloudy in the latter part of the week. St Patrick's Day should be a
:27:15. > :27:20.dry day, still decent, temperatures falling back a little but still
:27:21. > :27:25.sunshine in the West and that is key as we head towards Friday and the
:27:26. > :27:30.weekend, West is best, so dry unsettled weather to come, it looks
:27:31. > :27:35.like it will stay dry into the beginning of next week, lots of
:27:36. > :27:38.clothes from Thursday onwards in the east so not as sunny or warm.