26/04/2016 BBC Newsline

The headlines on BBC Newsline: The known dissident republican

A soldier tells a court he can't recall the day he shot

A former IRA man hits out as the police launch another legal

Everybody seems to be thinking that the war is over and if the war is

over then why is the PSNI still intent to get them.

The family of this 95-year-old veteran say it's time

We meet the young table tennis sensation whose back on his home

turf. And the cold Arctic air is with us

for at least another 24 hours. I'll be back with a full forecast

later in the programme. The County Tyrone man

shot dead in Dublin last He was 34 and known

to the Gardai for being involved Michael Barr had appeared in court

on IRA membership charges. He was one of two men shot dead

in the city last night. The killings are said

to be unrelated. Our Dublin Correspondent

Shane Harrison reports. Another Dublin murder scene. Once

again in the north inner city. Last night around half past nine, two

gunmen described as skinny and wearing masks entered the Sunset

house pub near Croke Park and fired a number of shots. They and their

getaway driver escaped in a silver Audi that was later found burnt out

in junk and. The murdered man was originally from county Tyrone and

had been living in the area. He was known to guard as a dissident

republican. He had appeared before the anti-terrorist special criminal

escort charge of membership of a unlawful organisation and handling

stolen property. Last week detectives investigating one of the

murders Eddie Hutch kinaesthetic him began out feud raided his home. The

feud has so far claimed the lives of five men. The first and I -- in

Ireland was David Byrne murdered at the boxing way in. It widely

believed another dissident from county Tyrone was one of the

murderers and that dissident is provided some of the weapons for the

hutch gang. At a news conference this morning, Gardai said that at

this early stage of their investigation they were keeping an

open mind about who was responsible for last night killing. Obviously we

will be looking closely at possible links between this murder and

previous murders in the area. That will be one line of inquiry. Another

line of inquiry will be in relation to dissident activity. Those in the

area willing to talk on camera spoke of a sense of fear in the community.

Don't get involved. Just keep yourself. They goes on. What else

can I say? It's a gangland staff and that's it. In an unrelated murder, a

37-year-old man was shot dead in a house in Condor can in the west of

the city around midnight. Once known to gardai, he had not been involved

in criminality for years. A man has been found

dead following a house The blaze at Barrack Street

in Coalisland was already out when firefighters reached

the scene at midday. The police are investigating

the cause of the fire and the man's A construction firm in Newtownabbey

has been placed into administration. Upwards of 50 jobs could now be

lost. In a statement, the company said it was profoundly disappointed

by the announcement. The soldier who fired a rubber

bullet which killed an 11-year-old child 44 years ago has told

an inquest he has no concerns about his conduct

or actions that day, Under the name Solider B,

he has been giving evidence at the inquest into the death

of Frank Rowntree. The child was injured near Divis

Tower in Belfast in April 1972. 11-year-old Frank Rowntree died two

days after being struck at close range by a rubber bullet. Today his

family got here the voice of the man they believe pulled the trigger.

They couldn't actually see the former company Sergeant Major.

Soldier B gave evidence by video link and after a ruling by the

coroner the chairs for the Rowntree family were moved across the

courtroom where he can see his face on the screen. His face was visible

only to the coroner, legal representatives and courtroom staff.

He said he did couldn't recall the specific event of 44 years ago. He

said they become jumbled. Asked about his conduct on the day, he

said... He agreed he later had a child had

been killed. Talking of dealing with riots he

for members of the Rowntree family, the evidence was hard listening.

Very upsetting. It's as if we're not going anywhere. We just digging

their heels in every time. Can even see him on the video link. Soldier B

later denied making up his statement in 1972 as a cover story. It also

became clear during his evidence that he had arrived in the witness

box still wanting confirmation of what the inquest has been hearing

from the very start, that it was his shot, his rubber bullet that had

killed Frank Rowntree. Lawyers acting for a former IRA

member are taking legal action to prevent his interviews

in the Boston College project Anthony McIntyre was one of the main

researchers in the Troubles His legal team says the request

by the Public Prosecution Our Home Affairs Correspondent

Vincent Kearney reports. Anthony McIntyre regrets ever

becoming involved in a Boston tapes project. A number of former IRA

members and loyalist paramilitaries recorded interviews about their

activities during the troubles. They did is on the basis of the material

will be kept under lock and key until they were dead. In recent

years, the PSNI has successfully taken legal action to gain access to

some of the tapes. Now the police are going after Anthony McIntyre. I

see this as an attempt to force me to become a witness against people

that they allege I interviewed or to reveal the contents and identities

of those who I have interviewed. There are no circumstances under

which will be doing that. Anthony McIntyre live now listen dropped and

no longer lives in Northern Ireland because he fears that being

arrested. He served 18 years in prison for IRA offences and insist

the police have questioned him about the issues listed in a subpoena.

Everybody seems to be agreed at the war is over and if the war is open

why is the British state still intent on taking prisoners? A

subpoena seeking copies of interviews he recorded about his IRA

activities were served by a lawyer for the British government. They

acted after the PSNI used an international treaty to seek

assistance. A representative of the college has been ordered to appeal

in court in Massachusetts next Friday to provide the material

presented but Anthony McIntyre's legal team says that request was

unlawful. The application for this Pina has to be granted on to basis.

Firstly there has to be some evidence of the commission of some

offence and secondly there has to be an ongoing inquiry or investigation.

In this instance there is no evidence basis of any of that. In

the absence of that we say this points to a fishing exercise and we

say it doesn't stand up in a court. The research is legal team are given

the PPS until five o'clock today to withdraw its request for

international assistance but didn't do so. The lawyers will lodge papers

of the High Court seeking an emergency review of the legality of

the request. What began as a secret project about Northern Ireland's

past is now scheduled to be the subject of a secret hearing and an

American next week. Those involved mind corporate in police

investigations no matter what the outcome.

The family of a 95-year-old man who fought in World War II has

called for his bravery to be recognised by the French

government with the award of the Legion d'Honeur.

George Rogers was one of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers

who fought at Dunkirk in 1940 and were evacuated. Lisa McAllister has

been to meet the veteran. Home from the hell that is Dunkirk. According

to many Dunkirk veterans, hell was an understatement. Among the 330,000

soldiers rescued from the beaches, was George Rogers, a young rifleman

from the Shankill area of Belfast. He's already been awarded a number

of medals for bravery and now his family are keen that he receives the

Lee John d'honneur. -- Legion d'honneur. It's a lovely thing. I'd

love to see one. Who knows? George 's family has applied to the MoD for

the award and BBC understands it is considering placing George on a

priority list given his age and ill-health which would then be

submitted to the French authorities. He deserves to be recognised by the

Ministry of Defence. If they move a bit quicker and get this sorted out

because I all is almost 97 years of age. He hasn't got too many days

left. We just fight on the season and the oceans. On the air. We shall

fight on the beaches as we fought emblazoned on Dunkirk. George 's war

didn't Dunkirk will stop you went to Burma twice where he was seriously

injured when a grenade exploded in his face. Took my nose. In my

stomach and all. You're lucky to be alive! Staying free! If I could go

back again, I would go back tomorrow. I'll go back tomorrow. I

loved it. For George and many like him, the Dunkirk spirit never left

them. Now, two weeks ago, we reported

on the theft of a number of World War I medals from a house

in north Belfast. They were described

as of great sentimental value. Well, those medals have been

returned. They were awarded to

McIntyre Shields Pelan, a sapper in the Royal Engineers

who fought at the Last night, the medals were left

outside the home of his grandson who said their return

restored his faith in human nature. Still to come on the programme:

Remembering the Chernobyl disaster, we hear from the Antrim woman

who was there at the time. Ahead of the Assembly election,

we've been with the main party leaders as they relax away

from the campaign trail. This evening, BBC Newsline's Mark

Simpson joins the Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt

practising his golfing skills. Oh, yes. Oops. Why did you hit it

out there? This was your idea. Why golf? I used to play a lot as a

juvenile and it's relaxing to come hit a bucket of all is. I don't have

time any more to play a round of golf but half an hour on the driving

range at the weekend is great. You were a journalist for 20 years. You

know what the media are thinking. If you were me, what would you ask Mike

Nesbitt? I would say the Mike Nesbitt, how do you feel about the

election? Are you in good spirits? You know how the media works. We

look for issues will be answer. The executive, will you be in it or out

of it? We are looking at a mandate to go into negotiations and at the

end of that you make a decision. If you look at your election

priorities, one of them is improving mental health. I can't imagine any

other Ulster Unionist leader has done that. Why? Poor mental health

came to my front door over 20 years ago when Linda was diagnosed as

clinically depressed so that put it on our radar. She has done

phenomenal work in tackling the stigma and the frustration is ever

and agrees. There's an issue. There's interventions that we know

about that we could afford and yet were not doing it. You mentioned

your wife. Another former TV presenter. We thought she would have

been in politics by now. She not go to give it a go? I doubt it. She has

on. She's an lecture at Belfast met. You could be in the new Mr and Mrs

Clinton. That is properly one of the factors that put off. We never see

each other and that's why the marriage is going so well.

It moved left to right, that kind of sums you up. Very good! You have

brought the party towards the right. I'm not sure. I look at policy in

their own right. I make a decision. I would have thought some of our

policies are pretty left-wing, with centre-right and other issues. Final

question, it's about sport. You're a sports fan. The cover two World Cups

with Northern Ireland. Will you also be cheering on the Republic at the

Euros? My primary interest is Northern Ireland doing well and

coming out of the group but I'm a Unionist and I British but I also

have Irish within me and I'm proud to be an Irishman and it part of my

identity so I hope they do well and I hope Northern Ireland do well.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if they both came out of the group and where

to meet in the knockout stage. On that note, Mike Nesbitt, thank you.

Ards Football Club says one of its players is in hospital

with a fractured skull after an assault in Belfast city

The club has reported that Gary Warwick was making his way

home from a nightclub when he was attacked

The team's manager says the club is sickened

We'll get the guy and will be there for him and as I say the main thing

for us now is the make sure he gets well soon and hopefully fingers

crossed he can get into out and get him to the game on Saturday and

finish off what he's been working so hard for these last couple of years

in the joint and maybe get him a trophy. That's the plan. We'll be

trying our utmost to make that happen.

30 years ago today, there was an explosion and fire

at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine.

The meltdown was the worst nuclear disaster in history.

There were 31 deaths among clean-up workers but thousands more deaths

One of those who had to leave the area at the time

Julie Bond has been talking to our Dublin correspondent

The Chernobyl plant was 30 miles from here. The nuclear disaster

there forced a mass evacuation. Including those who left, UK

university students in the Ukrainian city of the then Soviet Union

learning Russian. Among them was a woman originally from Antrim town

but now living in county Wicklow. Julie Bond wasn't told about

Chernobyl until two days after it happened. We were in our room and

another girl who was with those came in and said there was a nuclear

explosion, close the window. The lecturers at university were

concerned about is. They got in touch with the government and it was

direct orders from Margaret Thatcher. And we got back, we were

given a health check at Heathrow Airport. With the told we are fine

but he'll be a good idea to get health in five or ten years. In the

years since Chernobyl, Julie has had a thyroid removed because of cancer

and has given birth to three children. One of whom has Down's

syndrome. The spite what the medics say, she suspects it all to much of

a coincidence. Back then when I have my thyroid removed, the surgeon said

that they went able to tell of a thyroid was cancerous and cause by

radiation or another reason. The oncologist was dismissive about the

Down's syndrome. He said its staff of nonsense. I think medics seemed

to be quite quick to say it's nothing. It's great if it's not. The

Soviets 30 years ago tried to downplay what happened at Chernobyl.

Many believe it could be a while yet before we know the true health

consequences of the nuclear disaster.

We have a new world champion in the world of sport

Mark Sidebottom, table tennis is not usually in the headlines

but it is today because of one particular young man.

There's nothing quite like a bona fides world champion. That is is a

clue what's happened here for the first time ever. Belfast has a world

champion. Owen Cathcart, press pause on the table tennis. Tell me about

it. What was it like? It was unbelievable. Strong tournament and

to win a world junior circuit event, be the first person from Ireland,

it's unbelievable. The game itself onto a fifth set. Where you

confident? I was confident during the match because I led the whole

way through. I won the first set and a 21-1 and I won the third set and

he won the fourth. I was always having a lead on him so I felt all

the pressure was on him and the fifth set. Where'd you get the time?

Spain next week, the Czech Republic, China, where how'd you marry this

with school? School have been good about it. I have three classes to

catch up and do my work that I miss when I'm at the tournament I take

books with me and work when I'm at the tournament but that is how I fit

it in. Long may it continue. Thank you. We move to rugby.

Ulster have had some bad injury news ahead of Saturday's crucial Pro12

Nick Williams has been unsuccessful in his bid

to rehabilitate his recent shoulder injury and now faces surgery.

That rules him out for the remainder of the season and his playing

And winger Tommy Bowe is also unavailable after a mild knee

reaction following the recent game against Zebre.

Finally, Bethany Firth has just broken the world record in the 200m

freestyle in Glasgow to qualify in a third discipline for

Cecilia Daly has the latest weather details.

The sun was out today. It was pretty cold, though. I don't like the look

of the forecasts. Lovely blue skies but also some really cold air.

That's what it's about. There will be lovely sunsets this evening but

therein mind if you are out the air originally is in the Arctic. That

will be coming to the next they ought to. We're hoping this yellow

area will wing its way towards as late in the week, particular for the

weekend and we should see temperatures in double figures. The

night, it will be very cold. It will also be wintry showers around and as

temperatures drop below freezing, lower than what you see on the map

in the orchards in county Armagh, there could be patches of snow on

the hills and on car windscreens. Hopefully not on the roads but for

the early risers it will be wintry. Sleet showers falling, hail around

as well. Low temperatures and ice on car winds winds. The sons of very

early so any frost and will melt. Lying snow will go as well and there

will be sunrises that lovely. Strong sunshine coming once again tomorrow.

With that, very cold air and still that cold wind from the north-west.

12 more in a way of wintry showers across the East competitor Deibert

mostly falling as rain, hail, not the many places in double figures

tomorrow. This is the weather watcher picture from this morning.

You need loads of layers on. Less cold by Thursday but it's a weekend

before things start to pick up.