07/06/2016 BBC Newsline

A man and his two young children were seriously injured

when they were struck by lightning in Lisburn today.

The father was walking with his seven-year-old daughter

and five-year-old son to their car just outside the school gate,

Children here at Killowen Primary School had just enjoyed their annual

Sportsday when tragedy unfolded. Two pupils and their father were leaving

the school when a lightning bolt struck just yards from their car.

Paramedics and police rushed to the scene. Among parents, there is a

sense of disbelief. It is terrible. The children are all upset. He is

even scared to go to school tomorrow. It is just awful news.

There was a man struck. You wondered, do I know this person? You

just don't know. I was running in and out of the rain to my father's.

It could happen to anyone of us. Parents and staff rushed to help the

injured and emergency services attended the victims. In a

statement, the principal of the school said the thoughts of the

entire school community were with the family at this time. A sentiment

echoed by local politicians. They are at a very critical stage saw our

thoughts and prayers are with them. The family are well known in the

community. Obviously, a lot of people are talking about it. It is

just tragic news, the father just came down to pick up his children.

The emergency services responded quickly. It is just tragic, but we

as a council will do our best, whatever we can do in order to try

and help the family. The man remains in a critical condition in hospital,

as does his five-year-old son. His seven-year-old daughter is also

being treated and is described as stable.

The panel set up to look at paramilitary activity says

a new decommissioning scheme should be set up to deal with any

groups wanting to put their arms beyond use.

The suggestion is one of 43 recommendations made by the panel,

last year's Fresh Start political agreement.

Our Political Editor, Mark Devenport, reports from Stormont.

The 43 recommendations from this independent panel include a number

of carrots and sticks. Amongst the carrots, that new decommissioning

scheme and also suggestions that ex-prisoners should get assistance

in finding employment -- implement. The sticks include cutting down on

giving bail to serious offenders and reviewing what are thought to be

unduly lenient sentences in cases of terrorism. A lawyer says that in

future he wants to see paramilitaries treated much more

like criminals. A lot of what we are seeing in the Palin -- paramilitary

groupings are something organised crime groupings, living within the

wider paramilitary style grouping and using the name of the grouping

as a badge of convenience, or an enhancing of the power and influence

in the criminality they are involved with. That must all cease, and the

organised crime group legislation will target those organised crime

groups within the communities and we think that is what the community is

ultimately want to see happening. There has been a mixed reaction here

to the recommendations. The leader of the TUV says it is just a

toothless whitewash, but the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

are impressed and said the panel's work will provide a basis for their

action in the coming months. A court has been told that a woman

from Carryduff who admits the manslaughter of her neighbour

was in a disturbed state Samuel Carson, who was 91,

died after a fire spread from Karen Hasson's garage

and filled his house with smoke. His 59-year-old neighbour had

earlier posted an angry message about her husband on social media

saying she hoped he'd burn in hell. Two men were arrested and five

people injured including three PSNI officers after a police chase ended

in a collision in East Belfast. The police say the pursuit began

after a car failed to stop for them. Bus and train fares may go up

on an ongoing basis. The man who runs Translink launched

a plan to grow passenger numbers and part of it could involve

linking fares to inflation. Our Business Correspondent,

Julian O'Neill, reports. Ticket fares have been frozen this

year, but 12 months ago, these passengers felt price pain, a hike

four times the rate of inflation. It would need ministerial approval, but

in future, Translink wants to ease understanding, simply link prices to

inflation, argues its boss, who today talked of reasonable increases

on an ongoing basis. What I would be more focused on moving forward is, I

think an increase is understood, fits in with supply and demand and

fits in with the Consumer Price Index on an annual basis, and we if

we came to an understanding as to how fares are moved each year. It is

indicated that that big fares hike hurt. Value for money ratings among

passengers dropped. The company admits it has its work cut out, but

as it launched a strategy document, European official for public

transport providers jumped to Translink's defence. The fares are

the European average. They are less expensive than they would be in

London. I think the value for money is good. Translink has set itself

the goal of 85 million passenger journeys annually by 2021. To hit

that target, Translink needs to add 5 million the current passenger

journeys, and what growth has been in recent years has all been down to

trains, not bosses. The bus and train operator wants Stormont to dig

deeper, calling for its growth plan to be backed by sufficient public

funding. But with cash tight in government, fares may have to come

under greater focus. Football, and the Northern Ireland

striker Kyle Lafferty awaits the results of a scan

on his suspected injured groin, to see if he will be fit

for his team's first game He sustained the injury

during a training session today. But the Northern Ireland camp

remain confident that Stephen Watson has the latest

from their camp in France. Walking a little gingerly tonight,

Kyle Lafferty arrived with his team-mates for a function held by

the Mayor of the local town which is hosting Northern Ireland this week.

The players were treated to a Michelin starred meal in the famous

Beaujolais wine region of France. Earlier in training, this was the

moment Lafferty was injured. The pain was clear for all to see.

Immediately, the Northern Ireland manager was keen to play down the

problem. No major concerns at all. He is fine. All good. It was best to

take him out of the training session, it made sense to do that.

Lafferty, who scored seven goals to help Northern Ireland to their first

major finals in 30 years, would be a massive loss to the side. But his

team-mates are confident he will be available. I think it was a slight

sort of, he just opened his groin up a bit, it happens all the time. I

think it is the most intelligent thing to do, to sit it out. Nobody

will be wanting to get injured before the biggest limit of our

lives. It has been massive for us, as were his goal in the qualifying

campaign. He is a handful. It was a bit of a scare seeing him getting

injured. So, an anxious wait for a Lafferty and all the Northern

Ireland fans who have started to make their way to France, with just

five days to go until the opening game against Poland.

The Republic of Ireland squad, meanwhile, will arrive

Thomas Kane will be with Martin O'Neill's side

throughout the tournament, and as he reports, there was some

The beautiful city of Versailles, just outside Paris, will be the

Republic of Ireland's home from home for the next few weeks and they will

arrive boosted by the news that Martin O'Neill and his backroom team

have signed a contract to remain in charge for the World Cup qualifying

campaign in 2018. Ahead of managing his first major tournament, O'Neill

has spoken to us about his hopes for Euro 2016, the similarity between

his current players and the Northern Ireland World Cup squad of 1982, and

he gives an insight into his relationship with his assistant, Roy

Keane. If we are not qualifying, people say it didn't work. It has

worked out pretty well. We meet each other occasionally outside, but we

don't socialise. From that viewpoint, when we go into the camp,

we are there to work. We enjoy it at the time, don't get me wrong, these

things are great. He is a motivational character himself. He

has been splendid for the group of players here. Those they have a lot

of respect for him as a player. -- because. Some of these players have

grown up with him being their hero. If we had not qualified, it would

have been the biggest disaster of all time. And you can watch more of

that interview with Martin O'Neill on tomorrow's programme.

And if you're going to France for the tournament supporting either

Northern Ireland or the Republic, we'd love to hear from you -

With the weather forecast, here's Cecilia Daly.

Another warm night coming up. The earlier thunderstorms and heavy

downpours have largely cleared. And much more dry for the rest of the

night. Temperatures no lower than 12 or 13. Lots of mist and low cloud

forming. But it will end up a decent day tomorrow, especially through the

afternoon. To begin, fold in places, particularly parts of the coastline.

Eventually, most of the mist and low cloud will burn away and the sun

should breakthrough by the afternoon. Some lovely sunshine

across the Republic, just the small chance of a shower. Still some heavy

showers and possible thunderstorms over parts of Scotland and northern

England. But no warnings in force and many parts of the UK and Ireland

will expect some pretty decent weather tomorrow. Temperatures

should end up in the low 20s tomorrow afternoon. The mist and low

cloud may take a while to clear from parts of the course. Temperatures of

around 16. On Thursday, a misty start, a couple of showers around.

But a lot of places will have a dry day. Temperatures reaching around 20

or 21. But things do not look quite so good on Friday. Rain will affect

all parts of Northern Ireland for a while, temperatures are likely to

get higher than around 17. But it will dry up again, at least for a

while on Saturday. But more rain on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Our next BBC Newsline is at 6:25 in the morning

You can also keep updated with News Online. Goodnight.