:00:00. > 3:59:59Anglia early on Sunday but then we are left with a
:00:00. > :00:18.Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline.
:00:19. > :00:22.Relatives of over thirty people killed in the Troubles
:00:23. > :00:27.threaten court action to force the holding of inquests.
:00:28. > :00:33.I come from unionist background. Answers we are not getting.
:00:34. > :00:37.Still no air emergency service amid delays in getting
:00:38. > :00:38.a helipad at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
:00:39. > :00:40.A patient is killed as an ambulance bursts
:00:41. > :00:45.into flames at a County Kildare hospital.
:00:46. > :00:54.The dangers of button batteries, a new campaign to stop this happening.
:00:55. > :00:59.Young children swallowing them. Also... Controversy as a former
:01:00. > :01:01.police officer suggests decriminalising cannabis.
:01:02. > :01:03.Brands hatch, Silverstone and beyond - we spend a day
:01:04. > :01:06.with the Newtonards school boy who is the rising star
:01:07. > :01:18.I'll have details and the full forecast just before 7pm.
:01:19. > :01:22.The government and Stormont Executive have been told they've 14
:01:23. > :01:25.days to agree to fund inquests into some of the most controversial
:01:26. > :01:30.killings of the Troubles or face court action.
:01:31. > :01:32.The warning comes two weeks after Northern Ireland's most senior
:01:33. > :01:37.judge called for urgent action on the issue and said there's
:01:38. > :01:39.a legal obligation to ensure the inquests are heard.
:01:40. > :01:44.Our Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney reports.
:01:45. > :01:46.They came from different backgrounds.
:01:47. > :01:51.Relatives of more than 30 people people killed during the Troubles
:01:52. > :01:55.still waiting for inquests to be held to establish what happened.
:01:56. > :01:57.They joined in protest at Stormont today -
:01:58. > :02:02.Demanding that the government releases the funding needed
:02:03. > :02:06.for inquests into the killings of their loved ones.
:02:07. > :02:10.They included Nichola Baxter, seen with her cousin Craig McCausland,
:02:11. > :02:12.a 20-year-old Protestant father of two shot dead by
:02:13. > :02:30.I come from a unionist background, we have been waiting 11 years for
:02:31. > :02:33.the death certificate, simple things we are entitled to. Answers, we are
:02:34. > :02:37.not getting. Alongside her... Rita Bonner's brother, John Laverty,
:02:38. > :02:39.was one of 11 people shot dead by soldiers in what has become known
:02:40. > :02:55.as the Ballymurphy massacre in 1971. I think no one has said she would
:02:56. > :03:00.meet us. She needs to be doing more to release the funds for everybody,
:03:01. > :03:02.not just our inquest, everyone's inquest.
:03:03. > :03:05.Earlier this year Northern Ireland's most senior judge asked
:03:06. > :03:07.the Stormont Executive to back a request for ten million pounds
:03:08. > :03:10.funding for a five year plan to hear all legacy inquests.
:03:11. > :03:13.The Lord Chief Justice wanted the money released before an overall
:03:14. > :03:16.agreement is reached on how to deal with the past.
:03:17. > :03:19.But the request was blocked by First minister Arlene Foster.
:03:20. > :03:22.This month Sir Declan Morgan said he was hugely disappointed -
:03:23. > :03:25.and made it clear that dealing with the inquests is
:03:26. > :03:40.The pressing need to make progress has been recognised by the
:03:41. > :03:45.committee, which in its last report in June said it was critical of the
:03:46. > :03:49.United Kingdom authorities take all necessary measures to ensure the
:03:50. > :03:51.legacy system is properly resourced and staffed to enable effective
:03:52. > :03:53.investigations to be included. Earlier this month, speaking
:03:54. > :03:55.to the BBC at a meeting of the British Irish
:03:56. > :03:57.association in Oxford, the Secretary of State insisted it's
:03:58. > :04:11.the responsibility of Stormont It is for the executive to consider
:04:12. > :04:15.those issues and to make a proposal to seek funding from the UK
:04:16. > :04:17.government. They are considering these factors carefully.
:04:18. > :04:20.A lawyer representing the families who took part in today's protest
:04:21. > :04:25.accused the government of breaching international law.
:04:26. > :04:32.Clearly they are in breach of the Human Rights Act. I ask the
:04:33. > :04:37.Secretary Of State to read the Council of Europe report which said
:04:38. > :04:40.it was his responsibility and the obligation of the UK government and
:04:41. > :04:42.to read the statement of the Lord Chief Justice which outlines the UK
:04:43. > :04:44.government obligations. He then handed a letter
:04:45. > :04:46.to an official representing the Secretary of State warning that
:04:47. > :04:49.legal action will be launched if funding for the inquests isn't
:04:50. > :04:52.released within 14 days. The Stormont Executive
:04:53. > :04:53.and department of justice An Air Ambulance service
:04:54. > :05:02.for Northern Ireland which was announced to some fanfare
:05:03. > :05:05.in the Spring may not now be fully Several major issues including
:05:06. > :05:16.staffing are yet to be sorted out. It's emerged that building a helipad
:05:17. > :05:18.at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast could take up to nine
:05:19. > :05:21.months, and the work is yet When it comes to major
:05:22. > :05:29.trauma, time matters. Air ambulances improve patient
:05:30. > :05:32.prospects in all of the UK regions, but Northern Ireland
:05:33. > :05:37.doesn't have one. At the Northwest 200,
:05:38. > :05:53.Ryan Farquhar had to be transferred A major announcement by the former
:05:54. > :05:58.health minister promised a dedicated air ambulance would be operational
:05:59. > :06:03.by the end of this year. That is beginning to look unlikely. The BBC
:06:04. > :06:07.understands issues on progress includes staffing hangar facilities
:06:08. > :06:14.and issues with the new critical care building at the Royal Victoria.
:06:15. > :06:18.This building opened last year costing over ?150 million. A helipad
:06:19. > :06:23.was built on the roof but it turns out it is not suitable for air
:06:24. > :06:37.ambulance use. And make it fit for purpose could cost up to ?800,000
:06:38. > :06:41.and take nine months. Before the election we had an announcement
:06:42. > :06:48.about a tribute to John Heinz. If we have a real tribute it has to be
:06:49. > :06:49.something, a properly functioning service for the benefit of all the
:06:50. > :06:51.people. Cogs can turn slowly
:06:52. > :06:53.and that is frustrating. I am trying to apply pressure
:06:54. > :06:55.to ensure this facility is in Northern Ireland
:06:56. > :06:57.as soon as possible to help In a statement, the Department of
:06:58. > :07:28.Health said... When it arrives, the air ambulance
:07:29. > :07:30.will speed up the journey to critical care.
:07:31. > :07:33.but for now the concern is the speed of progress in getting a service
:07:34. > :07:39.A male patient who was in an ambulance when a fire broke out
:07:40. > :07:41.at Naas General Hospital this afternoon has died.
:07:42. > :07:48.Let's speak to our Dublin correspondent, Shane Harrison.
:07:49. > :07:58.What happened? What we know is the male patient believed to be elderly
:07:59. > :08:02.was in an ambulance at TPM close to the entrance to the Accident and
:08:03. > :08:09.Emergency department at the hospital when there was an explosion and he
:08:10. > :08:11.died as a result. There were tee-macro ambulance men on board,
:08:12. > :08:18.one suffered superficial injuries and the other more severe burns. His
:08:19. > :08:22.condition is not regarded as serious. What caused the blast we do
:08:23. > :08:26.not know but there is speculation stored oxygen may have been a
:08:27. > :08:33.contributory factor. The health service executive and the police are
:08:34. > :08:37.carrying out investigations. The Accident and Emergency Department at
:08:38. > :08:41.the hospital was closed and visitors this evening are being asked to
:08:42. > :08:47.refrain from going to see patients. We also know people who may have a
:08:48. > :08:54.intended to go to the hospital are asked to go to the GP first or two
:08:55. > :08:59.A departments in nearby hospitals. In terms of political reaction, Sinn
:09:00. > :09:02.Fein say they were aware of trade Unions saying they had concerns
:09:03. > :09:08.about the vehicles but the health service executive say the vehicle
:09:09. > :09:16.was involved was a very modern one. We await a statement from the health
:09:17. > :09:17.minister. Two women, including
:09:18. > :09:18.one from Londonderry, have been killed in a car
:09:19. > :09:21.crash in Donegal. It happened yesterday
:09:22. > :09:22.afternoon outside the town of Ballybofey,
:09:23. > :09:24.on the Glenfin Road. The victims were 38-year-old mother
:09:25. > :09:26.of three Maria Wallis, originally from Derry,
:09:27. > :09:28.and 19-year-old Kiara Baird It's believed the car
:09:29. > :09:48.they were travelling in lost control A man is stable after being injured
:09:49. > :09:51.in an industrial accident in County Tyrone. The ambulance service
:09:52. > :09:57.received a report a report a man was trapped under a machine this
:09:58. > :10:03.morning. The Health and Safety Executive has launched an
:10:04. > :10:07.investigation into the incident. Coming up... Another increase in
:10:08. > :10:35.civil service sickness levels, the highest since 2008.
:10:36. > :10:44.They are lithium button batteries and they are in household items.
:10:45. > :10:47.TVs, weighing scales, bathroom weighing scales, they are common and
:10:48. > :10:53.they are in lots of things, children's toys, they look quite
:10:54. > :10:59.innocuous, they could choke a child which is a potential risk. What
:11:00. > :11:05.happens to the battery in the body? If swallowed or put up the nose, or
:11:06. > :11:08.into the ear, they cause a chemical reaction and caustic soda is
:11:09. > :11:12.released. Everybody knows what caustic soda does, it cleans trains
:11:13. > :11:19.so imagine what it does to the gullet. A little girl called Ava,
:11:20. > :11:25.her button battery was in her gullet for three weeks, she came in with
:11:26. > :11:31.life-threatening and breathing difficulties, it eroded her and she
:11:32. > :11:39.had a narrow windpipe to breathe through. The surgeons removed it and
:11:40. > :11:43.anaesthetic, it was waged in the oesophagus and it took huge effort
:11:44. > :11:48.to remove it. Some children are not so fortunate, other children in the
:11:49. > :11:51.hospital we refer to Great Ormond Street and the battery has
:11:52. > :11:55.completely dissolved their gullet and they will have a life changing
:11:56. > :12:00.injuries. Some children die because they have swallowed button
:12:01. > :12:05.batteries. The button batteries to their main Brussels and the bleeds
:12:06. > :12:11.to death. I can see how passionate you feel about this. What would you
:12:12. > :12:16.say to parents watching? I would say to any parent or carer or
:12:17. > :12:20.childminder, particularly toddlers because they learn and explore the
:12:21. > :12:24.world through their mouth is, if you have remote controls, kitchen
:12:25. > :12:28.scales, weighing scales and bathrooms, anything with a button
:12:29. > :12:34.battery, take it away, put it up high and keep it away from children.
:12:35. > :12:44.An important warning. Civil service staff off for an average 12 days
:12:45. > :12:48.each last year. The highest level since 2008 and compares to a target
:12:49. > :12:53.level of eight points five days per worker. John Campbell has been
:12:54. > :12:57.looking at the figures and it suggests efforts to tackle it
:12:58. > :13:04.falling short. The long-term trend for sickness has been coming down,
:13:05. > :13:09.in 2015 days per worker, last year it was below 11 days per worker but
:13:10. > :13:14.this year it has gone back up to 12 days per worker. It is higher than
:13:15. > :13:20.across the general economy where it is only six or seven days per
:13:21. > :13:24.worker. The average figure disguises what is going on underneath.
:13:25. > :13:30.This does not mean every worker was off sick for 12 days. If we look at
:13:31. > :13:36.the graphic, we can see half of the staff were off for no days. At the
:13:37. > :13:41.other end of the scale, more than 10% of staff were offered 20 or more
:13:42. > :13:47.days of sick and the significant thing is among those who are off on
:13:48. > :13:54.long-term sick leave because Tim % staff account for 75% of all sick
:13:55. > :13:58.leave. When we drill further in the figures, in the prison service they
:13:59. > :14:03.have a big problem with long-term sick leave pushing the average up
:14:04. > :14:06.significantly. There are big variations across staff and
:14:07. > :14:11.departments. What are the main reasons people
:14:12. > :14:16.give? Overwhelmingly mental illness. One
:14:17. > :14:19.in three sick days are accounted for anxiety, depression, or other mental
:14:20. > :14:24.health conditions. That has been part of a pattern for some time. It
:14:25. > :14:31.is a big issue for how the civil service tackles that.
:14:32. > :14:34.Any reaction for the figures? Finance minister said their
:14:35. > :14:36.disappointing and the need to redouble efforts to refocus because
:14:37. > :14:42.it is something they have been tackling for many years. The main
:14:43. > :14:47.public service unions say the big issue is the change is happening in
:14:48. > :14:54.the civil service, amalgamation of departments, voluntary exit, and big
:14:55. > :14:59.changes to the welfare system. They say it is no surprise there is
:15:00. > :15:06.rising levels of stress and that may be behind the upturn in the numbers.
:15:07. > :15:08.Still to come... Protesters arrested at County Antrim oil drill had the
:15:09. > :15:14.charges them dropped. There's been widespread reaction
:15:15. > :15:17.to comments by a former PSNI acting deputy chief constable
:15:18. > :15:19.about decriminalising Speaking on Radio Ulster's Talkback
:15:20. > :15:26.programme yesterday, Mr. McQuillan said the time had come
:15:27. > :15:28.to consider the move. It's one of the most common drugs
:15:29. > :15:36.used in Northern Ireland. And as far as some
:15:37. > :15:38.experts are concerned, Studies have shown that
:15:39. > :15:45.cannabis is associated with mental illness,
:15:46. > :15:46.particularly things Now, although there's no absolute
:15:47. > :15:51.proof, because studies are hard to do in this area,
:15:52. > :15:53.it has been shown there One has to remember that cannabis
:15:54. > :15:59.can lead to use of other drugs and what we see then is things can
:16:00. > :16:04.then quickly spiral out of control. Decriminalisation
:16:05. > :16:07.isn't legalisation. Instead, it would mean anyone found
:16:08. > :16:10.in possession of a small amount of cannabis would no longer end up
:16:11. > :16:13.with a criminal record Some are concerned that could create
:16:14. > :16:17.the impression that the drug There's increasing evidence
:16:18. > :16:24.of the effect that cannabis has on the brain, particularly
:16:25. > :16:27.in the brain of young men and there's quite good evidence that
:16:28. > :16:29.that causes a significant change which leads to anti-social
:16:30. > :16:31.behaviour certainly, but also to depression
:16:32. > :16:37.and other psychiatric conditions. And therefore, the more
:16:38. > :16:40.available cannabis becomes, which is what decriminalisation
:16:41. > :16:44.would create, then the more likely we are that we're going to increase
:16:45. > :16:47.the problem rather than reduce it. The decriminalisation
:16:48. > :16:49.and legalisation of cannabis have been debated over the years,
:16:50. > :16:52.but while the debate stays the same, some say
:16:53. > :16:57.the drug itself has changed. The supply of cannabis coming
:16:58. > :17:00.on to the market has increasingly been towards versions of cannabis
:17:01. > :17:03.which have a higher potency and therefore more extreme
:17:04. > :17:08.effects on the person. It would be important
:17:09. > :17:10.to have the debate. And I think that regardless
:17:11. > :17:15.of wherever the decriminalisation or the legalisation argument goes,
:17:16. > :17:19.is that some people will choose to access drugs which get
:17:20. > :17:21.the maximum effect and unfortunately those are the drugs which are going
:17:22. > :17:24.to have the maximum effect in terms of the negative
:17:25. > :17:31.impact on their lives. A fifth man's being questioned
:17:32. > :17:36.by police investigating dissident Republican activity in County
:17:37. > :17:38.Armagh. His arrest comes after
:17:39. > :17:41.four men were detained by officers yesterday
:17:42. > :17:44.following searches in Lurgan. Some homes in Woodville Avenue
:17:45. > :17:47.had to be evacuated The head of Friends of the Earth
:17:48. > :17:54.here has been told that charges he faced after a protest
:17:55. > :17:57.at a controversial County Antrim oil James Orr was one of five people
:17:58. > :18:02.charged after a protest at Woodburn Forest near
:18:03. > :18:04.Carrickfergus this summer. Our Agriculture and
:18:05. > :18:22.Environment Correspondent The plant to drill for oil led to a
:18:23. > :18:27.fraught protest. Police maintained daily presents as campaigners sought
:18:28. > :18:32.to stop the exploratory well on land leased from Northern Ireland water.
:18:33. > :18:37.In to five people being charged with offences like trespassers, and
:18:38. > :18:40.obstruction including James, director of Friends of the Earth in
:18:41. > :18:46.Northern Ireland. Now he and three others have been told the charges
:18:47. > :18:51.will not going ahead. We're not surprised at that, we felt these
:18:52. > :18:54.were charges without any real legal foundation so we're not surprised,
:18:55. > :18:59.we were surprised to be arrested but not surprised at the decision. That
:19:00. > :19:06.leaves one person out of five still being taken to court, there is a
:19:07. > :19:09.single outstanding charge but is confident it will be dropped. The
:19:10. > :19:15.land has been ploughed up and turned back over to Northern Ireland water,
:19:16. > :19:21.this looks like a story that is over but it has a long legal tale. Not
:19:22. > :19:24.only is the first person facing charges, but the council which gave
:19:25. > :19:29.permissions for the work is being taken to court as well. The case was
:19:30. > :19:32.meant to be heard this week but has been postponed.
:19:33. > :19:35.The Sean Dolans clubhouse in Creggan in Londonderry was completely
:19:36. > :19:37.destroyed in an arson attack in 2011 and many had worries
:19:38. > :19:42.Dozens of young players had no changing facilities and no home
:19:43. > :19:47.But that's all set to change after a major investment,
:19:48. > :20:02.Exciting times again at the club. It was determined to re-establish its
:20:03. > :20:08.strong commitment to Gaelic games with a special focus on young
:20:09. > :20:12.players. A major investment of ?800,000, club now has a
:20:13. > :20:17.state-of-the-art pitch and new changing rooms and clubhouse. The
:20:18. > :20:22.club was founded 75 years ago and literally had to build from the
:20:23. > :20:28.ground up after an arson attack in 2011. It was a huge blow to the club
:20:29. > :20:32.but it is only looking forward. The last five years has been
:20:33. > :20:37.horrendous since the arson attack, we lost the teams but thankfully we
:20:38. > :20:41.have people who have stuck with the club and we are rebuilding. We are
:20:42. > :20:48.working with schools so we hope in five years there will be 11 under
:20:49. > :20:52.teams fielded in the community. What are the stars of tomorrow think of
:20:53. > :20:56.the facilities? It is good to have the picture back in the community to
:20:57. > :21:05.do something because otherwise what will we do? I am enjoying the game.
:21:06. > :21:09.The girls are better than the boys! After a few difficult years, they
:21:10. > :21:20.now believe the future looks bright, the club says it is in good hands.
:21:21. > :21:26.Sport is a blend of bikes and club rugby. Let's start with rugby.
:21:27. > :21:28.We'll kick off with the Rugby TARA - evening everyone -
:21:29. > :21:33.Ireland flanker Iain Henderson will make his first start
:21:34. > :21:35.for Ulster in tomorrow's pro 12 trip to Glasgow -
:21:36. > :21:38.Jared Payne is named at full back with Charles Piatau
:21:39. > :21:41.moving to the wing - Rory Best is on the bench -
:21:42. > :21:46.Ulster off course unbeaten and Henderson keen to keep it that way.
:21:47. > :21:53.The guys playing did really well. Difficult games to play in to start
:21:54. > :22:00.the season. I thought did really well. Taking their opportunities and
:22:01. > :22:08.everyone knows we have left a fair few tries on the pitch. Going
:22:09. > :22:12.forward, we need to really execute the opportunities because we know
:22:13. > :22:16.they mean so much at this end of the season. And the game is live on BBC
:22:17. > :22:18.Two Northern Ireland tomorrow. Aprilia racing has confirmed Eugene
:22:19. > :22:21.laverty is to ride for the team next season the Toomebrige man
:22:22. > :22:23.who returns to Superbikes has signed a two year contract
:22:24. > :22:26.which will see him go head to head with fellow country
:22:27. > :22:28.man Jonathan Rea. And could this be a Eugene
:22:29. > :22:32.Laverty in the making - he's fifteen he's from Newtownards
:22:33. > :22:52.Aaron Wright is one of the hottest All revved up with no shortage of
:22:53. > :22:57.places to go, this schoolboy has British backing at his fingertips.
:22:58. > :23:02.He is quite literally out there on his own. Having clinched the title
:23:03. > :23:07.with the race weekend to spare and having sat out a significant part of
:23:08. > :23:13.the year because of a broken wrist. When you are injured you realise
:23:14. > :23:19.what you race motorbikes, I was so bored! I do not think people realise
:23:20. > :23:27.how lucky they are to have two hands because I was doing it all with one
:23:28. > :23:33.hand! It was frustrating. When he first completed, he was way off the
:23:34. > :23:37.pace. I was getting lapped in my first race which we laugh about. It
:23:38. > :23:41.has been hard work and commitment we have shown in the last year and it
:23:42. > :23:52.has paid off. We have achieved things this year. It is business as
:23:53. > :23:57.usual. Marrying sport with a classroom has been delicate and
:23:58. > :24:01.demanding. With racing in the British championship, we leave
:24:02. > :24:06.Wednesday night and the racing season continues during exams so we
:24:07. > :24:13.try to mix them both in. I bring schoolwork with me and we work it
:24:14. > :24:17.both ways. Next up, the world junior finals at the end of the month in
:24:18. > :24:24.the Netherlands. And Arron Wright expects to be on the podium.
:24:25. > :24:28.Golf Rory Mcilroy has just teed off in the final event of the USA tour
:24:29. > :24:30.championship in Atlanta - he lies fourth overall in the series
:24:31. > :24:33.with eleven and a half million dollars the prize for the outright
:24:34. > :24:51.You would scarcely get out of bed for that! Now, the weather forecast.
:24:52. > :25:00.Summer is over. You love this time of year...
:25:01. > :25:07.TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH SOUND Today is the autumn equinox. Equal
:25:08. > :25:12.daylight and night. The earth is on an angle. In the summer time we get
:25:13. > :25:17.the best of the deal because the North Pole is pointed towards the
:25:18. > :25:21.sun and the days are longer. At this time we are halfway around the
:25:22. > :25:26.journey round the sun so equal daylight and the court night-time.
:25:27. > :25:31.As we get into the next three months, the days are getting shorter
:25:32. > :25:35.and nights longer. We are more susceptible to changes in the air
:25:36. > :25:40.temperature and that will be the case through the next couple of
:25:41. > :25:46.days. Tonight, some showers working out, clearing skies and temperatures
:25:47. > :25:49.down in loosing or figures. Tomorrow, we are on the edge of the
:25:50. > :25:55.main weather events. The pressure for the fronts will be staying out
:25:56. > :26:02.of the north and west of us. After a bright start, the day goes downhill.
:26:03. > :26:09.We are going to sue the breeze picking up and the rain working its
:26:10. > :26:13.way in from the west. The blue skies will not last as long as today, the
:26:14. > :26:18.skies will cloud over Andrei moves in through the day. Temperatures,
:26:19. > :26:27.what we expect for this time of year. Underneath the cloud, a rather
:26:28. > :26:33.dull though. As we go through Friday evening and into Saturday, that is
:26:34. > :26:38.when the change starts. The rain in the north and west will work its way
:26:39. > :26:45.in during the night. Saturday morning, the view is not pretty. Wet
:26:46. > :26:49.and windy for the start of the weekend. The Raina sitting over us,
:26:50. > :26:53.pretty much throughout the day and coupled with the strengthening
:26:54. > :26:59.winds, it will be a pretty unpleasant day. By Sunday, more
:27:00. > :27:03.sunshine around but cooler air so despite the sunshine getting to
:27:04. > :27:08.work, temperatures markedly lower. Looking ahead, if you plan to get
:27:09. > :27:12.things done in the garden, Sunday is the pick of the days for the outside
:27:13. > :27:22.jobs as the rain will be unpleasant on Saturday. Looking ahead to
:27:23. > :27:27.tonight, the executive party against the opposition, but a government or
:27:28. > :27:32.slowing the system down? That is after the late news. The late
:27:33. > :27:37.summary is at 10:30pm. Keep in touch on Facebook and Twitter. From
:27:38. > :27:38.everyone on the team, have a very good evening and thank you for
:27:39. > :27:41.watching.