17/02/2017 BBC Newsline

That's all from the BBC News at Six - so it's goodbye from me -

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

The DUP faces more questions over its funding for a newspaper

You have no idea how much was spent. This was last June, you're asking me

to go over a little commission returns from last June.

The angry condemnation of gunmen who shot a 16-year-old boy.

These are predators, operating in a community with no accountability.

Skulking in the shadows, running away after they've used a young boy

in the most horrific way. How an online threat has shut down

an information service We do take our security seriously.

We have two. Because there are people out there who are a threat to

us. It didn't work the last time -

but can a new strategy win the European Capital of Culture

for Northern Ireland? Ulster rugby welcome back some

of their key players for tomorrows Of the mild weather continues this

weekend, find that if there's any sunshine coming our way.

More questions are being asked about funding for a newspaper advert

which the DUP received during the Brexit

In a BBC interview, Arlene Foster said she did not recall how much

money was involved, but said it was properly accounted

Last year's EU referendum campaign correspondent Stephen Walker.

Last year's EU referendum campaign was all about claim and

counterclaim. The argument was about whether the UK would be better or

worse off being in the European Union, and advertising was seen as

key. During the battle for votes, the DUP took out a newspaper advert

to promote a pro-Brexit position. Last night on the leader's debate,

Arlene Foster was challenged about funding during the campaign.

Did your party gets payment for the advertising?

Can you tell us here know who the donations are from?

I can. They're from an organisation in England was to see the union

kept, and to make sure we have a United Kingdom.

Later on the BBC programme The View, the DUP leader was challenged again.

I don't have the figure year, I done how much it was.

You must have some idea? I'm not here to spec out, I don't

have the figures. You received a large amount of

money, and you have no idea? I'm not saying I have no idea, I'm

saying it to you it was properly accounted for.

I'm not doubting that for a second. How much did you spend?

I have no idea. This was last June and you're asking me to go back over

delicate oral commission returns from last June.

What this relates to the EU referendum, the general issue of

payments is under much scrutiny. Stormont parties are not required to

reveal sources of the nations. At this donation had been made to it

political party in the rest of the United Kingdom, when the Electoral

Commission announces its findings, we would see who made that donation.

But because that donation for the Brexit campaign was made through a

Northern Irish party, we won't find out to get the money.

Last month, the Secretary of State wrote to the little parties asking

for their views on whether it was time for full transparency on

donations. Some argue that change needs to happen immediately.

We would like to see full transparency, like the rest of the

UK, like most of the rest of the world, as soon as possible. If it

can be done, by the 2nd of March, so people are making informed

decisions. Some are suggesting the parties

should independently publish their donation details.

The party is completely have it within their get to come out and say

this is where the money came from and this is what it was four. It's

hard to believe that a division side, over ?250,000, much more than

urban Oscar party in Northern Ireland would ordinarily get, cannot

be accounted for. The DUP spokesman said there was no

plans to name the donor and refused to answer whether there are any

additional fees on top of the donation. The spokesperson said all

these are registered with the Electoral Commission, and details of

funding would be released in due course.

The Department of Agriculture has confirmed that its former minister,

Michelle O'Neill, only learned of the huge hole in the

Renewable Heat Incentive budget as the scheme was closing.

There'd been criticism of the Sinn Fein leader at Stomont

after it emerged her department had facilitated dozens of events for

farmers at which the controversial scheme was promoted along

The department says Mrs O'Neill only found out about the budgetary

pressures on the scheme when she received a letter

from Jonathan Bell, the then DETI minister in February 2016,

A gun attack on a 16-year-old boy in West Belfast has been described

The teenager was shot in the leg at Forest Street,

The attack was just 24 hours after another shooting in the area.

The scene after the shooting. One resident described hearing something

outside on the street. There was a nice, and I said it must

be the TV. -- there was a noise. Some of the neighbours got the

ambulance. Like other residents, he was shocked

by what happened. The shooting here is the second happen in 24 hours and

the west of the city. Wednesday night, a man was shot and number of

times in both legs on the Falls Road. Police say it's too early to

both attacks. The shots on Wednesday night were counted on the mobile

phone of a passer-by. Police believe dissident republicans may be behind

both attacks. We are hugely concerned, as the

community is as well. The incident was last night was the 16-year-old

boys, we are calling it what this says, these are predators operating

in the community with no accountability, skulking the

shadows, running away after they've used a young boy in the most

horrific way. We find dissident Republicans carry out this behaviour

that is the time, they prey on young man, I think it's is strong starting

point for us,. While this may come under the title of violent dissident

republicans, the criminals are exposing the community, they are

one-day shooting drug dealers and the next day taxing them.

The Secretary of State described the attack as shocking and brittle.

Those who work in the community say they're concerned about what appears

to be a rise in so-called punishment shootings.

I'm not sure about the rise behind these shootings, but the community

is appalled by it. What I would say very clearly is that we condemn the

shootings, absolutely. Police say they've increased patrols

in the area and have called on the committee to help them catch those

responsible. It's less than 24 hours before

a schools cup rugby quarterfinal - but will it actually get

to kick off? A group representing Jewish people

has said it is reviewing The police are investigating,

as Louise Cullen reports. There are around 80 members of the

Jewish community in Belfast. Messages the Facebook page are

screened before being posted, so the threat was intercepted. The

community's chairman would only say the message was very anti-Semitic,

but because of it, details of events within the Jewish committee won't be

made public for now. We do take our security seriously,

we have too, because there are people out there who are a threat to

us. Of this latest incident comes 30

months after 13 Jewish gays were damaged in an attack at Belfast city

centre synagogue. Attacks rose last year.

Frankly, people appear to more tolerant, but we do have nasty

incidents from time to time, like the desecrations of the graves. Our

rabbi does get some pretty hateful home calls and messages. -- phone

calls and messages. But compared to what is happening in Manchester and

London, we're quite lucky. The message has been reported to the

police, but while it is being investigated, the community's

members will have to find another way to stay in touch.

A police custody sergeant and a former civilian detention

officer charged with causing the death of a police prisoner

They are Sergeant Brian McKenna and Alexander McAllister.

A judge at Belfast Crown Court lifted the restriction

on reporting their names after it was challenged by the media.

The two men deny the manslaughter of David McGowan, who was found dead

in a cell at Lisburn Police Station in May 2014.

The police are investigating allegations of misconduct and crime

at the service's training college at Garnerville in east Belfast.

A trainer at the college is being investigated for alleged

It's thought the same man is also being investigated about allegations

of an inappropriate sexual relationship with at least

There's to be a 12-week trial for private hire taxis to use

It starts on Monday and applies to lanes on east and west routes,

and 12-hour bus lanes in the city centre which link them.

With less than 24 hours before a schools cup rugby quarterfinal,

it's by no means certain what will happen at kick off time.

Friends School Lisburn are supposed to play Belfast Royal Academy,

but most of their team are on a half-term ski trip

they can't put out a team and want the Ulster Rugby Branch Schools

Committee to reschedule the match, but this looks unlikely.

For the first time in seven years, Friends School rugby team made it to

the quarter finals of the schools rugby cup. At the moment, filling

the fixture is the least of their worries. Last Saturday, nearly all

of the first 15 left the school here to go to Austria on a half term ski

trip. They are due to arrive back until tomorrow night, tonight late

the kick-off for the quarter final. -- the quarter final. -- they are

due. The school appealed to reschedule the fixture, but that was

refused. The school is closed have time today, but one parent said they

had exhausted every possibility, but can't get the players back home any

earlier. The statement said... Friend says it wants the committee

to take a decision, and repeated they are willing and able to. The

fixture next week. The committee's position has been that when friends

entered the control of recession, Ed signed a camp petition agreements,

committing to the dates. The committee says...

Late this afternoon, the Belfast Royal Academy put out a tweet saying

that the game was off. BBC Newsline has learned that

Belfast, Derry City and Strabane are to work on a joint bid to become

European Capital of Culture in 2023. Although the title is usually

awarded to a single city, the two councils say a joined-up

approach has a better Our arts correspondent

Robbie Meredith's report begins with the disappointment

when it was announced Belfast had lost out on a similar

bid over a decade back. The letter has just come through,

I'm sorry to say it's bag is us. We've been here before, and the

party fell flat. But over a decade since Belfast's last attempt failed,

it's now set to try again, this time with help from the north west. The

City Council is exploiting a combined bed with Derry, UK capital

culture four years ago, and Strabane. According to a Belfast to

cancel documents seen by the BBC, officials say a joint bid would be a

stronger proposition, and help share resources. But there's not much

time. A bit has to be made by October 2017, and would cost up to

?1 million to make. Councils in both cities have acted the move, so it is

early days, but had been told to proceed.

I think it's a great idea, I think anything that makes it hashtags

think Countrywide is a great idea. Keeping our profile high in Europe

at the moment is great. The council says it wants to hear

from artists in this process, hazard they do that?

A public consultation on how to do it and had to do it quickly and

well. This is a very much a first step,

but that does not make it a fantasy. A UK city is said to be European

capital of culture in 2023, even after Brexit. This is like Leeds and

Dundee have already thrown their hats into the ring, Belfast, Derry

and Strabane will have two more quickly to catch up, but at the

moment it is very much a case of better together.

There's been a 10% drop in the number of mortgage

repossession cases coming before the courts.

According to figures just released, there were just over

1100 cases initiated in Northern Ireland last year,

Repossession cases surged after the housing crash in 2008.

Labour Alternative has launched its Assembly election

The party is running candidates in four

The manifesto, called Re-Think - A Labour Movement

Agenda For Change, pledges to challenge

Orange and Green politics, oppose austerity and fight

In the run up to the Assembly election we are taking

a closer look at the leaders of the five main parties.

This evening, it is the turn of the SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood.

Our political correspondent Enda McClafferty joined him

on his election battle bus in Strabane.

We've had the Boris Bikes, the Cameroon coach, and Eddie Eastwood

expressed. Voice right it's modest size?

We only had a couple of weeks to get ready, so that's about as big as we

could manage. But it's and off for about us.

You could get all MLAs on there? But Whitegate all error in MLAs!

Colum Eastwood is not short of ambition, and says he has plenty of

time to get the SDLP back on the right road. Ceremony seats as you

targeting this time? I don't make public predictions

about seats, don't think it's very clever.

Be expecting to lose three seats? We're expecting a good election, we

want to form a Government, with any party prepared to make change happen

in this election. It's pretty clear that Mike Nesbitt

has cherished as relationship with the SDLP more then you reciprocate?

That's not true. What political leader goes to an opponent's

conference in excess beach? I did that, I think that was a brave move.

People tell me that. -- makes a speech. It shows that union is a

national song can work together. He's hoping that message can show

his -- convinces Dayton supporters to make it to the polls.

The FDL peopled -- the SDLP vote has not disappeared. I have set out a

plan to put the party back rebates to be. This is the first test of

that. I think we're going to do very well in this election.

To that end, he's brought back some familiar faces.

You're bringing two candidates out of retirement to fight this

election, that looks like a panic move?

One candidate randoms unfortunate to be elected, only a few hundred votes

make the difference and that election.

Look at us -- look at our team, it is a young team.

Colum Eastwood is prepared to be the face of the SDLP for some time to

come. Is the beard here to stay?

Arlene Foster doesn't like the beard, apparently, she made a strong

point of that in her conference speech. I think that's good enough

reason to keep it. He starts with rugby,

and another big game Ulster are boosted by the return

of some of their key players Irish internationals Craig Gilroy,

Luke Marshall and Tommy Bowe all start the game -

while scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will make his first

appearance of 2017. He will partner another player

who has returned from a potentially career-threatening injury,

as Ulster look to build All-star return to form in a fluent

first 40 minutes against Edinburgh last time out. -- all-star return to

form. And there was relief all round when the bag the one win. For one

player, there was a mix of the motions at the full-time whistle.

Peter Nelson broke his foot against the same opposition in December

2015, an injury that kept the 24-year-old out of the game for over

a year, and nearly ended his career. You have dark days, but you keep

focusing, you get guys have come back from long-term injuries. You

have to keep pushing on. There is always guys there, in the injury,

but to keep you pushing through. It took a long time free to get back

running, I had to learn how to walk again properly, and then build it

up. I felt really good out there on Friday night, the medical staff here

have done a fantastic job, and I thank them. I felt really good at

their just delighted to be back. In Glasgow, also face a side they

are morally beaten away this campaign.

They want to prove a point. We're expecting an onslaught, they're

going to be very tough. We're looking forward to it, hopefully we

can keep the momentum going after the Edinburgh game. It's to be

tough, but we're looking forward to it.

With some added every inspiration from the South African stars, Ulster

Place allocated on a run that they hope can salvage their season.

Come tomorrow, there will be a new name on

Neither of this years finalists, Carrick Rangers

or Ballymena United, has won it before.

In Carrick, the build up has been quite low key.

But as Mark Sidebottom reports, the market town of Ballymena has

Of late, there has been little to celebrate on the streets. Factory

closures and job losses have entered -- dented Ballymena's optimism. But

making it to a football final has seen a little joy return.

This is one they get things to about winning a frail long time.

People are scrambling for tickets, there's none available. The atlas

who will be electric. But then everybody's talking about this game

tomorrow. So much centres on it, this is then tested for Palomino.

That is one of the goals of the season!

Ballymena has been a team rejuvenated.

I did note this week this would be the first time either club would win

the League Cup, said there's a lot at stake. I'm sure both sets of

players will give it everything they've got to bring the trophy

back. Less than half an hour's drive away,

in the coastal roads around Carrick, there's little to head the biggest

day in this tiny club's history since the mid-1990 is is on the way.

But don't be conned by the lack of colour, this bunch has belief.

They have the better squad on paper, but we've shown we can compete with

squads who are again pay more for their players. Getting to any final

is a huge boost, particularly for the town. We've been looking forward

to it, and we will be prepared. His face may be as critical, but

does have one big concern, his first choice keeper Brian Neeson is

nursing a nasty rib injury, and hasn't trained this week.

I've just been resting since Saturday. Still a bit tender, but I

expect to play on Saturday. The cup final is a big deal, it's my first

one, and it is something I want to win for Carrick.

With the first choice keeper, these boys are ready for battle. The

message is, bring on a Ballymena, we've been waiting for a generation.

Should be an explosive final! And you can highlights

of the League Cup final on the BBC iPlayer, and we've live

commentary on Radio Ulster. Tomorrow's final means

that the Danskebank Irish Premiership programme has

moved to this evening. There are four games being played,

including league leaders Crusaders Crusaders are looking

to preserve their comfortable It is a nice position, but we've

worked very hard for it from the start of the season, I think we're

pretty much laid it, and it's a good place to be, up there looking down.

Everyone's coming after year, and then filter been excellent, working

really hard, tasting us down. -- Linfield have been excellent.

The Belfast Giants are at home tonight to the Cardiff Devils

in the first of two games against the league

The Giants lie second in the table and are looking for wins

It's not going to be easy, there's reason why they're top of the

league. We go out there and play us XML play Leicester hearts out, I'll

never point the finger at someone trying his heart out. We all need to

step up. If we do that, we're going to be fine. If the win, fantastic,

it really is, we play our best game, and they play their best game,

nothing you can do about that. It's go to be a hell of a game.

Graeme McDowell had a steady start in the opening

round of the Genesis Open in California, carding a two under

par round of 69 to lie five shots off the overnight lead.

Looks at the weather will stay miles, and tomorrow will be the

brighter of the two days. We should hopefully see some sunshine, and

given it's busy spot day, that is good news. Patchy rain on Sunday,

particularly in the west. Some showers today, mostly in Antrim and

Down, but some patchy rain edging into Southern counties. Doubtless

this evening, and a spell of more extensive rain edging out from the

west in the early hours. Breeze picking up tonight, low cloud and

fog on the hills, but staying miles. That can use tomorrow, temperatures

above average. If you're up early tomorrow, there will still be some

dull, damp weather lingering for a while. But by mid-morning, it will

be dry in most places and brightening up by lunchtime,

sunshine here and there. So if you're planning shopping tomorrow

afternoon, but agrees across the north coast, maybe some showers in

the north west, but lots of dry weather with the most of the

sunshine likely in the east. And a busy afternoon for sport tomorrow,

the Ulster match looks like it should be dry and quite mild,

temperatures are 12 degrees. If you're headed to cup final match

later in the day, it should still be dry in Belfast. Through tonight, not

to many showers around on Saturday evening, some breaks in the cloud.

By midnight, the cloud will thicken and lower in the west, bringing some

damp, drizzly weather back. Bad on Saturday night too. Saturday night a

dollar a day, when the conditions over the hills. Most of the drizzly

weather in the west, but some rain in the east too, that is where the

best of the weather will be. Of the two days, such David Raya day.

Temperatures on Monday could well hit the mid teens across eastern

counties of Northern Ireland. That doesn't mean we will see a lot of

sunshine, the mild weather continues into next week, plenty of cloud

around, breezy at times too, most of the rain in the northwest.

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