:00:17. > :00:18.This is BBC Newsline with Tara Mills.
:00:19. > :00:26.As this prisoner remains on the run, the head of the Prison Service
:00:27. > :00:28.apologises to the family of the victim he's accused
:00:29. > :00:33.More details emerge about the way the RHI inquiry
:00:34. > :00:37.the political instability is letting her and
:00:38. > :00:49.It makes me feel like nobody is there to fight Michaels. It makes me
:00:50. > :01:02.feel like a second-class citizen. The Tuam mother and baby home
:01:03. > :01:05.scandal - the Catholic primate tells us he's ashamed over
:01:06. > :01:09.the revelations. The best thing to do is to establish
:01:10. > :01:15.the truth about what happened. victim tells us how he was defrauded
:01:16. > :01:19.out of almost ?1,200. It'll be a noisy night in Cardiff
:01:20. > :01:22.as Ireland agree to play Wales So the weather won't get in the way
:01:23. > :01:26.of the rugby in Cardiff. But at home it will be a bit
:01:27. > :01:30.of a dull and damp day tomorrow. The Head of the Northern Ireland
:01:31. > :01:35.Prison Service has apologised to the family of Stephen Carson
:01:36. > :01:38.after one of the men accused 38-year-old Michael Lawrence
:01:39. > :01:42.Smith was on remand. He was released from
:01:43. > :01:44.Maghaberry Prison on Tuesday Michael Smith was released
:01:45. > :01:51.from prison despite being refused He had applied for
:01:52. > :01:56.compassionate bail on Monday The Prison Service says
:01:57. > :02:04.he was collected by a family member The mistake was realised a few hours
:02:05. > :02:15.later around half past four. I want to apologise to the public
:02:16. > :02:22.this morning for what is he very serious mistake on the part of the
:02:23. > :02:29.prison service. It is the role of the service to hold those people in
:02:30. > :02:32.care and on this occasion, we have failed in our responsibility. The
:02:33. > :02:34.Brady serious situation has arisen. Mr Armour, who declined a request
:02:35. > :02:37.for a television interview, has also apologised to the family
:02:38. > :02:39.of Stephen Carson, He was shot dead in front
:02:40. > :02:44.of his partner and young son in their home off
:02:45. > :02:46.the Ormeau Road last year. Yesterday the police took
:02:47. > :02:48.the unusual step of publishing this photograph of Michael Smith
:02:49. > :02:51.in an appeal for his whereabouts. He's said to be dangerous
:02:52. > :02:53.with a history of violence. The police are urging
:02:54. > :02:55.the public not to approach him Michael Smith was last seen
:02:56. > :03:04.here in Finaghy around two o'clock More than 48 hours
:03:05. > :03:07.later, and the police Whilst the police have
:03:08. > :03:11.launched a man hunt, It says procedures will be robustly
:03:12. > :03:15.reviewed to ensure this The judge overseeing the inquiry
:03:16. > :03:24.into the renewable heat incentive scheme has said he won't be
:03:25. > :03:26.reporting within months, The first public session
:03:27. > :03:30.of the inquiry is due in April, but it could be some time before
:03:31. > :03:32.witnesses are called Here's our Agriculture
:03:33. > :03:35.and Environment Correspondent The Senate chamber at Stormont
:03:36. > :03:39.will be the setting for a drama that This is where witnesses will come
:03:40. > :03:45.to tell what they know about the setting up and running
:03:46. > :03:48.of the Renewable Heat Today the man in charge set
:03:49. > :03:53.out his housekeeping rules. Sir Patrick Coghlin,
:03:54. > :03:57.who'll chair the inquiry ruled out Sir Patrick Coghlin,
:03:58. > :04:00.who'll chair the inquiry, ruled out He said his inquiry
:04:01. > :04:03.was a fact-finding mission, "no power to determine any person's
:04:04. > :04:15.criminal or civil liability. He poured cold water on talk
:04:16. > :04:18.of a six-month timeframe, saying "no-one would thank the inquiry team
:04:19. > :04:20.for producing a fast And he ruled out an interim report
:04:21. > :04:27.some have looked to as a way out of the current political stalemate
:04:28. > :04:28.saying any prelimininary conclusions that
:04:29. > :04:31.could be reached would necessarily So no commitment from Sir Patrick
:04:32. > :04:35.to any kind of a timeframe, other than a promise to do the work
:04:36. > :04:38.as quickly as possible Those who thought the inquiry might
:04:39. > :04:47.provide a quick political fix, or could run side by side
:04:48. > :04:50.with the negotiations at Stormont now have a much clearer idea
:04:51. > :04:52.of the potential timeframe - and it seems to be stretching
:04:53. > :04:55.into the distance a bit. The Secretary of State James
:04:56. > :04:57.Brokenshire has warned that voters could be asked to return
:04:58. > :05:00.to the polls if the parties can't reach agreement
:05:01. > :05:02.in the next three weeks. In a letter to all MPs,
:05:03. > :05:05.Mr Brokenshire said there would be "significant consequences"
:05:06. > :05:07.if there is no deal to restore Here's our Political
:05:08. > :05:15.Correspondent Stephen Walker. Stormont - to some,
:05:16. > :05:17.it's an uphill struggle. To others, a chance to catch
:05:18. > :05:21.a glimpse of this history. Away from the cameras
:05:22. > :05:24.the talking continues. Today in a letter to MPs,
:05:25. > :05:27.the Secretary of State said he wanted devolution to work
:05:28. > :05:30.but warned that if there is no deal So should we get
:05:31. > :05:43.ready to vote again? I think if there was another
:05:44. > :05:47.election, there would be huge frustrations. The people have given
:05:48. > :05:48.their say and they have been very clear about the message they have
:05:49. > :05:59.sent. Never mind about elections or
:06:00. > :06:02.anything else, this is about the public, who came out in very large
:06:03. > :06:05.numbers to tell us to get the job done.
:06:06. > :06:08.discussions particularly when the Ulster Unionists met
:06:09. > :06:22.He also said they were still following very far short in giving
:06:23. > :06:24.what the UK Government promised, which was full disclosure.
:06:25. > :06:29.that it was British Government who had reneged on agreements.
:06:30. > :06:35.As we come towards the end of week one, we haven't seen anything
:06:36. > :06:39.written the table from the British government on how we can deliver on
:06:40. > :06:41.important issues. The public are action.
:06:42. > :06:43.Tonight the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister
:06:44. > :06:48.Charlie Flanagan left Belfast after two days of talking.
:06:49. > :06:54.I do detect willingness to do business. I'm not underestimating
:06:55. > :06:55.the challenge. There are real and serious issues outstanding, some of
:06:56. > :07:04.which go back 18 years. So another day of talking ends
:07:05. > :07:07.the day will be perhaps be remembered for this stark warning
:07:08. > :07:10.by the Secretary of State - if you don't do a deal,
:07:11. > :07:12.prepare for another election. Stephen Walker, BBC
:07:13. > :07:14.Newsline, Stormont. A terminally ill woman has told
:07:15. > :07:19.the BBC that without a government or Health Minister in place
:07:20. > :07:21.she feels that no-one Melanie Kennedy, who stood
:07:22. > :07:33.as a candidate in the recent elections, says politicians'
:07:34. > :07:35.priorities need to change. Health organisations are also
:07:36. > :07:37.warning that the continuing political impasse is preventing
:07:38. > :07:39.important decisions being taken. Our Health Correspondent
:07:40. > :07:40.Marie-Louise Connolly reports. Despite having terminal cancer,
:07:41. > :07:43.Melanie Kennedy stood as a candidate She says she felt so passionately
:07:44. > :07:46.about someone leading the charge on health -
:07:47. > :08:00.but now the current impasse has let The reason I started all this is
:08:01. > :08:03.because, where do I turn? I am at the point where I could be told in
:08:04. > :08:06.the next couple of months that that reasonable treatment for me and that
:08:07. > :08:11.I should go home and make my plans and say goodbye to my children.
:08:12. > :08:12.Where can I turn when there is no stable government or health
:08:13. > :08:13.Minister? are being put on hold including
:08:14. > :08:26.implementing a cancer strategy Take cancer and performance targets
:08:27. > :08:31.in Scotland, where they are sitting at 90% and there is a public outcry.
:08:32. > :08:36.We have been sitting at 70% and less for a considerable period of time,
:08:37. > :08:41.and I think there is a real understanding now that that is not
:08:42. > :08:42.acceptable and we need our strategy in place to address this going
:08:43. > :08:47.forward. Take mental health -
:08:48. > :08:53.before stormont's latest fall Take mental health -
:08:54. > :08:55.before Stormont's latest fall momentum had been building
:08:56. > :08:57.to improve access and waiting Now that's its broken fears
:08:58. > :09:05.are growing for how quickly As professionals, it is very
:09:06. > :09:09.frustrating. We have met with ministers, and while there is a
:09:10. > :09:14.commitment to improve mental health, it is deeply frustrating and
:09:15. > :09:15.disappointing that any delay will prevent the development of these
:09:16. > :09:17.essential services. the more contentious issues such
:09:18. > :09:21.as how NI should deal with cases A report had reached the Executive -
:09:22. > :09:37.that too is on hold. I suppose we felt progress was being
:09:38. > :09:41.made, and given the current political situation, we are at a
:09:42. > :09:47.standstill, hopefully not for too long. I suppose much depends on what
:09:48. > :09:53.happens in the next few weeks. With those working in social care, autism
:09:54. > :09:55.and speech therapy, you could argue that rebooting Stormont can't happen
:09:56. > :09:58.soon enough. An Irish language act
:09:59. > :10:00.is a "necessity" which has been That's one of the key
:10:01. > :10:03.findings of a report from the Council of Europe,
:10:04. > :10:05.which is highly critical Our Education Correspondent
:10:06. > :10:24.Robbie Meredith reports: It has led to protests and political
:10:25. > :10:29.arguments. Now campaigners for an Irish Language Act have received
:10:30. > :10:43.support from the Council of Europe. The report says...
:10:44. > :10:48.The Council of Europe is the leading human rights body in Europe and what
:10:49. > :10:52.they have stated reinforces what the Irish language community have been
:10:53. > :10:56.saying for many years, that we need political protection for the
:10:57. > :10:59.language within domestic law. We want this dealt with in a
:11:00. > :11:05.comprehensive manner and we want to keep it away from the politicians.
:11:06. > :11:11.But the executive didn't give any information to the report's authors,
:11:12. > :11:16.and for some, that makes it forward. Then the response was good to the
:11:17. > :11:20.executive, there was no agreement and no submission, so with no input
:11:21. > :11:25.from the Northern Ireland executive, it was largely shaped by lobby
:11:26. > :11:30.groups in various sectors, and so is of limited value. But the report
:11:31. > :11:35.says responsibility for an act goes beyond the executive. It wants the
:11:36. > :11:38.UK Government to push for one. In this spirit of external experts
:11:39. > :11:45.saying this is the way forward, it would be politic for the British
:11:46. > :11:50.government to go ahead and introduce an Irish language act. The Council
:11:51. > :11:55.of Europe is monitoring body, it cannot compel the executive or the
:11:56. > :11:59.UK Government to do anything. But at a time when an Irish language act is
:12:00. > :12:04.high on the agenda, what this report says and how it says will attend
:12:05. > :12:06.attention at Stormont and beyond. Ulster Bank is to close
:12:07. > :12:08.nine of its 64 branches It says it has made the decision
:12:09. > :12:12.as more of its customers It is understood the move
:12:13. > :12:16.will affect 16 jobs, 10 of them The Catholic primate
:12:17. > :12:31.Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he is ashamed of revelations
:12:32. > :12:34.about the Tuam mother and baby home in Co.
:12:35. > :12:35.Galway. A recent report found
:12:36. > :12:37.that there were significant human remains buried in a field linked
:12:38. > :12:40.to the home that was run by nuns Our Dublin correspondent
:12:41. > :12:53.Shane Harrison has been Where the remains of nearly 800
:12:54. > :12:58.children and babies, some unborn, buried beneath this field, some in a
:12:59. > :13:04.septic tank. At question was first asked by a local historian in Tuam
:13:05. > :13:09.three years ago, and after last Friday's report that found evidence
:13:10. > :13:16.of significant human remains there, she feels vindicated. It is a great
:13:17. > :13:19.day for survivors, to know that they may be able to find their own
:13:20. > :13:28.relatives and give them a proper burial. Society's then attitude to
:13:29. > :13:32.unmarried pregnant women was harsh. The Tuam mother and baby corn was
:13:33. > :13:36.just one institution run by nuns to which they were sent, mimicked by
:13:37. > :13:46.their families. Barnes broke into our homes to kidnap her children, we
:13:47. > :13:55.gave them up maybe to spare them the savagery of gossip. The language of
:13:56. > :13:59.delight in which the holier than now are particularly fluent. In his
:14:00. > :14:04.remarks this week, Ireland's first Citizen said the Tuam report was a
:14:05. > :14:14.necessary step in blowing open the locked doors of Ireland's hidden
:14:15. > :14:19.doors. The attitudes to wards what were called unmarried women and
:14:20. > :14:27.illegitimate babies. The order of nuns which ran the Tuam home still
:14:28. > :14:32.operates some hospitals today. It has shipped to comment on the detail
:14:33. > :14:35.of Friday's report. The Catholic bishops met this week and the prime
:14:36. > :14:44.at again apologised for what he called the mistakes of past. Many
:14:45. > :14:49.people in the church and society are ashamed of the past. The best thing
:14:50. > :14:52.for us to do is to open it up carefully and respectfully, and I
:14:53. > :14:59.think establish the truth, the whole truth about what happened at that
:15:00. > :15:04.time, so that we as a community, as a society, as people in this island,
:15:05. > :15:11.can move on, understanding the shadows and the darkness and those
:15:12. > :15:15.terrible chapters our past. The last week has seen the Republic witness
:15:16. > :15:20.the international glare of media attention on the past relationship
:15:21. > :15:25.between the church and state. And yet, little mention of the role of
:15:26. > :15:29.fathers at Tuam and other baby homes. There will be more reports
:15:30. > :15:35.and more like Sean on that dark past.
:15:36. > :15:43.A researcher at Queen's University has been defrauded out of almost
:15:44. > :15:45.?1,200 after scammers pretending to be from the Home
:15:46. > :15:49.The man, who doesn't want to be identified, moved
:15:50. > :15:56.The man came to Northern Ireland with his wife and two young children
:15:57. > :16:00.to work at the University as a researcher. Yesterday, he was
:16:01. > :16:05.contacted by someone claiming to be from the Home Office. He told he was
:16:06. > :16:11.being investigated for financial crimes committed in India. The given
:16:12. > :16:20.two to leave the UK in 24 hours or pay a fine. The fine. I said to them
:16:21. > :16:27.I don't have ?1800. They said you can transfer what you have and we
:16:28. > :16:33.can manage the rest. Unfortunately, I made the transfer. I consider
:16:34. > :16:38.myself fairly educated, but if it can happen to me, it could happen to
:16:39. > :16:44.anyone. According to the police, in the last three years, 17% of people
:16:45. > :16:47.living here have been the victim of scams, but this doesn't include the
:16:48. > :16:50.thousands of others who have recognised a scam or those who
:16:51. > :16:55.haven't reported one. The police it's important to know what to look
:16:56. > :16:59.for. I don't know of any government agency or a public body whoever
:17:00. > :17:11.demands money from people over the phone. If you get a call at
:17:12. > :17:15.that, put the phone down. Just don't answer the call. But for this man,
:17:16. > :17:17.that advice is too late. He says the scammers now left struggling to
:17:18. > :17:20.support his family. I have just started my new job in Belfast in
:17:21. > :17:28.February, and I've already spent ?5,000 on visas and everything to be
:17:29. > :17:33.here. I don't know how to survive for this month, to pay my rent next
:17:34. > :17:37.week. The advice from police is that if you are contacted out of the
:17:38. > :17:38.blue, asked for money and personal details over the phone, it is
:17:39. > :17:42.probably a scam. The Queen was among those
:17:43. > :17:44.who attended a commemoration event in London today to remember those
:17:45. > :17:47.who served and died during the conflicts
:17:48. > :17:49.in Iraq and Afghanistan. However there's been controversy
:17:50. > :17:59.over who was and wasn't invited from Northern Ireland among those
:18:00. > :18:02.left feeling angry and upset. The Queen and the Prime Minister
:18:03. > :18:12.were among the VIPs at today's service of commemoration
:18:13. > :18:14.and memorial unveiling. But it's the questions that have
:18:15. > :18:16.arisen around who weren't there that's shrouded
:18:17. > :18:19.the event in controversey. Bereaved families of soldiers killed
:18:20. > :18:25.during the conflicts are angry that they werent asked
:18:26. > :18:29.to attend...among them Brenda Hale, whose Army captain husband Mark
:18:30. > :18:39.was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. We've all been in contact over the
:18:40. > :18:46.last 48 hours and we are all hurt. This is like a scam, they have left
:18:47. > :18:49.is bleeding. They are traumatised, lots of families, we'll go back to
:18:50. > :18:53.that day when our doors were locked and we were told they were not
:18:54. > :18:56.coming home. And to find the Ministry of Defence cannot even pay
:18:57. > :19:01.respect to those soldiers by inviting their next of kin to the
:19:02. > :19:09.event, is very difficult to stomach. There is a time for everything and a
:19:10. > :19:20.season for every activity under heaven. Add time to be born at the
:19:21. > :19:21.to die. -- a time to be born and E time to die.
:19:22. > :19:23.There were representatives of service personnel
:19:24. > :19:24.from Northern Ireland at the event....but a former
:19:25. > :19:26.veteran who was awarded the Military Cross serving
:19:27. > :19:29.with the Royal Irish Regiment believes the Ministry of Defence
:19:30. > :19:40.They maybe didn't realise about this sensitivity. The controversy around
:19:41. > :19:45.this commemoration shows the depth of feeling that exists within the
:19:46. > :19:52.families of those killed fighting in conflict zones around the world.
:19:53. > :19:55.Sales of Northern Ireland goods to overseas markets are booming.
:19:56. > :19:57.Official figures from HM Revenue and Customs show the region
:19:58. > :20:00.is out-performing all other parts of the UK in growing exports.
:20:01. > :20:01.Our business correspondent Julian O'Neill has been
:20:02. > :20:04.to Ulster Carpets - a company whose customers include
:20:05. > :20:16.Ulster Carpets are spending on its future, new facilities in Portadown
:20:17. > :20:24.are part of the ?35 million expansion. Seals to overseas markets
:20:25. > :20:27.are buoyant, but the post-referendum slump in sterling is making luxury
:20:28. > :20:34.carpets cheaper to customers in Europe and beyond. As a business, we
:20:35. > :20:39.keep focused on what we are doing. They always have been a strong
:20:40. > :20:43.export company and we see strong figures coming through. New figures
:20:44. > :20:48.show solid growth for Northern Ireland or the role. Export values
:20:49. > :20:56.rose to nearly ?8 billion. That's up by almost 12% on 2015. Just over
:20:57. > :21:04.half our goods went to European Union countries. The Republic is our
:21:05. > :21:10.biggest market. Other destinations accounted for 45% of exports, with
:21:11. > :21:15.sales to the USA currently sorting. Exports are just one part of the
:21:16. > :21:18.economy. A weaker pound cuts both ways, driving up the cost of
:21:19. > :21:25.imported goods. That might not be much of an issue here, most of the
:21:26. > :21:30.war comes from England, but it is impacting on other businesses and,
:21:31. > :21:35.of course, consumers. Exports are key to adding value to our economy.
:21:36. > :21:41.The boss here is also president of the Northern Ireland should chamber
:21:42. > :21:45.of Commerce and he wants other companies thinking globally. We need
:21:46. > :21:49.people to have the ambition, the drive, to take that risk, the first
:21:50. > :21:55.step. There's a great opportunity for Northern Ireland as a whole.
:21:56. > :22:00.Ulster Carpets has just won another order from a Las Vegas casino.
:22:01. > :22:07.Business is strong, but the great unknown for all companies is what
:22:08. > :22:14.kind of trade deals exit will bring. -- Brexit will bring.
:22:15. > :22:17.It's been confirmed the stadium roof will be closed for Ireland's six
:22:18. > :22:20.nations match in Cardiff tomorrow night - Mark is here
:22:21. > :22:28.It will be raucous Tara - evening, everyone -
:22:29. > :22:31.the theory is that the closed roof generates more noise handing
:22:32. > :22:58.The exchange a few blows and lifted one trophy. But for the first time
:22:59. > :23:03.in this six Nations championship, Ireland have agreed to play with the
:23:04. > :23:08.roof closed. A hostile environment is expected under the Friday night
:23:09. > :23:12.lights and the team are ready for a cauldron of noise. Regardless of the
:23:13. > :23:16.roof open or closed, it will be loaded. From an international point
:23:17. > :23:21.of view, is probably one of the best stadiums in the world to play in,
:23:22. > :23:24.because the atmosphere is electric. If you feel you're shouting at your
:23:25. > :23:33.fellow players during a normal game, it will be really hard to heed each
:23:34. > :23:43.other here. They want to avoid a third six Nations defeat in a row.
:23:44. > :23:46.We are in a goldfish bowl in Wales and year we had of bit. At the
:23:47. > :23:52.national team doesn't succeed, you will get a fair bit of flak. That's
:23:53. > :23:58.life, nothing changes. They have to knuckle down and gets to do it. All
:23:59. > :23:59.roads lead to the Welsh capital till tomorrow night, where it is win or
:24:00. > :24:05.bust for our island. The weigh-ins have taken place ahead
:24:06. > :24:13.of tomorrow night's big boxing bill Paddy Barnes, who won his
:24:14. > :24:17.professional debut when his then opponent was disqualified
:24:18. > :24:27.for lifting, is hoping tomorrow's bout against
:24:28. > :24:39.Argentina's Adrien Damos Garzon - He's not that strong, so I don't see
:24:40. > :24:48.any problems. Boxing is an individual sport, how important is
:24:49. > :24:59.it to make sure events at this happen more often here? It's really
:25:00. > :25:12.important. It is something that has been lacking in the last few years.
:25:13. > :25:17.It affects myself, Jamie and Tyrone. Colourful and feisty.
:25:18. > :25:19.Finally, despite a persistent groin problem which has sidelined him
:25:20. > :25:21.for over two months, Corry Evans is expected
:25:22. > :25:23.to be named tomorrow, in Northern Ireland's squad
:25:24. > :25:28.for Sunday fortnight's World Cup qualifier at home to Norway.
:25:29. > :25:48.We have had some fantastic pictures in over the 24 hours. This was the
:25:49. > :25:53.sunset last. Tonight, too much cloud for a similar scenes, but I'm sure
:25:54. > :26:00.our photographers will do the best to prove me wrong. Overnight, the
:26:01. > :26:10.sky is clouding over and that rain moving through. It introduces Miles,
:26:11. > :26:20.damp air. Tomorrow is going to be a career picture. Dal, damp and
:26:21. > :26:24.drizzle never very far away. Top temperatures 11 or 12 degrees. We
:26:25. > :26:30.are drawing in warm air from the sides. The best chance of brightness
:26:31. > :26:39.as that cloud clears will be to the North of any high ground. As we go
:26:40. > :26:45.overnight Friday to Saturday, more rain coming across, and cloud cover
:26:46. > :26:53.again. A mild night. The rain is on schedule to come through overnight
:26:54. > :26:59.for the next couple of nights. This is good news if you want to get out
:27:00. > :27:05.and about in the daytime. Saturday will get off to a cloudy start, but
:27:06. > :27:14.it will improve as we go through the days. On sat rain clears out of the
:27:15. > :27:21.way, it is going to be dry. Temperatures up to 30 degrees, which
:27:22. > :27:27.is very respectable for early March. On Sunday, cooler air, but plenty of
:27:28. > :27:33.brightness. We are into some pretty settled weather as we head into the
:27:34. > :27:38.start of next week. It might be daring to say Spring has sprung, but
:27:39. > :27:42.there has been more of a springlike fields are weather recently.
:27:43. > :27:46.Our late summary is at half past ten.