15/03/2017 BBC Newsline

Tonight's top stories: A family's devastation as a young Donegal

Loneliness attached to grief and loss.

A Sinn Fein MEP's Brexit comments in the European Parliament

The search continues in the waters off County Mayo for three

Also on the programme tonight: Can Belfast City Council teach

Stormont about power sharing after it lost its unionist

There is no majority. We are all minorities.

New teams, big names, extra TV coverage.

Join me at the launch of motorcycling's NW200.

And cloudy and mild tonight with light rain

Brighter but cooler tomorrow after some early rain.

The mother of a young Donegal woman who was murdered in a tourist area

in India has paid tribute to her daughter and said

Danielle McLaughlin from Buncrana, who was described as beautiful

and kind-hearted, was found in Goa at breakfast time yesterday.

She'd received injuries to her head and face.

In a moment, we'll have the latest from India, but first

here's our North-West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

Described as bright, bubbly and full of life, but Danielle McLaughlin's

life ended tragically in India. She was discovered at 8am local time

yesterday in an isolated spot close the tourist spots in Goa. Her parish

priest said the family had been devastated by the death. They are

understandably grieving. They are overwhelmed by the sense of loss.

They are supported by staff and the community and the people around them

but nevertheless, as with all grief and loss, there is a terrible

loneliness attached to it. Danielle McLaughlin had been a pupil in

Buncrana before going to university in Liverpool. She loved travelling

and was hugely popular. She was outgoing, lively, she took part in

school musicals, she was a great Irish dancer, she had done soccer

and athletics. She was a great part of the school. In Buncrana itself,

people were left numb by the news. She was backpacking. Very sad time

for people in Buncrana. It is terrible, awful, devastating news

for the family especially. An absolute tragedy for the family.

Full of beans, happy-go-lucky. Buncrana is a town reeling from this

tragedy. Everyone here says the thoughts and prayers are with the

grieving family. Our correspondent, Yogita Limaye,

joins us live from Goa now. What more do we know

about the investigation It is in this field by minute that

Daniel's body was found yesterday morning. Police say she had injuries

to her face and head. They were initially able to identify with the

help of other foreign nationals living in the area as well as

information from social media platforms. A couple of hundred

meters to my right as the main highway that connects north and

south Goa with lots of beaches and restaurant around it that this is

quite an isolated spot. I have speaking with the officer

investigating the case and he says the for by people in connection with

the case and arrested one man yesterday. They believe they have

found the main culprit because they found compelling evidence including

CCTV camera footage showing the accused with the victim as well as a

two wheeled vehicle with blood stains on it and produce with blood

smears on them. They say have they had been in touch with British and

Irish embassies but are still awaiting the result of the

postmortem examination. Any reaction locally in Goa? Locally, a lot of

people were organising a vigil. One thing is certain, it is brought back

memories of the Scarlett Keeling case, a 15-year-old British national

was murdered and raped in 2008. Her court case went on for years and it

is only late last year that it came to the conclusion and even then, the

two men accused of killing her were acquitted by a local court here.

Police say that they believe that in this case, they actually had strong

evidence, they feel confident, they had been questioning this man to see

if he was acting on his own or if there were other people involved,

and they have him in custody until the 21st of March to continue that

investigation. Bonfire material dumped

on a new multi-million pound greenway in east Belfast has been

cleared after a month-long Workers from the Environment Agency

removed the wood and tyres which had been stockpiled

at Connswater Community Greenway. There will more than 100 wood

pallets on the Greenway but now there are none. There were dozens of

tyres but one by one they have been gathered up and taken away. Work

started at ATM. The Environment Agency ordered the clear up and no

one stood in the way. The bonfire material had been here for weeks. In

spite of complaints about the mess on the new ?40 million Greenway, the

authorities were reluctant to intervene. Then last night, a local

agreement was reached. Community worker Robert Osborne said the

decision had widespread support. There was a lot of money spent here

and we do not want to see that going to waste. If we make our community

better, it is better for us. So how are you able to persuade people to

allow this material to be removed? They understand that the community

comes first, there is a lot more to it. If we can progress as people. So

has there been a deal done? No deal, we have just come to an agreement.

It is just between us and the community. Would there be a payback

for the community? Definitely, from us, we will help the community out

anyway we can, if you approach me or any member of the community. We do

not want to see ?40 million go to waste. Can you guarantee there will

not be more bonfire material here tomorrow? We have come to an

agreement that there will not be a bonfire here at all. Although some

of the material was set alight, the damage has been minimal. Belfast

City Council say they are confident this new multi-million pound

Greenway will soon look as good as new.

The discovery of a white substance in an envelope

at Lagan Integrated College in the Castlereagh hills led

to a security operation there this afternoon.

The principal says classes continued as normal but pupils were supervised

by police and staff leaving the school at home time.

The police cordoned off from around midday. Fire and Rescue Service were

also according to deal with what amounted to a security alert. The

security alert began this morning after an envelope was received at

the offices of the school, containing white powder. The

emergency services were called in and that envelope and powder are the

subject of a close examination. Pupils continued the class is what

the operation to deal with the suspect went on although they were

kept away from that part of the building where the powder was

discovered. The principle of the school kept in touch with parents by

e-mail and text, telling them their children would leave the school as

usual at 3:30pm under the supervision of the police and

teachers. They were anxious parents waiting at the school gates. It was

a bit of a shock, coming to the school. There was no panic at all, I

don't think, no real danger we felt anyway. The police investigation

into who was behind today's is continuing.

A Sinn Fein MEP who said the Prime Minister could stick

a hard or soft border where the sun doesn't shine was dismissed

as belligerent in the House of Commons today.

Sinn Fein said Martina Anderson was reflecting anger

over Brexit but, so far, there's been no comment

from the party's Stormont leader, Michelle O'Neill.

Here's our political correspondent, Gareth Gordon.

This is the moment that Sinn Fein member of the European Parliament

became an Internet sensation. Armoured cars, tanks and guns could

not do in Ireland 27 member states will not be able to do, so your

notion of the border, hard or soft, stick it where the sun does not

shine! The Secretary of State will have heard the belligerent utterance

of the former Sinn Fein director of the Unionist engagement to the Prime

Minister can stick a hard or soft border where the sun does not shine.

Can I buy the Secretary of State to remind Martina Anderson that it sets

the terms for the future of Northern Ireland based on the majority of the

will of the people is not changed? James Brogan Scheidt dodged the

question, repeating only that the government did not want to see a

return to the borders of the past. Sinn Fein's Stormont leader recently

criticised her colleague for saying that Sinn Fein had put manners on

the DUP leader, Arlene Foster. I have spoken to Michelle but it is

not language I would use. I have seen in the last number of weeks and

months the DUP treat the public with contempt, arrogance and disrespect.

That is not the way we should conduct ourselves. Today she led a

protest alongside family is calling the inquests into the deaths of

their loved ones. So far she has not commented on Martina Anderson's

remarks but in a statement, Champagne told the BBC that the

comments were reflective of that anger that Northern Ireland could be

dragged out of Europe by someone who has no mandate in Ireland. Today

Martina Anderson issued a statement claiming that Brexit could

jeopardise further infrastructure projects that using much more

measured language. The government is not intending

to erect posts on the border with the Republic after the UK

leaves the European Union. That was the message from

the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, Mr Davis confirms the plan is to use

new technology to monitor Our political editor,

Mark Devenport, was watching How close is this high-tech border

to becoming a reality? David Davis told MPs that officials from the

Customs service and the Northern Ireland Office are already working

with their Irish counterparts in trying to design a new system but

admitted there was a lot of design work still to do. He expressed

confidence they would resolve the problems facing them because he said

both governments were determined to do it because he has also said the

technology available was much better than it was 20 years ago. The fact

is, there is a board of the and there are duty differences across

the border which are dealt with but dealt with in a subtle and not

highly visible way. And the trusted scheme I was talking about before is

the sort of thing that operates, and that is what we would have in mind.

It is not going to be easy, it will cost us money, a lot of work on

technology and so one, but without having heard a personal and so on,

and that is what we intend to do. Does David Davis think the European

Union will object? He does not think they will. He thinks they will

cooperate with this and the maintenance of the Common travel

area which allows for the freedom of movement of people between the UK

and Ireland because he says the European Commission has a strong

emotional investment in the Northern Ireland peace process and does not

want to do anything to jeopardise that. Speaking of the peace process,

we also heard from the Secretary of State today on the talks.

Absolutely. He was asking questions in the Commons on the state of

talks. He says progress is being made but more has to be achieved. He

would not get into speculating about contingency planning for failure or

any extension of the deadline instead he wants to concentrate on

trying to achieve a deal within that three-week period.

The global bank Citigroup has said it does not expect Brexit

to have a negative impact on its operation here.

The bank is one of Belfast's biggest employers.

But the hospitality sector has warned that tougher

immigration rules after Brexit could hit its plans to expand.

Here's our economics and business editor, John Campbell.

Citigroup has been a Belfast success story. It is set up here in 2014 and

after a series of reinvestment employs more than 2000 people. There

has been uncertainty after financial services jobs right across the UK.

Some will be relocated as was at the Brexit. HSBC is planning to move

1000 staff to Paris. But now the UK boss of Citigroup has reassured

there will be no exodus from Belfast. He said there is no

fundamental reason why Belfast's attractions to us should change as a

result of Brexit. I do not see its standing in the way of either what

we have gotten Belfast all our plans to continue developing. Also

announced today wasn't planned the big new office block in Titanic

Quarter. There is speculation that Citigroup is lined up as a tenant.

Meanwhile the hospitality industry has been giving evidence about

Brexit effects. Migration is a big issue in this sector. Look at the

numbers. Migrant workers are 8% of the Northern Ireland workforce. But

they make up 20% of the manufacturing workforce and almost a

quarter of all hospitality jobs. One representative said it is already a

struggle to fill jobs. There is a huge challenge for us to make a

demand. It affects the migrant workers we get from Europe. We still

do not know what limits will be placed on migrant workers after

Brexit. We could have a system of regional work permits controlled by

the Executive. That is assuming we have an executive.

Search teams looking for the three missing crew members

of the Coast Guard rescue helicopter which crashed off County Mayo

have detected a signal from the aircraft's black

It's close to Black Rock lighthouse, about ten miles from Blacksod.

The family of the helicopter pilot Dara Fitzpatrick,

who died after being found in the water, have been

Irish naval vessel stayed at sea overnight in the area where

debridement the helicopter has been found. In the distance, Black Rock,

close to where the helicopter disappeared without warning. At

first flight, Coast Guard helicopters returned to resume the

search for the missing colleagues. As well as the operation in the air

and on the sea, the search is now taking place under the water with

sonar equipment deployed and naval and Garda divers on stand-by to see

whether they should focus their efforts. Wreckage from the

helicopter was brought ashore throughout yesterday. Last night

relatives arrived at the Lighthouse to be briefed on the search

operation. Earlier in the day, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was

recovered from the sea. Also on board was the chief pilot and the

winchman. Dara Fitzpatrick's sister, mother and father say they are

devastated by her loss. We feel like the lucky ones now because we have

the. We can kiss her, hold her, hold her hand. At the end of the day, I

hope the torment will be over, to a certain extent. Because this is

torment. Rescue 116 was often involved in missions in Northern

Ireland. The tragedy has been felt at the Coast Guard operations centre

in Bangor. They were like a family. It has hit steep. We had a visit

from the Queen when Dara was here. It still has not sunk in the rescue

116 and a Q1 not come home from the mission. Last weekend, the Dublin

-based helicopter was providing support. It has been a privilege to

work with them. They are consummate professionals, highly passionate

about what they do and highly experienced and a fantastic bunch of

people. As the search continues, so too does the agonising wait for

news. Still to come on the programme:

Join me live in Coleraine, where hundreds of fans are getting

the chance to meet some Introducing an Irish

language act would cost ?8.5 million over five years,

according to a leading Conradh na Gaeilge also estimate

the act would cost ?2 million a year to implement,

as our education correspondent, It's led to loud protests and widely

bearing estimates of the cost. The reason I am against an Irish

language act is because of the cost of it, tens of millions of pounds.

One of the main groups who want an Irish language act have produced

this, document which lays out what it would mean and what the bill

would be, ?8.5 million over five years, ?2.5 million a year to

implement. Among those costs are ?150,000 to establish and half ?1

million a year to run a translation department in Stormont. Of the ?1

million initially spent translating documents and forms and bilingual

road signs. But given Conradh na Gaeilge want an act, the figures

authoritative? There is no doubt our figures will hold up to scrutiny. We

think these are practical proposals that can be implemented at the best

possible time. This economist has also had a look at the plans. He

thinks they are an under estimate. Let me say this in front of the BBC,

they are leaving the costs to fall on the Department for Education and

have not cost of those. This is if anything is an understatement of

what anybody would expect to be the cost, if they develop an Irish

language process, became more established. Conradh na Gaeilge said

they have set up a reasonable bill for Irish language legislation but

those opposed it may not be convinced.

Unionists no longer have a majority in Stormont but it's 20 years

since the same thing happened at Belfast City Hall.

In 1997, the first nationalist mayor was elected, ending centuries

So can lessons be learned from Belfast when it

I've been speaking to three former lord mayors.

These portraits of former Lord Mayers tell their own story. Belfast

City Council was once described as a bear pit. Now it is more likely to

be held up as an example of how power-sharing can work. Do not speak

to any councillor like that, please. 20 years ago, relations between

nationalists and unionists were still tense on the council. This

motion perpetuates the myth that Irish language and the speaking of

the Irish language is something of significance in this city! Sammy

Wilson spent almost sent 20 years in the City Hall and was Lord mayor

twice. He concedes the earth did not fall on wind unionists lost the

majority but says there were important shifts. Once we lost the

majority, the symbolism at the City Hall of the flag of the country

flying at the capital city of the country, that was removed, and that

caused huge tensions in the city. The battle between the two camps

raged for decades during troubled times. The mayor does not want to

dwell on the Doctors of the past and says we need to seem beyond orange

and green. It is not about nationalism and unions are many

more. In my view, it is about those who live here in this blossoming

Irish community. The new Belfast people all over the city, the

greens, those on the left, those who have dreamt of a brighter future.

For many years, the Alliance Party has held the balance of power. One

academic says there is no longer any majority community. There are

unionists, nationalists and people classified as being other, so there

are three different groups of people, three different population

groups. The balance has to be struck between them because the reality is

there is no majority, there will not be a majority. We are all minorities

now that is how we have to make future. Alliance held the first

mayor position and was the support that enabled the first National is

mayor. The way we have seen the city developer has largely been as a

result of more collaborative working because despite the fact some of

those things are contentious, many decisions are taken on a cross-party

basis and there is much more discussion before decisions are

taken. It is not comparing like with like many believe the past of

Belfast City Council could help the future Stormont. Tell us what you

think on our Facebook page. Tonight, hundreds of motorcycle fans

are getting the chance to meet This venue is starting to fill up

and it will be a sell-out tonight for our special meet the stars

evening. Lots of new bikes and teams are here as well, lots of big names

including a couple of home-grown stars. Alistair, to you first of

all, you are the record-holder, number of wins with 17, can you

extend this year? I have been trying my best. I have a good team for this

year. We will go and try to add to our tally. With Kawasaki, for me, it

is continuity, I am with teams and bikes for I know, so we will try to

add to the tally break another effort. Ryan, you told as recently

that crash last year when you almost lost your life, you are bringing a

team to the North West 200 this year? I have just announced today

that Lee Johnson or right for me at the North West 200 on a bike in

ambulance colours, a charity very close to my heart. I thought was

good time to do something different. Support a charity that I feel will

save a lot of lives, not just a motorsport but in everyday life. I

also have a South African rider coming in as a newcomer. There are a

lot of road racers who have never heard of him that he is a big-name.

It will be an exciting battle. What is the appeal of the North West 200

to you? Because it is a local event, coming here is a boy and cheering on

the Dunlops, now for me to get that in the last lap, it is unreal, and

for me it is the atmosphere. You have got the seaside resorts, you go

there in the summertime, and we spend a week and it is a good family

outing, I tried to keep as calm as possible but come Saturday... Race

week starts on the 8th of May and all the action you can see and hear

on the BBC. Now let's get the

weather with Geoff. It has been a bit dull. Grey and

cloudy. This picture from our Weather Watcher sums up the problem,

a blanket of cloud sitting over us. Other than that, nothing much to

talk about at all. As we go overnight tonight, we will start to

see a bit of rain in the mix working its way in from the West. Light and

drizzly for the main, mostly confined to the higher ground, but

it marks a card for what is to come tomorrow. Overnight lows of seven or

8 degrees. Tomorrow, rain to the morning. It will brighten up later

on but that comes with a sting in the tale, too. As we go through the

morning, we will start to see these bands of rain working their way in

and as the weather fronts coming, the warmest temperatures through the

morning, nine and 10 degrees. Once this front of cleared out of the

way, cool, bright, clear air. Afternoon temperatures, highs of six

or 7 degrees. But it leaves plenty of brightness. Because we have got

those clearing skies, overnight, temperatures will drop away and we

will have a chilly night with overnight lows down to two or three

degrees. The outlook for Saint Patrick's Day is not good. A wet and

windy day, really rather unpleasant. This is the scene on Friday morning.

That rain sitting over us, spreading into all parts, heaviest in the

West, best chance of any bright nurse East. Very few places that

will get through Friday without seeing at least a little bit of

rain. As we head into the weekend itself, we will keep that rainy

theme. It will feel like the day that is starting to clear up just a

little bit. A hint of positivity there. With lots of sporting events

and parades in pageants planned for riding, I am just sorry the weather

is not playing its part. Our late summary

is at half past ten.