22/03/2017 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline with Tara Mills.

The headlines this Wednesday evening:

The latest from Westminster with local people and MPs caught up

Suddenly, we heard a bang from the side, I believe Newdigate into

Parliament. Police describe last night's bomb

attack in Strabane as madness. I am lucky that I am not standing

here talking about deaths because that is what could have happened.

MLAs gather at Stormont to remember the former Sinn Fein deputy first

minister Martin McGuinness A former head of the civil service

here speaks for the first time about working with

He had been appointed a minister and Deputy First Minister but, in my

judgment, he became a statesman. Warnings of a risk of infection

for those who have had We will bring you the latest from

the Northern Ireland and Republic camps against two crucial World Cup

qualifiers. And more wet weather tonight,

especially in the east but it'll Four people have died in what's been

described as a terrorist incident around the Houses of Parliament

at Westminster this afternoon. A number of Northern Ireland MPs

were also caught up in the security alert which has been described

as shocking by those Reports suggest the Saturn and's

terrorist incident began when a vehicle was driven across

Westminster Bridge, mowing down resident. One women has since died.

The vehicle crashed into railings at the houses of parliament and after

this a police officer was stabbed and his assailant was shot and

killed. MPs were in the houses for a vote at the time.

Suddenly, we heard a bang from the side, I believe near the gates into

Parliament. I can't be sure whether it was gunshots or a vehicle

striking entrance to Parliament, probably the latter, although I know

that shots were discharged. At the moment, the very clear advice

from the police and the security director is that we should remain

under suspension and that the chamber should remain in the

lockdown until we receive advice that it is safe to go back to normal

procedures. The atmosphere is one of total

shock. There was a vote going on so hundreds of MPs were in the chamber.

This is unprecedented and our first thoughts are with the security

personnel, to make sure they are given every corporation to sort this

manner soon possible. The police have been remarkably

effective. There is some shock of everybody waiting in line but we

will do as we are told. This Polish woman who has lived in

Northern Ireland from a year 's was at Westminster for meetings.

The police and ambulance arrived and I must praise the emergency

services. Within minutes, basically everything was shut down. Very well

organised but still quite shocking. Westminster went into lockdown

during this incident, which is still continuing. Number ten says the

Prime Minister has been taken near where she is monitoring.

Describe what security is like there.

That whole area is probably the most protected building in the country so

that as no surprise that there were plenty of police officers able to do

with this very quickly but it does go to show just how vulnerable

everyone is to this form of terrorist attack in a crowded place.

What are the implications for Westminster and beyond?

I think there are a number of issues. This terrorism threat is not

going to go away. It is not the same type of terrorist threat that we

have seen over previous years with the Troubles. This is different, it

is about killing as many innocent people as possible and the police

have to react quickly to that. We have seen a situation where an

individual has taken it upon himself to use a car which is and a knife

which is in his kitchen drawer, which is almost impossible for

police to stop. The only thing you can do is react and the way that you

react either means that more people die or more people there. If this

kind of attack happened and a small number of people die then really the

police have done a great job. But it does show the vulnerability

of the people whose job it is to protect the public.

Absolutely and I know many of the police officers who work in that

area and he might have been there. They know that it is a high-risk

location. These gates often get attacked by idiots in cars but you

don't expect to have someone run at you with a gun or knife. The good

thing is that the reaction was swift and this person wasn't able to get

access to the building so to some extent the policing worked but we do

have to understand that this is London, this is the highest security

location. This could have happened anywhere across the United Kingdom.

The police say a bomb that exploded in Strabane last night

was an attempt to kill officers on patrol.

An area at Liskey Road has been closed for follow up searches.

Our North-West reporter Keiron Tourish has more.

PSNI was carrying out a follow-up operation after last night's attack

in Strabane. The police say it was a clear attempt to kill officers who

were on patrol in the Liskey Road -- in an area.

I am lucky that I'm not reporting on deaths because that could have

happened. This could have went anywhere and killed anybody who was

out in the street at that time. It was madness. Number of residents

were moved out of their homes during the alert.

The police arrived on scene about 11:20pm and started knocking on

doors and asking people to either leave their homes or move to the

back of their homes. It was quite late at night and older people would

have been in bed. It does not a nice experience at that time of the

evening. Politicians were scathing in their

response. He will be joining me in condemning

those acts. The people of Strabane were held hostage as result of this

dangerous action. If it was an attack then anybody who

is responsible for it should catch themselves and realise that the

community here are sick of this and they are entitled to the piece that

was brought by the Good Friday agreement. This community suffered

more than most. The PSNI paid tribute to the local

response. They have issued an appeal for information. They want to hear

from anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area to

come forward. Northern Ireland may never see

Martin McGuinness's like again. The DUP leader Arlene Foster made

the claim as MLAs gathered to remember the former Sinn Fein

deputy first minister and IRA Here's our political

correspondent Gareth Gordon. Stormont once did unlikely

friendships better than it does Martin McGuinness seemed to watch

over the people who must Members will have been saddened to

learn of the passing of former Deputy First Minister, Mr Martin

McGuinness. As it did following the death

of his old friend Ian Paisley, the Assembly gathered to pay tribute

to the former deputy first minister. Led by the woman who must

now fill his shoes. In his last public appeal, he asked

people to choose hope over fear, to put a quality of respect at the

heart of our institutions. That should be the clarion call for all

in this chamber in the weeks, months and years ahead.

The woman whose political relationship with Mr McGuinness

broke down said his likes would never be seen again.

There's been much talk of my personal working relationship with

Martin. He never saw to air brush the past and neither did I. And it

was precisely because of his past, because of his involvement with the

IRA in the 1970s and 1980s, because of his involvement in those circles

that he was able to play the part that he played in bringing about a

peaceful and democratic means. And because of all of that, I doubt we

will ever see his like again. In remembering the past,

some looked to the future. Of course we have to remember

victims on days like this but the best way to remember victims is for

all of us to commit to solving the problems. For all of us to commit to

doing the things that victims want us to do. We have that opportunity

in the next few days. I do not believe that we would enjoy

the relative peace that we do today if it were not for people like

Martin McGuinness and others who should the vision and leadership and

the courage to move from very entrenched positions in the darkest

of times. And to unionists this challenge

from one of their own. If Unionism has anything to learn

from Martin McGuinness, it is the importance of outreach. He reached

far beyond his own on many occasions and sometimes complain that Unionism

did not reciprocate. But there is another view

and this man put it. Constable Clive Graham was murdered

by the IRA 29 years ago. He died in the same city

and on the same date He never got the chance to live to

66, he never the chance to marry his girlfriend of the time, he never got

the chance to see children and grandchildren. Why? Because a man of

blood decided he would die. Afterwards, MLAs filed out to sign

the book of condolence. Led by the Speaker,

and followed by Michelle O'neill and then the DUP

leader, Arlene Foster. He was described as a man without

him there might not have been an assembly. MLAs queueing to sign the

book of condolence for Martin McGuinness do not know if it will

come back. The former American President Bill

Clinton will be in Londonderry tomorrow for the funeral of

Martin McGuinness. Mr Clinton had been

in contact with the former Deputy First Minister

during his illness. The Irish President Michael D

Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny Today the head of the Catholic

Church in Ireland paid tribute to Mr McGuinness as our political

correspondent Its been a day of quiet reflection

outside the McGuinness family They came from near and far

to pay their respects. I think he is going to be missed.

And he was a lovely person. He was very mild, no matter what he had

done. He was great. I've known Martin since 1973. He

would have stayed in my house quite a number of times. I've great

admiration for Martin. Heartbreak for the family. Still a

young man at 66 years of age. It is just a very, very sad day.

You said you could -- you felt that you could just say to him, how are

you doing? He was just a gentleman. Across the city,

others are also remembering. This memorial garden

in the loyalists Fountain estate What sprang to my mind when I heard

of his death was of a little girl of eight years of age out cleaning when

eight bombs went off in that small and sleepy village and I will never

forget that. Unionists politicians in the city

have also been mindful of those who have suffered at

the hands of the IRA. It is a time of sadness for the

McGuinness family and all who knew him but it is a time that those

victims who are so hurt and angry think they will never get any

closure. Among those paying

their respects today, the head of the Catholic church

in Ireland and he regarded the former deputy first

minister as a peace builder. I would like him to have been around

for longer because I believe he believed in peace and had a lot more

to bring. I only hope it will refocus the minds of our political

representatives and everybody in the community to try and build a peace

that is just and lasting. Tomorrow, Martin McGuinness will

leave his loved Bogside area for the last time at this church where he

spent much time. A former head of the civil service

has spoken for the first time about working with Martin McGuinness

as a Minister at Stormont. Sir Nigel Hamilton admitted

there had been some apprehension within the civil service

about the former IRA commander but Mr McGuinness won over

many of his doubters. When Martin McGuinness first walked

into government, Nigel Hamilton was the civil servant there to greet

him. There was a mixture of apprehension,

of curiosity. At times of disbelief that this man had been appointed as

the minister. I nominate Martin McGuinness as

minister for education. People will remember that when he

was appointed there were lots of protests. There were rumours that he

would go to people's schools and make them learn Irish.

They might already know it but we don't want to learn it.

Back then, the new education minister had a difficult start but

as relationship with the civil service began well.

People said one of the most important things I did was shake his

hand in public but then I had to remind him that I had all the staff

looking out the window wondering what I was going to do. I guess that

was one of many significant handshakes that he made in his life.

This was another significant relationship and once again Nigel

Hamilton watched it developed. There he is taking his seat on the right.

What you were seeing in public, affectionately known as the chuckle

Brothers, mirrored how accurately they got on. They had a respect for

one another. That was reality. Given your relationship with them as

a minister, how will you remember Martin McGuinness?

He was appointed a minister and Deputy First Minister but, in my

judgment, he became a statesman. Whatever people's view of Martin

McGuinness, at Stormont it is the end of an era.

Wreckage of the Irish coastguard helicopter which crashed off

the Mayo coast last week has been found.

A remote underwater camera has shown the aircraft lying about 60 metres

off Blackrock Island, close to the spot where

a signal from its black box recorder was located.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was killed in the crash last Tuesday.

The bodies of three other crew are still missing.

Around 2000 people in Northern Ireland who have had

open-heart surgery have received letters warning them

about the risk of infection linked to medical equipment.

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust say they've contacted patients

Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

This affects anyone who has undergone procedures for congenital

heart disease as well as those who have heart valve -- who had heart

valves repaired or replaced. All since 2013. It's a possible link

between a bacteria and a device used to heat and cool the blood during

heart surgery. The risk of infection is very low

and indeed the risk of not having cardiac surgery is much higher than

the risk of infection. However, we feel it is important for patients to

be aware of this risk so they can monitor their health.

This is part of a UK wide investigation which also includes

children. Well the rest is being described as

low, 20 cases have been -- 50 people have died from the condition. At

this stage, no one from Northern Ireland is affected. -- 50 people

have died. -- 15. If you have a temperature above 30

degrees, persistent cough, severe night-time sweats, unexplained

weight loss, widespread muscle and joint pain, diarrhoea or vomiting,

you should approach your GP. Treatments are available, including

antibiotics, but the sooner people are diagnosed, the better the

outcome. Five people, including a prison

officer, who were arrested in connection with an anti-trafficking

operation inside Maghaberry Jail They were detained yesterday

in a joint operation by police and the Prison Service investigating

the smuggling of prohibited items. The investigation uncovered banned

items such as Class A and B drugs, fireworks, mobile phones

and ?10,000 in cash. Class A and B drugs include cocaine,

heroin, cannabis and amphetamines. Five people were arrested, including

a 50-year-old prison officer Four other people were arrested

including a 50-year-old woman at the village of Kinallen

near Dromara and two other women and a man

in Newtownabbey and Belfast. Police are investigating

the trafficking of prohibited goods A prison charity says drugs

are so widely available that drug-free prisoners can become

addicted inside but a sentence With experience of men who went in

with a drug addiction and through the support of prison staff and

organisations they have made it possible for him to come off drugs,

support him and manage his health. For the other side of that coin,

there are those that go into prison without the usage of drugs and fear

for the family is that they become drug users.

The Prison Officers Association says it's frustrating that drugs

are getting into jails by many different routes.

There's no suggestion that having prisoners high on drugs makes

them easier to control, in fact, they say it can

make prisoners agitated and more prone to violence.

On the other hand, they say there has been a lot of success

in combating the influx of drugs, particularly here at Maghaberry.

The five people arrested have now been released

Northern Ireland and the Republic both have crucial World Cup

Mark Sidebottom has this evening's sport from the Northern Ireland team

It is home to the Ireland rugby squad and increasingly the preferred

choice to the football team. It offers seclusion and first-class

facilities. We felt privileged when the Northern Ireland manager talk to

us and invited us to his home in Edinburgh.

In the five years that Michael O'Neill has been Northern Ireland

manager, he has won many awards, and they are all kept at his home in the

Scottish capital. I've moved a lot in my career.

Myself and my wife have always enjoyed Edinburgh and when we moved

away from hence it was always in our minds to come back -- moved away

from Hibernian. Poor kids were born here as well and have Scottish

accents. They are very sporty. Should they play for Scotland or

Northern Ireland? At the minute, they say Scotland but

I've told them never to rule out Northern Ireland they get the

opportunity. Coming into job I did not know, I

had no staff for example, I had to assemble, I remember the first day

being shown an office with a desk and a telephone and that was pretty

much what I had to work with. Given the experience you know have,

if you had to write a letter to your younger self having had that

experience, what would it say? I think it would seek to persevere.

There were times, certainly in the first two years, where I felt that I

was banging my head against a wall a little bit, despite all the work I

was doing I was not seeing the results.

And persevere he did as the 47-year-old light has country -- led

his country to the European Championships.

They will not relish coming to Belfast. We have not conceded a goal

there recently. I do not think they will underestimate us. We know the

significance of what three points will mean.

And if they do win, Michael will be another step closer to Russia for

the World Cup. Michael O'Neill, family man and

football man. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed there will be a one-minute

applause in tribute to the Derry City captain, who died recently. We

wrap up this evening with skiing and confirmation of a bumper haul for

the Northern Ireland team at the special Olympics. Cyril Walker from

Armagh got a bronze and 16-year-old Sean also got bronze. There was a

silver for this boy. Well done to them all.

It has been a split between East and West today. Not bad in the West but

very different in the Eastern counties. Grey and wet and quite a

north-easterly wind. The reason for this was a low pressure across

England and Wales, bringing this weather front into eastern counties.

That weather front won't go far through the course of tonight. I

think we will see a few splashes of rain in the West but it will be the

east bearing the brunt once again. It could be wintry on the hills.

Because we've got more cloud across all parts it will not be as cold as

last night with temperatures generally around three or 4 degrees.

Tomorrow, we will see something a bit more brighter but rather cloudy

in the first half. Mainly dry but a few spots of rain first thing. They

will clear with quickly and the breeze will ease down into the

afternoon. That is when we see brighter skies moving in from the

east although it could be late afternoon before they reach the West

so it may not be such a good day. A better one in the east. After a cold

start on Friday with some frog and Frost, it looks and settled into the

weekend -- with fog and Frost.