30/03/2017 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline. Tonight's top stories:

Concern that staff shortages at Daisy hill

in Newry mean emergency services may have to be suspended.

I was here last night with my daughter, and if it wasn't for them,

we would have been lost. A lack

of radiologists is impacting on how quickly cancer

patients get diagnosed. Parties at Stormont

are given more detail on the government's Brexit

priorities for Northern Ireland. The funeral is held of the young

Donegal woman murdered in Goa. High hopes

that the sale of two South Belfast properties,

including a derelict church, could provide

an economic boost for the area. A new look for one of our

biggest sporting events - best describes the weather,

with some wet spells to come. Two stories tonight raising more

concerns about our health service. Cancer diagnosis could be affected

by a shortage of radiologists - But first, emergency Services

at Daisy hill Hospital in Newry may have to be suspended due

to a shortage of permanent The BBC understands

that the department Staff working in Daisy hill's

emergency department were only told the news this morning. A staff

shortage could lead to services being temporarily suspended. Last

year more than 53,000 people attended the emergency department.

In a statement, the trust said, the service currently remains vulnerable

to the short notice withdrawal of senior medical staff.

As of today, the department is working well, it is fully staffed

and working at a safe level. But over the last few years we've been

experiencing recruitment challenges, and as we enter the summer period it

becomes more difficult to maintain and recruit staff to the level we

need to maintain the department as a safe place to attend. What may

happen is similar to what happened at Belfast's City Hospital some

years ago. It could also not start its emergency department, which led

to its closure. Over the years, Daisy hill has been gradually

undermined, which may be the reason why many young doctors are not being

posted there, because maybe some feel they could have more experience

in the more centralised hospitals. This is where patients will come if

emergency services are suspended. Craigavon. It is 40 minutes from

Newry. Back in Newry, the mention of temporary closure has people are

Daisy hill concern. I was here last bout with my daughter, and if it

wasn't for them, we would have been lost. It's not right. People in

Daisy hill should not let it go. While the trust is at pains to point

out it is a last resort, it is cold comfort to those who may have to

travel to Craigavon to access life-saving treatment.

Staying with health, and it's also emerged that a quarter

of all radiologists' posts here haven't been filled.

It's understood that's impacting on how quickly cancer patients

New cancer waiting time figures show all targets have again been missed.

Our health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly has the story.

Last December, Paul Hutchinson had surgery for brain cancer. But it

took a further three weeks before he was called back for a scan, to

reveal just how successful the surgery had been and when

chemotherapy could start. After surgery, you should know whether

they've got it all. You need to know that. And the weight is really,

really frustrating. It is a standard procedure, it is something that

should be done, a couple of days recovery and you are checked out.

While cancer patients rely heavily on surgeons to remove the cancer,

they depend on radiologist to detect it. At the moment though those

specialists are in short supply in Northern Ireland. In fact the BBC

has learned that approximately 40 posts remain unfilled across the

five health trusts. According to the health and social care board, this

is despite multiple attempts to recruit doctors.

Radiology is a very important area for the diagnosis of many

conditions. And if there are delays in the radiologists' workload, then

we are causing a backlog of patients to be treated. The latest cancer

waiting times show some improvement, but the targets continue to be

missed. And all of this is compounded by Northern Ireland,

unlike the rest of the UK, failing to introduce a cancer strategy.

Let's look at Daisy hill, how surprising is that -- is this

potential move? We've known for some time that the Daisy hill emergency

department has been vulnerable. And it's all down to the fact that

management have been unable to secure senior medical staff to

provide 24 hour cover, and that is because they have to make national

standards. Standards that say that so many senior medical staff should

be there 24 hours a day, and they have been unable to do that. In

fact, according to the trust, it has been the goodwill of clinicians

across the health trust that has been able to keep the department

open, and that is obviously no way to run such a vital service. Of

course any permanent change to the department will require public

consultation. And it's not the only hospital affected. No, of course

both nationally and locally it's being felt across the regions, but I

understand tonight but the Causeway hospital is experiencing similar

problems. And if all of this sounds familiar, remember back in 2011 the

Belfast City Hospital could not start its emergency department, it

temporarily closed, and of course it never reopened. And the health and

social care board have known about these problems, hence the calls for

reform, so that senior staff would not be spread so thinly across the

sites, and of course that reform has not happened, and of course all of

this is unfolding without a Health Minister or an Assembly. And what

about these radiologists' jobs come then? Villa macro with the size of

Northern Ireland, and there are 40 vacant posts, they say that is

severe. And their warning comes on a day when the latest cancer waiting

times have been published. Again those targets have been missed.

Breast cancer, 91% of patients were seen within 14 days. And of course

all of this is compounded by the fact that Northern Ireland still

does not have a cancer strategy. The Brexit Secretary, David Davis,

has written to the Stormont parties to give details of the government's

Brexit priorities His letter expands on the Prime

Minister's suggestion that more powers could be passed

to the devolved administrations. Our economics and business editor

John Campbell reports. In Parliament today, the Brexit

secretary explained how thousands of EU laws would be scrapped and

replaced with UK equivalents. We are bringing a large amount of

legislation straight into UK law. He says more powers could flow to

Stormont and the other devolved administrations. But his letter

includes some important caveats. It says the process must be a

considered one, and cannot be done without intensive discussions.

So why would fresh powers for Stormont and the other devolved

administrations cause problems when it comes to trade deals? At the UK

is to sign trade deals with the rest of the world, what is our UK

framework, what is our regulatory approach? And if the four countries

of the UK have different regulatory approaches, it will cause -- pose

problems for the Government in terms of what concessions can be made and

what can be offered. Nonetheless, the DUP welcomed the prospect of

some fresh powers. I believe in devolution, I think it is the best

means whereby we can find locally tailored solutions to our problems.

So I'm glad the Government in London is committed to making devolution

work, I just hope every party install mod is as well. But Sinn

Fein are suspicious about the Government's attentions. There are

concerns in David Davis's letter. Alliance say it is clear there will

have to be trade-offs. The Government are potentially giving

with one hand and taking with another. They are trying to ensure

that Northern Ireland comes into line with the rest of the UK on

legacy matters arising from the European Union. That may well be in

our interests in some areas, but not in others. , Of course, in a short

time, there is a possibility there will be less devolution, rather than

more of it, unless the parties can reach agreement within the next few

weeks. And in The View tonight,

the former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond says people

in Northern Ireland should be worried about the future direction

of the United Kingdom, regardless of their

constitutional loyalties. Mr Salmond added that the parties

here should work together to secure If I was an Antrim farmer at the

present moment, I would be deeply worried about the direction of

travel of the UK Government. And these people right now, when they

see a United Kingdom Government which seems to pay absolutely no

attention to the economic realities which face our communities, we need

to have Northern Irish politicians acting together to secure your place

within this changing environment. And anything I can do as I've done

before to help that process, I will be very willing to do.

And you can see more of that interview on The View,

A Londonderry aerospace firm is to close with the loss of 40 jobs.

Administrators have been unable to find a buyer for Schivo NI,

which supplies parts for aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus.

The business, formerly known as Maydown Precision Engineering,

The British motocross championships return to Northern Ireland

A man has been injured in a paramilitary-style

The 48-year-old victim was shot in both legs

The attack happened shortly after nine o'clock last night.

It is the second such attack in the city this week -

on Monday night a man was shot in the leg in a bookmakers' shop.

The funeral has taken place of the Donegal woman

A priest told mourners that Danielle McLaughlin

was a remarkable, loyal and thoughtful girl,

Here's our North West reporter, Keiron Tourish.

Once the spiritual home of Catholics... Sorry, that was the

wrong report. We will bring that to you very shortly. OK, Wigan to have

that report. Hundreds of mourners joined the

cortege of Danielle McLoughlin as it made its way from her family home.

Many had travelled from across the world, the UK, Australia and New

Zealand, to pay their respects. Children from a local school were --

where how young sisters attend formed a guard of honour. She was

found dead in a field near tourist resorts in Goa near India earlier

this month. The parish priest said Danielle McLoughlin, the eldest of

five daughters, made a huge impression on everyone. Today has

been about looking back through that list of sadness and desperation that

people have felt, that broken heartless -- brokenhearted is that

we all feel. Reaching back beyond that, to the reality of Daniel's

life and what it was all about. The gifts that she enjoyed, the

blessings that she brought, the piece that she spread. She was

colourful. A beautiful character. Mourners were told the vast array of

tender messages from -- for her mother and family showed the esteem

in which she was held. After Requiem Mass, Danielle McLoughlin was buried

in the adjoining cemetery. One of the Guildford Four,

Paddy Armstrong, is urging Stormont politicians to reach an agreement

on how to deal with legacy In a rare interview, Mr Armstrong,

who has always avoided publicity, This is Paddy Armstrong in 1975,

when he was wrongly convicted of the Guildford pub bombings. 40 -- more

than 40 years later, here he is now. For many years he avoided publicity.

When acquitted, other members of the Guildford Four walked out the front

door, and Gerry Conlon as well. I've been in prison 15 years for

something I didn't do. But Paddy Armstrong avoided the cameras and

left the Old Bailey by the rear exit. He says now that our

politicians must reach agreement on victims' issues. All the victims

should be sorted out, and until that is done, you cannot go forward. And

then, you start the process, but you cannot do a process before that is

done. At first, after he was released in 1989, he struggled with

his new-found freedom. When I came out, I think I was drinking a bottle

of vodka a day, and Southern comfort on top of that, and smoking. How

much compensation did you receive? I think it was ?500,000 I got. But

went on drinking and gambling, I bought a house, I got married, I had

money to look after my kids... Today he lives in Dublin with a wife and

two teenage children. He says anger towards his captors will not bring

the time back. People can understand -- cannot understand why I am not

bitter against English people, but they didn't send me to prison. And

to me, to be bitter and twisted would ruin me as a person. Paddy

Armstrong's memoirs will be launched in Dublin this evening.

Retail has faced challenges since the economic crash

but in many parts of Belfast some businesses are thriving.

Along Belfast's Ormeau Road, the former PSNI station and the long

derelict Holy Rosary Catholic Church have both been sold and are now

But is this the right time for a new venture and what sort

of development does the area need to thrive?

Once the spiritual home of Catholics living along this stretch of the

Ormeau Road, holy Rosary Church opened its doors in late -- in 1898,

and served a growing population for 80 years, eventually coming to

small, its congregation moved across the road in 1982 a bigger church.

Holy Rosary crumbled and decayed over the next decades. But light may

soon once again stream through these stained-glass windows. This grade B

listed building has been bought by a company who plan to convert it into

an Italian restaurant. If all goes according to plan, tables serving

pizza and pasta will fill this space, where once the faithful knelt

and prayed. Just down the road, the local police station has also fallen

under the hammer. In the hands of a developer, it now awaits

transformation. But this road is well used to change. Within a

century ago, it was one of Belfast's first middle-class suburbs. It was a

maze of shops, churches, schools. You had Butcher's, fish shops,

chemists. There was so much going on in that golden age of Belfast

industry. But can the road continue to support such diversity? Well,

these businesses have been giving it a good shot. We've been here 16

months. We get zip replacements, redoing hems and things like that.

We came here in 2012, and when we moved to the Ormeau Road it's been

very vibrant, diverse. Such a range of nationalities now in the Ormeau

Road. So that is really what brought us here. We saw a niche in the

market. We've been here five months, and the road reminded us of vibrant

parts of London like Shoreditch and Camden. On a Saturday afternoon you

will feel that same buzz and enthusiasm and energy that you have

there. And a match that vibe, there is an abundance of coffee shops and

eateries. -- to match. The retail culture is quite difficult, because

we have the city centre, and the online sales would threaten any

retail customer. So for new business coming here, pure retail is a very

difficult challenge. Not easy, but not impossible, for a road that has

always been on the move. Now, the Northern Ireland Open golf

tournament will have a new look this year -

here's Stephen with the sport. The Northern Ireland Open staged

at the Galgorm Castle club in August will change from a traditional four-

round stroke play tournament, to include a match play

event on the final day. A Sunday shoot out -

or head to head - Ryder Cup style. The move has been welcomed by two

of our Tour professionals, Thomas Kane caught up with them

practising at home this week. Practice makes perfect. Having spent

his career travelling to tournaments all around the world, Michael can

now work on his game in the comfort of his own home. 12 months here,

summer, winter, you can do everything. It's been really good,

it's a bit like when you've got the giants Causeway on your doorstep,

you don't tend to visit it as much. Michael let me come and use this, it

was brilliant. He's got a lot of theories on how to do things, how to

best prepare yourself. Just hanging about with him, him giving you his

thoughts, is very beneficial. The two men will be hoping for a

challenge to victory on home soil with an Northern Ireland open

returns here. There will be four tournaments this year that are

different format. You've got a cut after 36 holes stroke play, and then

another cut after 54 holes, but you have to be in the top 24. If you

are, then there's not going to be much play on a Sunday. There's a lot

if you make it that far, but it's exciting, and it's really good for

spectators. It will be a bit noisier. If the format changes --

change is successful, it may well become the blueprint for golf

tournaments in the future. This weekend the Desertmartin

race track plays host to a round of the British Sidecross

and Quadcross championships - it's the first time in eight years

that a Northern Ireland venue has staged the event, in a sport that

attracts riders both young and old. When it comes to off-road racing,

Desert Martin has one of the best tracks in the sport. This weekend

local riders will aim for a flying start to the new season. At the top

level, but is dominated by men, except for one. I'm the only female

rider. I'm the only female rider over here to race, and the only one

to race in Britain as well. I've always been a tomboy. I've never

been a girly girl. Whenever we were young, dad let us rake about the

fields. It's just the adrenaline that I enjoy. Emma writes the bike

inside Cross. Her team partner is in the sidecar. Without us, the bike's

going to fall over. It's getting the group to the back wheel, you have to

keep your weight to the back going down the straight, left hand corner,

get the centre of gravity of your body as low as possible. One girl in

a man's world. But perhaps not for long. Whenever I go past a boy, I

think you just got beat by a girl! It makes me happy. And it's that

happy feeling which has attracted -- attracting the boys and the girls.

Especially the young. Premiership Linfield Ladies

continued their winning start to the season with a 4-0 win

against Ballymena All Stars. Louise McFrederick

opened the scoring, and Megan Bell added three more

between them for Linfield's At the showgrounds, Glentoran

started their campaign with a three nil victory over Newry

- Rebecca McKenna with this Finally, Fifa have opened

disciplinary proceedings against Neil Taylor after his tackle

against Seamus Coleman last week. The Republic defender

suffered a double leg break. The action could sanction

an increased international ban Let's get the weather now.

Still fairly mild today, particularly where we had the best

of the cloud breaks. The best sunny spells was more towards the West,

parts of the North, we had 16 degrees. That it's part of a few

heavy showers through the afternoon, and we see -- since seen rain pushed

in to the south and east. But in between there were a few bright

spells, a lovely serene theme across the river at Portadown. But as I

mentioned, those showers have been coming back in, so quite sure if

many of us. Those showers is off to be replaced by another batch of rain

am particularly across parts of the South and east, but because of all

that cloud, the southerly breeze, it is a mild night. Tomorrow, hopefully

we will see something a little bit brighter for a time, probably among

the middle part of the day, but it's certainly not looking like a good

start for many of us. Pretty wet in places, particularly central and

eastern areas, and the persistent -- persistence of that rain during rush

hour could lead -- lead to surface water and spray on the roads.

Eventually we get that right is not moving into the late morning, into

the early afternoon, lifting temperatures to a fairly mild 14, 15

degrees. But we've another batch of rain pushing in from the south later

in the afternoon, and this time it looks like the West which is going

to get the most of that. So a wet end to the day in the West, after a

wet start the day in the east. That rain

continues to track its way northwards through the course of

tonight, it will be a little bit cooler tonight, five, six, 7

degrees, then into Saturday it pivots around from the North West so

those showers start to come back at us through Saturday, particularly

through the morning and early afternoon. It is a brighter end to

the day, but those temperatures are heading down a little bit. So cooler