31/03/2017 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

Six years after Michaela McCreadie was murdered on honeymoon on

Mauritius, John Mac review returns to the island to appeal for help to

catch the killers. More detail on the European Union's

post Brexit hopes for the border. One year on from smoking

being banned in the grounds of all local hospitals -

we find out if people Also on the programme:

The new university building that Queen's hopes will make Belfast

an international technology hotspot. On Irish cup semi-finals weekend can

Coleraine defeat holders Glenavon to extend their unbeaten run

to 15 games? And it looks like a

weekend of two halves. Showers at first,

then becoming drier. John McAreavey, whose wife Michaela

was murdered on their honeymoon in Mauritius six years ago,

is returning to the island to issue a fresh appeal

for information about her killing. No-one has been convicted

of the murder of the Tyrone woman - the daughter of the Gaelic football

manager Mickey Harte. In an exclusive interview,

John McAreavey has spoken to BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson

who is in the Mauritian Most people here in Mauritius

thought John McAreavey would never be back on the island but as we

speak he is on his way. It is six years since his wife Michaela was

murdered on honeymoon in a luxury hotel just because from here. Her

killers have never been killed Tah court. John McAreavey has never been

here back alone. His decision to return was not a sudden decision,

the has been planning it for quite some time, and before he left I

spoke to him, and I asked him what he hope to achieve by coming back

here. What we are trying to achieve from this whole process is justice,

and that is just as for Michaela, for our families. It is a hard

process, and there is no doubt about that, but it has been hard evidence

Michaela died. And I suppose this process isn't just picking up again

from 2012. This has been an ongoing process for our families for the

past six and a half years. The difference now is we are taking a

bit more of a lead, because we are not content with how things have

been happening over in Mauritius. The question many people are asking

is why now. A lot of time has passed. John McAreavey recently

remarried, and here in Mauritius there is absolutely no sign of a

breakthrough in the police investigation but John 07 SCHOOL

OMBUDSMAN- CIN CLIP My powers are wind ranging. I can recommend

apology if I find failing. I can recommend a decision can be taken

again. Importantly, under the new legislation, I can recommend

payment. There is no limit to that payment. It can cover fees or loss

or consulted payment by way of injury to feelings. Is adamant that

his visit here could save things. We need to appeal to the people of

Mauritius. We felt that the biggest way to achieve that was to get on a

plane and get out there. Five years ago, two hotel workers were found

guilty Tah not guilty of killing Michaela Tabb to macro. Will John

McAreavey's presence here achieve anything? Nobody knows but he is

prepared to give it a try. He arrives tomorrow.

Over the past week there have been four attacks by dissident

Republicans stretching from Strabane to Londonderry.

The latest was in the Waterside area of the city today.

A pipe bomb was made safe outside a family home.

Here's our North-west reporter Keiron Tourish.

A forensic team was carrying out detailed follow-up searches at this

The army examined a suspicious object at Tamneymore Park and said

It followed a paramilitary-style attack on

Wednesday evening, when a man was shot in both legs.

Two days earlier, a 23 year old man was shot in the leg

after being forced to lie on the floor by two masked men.

We have small groups of people who are

It is up to us to drag them out of the past.

There is no place for guns or bombs and

Last week, the PSNI said there was an attempt

road side bomb and that Townsend Street area.

As I say, there was a clear message was sent at the recent election.

They want politicians to deliver for them.

They don't want faceless people doing things on their behalf.

One DUP MLA has raised his security concerns with the PSNI.

We are doing all we can to bring these people to justice and

The police in the city have issued an appeal for information.

They want to hear from anyone who saw suspicious

The European Union's draft guidelines for Brexit negotiations

say there's a need for flexible and imaginative solutions to avoid

They also state that the EU should recognise existing agreements

between the UK and the Irish Republic.

Our Economics and Business Editor John Campbell is with me.

So what has been happening today? On Wednesday we got Theresa May the

Prime Minister formally studying the exit process with our Article 50

letter. Today, we got the first defensive response from the EU and

that was laying out how they think negotiations should to stop they did

not want these to jeopardise peace in Ireland. That was something

emphasised by Job said Muscutt, the Prime Minister of Malta, who

currently hold the presidency of the European council. -- Joseph Muscat.

The issue of Northern Ireland is being given special consideration by

the 27. We know the sensitivities that exist on the Irish issue, and

we are looking at innovative, creative and pragmatic solutions to

see that the peace and stability on the Irish Isle are maintained. Said

the draft guidelines talk about flexible and imaginative solutions,

what they mean? Think it is all about customs. As part of Brexit,

the UK will move out of the EU customs. Nobody wants to see a

return to a hard border, a return to customs posts, but at the moment we

don't know how exactly that will be achieved, so that is what the EU is

talking about when they are saying these innovative solutions. One

important caveat they say that one of the things they come up with, it

must be meaningful in force in. What do we know about the practical

arrangements for border checks, customs checks? HMRC are working on

a new computer system called the customs declaration system. Towards

the end of last year they said it was going swimmingly, not a problem

with it, more recently they have said that project is in doubt, it

faces major risks and requires urgent action. MPs are getting a bit

concerned about that, and today the Treasury Select Committee said they

would write to HMRC AA Gent to see what is happening with this customs

declaration system. Will it even be ready in time for Brexit, which is

in two years' time. The guidelines talk about existing arrangements

between the public Ireland and the UK, what other talking about there?

It allows British and Irish citizens to move freely between the two

islands and to move north and south. Essentially the EU are saying they

are happy that arrangement continues.

The Secretary of State James Brokenshire has invited the Stormont

parties to another round of talks starting on Monday next week.

Some of the parties criticised the last talks process saying

the discussions were not structured or focused.

and Irish governments say they want fresh talks to have an agreed agenda

In an interview for BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme,

Mr Brokenshire said there's no plan to bring in an independent

I think, at this stage, where we have a relatively defined group of

issues, to bring someone new into the process, not familiar with the

discussions that have taken place, not familiar with those key issues

and what people have said I think would be very challenging and very

difficult. And, as I have indicated, we have this short window of

opportunity through until Easter, when I then have to start to make

final and firm decisions as to what legislation may need to be post the

Easter recess. You're watching BBC Newsline

and still to come... 20 years on, Ulster's most

successful Gaelic club celebrates its breakthrough

All-Ireland title - A year ago, all of our local

hospitals went 'smoke-free' - staff, patients and visitors

were banned from lighting The Western Trust first

adopted the policy in 2014. Linzi Lima has been finding out

if people are adhering to the ban. National no smoking Day 2016. Health

trusts here declared themselves smoke-free zones. Smoking is not

allowed anywhere on hospital grounds. A year on, has the banned

made any difference? It is a constant ongoing problem. The fact

we went smoke-free last year 2016, it is a slow work improve gross but

it is still improving, which is the main thing. There is a Lotta Lois --

slow working process. Joe is the smoking warden. It is his job to

enforce the ban. There was no smoking on the grounds, OK? Just

over there where the bin is. You just have to be compassionate with

them. Some people might have had a relative that just died. They might

have been told they have a terminal bonus, so you have to be

compassionate on your approach and have sympathy with them, do you know

what I mean? The smoke-free policy is a ministerial directive, not law,

meaning those lighting up on hospital grounds may be asked to put

it out but won't face prosecution. We are certainly seeing an

improvement on all of our sites. Although, I have to say, and be

totally honest, that it is still a challenge, and particularly a

challenge on our big sites such as the Royal and the City foster

opinion on those sites is divided. Maybe not on their sides at the

front of the hospital but there should be somewhere for long stay

patients who do require the smoke. People who smoke and are in

hospital, what do they do? It is very difficult. For visitors, yes,

no problem. I think it is pretty good, like. Especially when I am on

the cancer ward. I think they should have an allocated area for them,

maybe not just at the front door because sometimes it is busy and you

try to get by them. I don't smoke personally, so not favourable!

Undoubtedly at entrances and grounds at some hospitals, people are still

smoking. We have seen the evidence here. The trust still say their

policy is working and those numbers are rejoicing. Through the use of a

warden and education policy, they hope those numbers will reduce even

further. Farmers near a County Armagh

reservoir are being offered an alternative to spraying rushes

on their land. The pilot project is run

by Northern Ireland Water and the Ulster Farmers' Union,

and it aims to stop herbicides It's a problem in several areas,

and it means the water needs expensive treatment before it can be

pumped to the public. Here's our Agriculture

and Environment Correspondent Carl McCall kills rushes for two

reasons, it improves his land and makes more of it eligible for

subsidy payments. Farmers used to spray rushes with a herbicide. But

in some places, high concentrations were turning up in our reservoirs,

like here in County Armagh. So 120 farmers in this catchment are being

offered an alternative. Instead of spraying, a different pesticide is

put on with a roller, a much more targeted application. We think that

this way we can do it more cost effectively, and probably help the

environment along the way. Cost is a big consideration for Northern

Ireland water too, they have had to put in special filters at more than

half of their water treatment plants and they are not cheap, ?5 million

in one facility alone last year. Each tank contains three metres of

granulated carbon, which strips out the pesticides as the water

percolates through. The quality leaving the water works is great but

the quality going in the treatment because of the high levels of it, so

we're trying to reduce those levels to make the water better quality,

more environmentally friendly and have lower cost at our water

treatment production as well. Our rivers and lakes are not in a great

shape when set against EU standards, and this pilot project does replace

it with a herbicide that has been subject of much debate over its

safety. We will continue to follow the scientists everywhere, they have

already stated from the research work they have done that it is an

absolutely safe chemical. Northern Ireland water says it breaks down

much more clearly in water, a matter of days instead of blocks turn

weeks. They have reassured the public that herbicides instead -- in

raw water do not pose a threat because the treated water coming out

of people's taps is they routinely high standard.

The new Computer Science building at Queen's University

It's taken three years and ?14 million to complete.

The university says it'll make Belfast an international

It is eye-catching and colourful on the outside, and on the inside it is

about as far away as you can get from a draughty lecture hall.

Students love the space, it feels like a natural space. They sit here,

code, work on hardware assignments. But there is a purpose behind all

the plants and games machines. The one unique thing that this building

allows us to do is to work in an environment which is very similar to

the environment they will find when they find a job outside University.

So we mimic corporate environments in some sense. We have these

creative spaces. Some employers are also based in the building, teaching

over 1000 students about the world of work and talent spotting. We

would take in place to 80 computer science and other graduates each

year, in addition to 30 placement students, giving them, building upon

the degree and the skill sets they have learned here at Queens

University. Queens say they plan to invest ?200 million in new buildings

like this over the next five years, but they have also recently lobbied

for more public subsidy and higher tuition fees from students. Given

they have all those millions, why? That is because we have actually

used that public money very wisely. The level of investment in our

universities in Northern Ireland is now some 25% lower than universities

in England, Wales and Scotland, and we are falling further and further

behind. We actually cannot become a prosperous society until we really

address this issue. It is critical. There are local challenges but also

global once right universities. Brexit is set to make it more

difficult for them to bring in University International staff and

students. Queens will hope that state-of-the-art facilities like

this ensure they remain a attractive destination after the UK leaves the

EU. In sport this weekend,

we have some big games in Gaelic But Stephen Watson begins

with local football. It's Irish cup semi-finals

weekend in local football. Both games are tomorrow -

the opener sees Linfield play Dungannon Swifts at three

o'clock at Mourneview Park. That's followed by the meeting

of Coleraine and holders Glenavon Oran Kearney's Coleraine are now

unbeaten in their last 14 outings and have a old-boy back

in the team with Cup pedigree. When the season started, Eoin

Bradley would have fancied his chances of making an Irish cup

final. He played in it last year. Watched this for a ball from Eoin

Bradley. And his impressive form continued this is an for Glen Abbey,

but now he is at Coleraine come for the second time, and tomorrow he

will play against his team-mates from just three months ago. Looking

forward to playing against them, I was up there for two and a half

years. -- Glenavon. I am looking forward to getting one over on them.

Throughout the six and a half years owing to any has been the manager at

the club there has been the good and the bad. The clubs and the have

stuck by their manager and today they are flying high, so much in

fact that the league season started at the start of the year, Coleraine

would be top but tomorrow they take on the recent cup specialists.

Bradley again. They are very competitive and they have a really

good manager. They have won it twice in the last three years, and there

are lots of players who will have medals in their pockets who will

come to play against us on Saturday. They have the big game experience

and they have been there and got the T-shirt. We have a group of players

hungry to do that so it is up to us to make sure that happens. A buzz

about the place. Probably the biggest crowd we have had. A good

buzz about the players, management, everybody. It will not be easy but

we are all looking forward to it. For Glen Abbey, they are hoping for

a third Irish cup in four years, a cup Coleraine have not won since

2003. You can watch the game live on the

BBC Sport Northern Ireland Facebook page tomorrow at 5:15pm. Plus

highlights of the first semifinal. Both games are live

on BBC Radio Ulster. Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers and

Celtic are on the cusp of another Celtic take on Hearts on Sunday,

but if Aberdeen lose at Dundee tonight, they'll be crowned

champions, with nine games to go. The Carnlough man's been reflecting

on a remarkable season. It has been a great season so far.

More importantly, I have really enjoyed my time here, myself and my

staff. We came up here last season, we were really looking forward to

the season ahead, many challenges, but it couldn't have gone much

better for us. So no, everything has been great around the football club.

There has been a real energy around it, which is fantastic, and outside

of that it has been great to be up in Glasgow.

Double world Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea's impressive start

Ahead of this weekend's latest round of the Championship

in Aragon in Spain, he set the fastest time

Rea has won the opening four races this season

The Kawasaki rider is trying to become the first ever person

to win the world Superbike championship three times in a row.

Fellow Northern Ireland rider Eugene Laverty was ninth.

Final qualifying is tomorrow before the first race.

In Gaelic Games, this weekend sees the final round of matches

the Allianz National Football League - it also marks a significant

milestone in the history of the most successful Ulster football club

Let's join Mark Sidebottom live at the home of Crossmaglen Rangers.

Thank you very much, Stephen, evening everyone. That milestone of

course is 20 years since the mighty men of Crossmaglen made their all

Ireland debut back in 1997. Two men who were integral to that, Joe, five

or 600 expected this evening, can you quite believe it was 20 years,

two decades ago? Certainly not. People ask if I had known then what

I know what we have kept it going? No, it was unbelievable, a bunch of

young lad started it off and it has been unbelievable. No one will ever

forget that day. Not least the man on your left, you were just a pup.

You scored one goal unsettled points in that final. We can take a look at

of the highlights. You did great and bigger and better things. A

remarkable day for the club. That day we really appreciated everything

was coming at us. We had not won a county title in ten years. We ended

up in an all Ireland final. We just weren't prepared to do whatever it

took at that time to win an All-Ireland. The rest is history.

The success that came off the back of that 97 victory has been truly

believable. What a day not just the Crossmaglen, but the goalkeeper help

you to a goal. And of course the goalkeeper. Arguably the best. It

was great to have the three of us there, just a great day for the

community and everyone involved. It was truly, it went on to inspire the

next generation, which we look back on with obviously, it worked out

really well for us at that time. Joe, for you, as a former player,

then three, four sons going on to play for the club. You go on to win

not just one but six All-Irelands. Four clubs watching and who have not

had success, what is the sacred? Perseverance? Weak there is no

secret, down to hard work and having players who are having the

willingness to give everything. You put belief in the mid-, and then you

have a team. Just a final question, concluding round of the National

Football League this weekend, 20 years ago was all free-flowing

football. What are you reckon now about the modern game as we look

into this closing weekend? Both games are poles apart. I don't know

if I would survive in modern-day football. Why don't know if a lot of

players playing today would. It is different but still very watchable.

Thank you very much. I'd awake all of the week and's National Football

League you will get a grasp BBC Radio Ulster. Clear

On what's Clear likely to be an emotional occasion Derry City

host Bray Wanderers this evening in Buncrana - the match is live

I will be at the Ballymena showgrounds tomorrow for the big

Irish cup semifinal which I am looking forward to seeing live on

Facebook as well. Tomorrow is the first of April -

will the new month bring Angie Phillips has the weekend

weather forecast. Yes, there are some showers in the

forecast, so will not be good as last weekend but that is not to say

there will lobbies in fine weather in the forecast, although tomorrow

does bring us some showers, they will be dying away. It turns try and

buy tip of the second half of the Wiccan but also cooler air coming in

so we will have quite chilly night and daytime cabbage is not as mild

as they have been. -- second half of the weekend. -- daytime temperatures

not as mild. Recently, through the afternoon we have had those heavy

showers, some mixed with thunderstorms ending in as well, but

white gaps in between. This is a lovely scene, the clouds clearing,

if you raise a sunshine coming in. Dabbling the surrounding fields.

Still though showers this evening for a time, some heavy ones,

eventually they clear away to the north. For most of us overnight able

and a dryer, clear spells, and as a result even the night it is that bit

cooler, temp just down to four or 5 degrees, particularly in the

countryside. Some sunshine on offer, some bright spells, specially later

on between that we have some showers or stop a bit of an April fool, the

secretary try -- deceptively dry start. Showers will track their way

inland towards the south and east as we head into the afternoon. Again,

the odd heavy one, slight risk of thunder but they will be starting to

Peter out as the day wears on. Particularly for the north and West,

we have a north-westerly breeze tomorrow so the temperature is down

on the day by a couple of degrees, 11 to 13 Celsius or stop tomorrow

night, the winds ease, showers chosen away. Temperatures could get

close to freezing in a few spots, a cold night with the potential for

some ground frost in places. Then Sunday, despite some chill and early

mist and fog it is a fine day, try, bright with Spurs and sunshine, 12,

feeling fine in the sun. BBC Northern Ireland

is keeping her country... ..from line-dancing champions

to crooning kids. It's just me sort of like

communicating with the crowd.