11/04/2017 BBC Newsline

tomorrow's talks when he will try to persuade Russia to end

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

Was no sign of an agreement on the Stormont talks are expected to pose

on Thursday. A BBC Panorama has new revelations

about the Stakeknife affair and why a decision was taken not

to prosecute the alleged spy. The health service overhaul that had

limited impact due to a lack Tackling rural crime -

a new campaign is launched to try to get

people to speak out. Thousands of Irish dancers

are in Belfast for the world It's crunch time for Ulster as three

massive games loom. And a bit of rain on the way

tonight but after that Sources at Stormont have indicated

there will be a full day of political talks tomorrow then her

powers and then let the resumption after Easter.

Earlier today the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said

He was speaking as business and civic leaders gathered together

at Stormont to call on the parties to restore devolution.

The Secretary of State says it's not helpful to speculate

In a moment we will hear from our Political Editor.

First this report from our Political Correspondent Stephen Walker.

If we're going to grow our peace process and have a devolved

Government it is really important we have a devolved Government. All the

political parties say that they want to reach an agreement. We'll think

that the need to work much harder at that and we need to find a way that

when they do agree a programme to stick together and deliberate over

the period. Sticking plaster is no good to us any more. The Alliance

leader says that some progress has been made in the discussions but

said an agreement is unlikely. It has become increasingly clear over

the last 24 hours that the prospect of any deal by the end of this week

is extremely remote. Others are concerned that appeals to restore

devolution a big ignored. The two main parties need to know that is

more to life than happens at Stormont. We have had today calls

from business leaders, the same cause we're hearing from the

education side and the health service that something needs to be

done and needs to be resolution and devolution up and running again.

We're starting to get concerned that those calls are beginning to fall on

deaf ears. The Secretary of State has said it is not helpful to

speculate on outcomes at this stage. It was always going to be a stretch

to agree a deal in this time frame and unless there is mood change Good

Friday looks like it will pass without agreement.

Our political editor Mark Devenport is at Stormont.

What is Gerry Adams indicating he wants the DUP to do?

He gave an interesting briefing on legacy into a group of reporters. He

said it desirable that if they did not get a deal on legacy could still

form an executive but that would not be a strong deal because it would

alienate a lot of people who were looking for the truth. He said that

the DUP had to basically adopt a rights -based approach on issues

such as same-sex marriage in the Irish language and he said that

didn't mean that they had to drop their policy objection to same-sex

marriage but said that continuing to be too late when a majority of MLAs

supported it was not fear are appropriate. -- continuing to veto.

We had all been honing her script but it looks like it looks it will

be at my day on Friday. My understanding is tomorrow there will

be a full round of negotiations including round table sessions but

after that the ideas that talks will stop. There will be no formal round

table sessions and it is likely that will be resumption after Easter.

We will see of the comeback to the talks table but who could have a

confusing situation because Secretary of State says he needs

establishing laws through after Easter including the new rates bill

which will allow for the collection of rates in Northern Ireland and it

will be interesting to see whether that happens in parallel with the

glaciation still carrying on. -- negotiations still carrying on.

A revelation in the BBC's Panorama programme

in relation to the alleged IRA spy known as Stakeknife.

The west Belfast man, Freddie Scappaticci,

has denied he was a highly placed agent within the ranks of the IRA.

Now it's understood that the director of the public

prosecution service here asked his deputy to step

That followed her earlier role in a decision not to prosecute

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part

of Pamela Atchison who was appointed deputy director of Public

The agent, codenamed Stakeknife, is alleged to have been a top Army

spy inside the IRA involved in up to 50 murders as head

of the organisation's internal security.

He was named by the media as former West Belfast man

He denies the claim he was Stakeknife.

Tonight's Panorama includes a recording of a him describing

how suspected informers would have been interrogated.

In 2015, the Director of Public Prosecutions ordered

a new investigation called Operation Kenova.

It is reviewing cases linked to Stakeknife

as well as a decision made by the Public Prosecution Service

not to prosecute the agent over allegations that he lied under oath.

I have serious concerns in relation to this decision.

Having reviewed all the available evidence I

consider the original decision did not take into account relevant

considerations and took into account irrelevant factors.

This evening's BBC Panorama reveals that the PPS decided not

to prosecute Scappaticci for perjury because he was in fear of his life.

Among those involved in that decision in 2006 was senior PPS

lawyer Pamela Atchison who later became deputy director.

It's understood that because of her involvement

Barra McGrory asked her to step back from all decision-making

That period of extended leave ended 11 days ago when she retired.

It's understood her retirement was in line with her contract.

In tonight programme panorama reporter asks Northern Ireland 's

most senior prosecutor about his deputy. Can you understand what

she's been gardening leave for some months? That is not appropriate.

In a statement, Pamela Atchison's solicitors said: The client has had

an exemplary and unimpeachable record as a prosecutor and has

all times acted appropriately and responsibly in relation

It said she would welcome the opportunity to clarify her

role but is constrained by current circumstances.

And she is eagerly awaiting the opportunity

to explain her involvement during the Operation Kenova enquiry.

It is likely to be several years before the investigation reports.

Coming up on the programme: Details of a new initiative

A lack of planning and funding has meant that the biggest overhaul

of the health service here for decades had

That's the conclusion of Northern Ireland's auditors

who say Transforming Your Care has not lived up to expectations.

The Health and Social Care Board says while it accepts the report's

findings it stresses there have been achievements.

Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

It was billed as the biggest shake-up of health services in over

a decade. The aim was to transfer services away from hospitals and

provide more care in the community. Hopes were high especially for

improving care for older people. All the people wanted to see improved

access to social care services and services which would keep them at

home as long as possible and maintain their independence. I think

we've seen some of that but we have not seen enough of it and we need to

click on that scale change. The auditors also confirm that

transforming your care could have been done better. But according to

those involved in shaping at the reasons why progress is slow. It did

not transform the health system in the weather was envisaged that it

did not have the appropriate financial package. The leadership

within the health sector and a politician of a are unwilling or

unable to implement it. What does that mean for the current health

review? For issues around finance and leadership still exist?

According to the auditors in 2011 the estimated cost of transforming

your care was an hundred ?40 million. The actual spend was only

?40 million. The savings were estimated to be ?130 million. In

fact only ?20 million were actually saved. Progress has been made around

stroke and mental health services for some that are still a lot to do.

Such things as eating disorders and psychological therapies and mental

health trauma, all that work with us to be doing in schools with support

services is not there. These are all things at the definite guidance of

leadership from our politicians. Senior health professionals wanted

to make it work but I understand that permission was really granted

by officials to implement the changes to how services were

delivered. That's because it would have meant possibly closing hospital

departments and even care homes which no politician wanted to do. So

services and how they were funded just stayed the same. The health

board says Wallace accept the findings T Y C has brought about

notable improvements. -- while it accepts the findings.

The man who died in a crash in Crumlin yesterday

was Emmanuel Caddell, who was from the greater Belfast

The 22-year-old died following a two-vehicle collision

The police are asking for anyone who saw what happened to contact them.

A man in his 70s was hit on the head by armed

burglars at his home in Ballymoney last night.

He and his wife were attacked by masked men who broke

into their home and took a substantial sum of money.

Our north east reporter Sara Girvin has more.

It was just after 930 last night when when three masked and armed men

broke into the house here for a man in his 70s and his wife were inside.

The man was struck on the head and he and his wife were tightly chairs

with cable ties. A substantial amount of money was stolen by the

men who fled in a vehicle. The woman managed to free herself and went to

a nearby nearby where she managed to raise the alarm. The man was treated

in hospital for his injuries but have still been released. Local

politicians have condemned the attack. My concern is that this is

one of a number of incidents referred recently and ordered a

period of time that indicates it is a small group of people who are

still intent on carrying out these types of activities. Police have

said that at the same time as the badly there was a report of shots

being fired in the nearby area less than a mile away. They are asking

anyone who may have had those gunshots are suspicious activities

by vehicles media to get in touch. Up to 15 Friesian cattle

were stolen from a farmyard in the Greysteel/Eglinton area

of Londonderry at the weekend. This latest theft comes as police

help launch a new initiative at Markethill Livestock Mart,

encouraging farmers to speak out Our South-East reporter

Gordon Adair has more. These farmers no cattle and they

also know what's what and who's who in the countryside. They can help

fight in the fight against rural crime. That is also information in

the rural community whereby sometimes people don't understand

that one piece of estimation fits into the wider jigsaw. -- one piece

of information. Anybody who has information about real crime sees

anything suspicious should contact the police service. There is

frustration within our community is about the level of rural crime and

sometimes the judiciary system seems to let victims down. But it is good

to launch a new campaign today and I think we need to enter into that

partnership and we do need to speak up if the is a crime report. Report

anything we do know to the police service and hopefully through a

genuine partnership we can reduce the levels of rural crime. Small

steps such as this police led trigger marking scheme coupled with

increased vigilance and the rural criminal can be beaten.

Belfast court has been told that a man being treated by paramedics at

his home assaulted them ripping shot from one and forcing the other to

retreat for his safety. Jonathan Goodall who was 19 was being treated

by ambulance staff after a call to say he was having a fit. Goodall

said he no memory of the assault. He was given a suspended jail sentence

and ordered to pay ?200 in compensation.

There's plenty more to come on BBC Newsline, including: The cream

of Irish dancers who're in Belfast to compete for world titles.

The prices of food, alcohol and tobacco all rose last month.

But the overall rate of inflation was unchanged at two

point three percent - that's because the falling cost of

Our Economics and Business Editor John Campbell is here.

So prices are still going up but no faster than they were in February?

We have seen this trend in recent months of the rate inflation

accelerating but that did not happen in March. If you look at this chart

we can see what has happened over the last year so. If you go back to

this time last year when inflation was 0.8% it has been drifting up

ever since. We go to debris and the rate inflation hit 2.3% above the 2%

target of the Bank of England but it went no further in. The reason is

mainly to do with a quirk of timing. Last year Easter fell in March and

at least the price of airfares and hotel rooms goes up as people head

on a break. This year does not fall tour April so we're not really

comparing like with like when it comes to price level changes.

Historically 2.3%

is still low inflation by historic standards -

will people be feeling by historic standards it is still

low. Probably some of older viewers can remember double-digit inflation.

It is really to do your wages. If your wages are increasing by 2.3% or

more in effect your standard of living but if they are increasing at

a slower rate you will start to feel the squeeze on household budgets.

Particularly in the public sector most people there can expect a pay

rise of at most 1% this year so they will start to feel that squeeze,

especially as many economists expect the rate of inflation to keep

writing to this year hitting 3% higher by the end of the year.

Any sign of changing consumer behaviour in

Surely the habits of people in spending will change? That is little

evidence this is happening already. British Retail Consortium had some

figures out today looking at the first quarter of the year. Those

figures suggest that people are spending more on food but less than

everything else. That would tend to support the idea that people were

cutting back a bit on discretionary spending. If you look more locally

at car sales which are the pretty slow start of the year that would

also give some support to the idea that people are cutting back on

discretionary spending. At the moment the evidence for that is

pretty weak but I think we will see that trend continued if the rate of

inflation continues to go up again. From as far away as Japan

and Australia, more than 5,000 competitors are performing

at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast - perfecting

their slip-jigs and reels. It's the venue for this year's

World Championships under the Comhdhail or Congress

of Irish Dance teachers. Our arts correspondent

Robbie Meredith went to watch It is highly competitive...but

there's also colour, And outfits like 12-year-old Katie's

really are eye-catching... She picked the colours her cells. We

spent about three months sourcing this costume. Expensive.

Those dresses can cost thousands of pounds but the organisers do put

We are one of the more progressive organisations in relation to

regulation. We don't promote our dancers up to 13 to wear facial

meerkat. -- permit. -- facial make up.

This is the second major Irish dancing championship to be held

on the stage behind me within the past six months.

It is a show but competitors say it's also a serious sport...

And it takes some serious commitment...

I do dancing every night for two and a half hours and then on the

weekends I do flashes. They really look after diet and nutrition and

all that. Blathnaid's mum Valerie had some

doubts about her daughter taking up Irish dancing,

but she's been won over... It teaches them lessons alive to be

confident and diligent and you have to work hard to get things so it's

not about the pageantry of the dancing, it's about all the things

behind it. I learned that the hard way.

The competition continues until Friday night.

Sport or culture they are still very talented.

Now sport - and another injury blow for Ulster Rugby -

Yes - Ireland international back Jared Payne has picked up an ankle

injury and is out of Ulster's interprovincial derby away

The first of three massive games against the current top three

sides in the Pro12 - and Ulster may need to win

all of them to secure a top four finish and a place in the play-offs.

The word inconsistent could be used regularly to sum up Ulster rugby

this season. Most often they haven't played well. This weekend it is

Munster at home and the most high-profile recruit believes they

can win. Definitely. I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think so and I

wouldn't have committed myself to this club. I definitely know we're

good enough to be there and can show them in the next two weeks. It is

those next few weeks that will define a whole season. If they win

the next two games will be guaranteed a spot in the top four

and qualify for the pro 12 finals. But are they good enough? I don't

think we've performed at that level for long theories of the season. We

haven't produced that consistency that is required. For a long season

with gone up and down. There's something about is where we know we

can. We just haven't had the consistency. I suppose that

consistency comes next. This weekend we just need a big one-off

performance. There have been a few words said this week but little

needs to be said. You're naturally just up for it and not for producing

a big one. -- back up for producing a good one.

Munster against Ulster will be live on BBC Radio Ulster

Donegal Under-21s have just five days to prepare for an All Ireland

That's after last night's Ulster Final win over Derry in Armagh.

Now, football is also pretty popular in Donegal,

Jamie Brennan dribbled the whole way from the half-way line,

then a perfect pass - and Lorcan Connors scored the first

goal of the evening, just two minutes before half-time

After the break it was all Donegal who won comfortably,

by three goals and 17 points to 13 points.

provincial Under-21 title since 2010.

who was back in hospital this morning receiving treatment

Donegal now play Dublin on Saturday at Breffni Park-

There can be no denying the growth in the popularity

At the elite end it has made a multi-millionaires of fighters

such as Conor McGregor - and now enthusiasts of the sport

are getting the chance to train like their heroes.

It's what you've been training for. Get ready. 6am and while most of us

are still grappling with sleep this bunch is put through a gruelling

work-out by one of the most accomplished trainers in mixed

martial arts. It is supposed to be the complete novices. We take them

from the coach to the cage. This is 21 weeks and four or five mornings a

week getting up at 45 in the morning to get it six. The guys put in a

tremendous effort and we will see fantastic body transformations over

the next couple of months. Mixed martial arts is a fusion of oriental

martial arts and Western combat sports and measuring the 1990s and

claims to be the world's fastest-growing sport. It is hard

work. It is six months training. You're in here sex in the morning of

four days a week and you really have to challenge yourself and pace

yourself to do isn't. You get used to injuries in an almost daily

basis. The next injury get is sorer than the licensee can just forget

about it. It has been a big challenge and I can't believe how

much I've learned. Kavanagh Has impeccable credentials

having guided Conor McGregor to stardom. Conor McGregor there was a

showdown with Floyd Mayweather. Can he see that happening? Yes. Who

knows? Maybe we get to see it. I'm excited about it. Everybody will

have that opinion on it. But I guarantee you everybody will tune

in. 'mega-fight' between Conor McGregor

and Floyd Mayweather Junior It looks like it's going to happen.

If he goes ten rounds and three minutes around that will be half ?1

million second. Where did go wrong? Unreal. I think I'll stick to my day

job. The weather forecast is next

with Angie Phillips. Not the warmest as we head towards

Easter but it could be worse. We have a band of rain tonight and that

will be some showers around but hopefully they won't be too great

degree. Like today where be just had the odd spot of rain and you can

clearly see the front that is moving across Scotland at the moment. That

is moving across Scotland at the moment. That will move south ahead

of it it has been tried. We had a fair amount of cloud impresses but

it broke up in parts of the south and east. This is a along the coast.

-- along the Antrim coast. Some bright spells to end the day but it

will all change. Clyde will increase as that weather front goes through

the night. Mostly after midnight we will see that rain moving, fairly

persistent places and that could be the odd heavy burst. At least it

will be mild despite gusty wind picking up. Temperatures will be no

lower than seven or 8 degrees. Tomorrow we will hopefully see some

bright spells breakthrough again but it's not a great start to the day

and this is dull and damp. Was the love that weather front first thing

in the morning. Eventually it does clear way. I think for a while there

will still be a filament of cloud and we will have a few showers

Justinian on the breeze. I think they will be mostly light and there

will be gaps between and able start a fade away during the day. It is

during this part of the day because his bright sunny intervals coming

through. That north-westerly breeze is quite dusty particularly around

the coast and are both local tomorrow with temperatures of only

ten or 11 degrees. Through tomorrow evening again a bright into the day

in places. Through the night cloud increases. We'll get a few more

showers coming in her colour night down to four or 5 degrees. A

filament of cloud starting Thursday. They will start a tapered away later

in the day. We will start to see some sunshine. As we head towards

Easter weekend a few showers and hopefully there will be a few bright

spells as well. Our late summary is at half-past

ten.You can also keep in contact This week on

the series that revisits extraordinary real-life stories...

It really is good to see you. ..memories of

a once-in-a-lifetime flight.