18/04/2017 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

The Prime Minister's surprise general election announcement -

we speak to the main political parties here,

assess what it means for the Stormont talks

Too much bickering and infighting going on between two major parties

and to be honest with you I'd be considering not voting at all. We

feel like confused. Investigations begin into a possible

link between eight arson attacks We find out why these young

people and some teachers are spending their Easter

holiday in class. This man sent to a home in Australia

as a child discovers a family he never knew about back home

in Northern Ireland On another crunch night

in local football. All tonight's sport

shortly from the home And it hasn't been the warmest

of Easters but it should feel a little milder over

the next few days. I'll be back with

your full forecast. That surprise announcement

by the Prime Minister came shortly None of the political parties

here seemed to have had any prior warning that the Prime Minister

would be seeking a General Election in just seven weeks' time,

Thursday 8th of June. Her plan is to have polling day of

Thursday the 8th of June. We'll hear from all the main parties

in the course of the programme. But first our political

correspondent, Enda McClafferty, has been following

today's seismic events: Just when we thought the political

picture couldn't get any more complicated. Up stepped the Prime

Minister. I have just chaired a meeting of the cabinet where we

agreed that the government should call a general election to be held

on the 8th of June. Theresa May's U-turn on a slap connection caught

many by surprise. -- snap election. People fear it may add to the

instability here. This leaves Northern Ireland in the lurch,

particularly in respect to the ongoing talks process. It would be a

disgrace if any party was to now walk away from the table because

they are thinking of the election campaign. That is not how the DUP

see it. We welcome the election and we see to it as a child because she

has taught this about this being an election about the union which is a

chance of reinforcing that unionist message in Northern Ireland. And

election has been part of Sinn Fein's script for weeks. Were not at

Westminster. The parties as voters should use the poll to deliver

another anti-Brexit message. We want those people to come out again to

say again to the British Prime Minister we are against Brexit, we

are for special status in Ireland, the for a referendum on Irish

freedom, and that is what should come to Ireland. Two years ago,

unionist celebrated after DUP and Ulster Unionists brought into new

MPs. One for each party. So will they see the same tactic next time?

I want to see 18 Northern Ireland MPs sitting on the benches of

Westminster, arguing for the people of Westminster. What about those who

will decide the outcome? How do they feel about returning to the polls

for the second time in four months? I'm pretty disturbed to be honest,

because I think people are sick to death of elections. Is it going to

do much? Is anything to be different? The last one didn't seem

too. Didn't seem to do much worse. With not enough here. We're fed up

with these Sinn Fein shouting this, shouting that, to lest the unionist

parties get their act together, stop doing the dirty work in public.

Parties here are getting into position, once I says it's a fight

over Brexit, the other a battle for the union. One thing is for sure,

that another bitter election campaign here will do little to

advance the prospects of power-sharing.

And we'll be talking to Mark Durkan from the SDLP

Our political editor Mark Devenport is with me.

What does this election decision mean for the Stormont negotiations

and where does it leave those yearning for an Executive

Well the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, has released a written

statement this afternoon and in it he says he will fast track

legislation through allowing for the collection of the rates here and

will also set a new deadline effectively saying that an

executives should be formed in early May. He maintains in this written

statement that there is a duty on the local parties to form an

executive, discussions will continue, and this forthcoming

general election won't change the approach. He seems to be about the

only politician thinking that. When he talked to local parties they

think welcome even with the best will in the world parties aren't

going to cut compromises, sensitive deals which could put them under

pressure in their own grassroots at a time when they are going out and

selecting candidates and campaigning and going into DBT years to bat each

other, around the head over these issues, it seems we have had two

failed rounds of negotiations and Theresa May has pulled the rug from

under James Brokenshire's feet. What is the possibility we could have and

is early election and a common selection on the same day? Bats an

assembly election and a Commons election? The polling staff will be

there, but I'm not sure about the politics of it. James Brokenshire

certainly appears to be reluctant about are calling a snap election,

decimating as it did the likes of the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP to

some extent. When they met really want to be enamoured of this notion.

Let's focus on the Commons and remind us about Northern Ireland's

current representation that. We have their 18 MPs, some of whom take

their places in Commons, some of them who are at pension -ist. --

abstain. The DUP were emerged as the largest party last time, maintaining

eight seats, they lost one seat but one another. Sinn Fein lost a seat

as we will explain. The SDLP held onto their three seats, and the

Independent there is Lady Sylvia Hermon. Big winners out of the

election by the two of the unionist MPs, having lost their niche

completely at Westminster but got to MPs. The DUP Arlene Foster said this

was an opportunity to vote for the union. There was no unionist pact in

the recent assembly election was what is likely in June? A different

dynamic potentially in this election. This last election Mike

Nesbitt tried to do this as an opposition versus government

election and got very close to the SDLP. This time we are back into the

potential for unionist packs. We remind ourselves of the last

Westminster election there was a unionist pact in a couple of seats

and it paid dividends. Tom Elliott got sat around, these Sinn Fein

loss, got back seat with the backing of both his own Ulster Unionist

Party and the DUP, in return the Ulster Unionists that in east

Belfast allowing Gavin Robinson to take the seat and that made the

Alliance leader at the Commons. Looking at the unionist and

nationalist battle grounds, if election happens in June what do you

focus on there? We had to see what happens in terms of overall pact and

how the new leader Robin Swann handles the dilemma but potentially

we could see an area in south and strip being a battle ground, Danny

Kennedy and one last time round against the DUP, will be DUP see to

come back? It depends on the overall relationship between the Unionists.

In terms of nationalists we saw in the last election Sinn Fein putting

on quite a few votes, and they will obviously tried to retake Fermanagh

Sassa Roan, but here are a couple of seats where they may try to make

further inroads. They pulled pretty well in the assembly election, but

will be SDLP hang onto that? It will be a different kind of election,

eight election where they will be able to save the MPs will take to

vote a hard against Brexit. Unionists tactical voting has been

seen in these areas. We have heard initial reactions from the

politicians. The SDLP shortly from Westminster, but for now, thank you.

A specialist police unit is investigating the rape

The police are investigating a link between eight arson attacks

A family home was targeted along with more than half a dozen cars.

In the latest incident a car was reversed into a hairdressing

Our North East reporter, Sara Girvin, has more.

An arson attack at the house of a country Antrim town. They left a

scene of devastation. Just after nine o'clock last night this car was

driven through the metal shutters of a hair salon and set alight. It

gutted the property leaving other businesses in the same building with

no other option but to close today. The area's MP described the attack

as ugly and said people in Larne are living in fear. The one thing we

know about those who are involved is they don't give two hoots about what

damage they do or who they damage. And in fact, it seems to me they see

this almost as a game. And it is one of those things which I think the

police has to get on top of very quickly. Police say a recent falling

out between two individuals could be the catalyst for last night's arson,

and they are investigating a possible link between it and eight

others that took place over the weekend. There was a heavy police

presence in Larne for much of the day, examinations taking place. They

believe the man reversing the car into this hassle an escaped on a

motorbike driven by someone else. They ask anyone who saw this to get

in touch. Two men in their 30s have been charged in connection with the

police's overall investigation into these Larner -- Larne attacks. One

man is charged with bodily harm and possession of a offensive weapon,

the other with intent to damage. They are both due in court in

Ballymena next month. A specialist police unit

is investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman

in Belfast City Centre. The attack was in Gloucester Street

at around two o'clock The police want help

in identifying a particular man. He's described as thin,

aged about 19, five feet seven inches

tall, clean shaven, The police are also keen to hear

from anyone who saw a distressed woman in the area at around the time

of the attack. You're watching BBC Newsline,

and still ahead on the programme: Can Seaview pounce on the champions

the night? We will be live from Seaview.

Many school pupils and teachers are enjoying their Easter break

Our education correspondent Robbie Meredith has been finding out

why some young people in east Belfast, and some

of their teachers, are spending their holiday

These 15-year-olds were hard at work today even though it is Easter

Tuesday. With their GCSEs coming up students like Ryan and Deborah are

getting important extra help with English and maths. It's amazing. If

you are stuck on something they will help you and go through it with you

so they will talk it through with you and they still don't get it they

will just sit there and be patient with you. I need to speed up with my

reading, reading is very slow, I'm really happy with the different

techniques. This centre in east Belfast is aimed at people for whom

a bit of extra work could be the key to achieving an all-important GCSE

pass at great see. -- grade C. Teachers also give up their weekends

to work with it. They are two subjects they need to pass before

they can do anything, so obviously it is Easter now so exams are coming

up in six weeks so they can really focus up when they are here. What is

going on here is also an example of East-West co-operation. In Belfast

at least, because it is based on a similar Easter school run by the

west Belfast partnership for GCSE student there for a number of years.

They are there to give us advice, you know, obviously as a partnership

working across the city, and are colleagues in west have done

significant amounts around the Easter school in in particular and

in some ways I think they persuaded us that working all year round is a

good plan, too. Lessons will continue for the rest of the week

and it hopes the benefits the will last much longer.

Let's go back now to our main news and the Prime Minister's decision

The Foyle MP Mark Durkan of the SDLP is in our Westminster studio.

The Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott says this election means the talk at

Stormont is pretty much dead in the water as he put it. What do you

think? It is up to be parties to decide that, the parties to have a

chance to include the talks conclude negotiations and build on the

progress that was being made and want to make the most of the mandate

that they all had at March. Whether or not all parties are minded to

that it is a waiting game. The problem is Theresa May called a

general election without any consideration for the situation we

are facing. In the north, in terms of those dogs, and we have the

Secretary of State now trying to bring legislation next week that may

or may not mean anything. How much of your party's focus will be

shifted away from those negotiations, that Stormont -- at

Stormont, towards the campaign trail for the election question mark we

can do more than one thing at a time and we have done that before. We

have maintained effectively a negotiating situation while

elections were afoot, remember, we've been giving an indication now

for the 8th of June, so in election terms that's long enough away, so

the party could still conclude a arrangement to bring about the

formation of an executive if they want to. Now the issue is whether

the collective will will be there. Our party is going to have an eye on

elections? An advantage in themselves? As we know, the focus

towards an election it is hard to negotiate with political opponents

across the table. Yes but not entirely impossible. Remember the

parties have all mandates on the 2nd of March, all of the main parties

can claim they have more votes in this assembly election than they did

in the last assembly election, and voters can still find it hard to see

how those increased mandates for everybody could add up to no

executive. The fact is if that is what happens then the chances are we

are looking at a possible early assembly election, as well, and that

adds to the uncertainty on top of all of the inserted that was there.

Around Brexit for example. The uncertainty it poses for many

sectors and areas. There was a time when being a single

mother was a social taboo. Some felt they should give

up their babies for adoption or to homes run by the state

or the church. Many of the children were sent

from here to grow up in Australia. One of those who made that journey

has returned to Northern Ireland All he knows for sure

is that her name was Angela Dolan. 17-year-old -- 72-year-old Pat

McGowan is on a mission to find the mother he never knew. At the age of

12 he was sent with other boys from a home in Belfast to Australia, and

growing up not knowing his real background. I wrote in the 1960s,

and when they answered, they said that they had no records at all. 15

years ago, Patrick featured in a BBC Spotlight programme about similar

children. A viewer recognised him from childhood and got in contact to

say his mother was called Angela Dolan. His Australian family set

about looking for her online. By sheer coincidence, they came across

someone else in Northern Ireland also looking for an Angela Dolan to

complete the family tree. Following a DNA test, Patrick discovered

relatives back in Northern Ireland including his cousins daughter. It

is a shock and surprise was that we broke the champagne out the day we

got the results of the DNA test, and it was confirmed that Patrick was

related to us. For my dad it was just great to be able to meet

Patrick, and bring him over and he took Patrick down to Fermanagh and

showed him where his mother grew up, and went back to the graves of his

grandparents and I think that meant a lot. That meant a lot to me, when

I stood at my grandfather's grave. For the first time, I thought well,

I tell you! The experience was... I'm getting a bit sorry...

I thought it would never happen. Patrick has found his family but

details around his mother's life are still unclear. Their only hope now

is that a member of the public might come forward with more information.

Francis Gorman, BBC Newsline. Let's have the sport

with Mark Sidebottom who's at Seaview in north Belfast

this evening. Good evening. Three games to go,

just one point separating the top two, we are at the home of

Coleraine. Chris this is where it all began for you. A few years ago.

How things have changed. They have, it's not a grass pitch any more for

a start. The stadium itself has changed, hugely, and the club have

had a great vein of form at the present. Going for three in the

road, the return of Jordan at the weekend and impact how he made. How

key is his return? It was huge on Saturday. As the games that can city

five minutes, to one down the Owens wasn't 100% fit but did what he does

best and got on the end of two crosses, scored two goals, and

turned a possible defeat into three points, and keeps them where they

are tonight, top of the table. Linfield breathing down the

champion's neck. Linfield gathering great momentum. A tremendous run of

form they have, they have been able to plug the gap back in the title

race so huge credit to them, it was going to run away with them at some

point, but they have had a couple of minor dips in the summer a couple of

feet, nothing catastrophic from the Crusaders point of view, and they're

on a good run and want to stay with them. Saturday will be huge for

Crusaders, overcoming those couple of games and defeats, and picked up

the game on Saturday and that has been crucial. We know that you are

on radio this evening, so thanks joining us. All the -- all the games

this evening an BBC, and BBC sport online.

Mark Allen has made it through to the second round of snookers

World Championships at the crucible in Sheffield -but the Antrim man

was given quite a work out by his comparatively unknown opponent.

At times it was a struggle for Mark Allen. The number 11 seed began the

second session of his first-round match with England's Jamie Robertson

54 ahead. Seven frames to six, before pulling clear from the Antrim

man rounding off a ten eight victory with a brilliant score of 97. Iraq

97. Allen, a seven finalist in 2009 has

added as a point in 2009 has added is abiding by his standards, just

1/4-final. But they played in the last eight of the biggest

championship is what those on offer when he faces John Higgins in the

second round. A game that will get underway on Friday. Now, falling off

horses is something of a hazard as a jockey. Only recently having

returned to the saddle, he had a nasty tumble yesterday during the

Irish Grand National and will now be ruled out for a further three

months. In a macro you had looked impressive during the parade ring,

but approaching defence number eight, and in a congested field the

horse stumbled and the Jockey tumbled.

We've lost him, he is a fall, he is brought down and he was brought

down, so out of the race as they come to the next one. He is now

sitting up. Trained by Jessica Harrington, with cup winner Robbie

Fowler applauds, went on to the win the race comfortably. Winded by a

wide margin. He was taken to a hospital where it was confirmed he

had broken his left arm, due to go into surgery today, expected to be

out of action for up to three months. Now to cricket.

Kevin O'Brien and Paul Stirling have both been declared fit for Ireland's

first-ever one-day internationals against England, next month.

The games scheduled for May 5th 7th at Bristol Lords.

It's starting to rain here. Back to the studio.

Cecilia Daly has the weather forecast.

A little bit of rain around tonight. A bit warm over the last couple of

days, and in fact a frost in place last night. Despite that, our

gardens seem to be OK. Tulips here looking fantastic. Tonight is

milder, a little bit more clad around but that cloud brings spots

of rain and drizzle, nothing too heavy in general but that means of

course these frost of stays away, low-temperature is that five or six.

Tomorrow mild weather continues, lots of cloud around and that cloud

brings rain and drizzle for time to time. Back to work tomorrow, and

darkness around through the morning working its way from west to east

and will still be a little bit damp and drizzly at times, around

lunchtime tomorrow, but shot down and Belfast and through County

Antrim as well. Temperatures will at least be two or three degrees higher

than today, and most damp weather will move away in the afternoon so

it will become drier than the west, and the cloud will hopefully lifted

it, but hopefully a little bit brighter to the second half of the

day and generally matched drier to, temperatures possibly at 13 or 14

degrees. Mild again tomorrow night, and on Thursday we have some high

pressure nearby but we also have this weather front coming southwards

on Friday meaning again light rain for a time. The weather changes into

the weekend, a return to cooler weather. Basically on Thursday it is

still looking quite mild, a lots of cloud, some drizzly showers around

but some decent dry weather, some bits of brightness and if we are

lucky we may well see the template is up at around 15 degrees. On

Friday that weather front I still do -- shoot you,, it moves temperatures

down, and a bit more in a way of brightness. Cooler towards next

weekend but hopefully more sunshine. Overall not too much rain. Good

stuff and some lovely pictures there, Celia.

In just over seven weeks' time the UK will go to the polls for another

general election. The Prime Minister says she will ask parliament to vote

in favour of the move and will be polled to be on the 8th of June. The

secretary of state James Brokenshire has that there will be no change in

Stormont's talks process, despite the announcement.

Our late summary is at 10.30.-- 10.50.