19/04/2017 BBC Newsline

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

The Commons votes for a snap general election,

I'm sure there will be discussions over the next few days about where

we can come the best agreements abound around some constituencies.

We focus on some of the constituencies where pacts

A man appears in court on sex charges linked

More than a third of Belfast Bikes have been stolen or vandalised.

Getting over his limited speech due to his fascination with space -

we meet the autistic boy who loves Tim Peake.

What planet is it that you want to go to? Mars. Where is Mars? It is

the fourth planet away from the sun. It is the fourth planet

away from the sun. A trio of Ulstermen are named

in the British and Irish Lions squad Northern Ireland's love

affair with road racing - Temperatures will be above average

again tomorrow before they drop off again as we head

towards the weekend. As expected, the UK is going

to the polls on 8th June - an early Westminster election called

by the Prime Minister before The surprise move throws up

a whole host of questions What does it mean for the talks

process and for the Assembly? Will there be

a unionist voting pact? Will the nationalist

parties also co-operate? First, to Westminster

and our political Today, the House of Commons backed

this snap general election for June. The move was backed by the DUP and

the Ulster unionists, and was opposed by the SDLP and Lady Sylvia

Hermon. Once a snap general election was a

long shot, Knight is a reality. Every poll creates winners and

losers in Northern Ireland will be no different. Already some are

suggesting the general election of 2017 has created its first casualty,

the talks process and evolution. I do fear for the talks process. Quite

frankly, we are seeing the freezer bags come out and the deep frost

button being pressed and the Assembly and I think that is very

sad. But if that makes this placed the centre of politics for Northern

Ireland and we need to make sure we have a strong DUP team here working

for all the people of Northern Ireland. By calling the election

during the talks process, something that the Prime Minister has

disregarded the witches of the people of Northern Ireland. She has

hardly ever been to Northern Ireland, not involved herself in the

docks. How she can do anything over the next seven weeks, it is a

disgrace but they are doing. Others insist that the Prime Minister is

putting party interest first. Yet again, we have Theresa May acting

with the Tory party in a very selfish way about protecting Tory

prod interests rather than protecting the needs of the people

of Northern Ireland. It is not just evolution that is on the minds of

unionists, then no cooperation in the Westminster seat helps to

maximise their votes. I'm sure there will be discussions over the next

few days of where we can come to the best agreements around some

constituencies. That should not be a shock. What they want to do is make

sure we have representation in Westminster for Northern Ireland. We

need to give the people a voice. The election will take place on

Thursday, the 8th of June, meaning Parliamentary time is running out.

Within days, emergency financial measures needed in the absence of

the Stormont Executive will be pushed through here in advance of

the dissolution of parliament in May.

It is full steam ahead. The election no one predicted is now underway.

From Westminster there we heard one MP mention

the possibility of unionist pacts in several key seats.

Will Leitch takes a closer look at how and why unionism might work

A win for Tom Elliott in Fermanagh South Tyrone at the last plans Mr

election, a win for a unionist pact. The case perhaps of the DUP and UUP

having to work together. In Fermanagh South to roam it is almost

inevitable that there will be packed. The last time Tom Elliot won

by a few hundred votes because of the pact. The time before that there

an agreement with Rodney Connor. Even then, he didn't quite win the

seat, he came within four votes. Over the last 30 or 40 years there

has always been some sort of agreement between unionist here and

I think it is inevitable that there will be again. The possibility of

unionist pact is becoming a factor in several key seats, like this one.

This is South Belfast. Alasdair McDonnell took the seat for the SDLP

in the last election with the vote share of less than 25%, the lowest

ever for a winning candidate in the single-seat Westminster election.

The DUP came second. It is no secret that unionists are wondering if the

pact could get them agreed unionist candidate here across the line. I

think the results of the last assembly elections in March were so

disappointing for unionists, it was a blow to the unionist psyche and a

lot of soul-searching was done to try to figure out how to regain lost

ground. People were thinking about the possibility of another assembly

election. Neither is another general election. There is a pressure there

from grassroots unionist to reclaim back ground and consolidate their

position. I think it will happen on the unionist side. They will be

joining together to try to win as many seats as possible. There is a

chance they could tried here in south Belfast. They normally do. All

elections are divisive. Name one that isn't. They have to pander to

their local communities, so it is either one side of the other. I

unionist pact took East Belfast for the DUP last time out. The sitting

MP says he is confident this time with or without one. I understand

there will be discussions in that regard. I am relaxed that there is a

pact in my constituency or not. There are discussions that are

important because there is a request from unionism to have greater

co-operation between all parties. The woman he took his seat from two

years ago, Naomi Long, has said she is happy to run against him if

selected. Reboot seven weeks tomorrow. Those unionist pact

discussions are bound to happen soon.

From unionist pacts now to potential voting agreements

Richard Morgan has been to South Down to see if a Sinn Fein

and SDLP pact is an option and to gauge what voters think.

Southdown has been an SDLP stronghold since 1987. The party's

boat suffered here in the election last month. The former nationalist

pact with Sinn Fein to retain the seat? There is no possibility. It

would be more to the point in Fermanagh South Tyrone where they

got about 2500 votes in the last election and pretty much put Tom

Elliott in. Colm Eastwood had this to say. We will not be involved in a

sectarian pact whether it is unionist against nationalists. We

are open to discussions around how we can protect the interests of

Northern Ireland in Europe. This is a Brexit election. As for Sinn Fein.

We want to maximise the Sinn Fein majority and boat. We want to make

sure that we fight the election strongly against Bragg said. We will

be up to discussions on standing on that platform. The SDLP vote in

Southdown has fallen consistently since 1992, so what can we expect in

this selection and what to go to voters here think? If there was to

be a pact between parties in Southdown, but that change how you

would vote? No. It is the same over here, orange and green. I would love

the politicians to forget about their own agenda and really work for

us. I would vote on who I thought was going to be the best, most

effective MP for the local area. Nationalism and unionism doesn't

enter into my thoughts. There is always our reluctance to talk about

pacts, especially for parties with the sitting MP as it could be a sign

of weakness. The SDLP will have to be soul-searching in coming weeks

While the election campaign informally starts today,

the inter-party talks to restore power-sharing at Stormont

Over the past two days, politicians have voiced their concern

that the focus will now be diverted away from reaching a deal to restore

Our political correspondent Enda McClafferty is at Stormont.

Before we focus on where the talks go from here, what are your thoughts

on the parties' positions on electoral pacts?

No great surprise that the Ulster unionists and the DUP are up for

another pact because it worked so well the last time for them. It is a

problem for the SDLP because as we heard Colum Eastwood say they are

not up for which he called sectarian pact. The difficulty of his party is

that he found some the support of unionists voting tactically. The

last thing he wants to do is form a pact with Sinn Fein to target

unionist seats elsewhere for fear of losing those seats. He is also

talking about an alliance with the fellow Remain parties, keeping them

all on side. The SDLP leader has had to choose his words carefully today.

Where do the Stormont talks go from here? The Secretary of State test

the pause button before Easter on the talks process. He will press the

play button again tomorrow. The Round Table discussions begin again

on Monday. There is no sense that there will be any progress made in

the talks this side of the Westminster election because the

parties feel that nobody is going to be putting any compromises on the

table for fear that it might be a backlash against them in the boat

come the 8th of June that there political opponents may see is what

is put on the table to try to up the ante in the elections. There is no

sense that we will have a deal this side of the Westminster elections

and there is the sense that this whole process may be pressed -- may

be placed into cold storage until after that date. Is there still too

much to be negotiated and agreed? There is, and the added

complication, we know the difficulties between Sinn Fein and

the government when it comes to legacy issues and national-security.

In two weeks the government will be wind-up essentially. Westminster

will be dissolved. There will be no government in place to make any

decision around legacy. That element of the discussions will not be

agreed this side of the Westminster election. That is an extra headache

that James Brogan Shara will have to deal with when he meets the parties

here tomorrow. A Coleraine man has appeared

in court charged with 16 sexual offences which police allege

are linked to the setting up The 23 year old denies

the offences and said someone Limavady court heard some

of the women involved have been left traumatised and in need

of medical help. Ryan Eastwood, Adam Wheater from:

rain, is charged with two offences of causing two women to engage in

sexual activity on the Skype video messaging service. He faces 14

offences relating to the improper use of electronic communications by

sending Facebook messages which caused anxiety to 14 other women. He

denies the charges. A detective constable told the court that the

police investigation into the thick online modelling agency began last

year. A woman had told police that she had been contacted via Facebook

by a modelling agency based in London. More contact was made by

another man who used two different names. The woman was asked to send

photographs of herself fully clothed, semi-clothed and naked. The

police said that when Ryan Eastwood was arrested he claimed that he was

a victim in the case. He said that the social media accounts had been

set up by someone else using his name. The police told the court that

some of the women who were victims in the case had required medical

assistance and had been left traumatised. Ryan Eastwood was

remanded in custody until next month.

A motorcyclist in his 20s has died following a collision between his

bike and a tractor near Guildford in County Armagh this afternoon.

Harland and Wolff has won a wind turbine contract

with a Polish company, supporting 80 jobs in Belfast.

It will make parts used to anchor the turbines to the seabed off

The Paralympic champion Bethany Firth has received her MBE

at Buckingham Palace from the Duke of Cambridge.

The swimmer, from Seaforde in County Down, won three golds

and a silver in the pool at the Rio Olympics last year.

She says she intends to compete at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.

More than one third of Belfast Bikes, a scheme

that was launched in 2015, are out of action.

The City Council says it is costing ratepayers about ?20,000 a year.

There are now concerns about the future expansion of the scheme.

Our reporter Rick Faragher has been to one of the main bike

It was at this very site that the Belfast Bikes scheme had its big

launch two years ago. Hopes were high and it has been a success.

5,000 annual users and 5,000 casual users, but a spate of thefts is

costing the scheme ?1800 a month. Sergeant, there were 19 thefts over

the Easter weekend. I is this happening? This is normal over any

holiday period. We are seeing large groups of youths in the city centre

and they are turning their hand to damaging Belfast Bikes and taking

them in a number of cases. From what we have seen and from stories it

appears that youths are taking these bags to use them in and around the

city centre were to get back to home. How are these thefts best

tackled? Are called today is for members of the public to be

vigilant. When we look at CCTV, people walk past and let these bikes

be taken. By all means, phone us on 999 if you're seeing a theft live,

or if you have information that would assist us contact us on 101

were through the Crimestoppers phone line. The Lord Mayor of Belfast is

also with me, Brian Kingston. Is there any fear for the long-term

future of the scheme? Belfast Bikes there's a successful scheme. The

statistics are generally very positive. Over 200,000 journeys a

year. These thefts are jeopardising the future expansion of the scheme.

This level of vandalism is costing over ?20,000 a year. He is paying

for that? The ratepayer. The message here is if you are using one of

these bikes, please ensure it is securely fastened back into the

holder and if you have any information about these thefts,

please contact the PSNI. Road racing is the subject

of a new three part As Martin Cassidy reports

'Road Riders' captures the lives and passions of the men,

women and families involved Along country roads at speeds

touching 200 miles an hour, this is the world of road racers. To

outsiders the risks seem incomprehensible. BBC One Northern

Ireland's new 3-part series explores the blue grazing life and her riders

and their families lived with the danger. I just think that I am not

going to get hurt, it won't happen to me. I can't get away from it. I

think it is the buzz and a love for it that makes me go out and not

think about the negatives of what could happen to me. When she goes

out, my heart is going 92 the dozen and my stomach is churning. I said

like this the whole time. Scary. The producers of the series followed a

group of racers and their families through a season. They are racers.

They are people who race and competed there are limits so it is

very dangerous. The nature of the events themselves are very family

events, where people arrive in caravans, and all sorts of... In

pence. The public will love in the same spirit. When you go to these

events, you get a sense it is a community, a family and the wider

sense. Three riders and their families feature in the first of the

programmes to be screened tonight at 10:40 p.m.. Those of us involved in

any shape or form, we have been brought up at that. It is a big

family. It is part of our way of life.

He has autism and had limited speech until a momentous day in his life

and the life of the British astronaut Tim Peake.

As Tim was being launched into space, Hayden began to say

the countdown to the rocket's take-off, and he's been talking

Our reporter Declan Harvey caught up with Hayden

Still a little shy at times, but Hayden Geraghty is unrecognisable

from the boy he was just over a year ago. He was very withdrawn. He

didn't like much eye contact and his speech was very delayed. He was very

into himself. All that changed in December 2015 when Major Tim Peake

became the first British astronaut to blast off to the International

Space Station. He started doing the countdown, right up to the bar

staff. The big guys were like saucers. This was the first real

sentence from him. I never imagined how it has developed on. What planet

is that you want to go to?. Can you tell him whereabouts Morris is? The

fourth planet away from the sun. Hayden met his hero in Belfast last

year. He is also the youngest member of the astronomy Ireland club. It

has transformed his learning, development and speech, that little

personality that we used to worry about if we were ever going to

really find out what Hayden was all about. The charity autism and I have

said there are things that other families can take from Hayden's

story. Despite the challenges and differences that come with autism,

there are many positives and sometimes they can come out of the

blue. The Ireland rugby team will be well

represented on this summer's British Jared Payne is one of a trio of

Ulstermen who will be on the plane. In total, 11 Irishmen have

made the cut, among them We'll hear from Iain Henderson

in a moment, but first BBC Newsline's Nial Foster

was in West London for today's Set on a 200 acre estate in west

London, the tranquil secluded surroundings were brought to life at

midday after months of speculation, the Lions team manager announced the

squad to tour New Zealand. The selection process went right down to

the wire with 11 Irish men eventually given the nod. It was the

inclusion of the New Zealand native that surprised the media pack.

31-year-old Jared Payne will return to his homeland to try and tame the

all Blacks. The great thing about Jared Payne is that I coach Tim at

my two and I didn't renew his contract and let go, so I am

delighted to see the turnaround. He was obviously a talented individual.

At the time I didn't feel he was fulfilling his potential. He got

selected for the blues after bad pants went to Ireland, played for

Ireland now he is a British and Irish Lions. Nearly five years to

the Dave as Ulster debut, Iain Henderson has gone from strength to

strength and has established himself as one of the best secondary players

world rugby. He has the skill set of the backroom, he is abrasive,

athletic. We saw that against England in the last six Nations

game. We have been watching him for a while and I am a big fan of him

and am looking forward to working with him. Rory Best has scored

against the all Blacks and captain Ireland to win over the Southern

Hemisphere side in the past. In just over 40 days he will be part of the

bride aiming for the first series win over New Zealand since 1971.

So a first Lions tour beckons for Ulster and Ireland's versatile

I caught up with him this afternoon and began by asking him how

I am quite a good sleeper! Probably a bit on edge. I was up early this

morning and was at the Kingspan Stadium early this morning. I heard

the news, and cut the grass to settle the nerves a bit! I am

delighted. The phone has been going nuts with congratulations from all

walks of my rugby career so far, from primary school by the way

through to club rugby. Amazingly proud. My mum and dad are both over

the moon, too. Probably a bit of shock, but unreal. I heard a few

rumours in the best yesterday but I dismissed all them. It was an

opportunity that was potentially there and, thankfully, I got the

nod. He played against Sam Warburton a couple of weeks ago and he limped

off. How excited are you playing alongside him? It'll be interesting

to be with all the other teams in the Pro 12 and European cup and six

Nations and being put into one big mixing potency hi everyone gets on.

I am excited to have him as my skipper and am looking forward to

getting to know him. How does it feel to join the greats of the game

from Northern Ireland to have been there? I think we can go out there

and put in the best performance against the best rugby nation in the

world. We will try to provide what Ireland provided in Chicago. To join

the list of the greats coming from Willie John and all the previous

players, Jack Kyle and the others, it will be special to be on that

list with them. I am excited and proud.

As Crusaders chase a third consecutive Gibson Cup,

just one point separates the current champions and

Both sides won last night, guaranteeing a dramatic

Crusaders pursuit of a third consecutive league title has at

times been the stuff of comic books. Last night they came from behind to

win a compelling match against Coleraine. McLauchlan will try one,

that is a wonderful goal! An opening goal from Jordan opens and then a

couple from Paul Heatley were decisive in the 3-2 win and bringing

Hall Green's unbeaten run of 17 to an end. Linfield had a more

comfortable evening beating Glen Avenue and 3-0. Should they lose to

Coleraine on Saturday and Crusaders win at Ballymena United United, then

the leak would be all over. As it is, it is all over for Portadown who

were officially relegated following par-3 -- following at 3-2 defeat

against Newtownards. A fireman from County Tyrone has

been hailed a hero after coming to the help of a runner

during the Boston Marathon. Crew commander Terry Canning,

from Omagh, who is pictured here on the right, saw that US

runner Julianne Bowe was overcome with heat

and struggling to finish the race. Along with another competitor

from Chile, he helped carry her up to the finishing line then

set her down so she He said it was the

right thing to do. Finally this evening,

and compliments of Ulster Rugby, here's the moment Jared Payne found

out he is a British and Irish Lion. Jared Payne and. I think they will

enjoy tonight! I think he is happy. Cecilia Daly is here

with the latest weather news. It is a nice end to the day. Apart

from an hour of Chris Illyrian, it wasn't too bad. It is a mild

evening, mostly drive. It will tend to be cloudy tonight, which will

keep a mild and mean odd spots of drizzle, but for the most part it

will be dry. Some of the cloud could be low to begin with tomorrow, so

maybe a bit dreary first thing, but it should brighten up, much as it

did today. Bits and pieces of drizzle around first thing, mainly

over the hills in the north-west, pretending to fizzle out. The cloud

lifting and breaking by late morning or lunchtime. Hints of or sunshine.

Temperatures may be up to 16 degrees tomorrow. The further west you are

because of the westerly breeze, there will be more cloud with odd

spots of brightness, but always the risk of a shower coming through. By

and large, dry, mild but cloudy day. Tomorrow night should be another

cloudy, mild night. Odd spots of rain and drizzle but no more than

that. On Friday we will see a weather front comes out. That will

bring some rain, but it would be heavy. It has been largely dry month

and that story will continue. It will cool off as we head towards the

weekend. The weak rain band on Friday will introduce cooler air.

Temperatures will slip back a couple of degrees on Friday. On Saturday,

hopefully a bit of sunshine, but there will be a chill in the air.