10/05/2017 BBC Newsline

and on BBC one we now join the BBC's news teams where you are.

Tonight's top stories - on the day a senior medic warns

of a bad batch of heroin - it's revealed how long users have

It rips me apart. It absolutely rips my heart apart. I want to change my

life. I don't want to be an addict anymore.

The SDLP reveal who'll run in North Belfast in next

Puppy smuggling claims about two men who died in a speedboat

Day two of the Royal visit begins at the PSNI Memorial Garden before

moving onto Dromore, where crowds came out

The Bal moral show, it is the annual platform for the agricultural and

food industry farming. One year after Brexit, we talk to younger

farmers as they look to the future. Join me later.

And tomorrow the sun will shine brightly again but shower clouds

I'll be back with the latest forecast.

Heroin users in Belfast are having to wait 18 months

to get professional help for their addiction.

While waiting, some are being advised to remain

on the drug as it is too dangerous for them to withdraw

It comes as the Chief Medical Officer issued a stark warning

of evidence of potentially contaminated heroin on the streets

Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.

A father of five children and a self-confessed heroin addict. This

man is just 27 years old, desperately wanting to be rid of the

drugs. I am a full-blown addict, so I am. I injure four times a day.

Described to me what it is like if you do not get the hit. I become...

I can't leave the house. I'm sick, I get cramps in my stomach. I've

attempted suicide multiple times. I think about suicide every day, if I

can't get it. But like so many others in Northern Ireland, he is on

a waiting list. The BBC has learned the current waiting time to get help

in the Belfast Health Trust is 18 months. I don't want to be an addict

anymore. To be waiting this long on help, it's just... I'm hitting a

brick wall. I just want to change my life. I don't want to be like this

no more, you know? These waiting time figures are particularly

poignant as news is released of possible debts related to heroin.

The Chief Medical Officer said... The other health trusts appear to be

managing their waiting lists, but according to those on the front

line, Belfast is chronic. They are desperate whenever they to services

and say, I need help. And to be told they can't get that help a need to

go out and continue engaging in a behaviour they are so desperately

asking for help from, they are essentially dying for treatment. At

the moment, there are approximately 760 men and women who are getting

professional help from their local health trust for heroin addiction.

But that is not the true picture. While there are around 70 people on

waiting lists, it's got that there are many, many more requiring urgent

help. But perhaps our homeless, anonymous or have simply slipped

through the system. The Belfast Health Trust says demand is

increasing and it is actively working to address the problem.

Meanwhile, this man told me he is thousands of pounds in debt, and

says it is desperate watching friends dying in slow motion.

Around 50 people attended a public meeting in Dunmurry last

night to discuss the rise in the number of drug related

It was organised by families whose children have died

from taking prescription drugs in the last month.

All of these families have one thing in common -

they've all been affected by drugs Many people here have lost loved

ones from taking prescription drugs, or are here to look for help

for those who are still alive but addicted.

The misuse of prescription drugs is a concern for the authorities,

with more people here dying from misusing drugs like lyrica

In the last few months, the PSNI has investigated

the deaths of five people - all thought to be drug-related.

When you offer help and hope to the young people, we need to make sure

none of their families go through such a horrible time that the

families here tonight have gone through and are going through.

when he died on Mother's Day two years ago.

That day when I left him, his last words to me was, Mama, I love you. I

came into hours later, and lay down on the couch. You could hear him

snoring in the house, I didn't know anything about this, but he had gone

into a coma. The coroner said... He would have taken a massive heart

attack. He had taken ammonia, and that all his organs failed.

And unfortunately, Deirdre isn't alone -

at the meeting, dozens of families shared their stories of loved ones

who'd died from taking prescription drugs -

each story as harrowing as the one before.

According to the Public Health Agency, the average drugs deaths

But for these families, those statistics are real life....

They believe the help just isn't there and are pleading for something

to be done before more young lives are lost.

Kelly Bonner, BBC Newsline, Dunmurry.

The SDLP is running its press officer Martin McAuley

as a candidate in the deneral election in North Belfast.

That news confirmed today ends speculation that sitting MLA

Sinn Fein had called on the SDLP to give its candidate John Finucane

a free run to try and oust sitting MP Nigel Dodds from the DUP.

Let's get more from our Political Correspondent Enda McClafferty.

What are we to read into this north Belfast move? This move has come as

no real surprise, because let's face it, Nichola Mallon has more

important things in her life to consider other than politics,

because she is due to give birth in the next few days. The party has had

to choose another candidate. They didn't cast the debt too wide.

Martin McAuley has some political pedigree, he is no stranger to the

lamp posts of North Belfast, because he stood there back in 2010 as an

independent candidate at the age of 19. He polled at that time in and

around 400 votes. The big question is, will he be able to dent John

Finucane's performance and try to reclaim the seat from Nigel Dodds?

That will be a big ask for Martin McAuley. The party is out to rebuild

the vote there in North Belfast. We now know who they are fielding. In

the last few moments, the SDLP have confirmed that Mary Garrity, a local

Councillor, will contest the seat informatics self to Rome, this is

interesting because we know pretty tight. The last time Tom Elliott won

with just 500 votes to spare. We know in the past the winners and

losers were separated by just four votes. We know that Mary pulled in

around 700 votes. While she is not a very high profile candidate, she may

help to dictate the outcome of that election. We know that Sinn Fein

asked the SDLP to step aside to allow their candidate to be involved

in a straight head-to-head against Tom Elliott, because they see the --

see her as the only realistic candidate to reclaim the seat. Any

other surprises? Not really. As far as the SDLP were concerned, those

were the two that would grab the most interest. We can expect the

SDLP to focus primarily on the re-constituencies that they hold. We

are not expecting them to cast their net or put huge resources into the

other constituencies. Like the other parties, SDLP have fought a lot of

elections recently. That puts a lot of strain on finances. We will see

how they are going to concentrate on those three constituencies. Key

constituencies, in a battle to try and retain. Think you very much.

The remains found last week in a forest near Rouen in France

Mr Ruddy, who was 32 and from Newry, was working as a teacher in Paris

in 1985 when he was abducted, murdered and secretly

A new search began after new information was passed

to the Independent Commission for the Location

The Commission says the remains will be brought back

A man in his twenties has been shot and critically injured

in Dublin in an attack linked to a gangland feud.

The shooting happened on the Clonshaugh Road,

close to the city's airport, at around one thirty this afternoon.

The victim was at a filling station when a gunman approached and fired

A Lisburn primary school principal has described budget cuts she's

That comes after a warning from the Department for Education

in response to plans by some headteachers to go into the red

Our education correspondent Robbie Meredith has more.

Last month, in an unprecedented move, over 40 primary school

principals wrote to parents - and the Department -

saying they were prepared to go into budget deficit rather than make

cuts they said would affect their pupils.

But now the Department has responded.

Their top finance official Gary Fair has written

The Department's stance isn't unexpected, but it does put

the focus firmly back on the school principals and their boards of

Today, around 50 met at a South Belfast school

We are looking at special needs kids, we would have to look at

cutting support services to them, additional learning support. Our

breakfast clubs, afterschool activities... Then looking at the

classroom. It is classroom assistant support for children to her most

honourable and our education system. That is a crime. I am not prepared

to start doing that. We have pared back as much as we can. What we are

seeing now is that the bunch that we have been given is not enough to

meet that. -- budget. We look at a children first, and meeting their

needs. But with absolutely no sign of any

more money for schools, there's little light at the end

of this particular Tunnel. It's emerged two men -

whose bodies were pulled from the Irish Sea at the weekend -

we're suspected puppy smugglers They died in a speedboat accident

near a known route used These faces help earn smugglers

?300 million a year. The RSPCA says thousands are bought

cheaply in Northern Ireland - or in the Republic -

then brought to Britain and sold on. A well-known smuggling route -

the ferry from Larne. Sandy Hamilton and Kevin McKinley -

both from South Lanarkshire - had left in a speedboat

from Port Logan on Saturday before It's suspected they could have been

trying to make their own way The BBC understands a large amount

of cash was discovered with one of the bodies -

although police won't confirm that. This is Sandy Hamilton,

filmed on board a ferry Do you have a transport certificate

for these dogs? If I need one, I will go get one.

The inspectors here were working with Operation Delphin -

it's a multi-agency initiative to tackle the illegal puppy trade

and includes the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

On this occasion, Mr Hamilton was allowed to continue his journey

The BBC in Scotland has been told Mr Hamilton was suspected

of sourcing animals, Mr McKinlay of selling them.

Authorities say they are still investigating exactly what happened

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are visiting

the Republic after completing a two-day visit of Northern Ireland.

Today the Royal couple did a walkabout and sampled local

produce in Dromore - more on that in a moment -

but their day began at PSNI headquarters in east Belfast.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall make their way

It's their day - and the Prince is there to officially open

the garden in memory of 13 members of the PSNI.

Two were killed by dissident Republicans.

The first PSNI officer to be murdered was

His widow was among the families attending the event.

I was absolutely delighted with the day. It has been a very fitting,

touching day and tinged with sadness and badness as well. But it was a

beautiful day. The Chief Constable is mindful

of the ongoing security threat. It is 13 to many. We live in hope

that we are still dealing with a very volatile and dangerous policing

environment, but thankfully things have moved on, other than a small

group of people who want to harm police officers. Policing is a

dangerous calling, so we don't want to see anymore names on that wall.

The new garden adjoins a similar memorial to the 300 RUC officers

With the sun shining, the welcome in Dromore

Hundreds lined the square of the market town for a chance

I think it's marvelous, absolutely marvelous. The royal couple had the

chance to try out some local products. We had news this morning

that she loves ice cream. She took the salted caramel with her and she

loved it. She was lovely. She was looking for the recipe? We couldn't

tell her, it's a secret! The couple then left

for separate engagements, with the Duchess heading

to the new Dromore Central Primary School,

where she visited classes I grandchildren have watched all the

movies. The Duchess then officially

opened the school. We are so excited, proud of our new

school, we are so excited that someone like Camilla would come and

open it today. Then it was back to class for 700

pupils, but it's a day David Maxwell,

BBC Newsline, Dromore. Prince Charles and the Duchess

of Cornwall have since made their way to meet the Irish

President Michael D Higgins The royal couple went to see

the Peace Bell unveiled in two thousand and eight to mark the tenth

anniversary of the They also met young people involved

in the arts, science, The couple are in the Republic until

Friday. It's the first day of this

year's Balmoral Show. Tens of thousands of people

are expected to travel to the site near Lisburn over

the next four days. It comes at an uncertain time

for the farming industry. Over four days, tens of thousands of

people will converge here at Balmoral Park to see the latest

machinery, to see the livestock judging and take a break from the

farm. Brexit and the impact on the local agricultural food industry is

no doubt up for discussion. Younger farmers want to have their voices

heard. Our agricultural and environment correspondent has been

talking to some of them. On his farm in County Fermanagh, he

is picking out his show ram and grooming him for Balmoral. He keeps

several hundred pedigree sheep on the hills around here. He faces the

future with confidence, but says that people want local food, ones

that they can trust, farmers have to be able to make a living producing

it. There's no point a farmer working all of his days, staying up

through the lemming Thomas never get to your bed... Why would anyone do

it for not getting any pay for it? With someone work in an office for

it? I don't think so. The average age of farmers here is 58. But it is

a job, despite volatility, many want to take on. Armors tend to be older,

but at a time of uncertainty, it is important that younger voices get

heard to. -- farmers. Alastair Armstrong is one of those who will

help with that. So to, County down be farmer. They are both part of a

panel of 20 younger farmers set up by their union, which will be to

discuss their priorities as post Brexit farming takes place. It is

important to get a foot on the farming ladder. Not always easy for

some. I suppose you only need to look at our agricultural allergists.

We have to make sure there is an opportunity and something in the

industry for those young people to come forward. It's all about making

sure there are the young people coming through. The question of

succession is key to that. He will take over the family farm and when?

At 6:30am, Jeffrey Robinson is already in the milking corner, a

civil engineer by trade, he has reached an agreement with his father

over running the farm. Position that is not always easy in every

household. He needs to progress forward, it needs young minded

people to get out of this, it is greatly important to let the older

people to stay around to pass. On, you don't want a lost generation of

skills and experience. Jeffrey, Roberta and Alastair represent the

future of farming. They all know it is an industry on the brink of major

change. Younger farmers looking to the

future. Earlier here at the show, I spoke to Berkeley battle about what

farmers want from the UK Government in those important Brexit

negotiations. As an organisation, we certainly have to highlight the fact

that things may well change in the years ahead, and it is probably...

It would be very prudent of men to take stock of their own business,

just to see where their own business might be going. Could they survive

in this new world post Brexit? Have you in particular difficulty or a

particular fear as he look forward? I think we identified at a very

early stage that the key in all these negotiations around Brexit was

trade and trade deals. If we are in a situation where the UK Government

decided to go to a WTO situation where we would be exposed to very

cheap imports, in that situation we would find it very difficult to

compete. We can look at other scenarios, the fact that the United

Kingdom, we are still only 61% self-sufficient in food. So the

farmers here in Northern Ireland, on mainland UK, they can up production,

step up to the mark to try and fill the gap. But I think in all of this,

we need the right signals from Government, we need to get a little

bit of certainty from Government as to where we are going. At this

stage, we have to say, we have not got the right signals from Whitehall

or wherever. There was a long way to go in the negotiations in regards to

Brexit and the European Union. How long is a piece of string, in what

you're demanding? Villa I suppose, as you say, how long is a piece of

string? Over the past year, we have spoken to our local politicians, we

have lobbied quite hard in Whitehall as well. The only thing I think we

can take some comfort in is the fact that the EU chief because she'd are

has a very knowledge of the whole Irish agricultural scene, both north

and South. I think there is some comfort in that fact, that he

realises what the industry is worth your in Northern Ireland and

hopefully that will prove to Art vantage in the future. From the

Ulster farmers Union there. A noisy sheep year, but he has to be ready

for judging. I will be back here at the Balmoral Show tomorrow at 1:30pm

and 6:30pm. I hope you can join me then.

A down day for riders at the North-West 200 saw the roads

given over today to a very thankful group of cyclists -

Stephen Watson has the latest from the north coast.

Today is ever cover a day for the riders ahead of more practice and

the racing tomorrow. This year, the organisers have invested heavily in

additional safety and once again the Northern Ireland air ambulance will

provide support. For one fan of the event, that is something very close

to her heart. Gavin Anderson reports. It has become a vital part

of the Northwest 200, simply saving lives here. Two years ago, the

spectator was airlifted to hospital when three eggs crashed as she

watched the racing in a friend's garden. This week, she has been back

on a bike for a charity cycle in support of the air ambulance. I

actually cannot stop shaking. The amount of people that have actually

come in turned out to support this is absolutely fantastic. Any event

in the northwest, this being one of them definitely, because the debts

that have occurred at it... They do everything they can, everything

possible. They learn from the past, from what has happened. They try

their hardest. This year, over ?100,000 of Government money has

been spent on safety features around the circuit. Motorcycle racing is a

dangerous sport. We have to accept that at the end of the day. But if

we have care protectors in place, further safety wheels in place,

there was less risk of injury itself at the end of the day. It is a

matter of improving and improving all the time. For the most

successful writer here, it all helps. The speed and reaction time

of the helicopters is what we need, to have that security and safety

behind it. To have the helicopter up and floating around in the sky, a

quick response, that's what it's all about. I will just try the best I

can and hopefully the best man may wind in the day. And a safe event is

what matters the most. Rose closed tomorrow morning at

9:15am, once again you can see everything live on the BBC sports

website. Finally tonight, one piece of local football news. Barry grey

has just been confirmed as the new manager of Clifton Ville football

club. That is it from the north coast. We will have lots more from

the north coast 200 tomorrow. Another lovely day,

will it continue? It will not. That is the short

answer. We have another good day to come tomorrow. Especially if you

have a sneaky Thursday off. Many parts of Ireland today was

beautiful, temperatures have been up to 18 Celsius. That was our warmest

spot. There are some clouds around this evening, they will tend to melt

away this evening. Once again, it's going to get quite cold tonight,

temperatures in summer or early areas will drop below freezing. For

the early riser tomorrow, it will be quite cold. It may even see a hint

of fog over the river valleys. We have mostly drive sunny weather to

come. Weather watchers, another opportunity to get some really great

shots of our coastline in particular. For those who are up

early, will be dry and sunny, temperatures will start to come up

fairly quickly. A cool list to the breeze, especially towards the East

Coast. The wind direction was coming from the Northwest, which made it

quite cool at the north coast. Tomorrow it comes in from the South

East. A little bit cooler times, most places dry, sunny for most of

the day. A warmer day at the north coast, temperatures up to 17 or 18

Celsius. One or two showers popping up late in the day, but for many

places, it will be a fine day. If you're heading to Balmoral tomorrow,

pretty good chance it will be nice and warm. But Friday will see

showers develop more widely. Saturday looks like a good day. For

the first race tomorrow evening, a risk of one or two showers. It will

be glorious for a good part of the day towards the North course

tomorrow. Friday, more humid, not as fresh. Some sunshine around in the

later part of the day, temperatures getting to 16 or 17 Celsius, but

also some showers around. You may need the umbrella, one or two of

those could be quite heavy with possible thunder. Saturday looks

like a nice start to the began a few showers later on Sunday.

Our late summary is at half past ten.

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