0:00:05 > 0:00:07Hello and welcome to BBC Newsline.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10The Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, has denied sanctioning
0:00:10 > 0:00:13the murder of MI5 agent Denis Donaldson.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16The claims were made on last night's BBC Spotlight programme,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18in which a man who said that he was a former IRA
0:00:18 > 0:00:21and Sinn Fein member turned British agent said that Gerry Adams
0:00:21 > 0:00:25would have given the final say on the killing.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28The SDLP leader says it's now time for Mr Adams to retire.
0:00:28 > 0:00:35Here's our political correspondent Gareth Gordon.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Denis Donaldson was shot dead at this Donegal cottage in 2006,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42months after admitting he'd been working for British intelligence
0:00:42 > 0:00:45within the IRA for over 20 years.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49At the time, Denis Donaldson was a Sinn Fein administrator at Stormont.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52In last night's BBC Spotlight, another informer -
0:00:52 > 0:00:55who wished to remain anonymous - claims Gerry Adams
0:00:55 > 0:00:58sanctioned his murder.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01I know from my experience in the IRA that murders have to be
0:01:01 > 0:01:04approved by the leadership.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07They have to be given approval by the leadership of
0:01:07 > 0:01:12the IRA and the military leadership of the IRA.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Who are you specifically referring to?
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Gerry Adams, he gives the final say.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21And today Mr Adams had his say on the allegation.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24It is a lie and I totally categorically and
0:01:24 > 0:01:26specifically deny it.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28What will you be doing about it?
0:01:28 > 0:01:32It is in the hands of my solicitor at this time but we have to look
0:01:32 > 0:01:33at the agenda.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37That the person who made this allegation, anonymous,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40unnamed, self-professed agent of the British state.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45That this is an attempt to rewrite history.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48It's not the first time Gerry Adams has had to issue
0:01:48 > 0:01:50denials about his past.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54One of his opponents says he should now leave the political stage.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57I think it is time now for politics to move on.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00I think it's time for Sinn Fein to move on.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04They are never going to be able to get away from all these
0:02:04 > 0:02:07accusations until Gerry Adams retires and I think it is about time
0:02:07 > 0:02:10after 33 years that he does that.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Others say a simple denial from the Gerry Adams is not enough.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17He should take legal action against the BBC if he feels these
0:02:17 > 0:02:20claims are incorrect.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23If he does that then we would know that there is no foundation
0:02:23 > 0:02:27to this accusation.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30If he does not then it is clear he has got something to hide
0:02:30 > 0:02:34so I would call on him and the ball is in his court for him to decide
0:02:34 > 0:02:38whether or not he will hold the BBC to task on these claims.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42The BBC said the Spotlight programme dealt with matters of great public
0:02:42 > 0:02:48interest and it stood by its journalism.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53The home of a man who was questioned last month on suspicion of dissident
0:02:53 > 0:02:57republican activity has been attacked by a masked gang in Larne.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Another house in the town was also attacked.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Sara Girvin reports.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07Armed with hatchets and stones, masked men attacked this family home
0:03:07 > 0:03:11on Larne's Seahill Road at around 1:20am this morning.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13The 27-year-old man who lives here was questioned by police
0:03:13 > 0:03:18last month on suspicion of dissident republican activity.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22He was later released without charge.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24His heavily pregnant partner and two small children were also
0:03:24 > 0:03:28in the property at the time, but were uninjured.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Their house has been targeted before, last Christmas,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33but the family say while this morning's incident has
0:03:33 > 0:03:38left them terrified, they won't be moving out.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41In a separate incident, a house on Fleet Street in the town
0:03:41 > 0:03:44was attacked around the same time.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47The couple in their 20s who live here weren't injured,
0:03:47 > 0:03:48but were left shaken.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Their children weren't at home at the time,
0:03:50 > 0:03:54but they believe a brick that came through their young son's window
0:03:54 > 0:03:58could have left him seriously injured, or worse.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01The two householders, who didn't want to appear on camera,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04were woken by banging and smashing in their home just
0:04:04 > 0:04:06after 1am this morning.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The man then came downstairs where he was confronted at the back
0:04:09 > 0:04:13door by two masked men carrying hatchets and trying to gain entry
0:04:13 > 0:04:15to his house.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19He now says his family are too frightened to stay here.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Both families told the BBC they believe the attacks
0:04:22 > 0:04:25on their homes were sectarian and that they were targeted
0:04:25 > 0:04:27because they're Catholic.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30The PSNI say that is one line of enquiry.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33They're also working to establish whether there is a link
0:04:33 > 0:04:36between the two incidents and a car later found burned out in a field
0:04:36 > 0:04:42at Walnut Avenue in the town.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Four men arrested in Lurgan and Coalisland are still being
0:04:45 > 0:04:48questioned by police investigating dissident republican activity.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53A number of searches were carried out in Lurgan this morning and some
0:04:53 > 0:04:58homes in Woodville Avenue were evacuated.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Former First Minister Peter Robinson and the Deputy First Minister Martin
0:05:02 > 0:05:04McGuinness are to be invited to appear before the Republic's
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Public Accounts Committee.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11It's in connection with a phone call in January 2014 over the sale
0:05:11 > 0:05:13of the Northern Ireland property portfolio by
0:05:13 > 0:05:16the National Asset Management Agency.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19In a statement, Sinn Fein said the Deputy First Minister
0:05:19 > 0:05:23would cooperate fully with all efforts to uncover
0:05:23 > 0:05:27the truth around Nama's sale of its Northern Ireland property portfolio.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Almost 100 new jobs are to be created in Belfast
0:05:31 > 0:05:33by a UK technology firm.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35The jobs at Metaswitch will be a mixture of research
0:05:35 > 0:05:37and technical support roles, with average salaries of ?27,500.
0:05:37 > 0:05:46Our Economics and Business Editor John Campbell reports.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Metaswitch makes products for the world's big
0:05:50 > 0:05:52telecom operators like BT.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55It's got plans for growth and it's chosen Belfast
0:05:55 > 0:05:57as its new centre of excellence.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00These are jobs for software engineers, but the firm says it
0:06:00 > 0:06:03will cast its net widely.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06As far as graduate recruitment, we look across all disciplines,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09not just computer scientists.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12We do a terrific training scheme ourselves and we are being held
0:06:12 > 0:06:16by the economy here to build a specific Metaswitch centre
0:06:16 > 0:06:20of excellence training academy.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25We are looking for people who love problem-solving and who have great
0:06:25 > 0:06:28communication skills and we can train them how to be
0:06:28 > 0:06:30great software engineers.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32The company has moved quickly.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36They've only been talking to Invest NI for about three months.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39The project will be supported with government
0:06:39 > 0:06:40grants of up to ?800,000.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43This is more good news for Northern Ireland with 94
0:06:43 > 0:06:46new jobs being created and I think it shows that Northern Ireland
0:06:46 > 0:06:50remains a very good place for companies to invest.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52This investment was one that is highly competitive
0:06:52 > 0:06:56and could have gone anywhere in Northern Ireland and Metaswitch
0:06:56 > 0:06:59have beaten the competitors because of the low costs and labour
0:06:59 > 0:07:02and property but we also have a talented workforce
0:07:02 > 0:07:04and Metaswitch are able to avail of this.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Metaswitch said the EU referendum has had no impact
0:07:06 > 0:07:08on their investment plans.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12They're in a fast-moving sector and can't wait
0:07:12 > 0:07:14for the Brexit dust to settle.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17And indeed the Office for National Statistics said today
0:07:17 > 0:07:25that so far the Brexit vote has had little impact on the UK economy.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28More specialist services are to be established for people
0:07:28 > 0:07:31suffering from fibromyalgia following a campaign
0:07:31 > 0:07:33by the Patient and Client Council.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Those suffering from it say they're relieved it's finally
0:07:36 > 0:07:38being recognised as a long-term health condition.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43Our Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47For Martina Marks, it's all about managing her pain.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50A combination of tablets, exercise and a change
0:07:50 > 0:07:53of lifestyle means that living with fibromyalgia
0:07:53 > 0:07:54is a little easier.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I have lived with the pain for so long now.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01I don't really know what it is like to be without pain.
0:08:01 > 0:08:09You always have pain of some description.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10Sometimes pain is not your main symptom.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Sometimes fatigue can be very overbearing.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Fibromyalgia is one of those conditions that's baffled health
0:08:14 > 0:08:17experts for decades.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20While the symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue
0:08:20 > 0:08:23and memory loss can be severe, as nothing is revealed in a scan,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26it can be difficult to diagnose.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29But there's a real appetite now to address that.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31At this conference in Belfast, health professionals called
0:08:31 > 0:08:36for greater awareness and understanding of the condition.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39The difficulty with fibromyalgia is there is no specific blood test
0:08:39 > 0:08:43or abnormality or a scan that enables health care professionals
0:08:43 > 0:08:46to make the diagnosis.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47That has traditionally been the problem.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50It doesn't mean there isn't a real problem for that individual but it
0:08:50 > 0:08:53means to the doctor or health care professional can not
0:08:53 > 0:08:58make a diagnosis that which they feel is secure.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00As there can be some scepticism about the condition,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03three years ago the group that represents patients
0:09:03 > 0:09:05decided to investigate.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07One in five people in Northern Ireland live with chronic
0:09:07 > 0:09:10pain on a daily basis.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Within that group of patients, we find that a significant number
0:09:14 > 0:09:19of people were suffering from fibromyalgia and they were telling
0:09:19 > 0:09:22us they were finding it very difficult to have their voice heard
0:09:22 > 0:09:24and for the condition to be believed.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Now acknowledged as a long-term condition, plans are underway
0:09:27 > 0:09:32to have dedicated services across the Health Trusts.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34But according to those who've been campaigning,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36the biggest breakthrough is finally having their
0:09:36 > 0:09:42concerns taken seriously.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Crowds have turned out at Dublin Airport to welcome home
0:09:44 > 0:09:48the Irish Paralympic team, which won 11 medals in Rio.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51It includes runners Jason Smyth from Eglinton and Michael McKillop
0:09:51 > 0:09:53from Glengormley, who both won gold.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Thomas Niblock reports.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59The colour and the crowds arrived at Dublin this afternoon
0:09:59 > 0:10:03to welcome home heroes.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Paralympic gold medals for both Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop
0:10:06 > 0:10:11as he led team Ireland home.
0:10:11 > 0:10:17Jason's wife and baby daughter were there to say hello to Daddy,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19all adding to an incredible Paralympic experience.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21I suppose it is like a fairytale.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24It keeps happening but you wonder when it will end.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26It would be incredible to go to a fourth consecutive
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Paralympic Games.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30And winning gold.
0:10:30 > 0:10:39To be honest, I want to keep my unbeaten record going.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42So, Jason Smyth is aiming for Tokyo but he is not the only one.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I hope and pray that I will be in Tokyo because that's
0:10:45 > 0:10:47where I want to go and retire.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51It is also a place that my fiance will get to go and watch me compete
0:10:51 > 0:10:53in the Paralympic Games and she will probably
0:10:53 > 0:10:54be my wife by then.
0:10:54 > 0:10:54That would be nice.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Four Paralympic golds for McKillop, he has achieved it all,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03but sometimes the small things mean the most.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07A young girl and mum travel from Ballycastle
0:11:07 > 0:11:08specifically to see me.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12They get up at 6am just to see me and that is emotional because it
0:11:12 > 0:11:16shows that people see me as their inspiration.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21She broke into tears.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22It is just incredible.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Beijing, London and Rio done, Evie probably won't remember today
0:11:26 > 0:11:36but the good news is she will be old enough to watch Daddy in Tokyo.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Time now for the weather, here's Geoff Maskell.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Good evening.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48There is a definite hint of autumn in our weather this evening,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50with temperatures really dropping away tonight.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Our weather through the day has been dominated by this band of rain.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Tonight it clears out of the way to the east.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Behind it we are left with some clearing skies.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00That means that temperatures will really drop away down
0:12:00 > 0:12:02to two or three Celsius in some rural spots.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06The chance of a little bit of mist and fog by dawn tomorrow morning.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Thursday we will actually get off to rather a nice start.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Dry and bright certainly through the first half of the day,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13if a bit chilly to begin with.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Eventually the temperatures will climb up to the mid-teens,
0:12:15 > 0:12:1615 or 16 Celsius the high.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Staying mostly dry across the eastern half of Northern
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Ireland.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Later in the day in the West, we start to see the showers
0:12:24 > 0:12:26working their way in.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29You can really see how we are on the leading edge
0:12:29 > 0:12:32of the next band of weather coming in, because in front of it
0:12:32 > 0:12:35across parts of Great Britain, still that warm and foggy air.
0:12:35 > 0:12:3621 Celsius across the south-east.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37Clearer skies and cooler temperatures.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Those showers continue and another reasonably chilly night.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Again some clear spells as we head into Friday.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Friday is a rather interesting day.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52We've got the threat of rain sitting out in the Atlantic with this
0:12:52 > 0:12:54area of low pressure and the associated front,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57but at the moment it looks as if it is going to stick
0:12:57 > 0:13:00to the north and west of us through the day, so for most
0:13:00 > 0:13:02parts of Northern Ireland for most of the day,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05we should be staying dry, if a bit breezy as that southerly
0:13:05 > 0:13:06breeze really picks up.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Again the temperatures in the mid-teens, but
0:13:08 > 0:13:09feeling much fresher.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13That rain moves in properly on Saturday.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14That's it for now.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Our next BBC Newsline is at 6:25am in the morning during Breakfast
0:13:16 > 0:13:19here on BBC One.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20You can also keep updated with News Online.
0:13:20 > 0:13:27Good night.