:00:00. > :00:09.The Assembly has voted against a motion calling
:00:10. > :00:12.for Northern Ireland to be granted special status within the EU.
:00:13. > :00:18.The motion, brought by the SDLP, was defeated by a single vote.
:00:19. > :00:29.Our political editor, Mark Devenport, has more.
:00:30. > :00:36.Given the sensitivities over the border and European peace, the SDLP
:00:37. > :00:39.has been campaigning for Northern Ireland to be treated differently
:00:40. > :00:52.from the rest of the UK. Making his case, column eastward accused the
:00:53. > :00:54.executive of lacking urgency. Just writing a letter to the Prime
:00:55. > :00:59.Minister and waiting for your reply. We should be kicking the door down
:01:00. > :01:03.of the Prime Minister to ensure the interests of the people of Northern
:01:04. > :01:06.Ireland are protected. I don't have anything coming from them that could
:01:07. > :01:15.give us any confidence that the issue of people here is at the top
:01:16. > :01:22.of their agenda. -- Colum Eastwood. But the DUP argued that the decision
:01:23. > :01:27.had been taken by the UK as a whole. It pointed out that people have
:01:28. > :01:31.voted differently here. This is the logic of saying that we should
:01:32. > :01:36.divide the country up into certain areas. Maybe we should carve off the
:01:37. > :01:40.eastern corner of Belfast. And it should stay out of the European
:01:41. > :01:47.Union. But the other three quarters should stay in. This is the logic
:01:48. > :01:51.that seeks to divide. Where does it end? Does London secede from the
:01:52. > :01:56.union, too. Last week, the Ulster Unionists backed the Northern
:01:57. > :02:02.Ireland remaining in the single market. But today's motion, talking
:02:03. > :02:05.about a legal recognition was a step too far for them. Their decision
:02:06. > :02:07.sealed the fate of the SDLP motion. And you can see more on that
:02:08. > :02:10.on Stormont Today over on BBC Two. A man on trial for murdering his
:02:11. > :02:16.friend and putting the body into a bin has admitted
:02:17. > :02:17.telling his former girlfriend She's on trial too and the pair
:02:18. > :02:23.are blaming each other. They were friends and they used
:02:24. > :02:31.to socialise together. But Stephen Hughes, seen
:02:32. > :02:34.here on the left, is accused of murdering Owen Creaney
:02:35. > :02:38.and hiding his body in a bin. Two days after being punched
:02:39. > :02:44.and kicked so hard Stephen Hughes is on
:02:45. > :02:49.trial for the murder. And in court today
:02:50. > :02:51.he admitted telling his ex-girlfriend he had
:02:52. > :02:55.been involved. Although Stephen Hughes denies
:02:56. > :03:10.murdering his friend, Owen Creaney, he admits he did put his body
:03:11. > :03:13.into a wheelie bin. But he insisted in court today
:03:14. > :03:20.that he didn't do it alone. He said another friend
:03:21. > :03:23.had helped him - And that she had been
:03:24. > :03:27.the one who attacked him, She too is now on trial
:03:28. > :03:33.and she also denies murder. The two defendants have
:03:34. > :03:41.blamed each other. Many more school mergers
:03:42. > :03:44.and closures look likely in the years ahead, according
:03:45. > :03:46.to a document published today. Earlier, I spoke to our Education
:03:47. > :03:50.Correspondent, Robbie Meredith. He explained that the education
:03:51. > :03:53.forecast has come about, because there are too many schools
:03:54. > :03:57.and not enough pupils. It has been produced
:03:58. > :04:00.by the Education Authority, and other bodies to set out
:04:01. > :04:02.where we're going to need But introducing it in the Assembly
:04:03. > :04:09.today, Peter Weir seemed to indicate that we had too many
:04:10. > :04:20.small schools, especially. The area plan confirmed that in some
:04:21. > :04:25.areas we have too many schools for the number of children. And young
:04:26. > :04:28.people available to fill them. In other areas, it highlights than
:04:29. > :04:33.sufficient places. But that they are not necessarily in the right places.
:04:34. > :04:36.The challenges that face us is that we have schools that are too small
:04:37. > :04:40.to adequately provide for the pupils and ensure they have an opportunity
:04:41. > :04:46.to fulfil their potential. I will say this again, this is something
:04:47. > :04:48.which cannot continue. Big changes may be ahead of us. Which schools do
:04:49. > :04:52.you think will be affected? Those factors could include
:04:53. > :04:56.things like if the school is attracting
:04:57. > :04:57.enough pupils. Or if it is providing a good
:04:58. > :05:00.education and good leadership. If you look at the number of young
:05:01. > :05:04.people forecast to be in an area, This says in the Armagh council
:05:05. > :05:08.areas, there is going to be an increase in the number
:05:09. > :05:11.of young people. Early next year, we will hear
:05:12. > :05:26.the names of schools that We do know of schools that have big
:05:27. > :05:29.financial problems. What details do you have on those?
:05:30. > :05:32.The EA says this is about all pupils getting good education.
:05:33. > :05:34.But the finances are going to be key.
:05:35. > :05:38.And this has some startling predictions in it.
:05:39. > :05:42.It says that 325 primary schools - that is nearly four in ten -
:05:43. > :05:44.and 62 post primary schools - that is almost a third -
:05:45. > :05:48.they are going to move from a budget surplus this year to
:05:49. > :05:59.That's at a time when the education budget is decreasing.
:06:00. > :06:02.So, closing or merging, will save money.
:06:03. > :06:06.Robbie Meredith speaking to me earlier.
:06:07. > :06:08.Two girls, aged 10 and 11, are in hospital
:06:09. > :06:11.after being hit by a car in Banbridge this afternoon.
:06:12. > :06:13.The police are appealing for witnesses.
:06:14. > :06:15.The incident happened on the Scarva Road.
:06:16. > :06:18.The pupils, who are aged 10 and 11,
:06:19. > :06:20.And one also had a broken leg.
:06:21. > :06:23.Neither of them has life-threatening injuries.
:06:24. > :06:25.Their school principal said the crossing patrol at that spot
:06:26. > :06:29.And that it was an accident waiting to happen.
:06:30. > :06:35.He said the pupils were very lucky to be alive.
:06:36. > :06:37.And he would be writing to the Education Authority.
:06:38. > :06:40.The name of a soldier, who fired a shot that killed
:06:41. > :06:44.a teenager in Londonderry over 40 years ago,
:06:45. > :06:46.has been officially disclosed for the first time.
:06:47. > :06:49.Manus Deery's sister says she wants the inquest to declare him innocent,
:06:50. > :06:52.as there's still a stain on his name.
:06:53. > :06:58.Manus Deery was shot on 19th May, 1972.
:06:59. > :07:03.He had been standing with a group of friends
:07:04. > :07:06.when a soldier fired from high up on the city walls.
:07:07. > :07:11.The Army maintained that the soldier fired
:07:12. > :07:18.But he missed and the shot ricocheted and injured the teenager.
:07:19. > :07:21.The families have always disputed the Army's version of events.
:07:22. > :07:26.They believe he was unlawfully killed.
:07:27. > :07:31.I'm hoping they will overturn the original inquest's verdict.
:07:32. > :07:40.And have that changed to unlawful killing.
:07:41. > :07:45.For peace of mind for my family and the witnesses.
:07:46. > :07:53.I loved my wee brother. He was beautiful.
:07:54. > :07:57.And I will go another 44 years, if I have to.
:07:58. > :08:01.On the evening of his death, the 15-year-old was celebrating
:08:02. > :08:03.getting his first pay packet after starting work in
:08:04. > :08:12.He had left home to go to a local chip shop.
:08:13. > :08:15.But after he was shot, Manus Deery was pronounced dead
:08:16. > :08:20.In his opening address, the counsel for the coroner said
:08:21. > :08:24.that the soldier who fired the shot that killed Manus Deery
:08:25. > :08:35.was no longer entitled to a claim for anonymity.
:08:36. > :08:37.He said that Soldier A was a Mr William Glasgow,
:08:38. > :08:40.The court was also told about a Special Branch
:08:41. > :08:42.assessment of Manus Deery. He was not a known terrorist.
:08:43. > :08:46.And not known to be engaged in terrorist activities.
:08:47. > :08:49.The Deery family say there has never been a proper investigation
:08:50. > :08:56.And the original inquest in July 1973 returned an open verdict.
:08:57. > :09:01.The Duke of York paid a fleeting visit today.
:09:02. > :09:05.He flew in to help celebrate 100 years of military cadets
:09:06. > :09:20.When the first Army cadets set foot on the pictures here, it was in the
:09:21. > :09:23.long, dark shadow of the Western front. And its terrible loss of
:09:24. > :09:26.life. Military training and recruitment were at the very heart
:09:27. > :09:32.of everything the organisation stood for. 100 years on and the Duke of
:09:33. > :09:38.York arrives to celebrate the centenary of what is now a very
:09:39. > :09:45.different cadet force. Right back to your cheek now. Right back. Well
:09:46. > :09:49.done. Cadet forces are still funded by the MOD. But providing the
:09:50. > :09:54.pathway for recruitment into the Armed Forces is no longer their
:09:55. > :09:58.primary purpose. So, do they still have relevance to today's young
:09:59. > :10:04.people? It has given them my skills to allow them to have fantastic
:10:05. > :10:08.career tours and go to university. And develop life skills that perhaps
:10:09. > :10:12.many of us wouldn't develop unless you are an adult. But they are
:10:13. > :10:15.developing them at the age of 15, because they are being pushed out of
:10:16. > :10:19.their comfort zones and challenged all the time. The skills that I've
:10:20. > :10:22.got today I would never have been able to stand here and talk to you
:10:23. > :10:28.like I am now before I joined cadets. I was really shy. And cadets
:10:29. > :10:33.have made me more of a person than I am today. I am very thankful for it.
:10:34. > :10:39.Royal School was one of five contingent in Northern Ireland who
:10:40. > :10:41.see their future seems assured, if different.
:10:42. > :10:45.The family of Munster Rugby's head coach,
:10:46. > :10:46.Anthony Foley, say they've been plunged
:10:47. > :10:50.into incomprehensible darkness following his sudden death.
:10:51. > :10:53.The 42-year-old died on Saturday in a Paris hotel,
:10:54. > :10:56.where the team were staying before a European game.
:10:57. > :11:00.Ulster's Director of Rugby was among those paying tribute.
:11:01. > :11:06.To think I am not going to see him again is surreal.
:11:07. > :11:11.The most abiding memories are about his absolute passion
:11:12. > :11:16.on and off the field to keep the traditions of rugby alive.
:11:17. > :11:21.I think he was just a fantastic guy to be around.
:11:22. > :11:23.The County Down swimmer Bethany Firth has been taking part
:11:24. > :11:26.in the Heroes Parade to celebrate the achievements of Great Britain's
:11:27. > :11:33.She won three golds and a silver in Rio.
:11:34. > :11:35.It was great to have everyone out here supporting us.
:11:36. > :11:37.So honoured that they got behind us in Rio.
:11:38. > :11:40.And now, even though it is raining, everyone was still smiling here.
:11:41. > :11:43.And we wouldn't be here without them.
:11:44. > :11:49.So, it is great they came out and cheered us on.
:11:50. > :12:01.Good evening. It has been a gusty start to the new week. Shari as
:12:02. > :12:05.well. Unsettled, but once we get beyond tomorrow things will start to
:12:06. > :12:09.settle down. A lot more dry weather in the forecast. We are looking at
:12:10. > :12:17.Sunshine. The night is likely to be quite chilly. It has to frost as
:12:18. > :12:22.well. Through tonight, we start off with wet weather. Fairly persistent
:12:23. > :12:26.rain in places. Later, we are left with clear intervals and scattered
:12:27. > :12:32.showers. Cold air coming in behind that. Temperatures falling away.
:12:33. > :12:38.There could be a touch of grass frost tonight in some rural areas. A
:12:39. > :12:41.cold start tomorrow. It is going to stay with us throughout the day.
:12:42. > :12:45.Showers around again which should ease. They could break out almost
:12:46. > :12:54.anywhere for Spain. But not all parts will see them using a weight
:12:55. > :12:59.completely. After a wet start and wet end to the night, England and
:13:00. > :13:03.Wales are largely dry. Similar for the East of Scotland. More showery
:13:04. > :13:06.conditions into western Scotland. Some wintry mess over the Scottish
:13:07. > :13:11.mountains and wet across northern England. It is this batch of rain we
:13:12. > :13:15.need to keep an eye on. They could linger across parts of the north
:13:16. > :13:20.coast and into the North East. Elsewhere, more in the way of dry
:13:21. > :13:25.weather. Some sunshine. Highs of 11 or 12. Feeling cold.
:13:26. > :13:28.Our next BBC Newsline is at 6:25am tomorrow.