:00:00. > :00:08.The PSNI have issued a warning about the use of illegal
:00:09. > :00:17.and prescription drugs, after a number of sudden deaths
:00:18. > :00:18.in Belfast, mostly involving teenagers and people
:00:19. > :00:22.In a statement, the district commander for Belfast said
:00:23. > :00:25.he was concerned about the number of recent deaths of young
:00:26. > :00:33.Although knowing that numbers have been released,
:00:34. > :00:35.Although no exact numbers have been released,
:00:36. > :00:37.it's understand understood at least three people have died
:00:38. > :00:43.Two of these deaths are believed to have happened in west Belfast
:00:44. > :00:47.Chief Superintendent Chris Noble says postmortem examinations
:00:48. > :00:49.have been carried out, but the police are waiting
:00:50. > :00:51.for the results of toxicology tests to determine the cause
:00:52. > :00:55.The police say in some cases possible links to drug or substance
:00:56. > :00:59.abuse are still strong lines of enquiry.
:01:00. > :01:02.They are urging people not to take drugs or prescription medication not
:01:03. > :01:05.They've also warned of the dangers of mixing any type
:01:06. > :01:15.Today's message has received support from alcohol and drugs charities.
:01:16. > :01:22.I think the police are correct to put a statement out at this time of
:01:23. > :01:26.year. Certainly it is a time when people drink excessive amounts of
:01:27. > :01:31.alcohol and they don't see the added dangers and risks of taking it with
:01:32. > :01:34.drugs prescribed medication is particularly to the drug-taking
:01:35. > :01:38.population. People are now taking more one substance quite commonly
:01:39. > :01:41.and they need reminded of the added risks that come with that.
:01:42. > :01:43.Police have also said that anyone suspected of involvement
:01:44. > :01:45.in the supply of drugs will be arrested and brought before
:01:46. > :01:48.the courts to help reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity.
:01:49. > :01:54.Three Lithuanian men have appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court
:01:55. > :01:58.accused of conspiring to supply heroin.
:01:59. > :02:01.It follows the discovery of ?500 worth of the drug yesterday.
:02:02. > :02:04.Police told the court that heroin use has been escalating recently
:02:05. > :02:08.and is linked to the deaths of four people.
:02:09. > :02:15.An elderly woman remains in hospital after a fire at her home in west
:02:16. > :02:20.The woman and a dog who were in the house
:02:21. > :02:23.in Glengoland Gardens when the blaze began were rescued by fire crews
:02:24. > :02:29.The property was badly damaged and the Fire Service say the cause
:02:30. > :02:36.Just over 100 people in Northern Ireland feature
:02:37. > :02:39.Among the recipients are the Northern Ireland Football
:02:40. > :02:41.manager Michael O'Neill and the Paralympic
:02:42. > :02:49.Michael O'Neil gets an MBE after leading Northern Ireland
:02:50. > :02:52.to the Euro finals in the summer, the first time the team had
:02:53. > :02:56.qualified for this stage of the championship.
:02:57. > :02:58.Their success attracted thousands of fans who travelled to France
:02:59. > :03:01.to support their team in what was viewed as a massive
:03:02. > :03:13.It is a fantastic honour and totally unexpected, to be honest. I suppose
:03:14. > :03:20.in many ways I am getting the recognition of what not only the
:03:21. > :03:25.team but the Association of teams as well, you know, over the past year,
:03:26. > :03:28.the Euros, but I think over the past two years for where we are now.
:03:29. > :03:32.Paralympic swimmer Bethany Firth from County Down who won
:03:33. > :03:38.Belfast Science Park creator Professor John McCanny has been
:03:39. > :03:40.knighted in recognition of his services to higher education
:03:41. > :03:53.I think the general public are probably not as aware as they might
:03:54. > :03:59.be as to what actually goes on at the science Park these days. There
:04:00. > :04:03.are something like 160 high-tech companies employed there so it helps
:04:04. > :04:06.to shine a light on that and that's fantastic because they are a lot of
:04:07. > :04:08.young people doing wonderful things. under his taxi in 1991,
:04:09. > :04:13.has been awarded the MBE for services in support of victims
:04:14. > :04:26.and survivors of the troubles. It is a great achievements not only
:04:27. > :04:31.for me but also for my colleagues who have helped me. This is for the
:04:32. > :04:41.victims of islands in Northern Ireland.
:04:42. > :04:51.and from all walks of life featured in the New Year 's Honours list.
:04:52. > :04:55.Rugby and Ulster were well beaten by Leinster in the Pro-12 league
:04:56. > :04:59.Poor defending by Ulster let in Rory O'Loughlin for Leinster's
:05:00. > :05:02.first try early in the first half and Luke McGrath put the home side
:05:03. > :05:05.17-0 up at half time when he was able to run
:05:06. > :05:07.through easily for their second try; a consolation try
:05:08. > :05:09.from Ulster's Charles Piutau near the end of the game wasn't
:05:10. > :05:11.enough and Leinster ran out winners by 22-7.
:05:12. > :05:13.Now with the weather forecast for the New Year
:05:14. > :05:22.The last weather forecast before 2017 on BBC newsline. Typically it
:05:23. > :05:26.is raining but the Rangers clear most places by Ben Knight. The New
:05:27. > :05:30.Year will be dry and cold for many of us but a warning has been issued
:05:31. > :05:34.for icy roads tonight and tomorrow morning. They backed start to
:05:35. > :05:39.celebrations but as the rain clear the way it should clear most places
:05:40. > :05:43.by midnight. The second part of the night cold winds and a drop in
:05:44. > :05:47.temperature. Some icy patches around and also wintry showers. A lot of
:05:48. > :05:53.dry and cold weather to start 2017. It will feel it in that northerly
:05:54. > :05:57.wind so wrapped up warm. If you fancy a walk it will be a day to
:05:58. > :06:01.blow the cobwebs away. There will be some showers and snow on the hills,
:06:02. > :06:06.likewise in Scotland on the mountains, too. A lot of bright
:06:07. > :06:10.weather in northern Britain and in Northern Ireland and the republic,
:06:11. > :06:15.too. Cold and rainy in Central and southern parts of Britain but the
:06:16. > :06:20.fog will have gone. It will stay cold and frosty tomorrow night. The
:06:21. > :06:26.first week of 2017 brings lots of dry weather, frost and ice and snow
:06:27. > :06:30.on the hills but it will feel cold. From me and all of the weather team,
:06:31. > :06:32.a happy New Year. Thank you for all of the lovely pictures.
:06:33. > :06:36.Thanks for watching and have a very Happy New Year.
:06:37. > :06:38.From everyone on the BBC Newsline team, goodbye.