25/03/2017 BBC Newsline

That's it for now. I will be back for the later

Good evening and welcome to BBC Newsline.

The man who died in a house fire in Armagh city

Fire Service forensic officers are investigating the cause

It was reported shortly after half past eight last night.

Neighbours tried to save the man from the first floor bedroom,

They also tried to reach him by putting a ladder up

More than 30 firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Third damage is quite extensive -- the damage. They were keen to deal

with it is in a row of terrace housing so it was to protect the

other properties as well. From my arrival it was a good 30 minutes to

bring the fire under control and extinguish.

The North Antrim MLA Robin Swann looks certain to be the next leader

Mr Swann was the only candidate when the deadline for nominations

He will be formally ratified as Mike Nesbitt's successor

at a meeting of the Ulster Unionist ruling council next month.

I will put a stall out today and it will show where we have

opportunities for growth, opportunities to change some of our

functionality within the parody that can make us more aggressive

politically because I think that is where the opportunities for the

party lie. The Alliance Party leader Naomi Long

says another Stormont election would be a vanity project,

wasting time when Northern Ireland has no budget, and no plan

for dealing with the UK's departure Mrs Long was addressing her first

Alliance conference since being Here's our political

editor Mark Devenport. Alliance defended all their eight

seats in this election which amounted to an increase in the

party's influence given the reduction in the overall number of

MLAs. Naomi Long was confident, telling delegates that alliance are

recruiting new members outside their traditional area of strength. There

has been concern the Stormont talks might not get a breakthrough. She

said triggering an election would let the public town. This is no time

to indulge ourselves in a vanity project. Essential public services

are already feeling the consequences of budget uncertainty and reduced

services and job losses. We owe it to those who rely on the services

and those who deliver them to get a functioning executive Exec girl-mac

established now and get on -- a functioning executive established

now and get on with what we are elected to do. Like so much, it

depends if there is a deal in time for Monday's deadline and what kind

of a deal it turns out to be. The multiparty talks have been

continuing today at Stormont Castle. Representatives of the main

political parties and the UK and Irish governments resumed

talks this morning. The discussions are aimed

at restoring a power sharing At this stage no deal

has been agreed. The Republic of Ireland captain

Seamus Coleman underwent surgery in Dublin today on a broken leg

sustained during last night's 0-0 The injury, which resulted in a red

card for Welshman Neil Taylor, is expected to keep Seamus Coleman

out of the game for From the moment of impact it was

obvious that Seamus Coleman sustained a serious injury. Neil

Taylor was sent off and Seamus Coleman was stretchered off. The

Donegal man underwent surgery today on broken tibial fibula and tibia.

The final score was 0-0. Most people's thoughts were with Seamus

Coleman. I was right by it. It was a bad tackle. Part and parcel of the

game but a tackle like that, no need for it. They told me to warm up and

I didn't have much time because I was still in shock. He is our

captain. We need to galvanise together and qualify for home. And

we couldn't find the end. -- the killer instinct at the end.

Meanwhile, after the game, the Republic's James McClean spoke

to Sky Sports about the deaths of his former team-mate

Ryan McBride and the former Deputy First Minister Martin

The Derry-born footballer said it had been a tough week for the city

I played with him and knew him off the field, Martin McGuinness was a

huge figure as well. I had a good relationship with them. In the space

of two days, both of them passing, it was very tough. Hopefully I've

done them both proud. And tomorrow on BBC Newsline

we'll have the latest from the Northern Ireland camp ahead

of their qualifier with Norway Now finally on to the weather

forecast with Barra. Another cracking day tomorrow and we

get to enjoy it a little bit later in the evening thanks to the clocks

going forward tonight. Tonight will be chilly, especially in the

countryside with clear skies. Temperatures below freezing for some

of us. Some frost tomorrow but otherwise a fine day. High-pressure

is in control. Light winds, dry weather and sunshine. A pretty good

picture right across the island. A little fresh on the east coast with

the breeze and inland we could get 14-15. Tomorrow, sunny weather, it

will turn chilly with clear skies at night.

BBC Newsline will be back tomorrow evening at 20 to 7.

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From everyone here on the programme, enjoy the rest of your evening.