22/07/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Gordon Burns and

Ranvir Singh. Our top story: unfed, unwatched, uncared for - the

residents and staff let down by care home management and a

government regulator. She was crying, she was white and

she was soiled. There was nobody there. -- she was wet.

It people are entitled to use reasonable force to protect

themselves, their families and their homes. The Salford

householder who stabbed an intruder to death is released without charge.

Training to get to the top - Amir Khan steps up for his next world

title bout. Playing Jesus and Pan's people - we

will be talking to Robert Powell. And lighting up the liver birds. I

will be at the one hundredth birthday bash for this old lady

birthday bash for this old lady Tonight, we investigate whether the

elderly in care homes are being left unprotected and vulnerable as

managers struggle with cash flow. Mary Cooper died in May. It is

claimed in the days leading up to her death, her nursing home was too

short staffed to protect -- collect a vital prescription. Her family

claimed they saw signed time sheets pretending to show she had been

checked on. We have also discovered a catalogue of other complaints

about Partington Care Home, many made by staff themselves. Staff and

families have said they feel let down by the regulator set up to

protect people in care homes, their Care Quality Commission. This week,

the Home went bust. Today, the liquidators arrive as

Partington Care Home went bust and 30 residents lost their home. It

has been in the business of care for 18 years, but Molly could a's

family say that care fell far short. -- Molly Cooper. The home was too

short staffed to collect a prescription. It was not their

first complaint. Mum was put on half hour checks. That was for the

staff to make sure she was OK. She noticed that it was at least eight

hours that had been signed in front. Mary Langdon's family claims staff

shortages were a real problem. had not had a wash. She was still

in her 90. She was crying and soiled. There was nobody there.

Since 2007, dead here has more than doubled. Savings had to be made.

Margaret says she once had to buy incontinence pads for her mother

and other residents. Terrible. The managers - and the owner, because I

have written to the owner twice to express my concerns. That owner is

Dr Davinder Gupta from Blackburn. We tried to contact him repeatedly.

Still no answer, and that is a shame. This place was not running

at capacity, with between 20 and 30 residents instead of 36. Perhaps Dr

Gupta would have told us how difficult things had been to him,

but equally, we would have been able to put some difficult

questions to him about how this place had been managed.

Janet Jubb talks me through a long list of complaints she made to the

manager and the Care Quality Commission. She was once a nurse at

Partington. We were left to do our very best in awful circumstances.

Nobody was listening. It was like nobody cared. Last year, the Care

Quality Commission said the Home did need to make improvements and

was understaffed. But since then, staff made frequent complaints that

the situation was deteriorating, not improving. They claim no action

was taken. What is the point in having the commission if they are

not listening to us and allowing this to carry on? Today, it is all

over. Staff were keen to show me thank-you cards from residents and

families. Hope you all find work because Partington could not have a

more dedicated, loyal staff. They say they are not to blame. Instead,

a distant owner and a commission unwilling and unable to enforce its

own findings. We will talk about the Care Quality

Commission in a moment, but you have now heard from Dr Gupta

haven't you? I have been trying hard to put some specific

complaints and can sense to him. He has refused to answer any concern

specifically but has issued a statement saying they have suffered

from cashflow difficulties for a number of months which have become

more and more severe. He thanks the residents for their understanding.

We could not have a conversation with them. You have been trying to

get hold of the Care Quality Commission as well, haven't you?

Yes, we finally had a conversation a few moments ago. They said they

did listen to staff and went back in after the report in November.

They say they listened and issued another report. I have had a chance

to look through that and as far as I can see, exactly the same

concerns - and even greater concerns now. I asked why they

didn't act because nothing seems to have changed. They said they do

have powers and they were about to act, but they had not done anything

yet. They would admit they had not done anything, apart from the

second report with the same concerns. Jeers macro for that.

-- thank you. A householder who was arrested on

suspicion of killing a burglar will not face any charges. Peter

Flanagan was detained after the death of John Bennell, who died

from a stab wound during a burglary at his home in Salford. The Crown

Prosecution Service said that Mr Flanagan had acted in self-defence.

Andy is that the scene. The Crown Prosecution Service had

decided that Peter Flanagan was entitled to do what he did, to

protect himself and his family and his home. The CPS say this is a

decision they have taken after careful consideration of all the

evidence the police gathered. Community support officers were

patrolling Peter Flanagan's Street today, but the man at the centre of

the story was not available for comment. He stabbed John Bennell in

the chest during a break-in last month. John Bennell died from his

wounds and Peter Flanagan was arrested on suspicion of murder.

But today, the CPS said he will not be prosecuted. It said one of the

intruders that night had a machete and they had decided the use of

force was necessary and reasonable in the circumstances. People are

entitled to use reasonable force to protect themselves, their families

and their homes. All the evidence indicates to me that in the

frightening circumstances that Mr Flanagan faced, he did what he

honestly and instinctively believed to be necessary to protect himself

and his home. It is an important decision because only last week,

the coalition government said it wanted to clarify exactly how far

you can go to protect yourself and your home. The rights of

householders have been debated for years, but the Justice Secretary

gave a vivid example of how he sees it. If an old lady finds she has an

18-year-old burgling her house and picks up a kitchen knife and sticks

it in him, she has not committed a criminal offence. We will make that

clear. Police said they were right to arrest Peter Flanagan, given the

circumstances of that night, but they eat respect of the CPS's

decision. Three men were charged with

aggravated burglary following the incident last month. One of them

was also charged with possession of a blade. Those men are due to

appear in court in September. Joining me now is Dr Hannah Quirk,

a lecturer in criminal law and justice from the University of

Manchester. To you agree with the CPS's decision not to press

charges? But police had to investigate a suspicious death and

follow their procedures. The CPS have looked at it and decided that

it did not seem appropriate. As far as the law is concerned, or at what

point would action against an intruder suddenly become a criminal

act? The law says you can use reasonable force to defend yourself

or to prevent a crime happening. So if you felt that your life was in

danger, it would be reasonable to use lethal force. If, however,

somebody was climbing out of the window or was committing a very

minor events, that would be unreasonable. It is difficult to

say reasonable force because when you are in the house and the

horrific situation happens, you don't know whether the intruder is

going to attack or not and your only chance is to hit as hard as

you can, you cannot think whether it is reasonable force or not - you

just whack. Back would be considered reasonable because it is

terrifying for somebody to wake up in that situation. So if an

intruder comes into your home, you can kill that intruder legally?

you are genuinely feel that you have to use that level of force. If

they were bigger than you or had a weapon, for instance, that would be

reasonable. The law does not expected to consider it in detail

because they recognise that in that situation, somebody is frightened.

But it has to be reasonable. have to stop it there because we

have a slight sound problem. Thank you.

Campaign has started to save Liverpool's coastguard station. It

follows the Government's announcement that the service at

Crosby was one of eight being scrapped. Staff or launching a

website and asking -- staff are launching a website and asking

people to contact their MPs. campaign will carry on until the

coastguard station is saved. The decision to close at Liverpool

coastguard station is one that the government has asked for a response

to, and they have changed their minds before. We hope that they

will do so again. More than 100 staff working at the

TJ Hughes distribution centre in Liverpool have been made redundant

today, as the warehouse closed down. 116 workers at a Edge Lane site

were sent home at midday as administrators continued their

surge to find a buyer for the department store.

Police have to night named a 5th patient whose death at Stepping

Hill hospital is being investigated as 84-year-old Vera Pearson.

Detectives are continuing to question and nurse on suspicion of

murder. Our health correspondent is at a hospital.

84-year-old Vera Pearson died here on 14th July and her death was

referred to police by the coroner on Wednesday as part of this

investigation into contaminated saline. Detectives are still

waiting for the post-mortem results for the other four people who died

at the hospital, whose deaths are being investigated. Those are

Tracey Arden, Arnold Lancaster, George Keep and Derek Weaver.

Police have said it is likely they will be asked to investigate

further death seal. We have spoken to the hospital today and they have

told us they have set up a helpline for anyone who works here, who are

upset all concerned. Councillors are holding dropping sessions and

going to the wards to speak to people. Police have until 9pm this

evening to continue their questioning of Rebecca Leighton,

arrested on suspicion of murder. They can then either apply to a

magistrate for more time to question her, charge her or release

her. Still to come: Lighting up the Liverpool waterfront like never

before to celebrate 100 years of the Liver Building.

And I will be previewing the biggest game in the rugby league

season so far, as the Challenge Cup holders take on the Superleague

He was once described by an unkind critic as having a face like a

haunted parking metre, but for you and me he is one of this country's

best known television faces. From Jesus of Nazareth in the '70s, to

Holby City today, Salford's Robert Powell is still going strong. He

was back in his beloved North West today to support the 24:7 Theatre

Festival, which is all about new writing. He popped in for a chat

and we asked why he was so passionate about it. Any new

writing has got to be good to get involved in for an actor. Without

new writers, we have nothing to save. Secondly, it is Salford and

Manchester. Anything to do with this region, I am very likely to

say yes, more likely to say yes that no. You're very proud of

Salford and coming from there, which must have changed

phenomenally since you live there? Especially now with media city

being there? I would get lost completely. I would not be able to

find my way around. How do you remember it? Not like it is now. It

was pretty grotty when I was a boy. It is staggering the way it has

been rejuvenated. But we always thought it would be. I got involved

in the Loughray when we were first thinking of doing this in the 1990s.

We said to build the theatre and everyone would follow. A dead and

they have. There is no hint of Salford in your accent left. There

is sometimes! When I was 15, I was taken up to the BBC in Piccadilly

to do Children's hour. In those days, Children's hour plays were

quite posh. I drilled it out of myself. I learned how to speak posh.

You said that when you get off the train now at Piccadilly, what

happens? Straight in. No question. I have a northern accent. My son

used to ask me why I spoke in a funny voice to my father on the

phone. How do you feel about the fantastic roles you have had and

the great television series and so on and that you're sore associated

with Jesus of Nazareth? People always talk about you as Jesus?

Three years after her head Ahmed, I got a bit bored with that. -- three

years after I had done it, I got bored with it. But 30 years later,

it is flattering that people remember it. It is nice to be

remembered for anything, isn't it, really? I remember you as the envy

of young men when you went to marry one of Pan's People. Of all the

girls, I used to say to Dennis Waterman that I fancied the blonde

1.7 years later, I bumped into her in the BBC Club. Their vehicle.

Thank you very much. My pleasure. Sport now, and it is a massive

weekend for three of our best boxers? Yes. Amir Khan faces one of

his toughest tests when he takes on the IBF world champion Zab Judah in

Las Vegas early on Sunday morning. Before that, Wythenshawe's Tyson

Fury goes toe to toe with Derek Chisora at Wembley Arena. And on

the same night Bury bantamweight Scott Quigg defends his WBA title

against Venezuelan Franklin Varela. We looked at the Fury and Quigg

fights earlier this week, but tonight we focus on Khan versus

Judah. It is Saturday's biggest showdown and not just in Vegas.

410 weeks, he has been up at 5pm to make sure Zab Judah goes down first.

Amir Khan has even been sparring against a legend to make sure she

is the one to win the title. The message from Vegas is clear of.

me once and never hit you back. What about the messages from the

town that has taken him to heart? You can do it! Finish and in the

first round! A lot of people say I cannot take the plunge, but no one

has dropped me. Effie boxes proper and no messing about, he will be

all right. Idea of 100% because I know it will pay off on Saturday.

Come on! Everything we do is for the fight. We do single steps

Hathway and double steps and your legs start burning. Because it is

so early in the morning, it is a shock to your system. That is one

major champion. If he can take a crack of him, he can take a crack

of anyone. Happy days. This fight is very exciting. A lot of people

criticise Zab Judah for his 10. We are both exciting -- for his chin.

We are both exciting to watch. We're behind you. Come on.

It is quarter final time in rugby league's Challenge Cup. There is no

doubt about the tie of the round. Warrington versus Wigan. The top

two teams in Super League meet at the Wolves Stadium tomorrow. St

Helens face Hull KR on Sunday, but it is the Wolves versus Warriors

game that has caught the imagination.

It is the Cup kings. Versus, well, Have these stolen your title of

being the cup kings? No. We went back down, but we're coming back up.

Where the team to beat. He has got to be Wigan. It is history against

the present. Warrington are the team to beat. Who do you think?

Warrington. Warrington have only won seven Challenge Cups compared

with Wigan's 17. But the Wolves have won the last two trophies,

whereas the Warriors, who won eight in a row in the '80s and '90s, are

without a Wembley win since 2002. It is about trying to create

history. It is an opportunity for this team to go out and do what

they're capable of. Anybody who has the honour of winning at Challenge

Cup is very special and it should be treasured. The game tomorrow has

sold out. Many are saying it is the biggest match to be held in the

stadium. Wigan and Warrington are the two best sides in the league

this season. He was like Fred Astaire coming

down those steps! And you can hear full commentary on

the Warrington versus Wigan game on BBC Radios Manchester and

Merseyside tomorrow at 4:30pm. On Sunday, Radio Merseyside has

commentary on St Helens against Hull KR.

Cricket, and a century stand between Kyle Hogg and Sajid Mahmood

has kept alive Lancashire's hopes of winning the Roses match at

Headingley. Lancashire were in Headingley. Lancashire were in

trouble on 87 for eight, but both scored half-centuries to take the

second innings score to 194. In reply, Yorkshire were on 11 for

With just over a year until the Olympics, 200 events are taking

place in our region this weekend. Many offer free use of sports

facilities. Take a look at the London 2012 Open Weekend website

and, if you go along, send us your pictures by e-mail, Twitter or

Facebook. We will try to show some of them in our special programme

next Wednesday marking one year until the Olympics.

Finally, a strange ritual is being conducted in Bamber Bridge on

Sunday. Preston North End fans will be burying a coffin to mourn the

club's relegation from the Championship. It is a tradition

that started more than 60 years ago by two brewery workers disgusted by

the club's relegation in 1948. If PNE get promoted, the coffin will

be exhumed. I saw Phil Brown at the airport

last night. He was full of life. That is a relief that he was not in

the coffin! If you are in Liverpool tonight,

there is a chance to see the famous Liver Building as you've never seen

it before. It is 100-years-old and its birthday party looks set to be

a colourful affair. Our reporter is there.

It is a beautiful evening at the moment.

Here's hoping for a dry and clear night because the Liver Building is

about to viewed in a very different light. These shots from last

night's rehearsal give you a taste night's rehearsal give you a taste

of what's in store here later. The 3D presentation by the Czech

company Macula will project images onto the building to dramatically

change it's appearance. It is all part of a weekend of a celebrations

to mark the 100th anniversary of the city's most famous landmark.

Our Environment Correspondent has been looking at the remarkable

Among the 9th floor. The room is very ornate with lots of wood

panelling and diesel. But this is a very modern building. When the

Royal Liver Friendly Society looked for a new home, they chose the

disused George's Dock at Liverpool's Pier Head. It had a

commanded position on the waterfront and they were looking

for a bold structure that demonstrated strength and

reliability. They chose a new technique using reinforced concrete

which meant they could build high. This was a blueprint for some of

the world's best known skyscrapers. It gave them a much more stronger

building to deal with. It allowed them to construct the stone

simultaneously on different floors. The famous Liver Birds were created

by the German sculptor Carl Bernard Baretls. Legend has it the male and

female are facing away from each other because if they mated and

flew away, Liverpool would sink into the Mersey. In reality, they

were positioned to watch over the people of the city on one side and

the sea on the other. I did not realise at the time that it would

be such an iconic symbol. Not just for the city, but around the world.

The Friendly Society actually only need two floors of the building for

their business. What they built was a structure that would become

famous throughout the world. If you come down to the Waterfront

at 10:15pm over the next three nights, you will be able to see the

Macula presentation for free. This is the first time the company have

worked in the UK. As well as the Macula show there are many other

free events here over the weekend. Later this evening, Connie Lush is

Later this evening, Connie Lush is This afternoon, we have not had

good conditions. We have had high pressure in charge of the weather.

That will stick for Saturday and Sunday, bringing you a lot of

sunshine. Will keep the high pressure until Monday. There were a

lot of showers this afternoon. This evening, a lot of the showers will

fade away. In Liverpool, we have lots of clear blue skies. Across

the region, overnight, we will keep the clear skies going. It could be

fairly chilly. Temperatures will drop to single figures. Tomorrow

morning, a chilly start, a bright start, maybe some isolated showers

here are there. In the afternoon, it will be brighter and drier. You

are in for a pleasant day. Highs of 19 are 24 tomorrow. Four Sunday,

still looking quite good. Mandir looks to be quite good. For the

celebrations here of the 100th anniversary of the Liver Building,

Liverpool is going to be dry and bright. You can here the

celebrations have started here. celebrations have started here.

Back to year. We had a fast fix -- fantastic time

at the Flower Show earlier. People asked where Diana was. She is back