06/04/2017 North West Tonight

Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin

A mother screams murderer in court at the police officer

Anthony Grainger was killed by police in 2012.

An investigation is underway after a prison officer

is slashed across the neck by an inmate in Liverpool.

The Government urges the RMT Union to call-off

Saturday's strike as talks with rail companies collapse.

It's 40 years since the Grand National's greatest horse

In racing, he is the one horse that everybody can remember.

The mother of an an armed man who was shot by police today shouted

murderer at the officer who was the trigger. The officer said he would

do the same again to the public enquiry. He said he thought he

thought Anthony Grainger was reaching for a gun and that is why

he started shooting. Our social affairs correspondent

Clare Fallon was at the hearing - and is live for us this evening -

and emotions running They were. This was the day the

family of Anthony Grainger have waited for four more than five

years, a date where they got to hear the police officer who pooled the

trigger gave an account of his actions. He has been granted

anonymity and gave his evidence from behind a curtain. He said he was

part of the Greater Manchester Police team who were sent out in

March 20 12th to tackle a suspected armed robbery. He said he was

certain Anthony Grainger had a gun and that when he opened fire, he

thought his colleagues were in extreme danger. We now know that

there was no gun. He said he was also left devastated by what

happened. Asked if he would do the same thing again, he said he would.

That is when there was an angry response from Anthony Grainger's

mum. She shouted out murderer, that is what you are. This is all a

farce. Everyone in this court knows you murdered my son. Also in the

courtroom today listening to the evidence was Anthony Grainger's

partner. She gave me her response after hearing. Even though it has

been established that the intelligence was inaccurate, and

that is the word that was used, he still says he would do it again

knowing that he acted on flawed intelligence. He did not see a gun

or any weapons. There was no justification at all. Knowing he was

less than ten feet away from hiding behind a curtain, if you generally

thinks what he did was right and he would do it again and he acted on

his true belief, why is he hiding? This has been going on for some

time. You heard about what happened in the days after the shooting. We

did. We heard about a meeting between this officer and a police

officer from the Metropolitan Police, who shot a man called Mark

Duggan. That was a very high profile police shooting. That meeting

happened five days after Anthony Grainger was shot. That meeting was

about welfare and support, it was said. Those men have since become

friends. He has since met the police officer who shot in London. It

sounds like there is a little club of you fire arms officers who should

people, it was said. It will continue until the end of this

month. Merseyside Police say a fire -

which forced a family, from their home last night -

was started deliberately. Police believe the house in Seaforth

was mistakenly targeted by two men. Armed police have been called

to a flat above a restaurant The officers in several vehicles

arrived in Main Street just after 10 Police say there's no

risk to the public. Inspectors have praised the work

of the new management team for South Lakes Safari Zoo

following the departure A new inspection report released

today - recommends the new team is awarded its own zoo licence

with experts saying they were 'impressed

and highly encouraged An investigation has begun

after a prison officer was slashed across the throat by an inmate

at the privately-run Altcourse The wounded officer

is now recovering. The attack comes amid growing

concern about violence Our reporter Juliet Phillips

is outside HMP Altcourse now. What more can you tell

us about this attack? The incident happened at around half

past four yesterday afternoon. A prisoner was moved to a holding area

where it was thought he was going to be moved to another prison. It was

there that the prison guard was slashed in the throat with a razor

type object. He was later taken to hospital. The prisoner, who is

alleged to be involved in this attack, we know is already facing

serious charges. The guard was taken to hospital yesterday and later

allowed to return home. This is not the first time that the present has

been at the centre of controversy, is it? -- be present. Back in 2015,

the prison had some issues with violence on site. There were around

414 assaults that year, according to Government figures. The Government

doing the prison has had issues with items being smuggled in. The prison

had to go into lockdown because two knives were thrown over the prison

wall and packages. The prison is managed by G four S, who have very

strongly following this attack today. They say there is no place in

our prison committee for violent behaviour and we will always work

with the police and wish for the possible sanctions in court for

prisoners to undermine safety. The police investigation into this

incident continues. Britain's biggest union says it's

worried about the jobs of nearly three thousand people

in the North West who work There are growing fears the Bank,

which employs staff in Manchester, Stockport and Skelmersdale,

is about to collapse. Today the Co-op group revealed

that its stake in the Bank It's written off its

20% shareholding, putting the Group into the red

for the first time in four years. Business as usual was the message

from the Co-op headquarters in Manchester today

After the group announced a pretax The group grew from the consumer

societies started by the Rochdale Pioneers,

with the aim of creating an ethical But in recent years, the Coop Bank

has struggled to survive. The bank's impact is disappointing

on the group. We have taken decision to write down our value in the bank.

It does not reflect the great year the Co-op has had.

division are all doing well with strong sales.

The bank was part of that group, but was rescued by US investors

Since then, the Co-op Group has only been a minority shareholder,

And now it's reduced the value of that stake from ?185m to zero.

The bank has been looking for buyers since February.

Last month the BBC revealed Bank of England contingency plans

to ensure the "orderly failure" of the Coop bank are well advanced.

Its Chief Executive insists there is real value in its ethical

position and customer relationships which set it apart and provide

strong future potential, saying they are focused

on the interests of all our stakeholders.

If it collapsed, customers would be protected.

But the Unite union, which represents some

of the bank workers, is concerned for their future.

A collapse would be devastating for bank workers in Manchester and the

north-west. There are four and a half thousand people employed by the

co-operative bank. They would be a wider concern about the contagion

that would be generated by a collapse of a major UK banks.

The bank says there could be an announcement

The police have released dramatic video footage of a gang

from Merseyside using explosives to blow open cash machines.

The men stole half a million pounds in a series of robberies from

They were caught after an operation involving armed officers

Seven men will be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

Two men, their faces hidden by protective clothing,

are trying to make a hole in the front of a cash machine.

What looks like a crow bar is used to prize open a gap.

A rubber pipe is attached and oxyacetyline pumped inside.

Moments later, an explosion gives them access to the money inside.

Here's what it looks like from the other side.

A safe that looks solid is torn apart in the blast.

The men cut their way into the building and helped

The gang targeted cash machines all over the country from Aberdeen in

the north to Reading in the south of England. This Co-op in Cheshire was

hit twice in the space of six months. Attempts to catch those

involved included a 150 mile an hour car chase in the dead of night.

There were firearms officers, a support and many hours of covert

policing. These criminals used phones at different times throughout

the conspiracy. They have the ordinary phones and dirty fawns,

which they use only for jobs. The good be active for a couple of days

and move on to the other phone. The data from those phones had to be

interrogated by the officers. -- dirty forums.

He's one of seven men, six from Merseyside,

Petrol powered grinders, gas cylinders and stolen high speed

vehicles were all recovered over a twelve month investigation.

The group had access to install an HGV. They were using motor cars to

commit these crimes but transport the Audi within the HGV, travelling

the country. One

gang member spent part of his share The men will be sentenced

in Liverpool later this month. Armed police are patrolling

the Grand National meeting With around 150,000 people expected

over the next three days, Merseyside Police have reviewed

security after the recent But they're emphasising that so far

there's no intelligence We have reviewed that

planning in the light of what has happened

Westminster and we have got a physical presence of armed officers

that people may see as they enter the Grand National Avenue.

That is about giving public reassurance and a

Meanwhile, transport chaos could hamper Aintree's big finale

for the 170th running of the Grand National on Saturday.

That's after talks collapsed today to avert a strike by

Tonight, the Government's real minister said industrial action was

unnecessary and called on the RMT to resume negotiations. Let's get more

on this now. This all relates to the on-going

dispute over plans to introduce driver-only operated trains -

on services run by Merseyrail The firms plan to provide some

services - but drastically fewer Merseyrail will provide a service

from Liverpool to Aintree The return services from Aintree

to Liverpool operate And there'll be no services

between Aintree and Ormskirk. The RMT Union says this isn't to do

with the Grand National. We apologise for any

disruption caused. They will get to Aintree and use

alternative methods. This is about safety

on trains going into the next 20 or 30 years in

Merseyside and across the north of It is much more important

than one day at Aintree. The wider Northern network will run

about a third of services. Two trains an hour will go

to Liverpool Lime Street from Manchester, Wigan and St Helens

- from just after 9am. But the last train out of

Lime Street will be at six-thirty. Many passengers at Lime Street

aren't impressed with It just makes it difficult for

everyone. I know some people who go to work there and it makes it more

difficult for them. I understand they need to make a stand that will

make them stand out when something cute is happening. I think, such a

good event, it puts a dampener on it. Hundreds of millions of viewers,

to make their own petty point of view. What they are doing is putting

out a message that this city is still run by militant trade

unionists. Across the region, reduced Northern

services will only run They'll provide some

rail replacement buses. The company says its still

trying to find solutions. We are going to keep working right

up until the last minute to try and avoid a dispute in the first place

and stop the strike. Secondly, if the strike does go ahead we are

going to run as many trains as we possibly can and keep the north

moving. The Government's tonight called

on the RMT to return to the talks. But, as ever in these situations,

anyone planning to travel is advised Did advice. There are lots of signs

above motorways at the moment. A silver jubilee for

Manchester's golden trams. How Metrolink helped

a city's revival. It's 40 years since

the Southport-trained horse became It's 25 years since

the queen officially opened It's recently expanded and now more

than 37 million passenger journeys It promised to link areas north

and south of Greater manchester, cut In 2017, this is the biggest light

rail system in the UK. John Major was the Prime

Minister, Right Said Fred was number one and the Queen

officially opened Metrolink. The first line opened

between Bury in the north Bury market is one of

the busiest in the region. It definitely makes

a difference to the market. We have a lot of

visitors on Wednesday, When the tram has maintenance work

or is not running, you do see a big difference, especially

on a Saturday. We have asked them in advance

if they have any got any known work to do,

can you let us know, please? Then the food people can actually

buy less products in, It now goes to Media City,

Rochdale, the airport and, In one year it covers

the equivalent of 14 Public transport is

designed to get us out So has Metrolink done

anything to ease congestion? The very first two

routes to Altrincham switch from car driving

to Metrolink use. One in five passengers previously

used cars so it took some of the pressure off the road

and so it gave car 25% of passengers on

the latest routes say they have swapped

the car for the tram. Greater Manchester residents have

paid for the system. There are complaints about busy

carriages and high prices. A weekly ticket on the tram for me

is ?26 but I can only use it between Whitefield and Piccadilly Gardens,

whereas the bus is ?15 and I can go to Bury over the weekend

with that one. I think it's a bit much,

compared to other You've got to pay what you've

got to pay sometimes. For tram enthusiasts,

Metrolink is more than Barry has written a tourist guide

to For example, Prestwich

or Heaton Park, or Barlow Moor Road, There is a lot you can do

from the individual stations. This is the first street

running tram system in modern era Britain and it is

being copied in other cities. Metrolink continues to grow and line

number eight out to the Trafford It is goring all the time. I

remember it being built. -- it is growing all the time. Let's look at

some football now. Football now and Liverpool's manager

Jurgen Klopp says his team need to learn from last night's 2-2

draw against Bournemouth. The reds came from a goal down

at Anfield to lead 2-1 thanks to goals from Phillipe Coutinho

and Divock Origi. But with just four minutes left

on the clock they conceded again. Josh King grabbing

an equalizer for the visitors. Manchester City are a place and two

points behind third placed Liverpool after a 2-1 defeat at

leaders Chelsea. Sergio Aguero with the goal

for Pep Guardiola's men. Jesse Lingard has signed a new deal

at the club which will keep him there at the club until 2021. There

is also an option in the hundred thousand pound a week contract. He

has been at Manchester United since he was seven years old. 40 horses

will line up for the world's greatest Steeple Chase. They will be

in the shadow of the world's greatest horse.

This year marks 40 years since Red Rum's last National win

and today Aintree opened a memorabilia tent in his honour.

Stewart looks back down memory lane. It is the greatest movie never made.

The horse with the Gamay leg, trained by a taxi driver on a beach

was an unlikely hero. By 1977, Red Rum had already won the National

twice and finished as runner-up on another two occasions. It was this

race that sealed his spot in history. Riding Red Rum that date

was Tommy Stack. To find him 40 years on, you need to come here to

Tipperary where his family trains 60 horses. 77 looks a long time ago

now, 40 years. It is only like yesterday looking back at it. Tommy

broad Red Rum 40 times. This was his first national win on board. The

couture the crowd and everything else. It was an real. -- you could

hear. They were on the winning post and everywhere, the people. He had

two policemen either side of you but the crowds were shouting and

everything else. It was some feeling. Images and memories of Red

Rum are in every room. The horse is as popular in this part of Ireland

as he is in Liverpool. This is the village pub. People come into the

pub and Aske if it is OK to take a picture. Chinese, Japanese, you name

it, every kind of person. Americans... Jesse's name is famous

worldwide now. He is the horse everyone can remember. We could not

believe what had happened. We dreamt it and wished it and we were just

amazed the horse came home fit and well. 40 years on, Michael Burns

returns to the spot used it that day. His grandfather owned the horse

the father knew as Read. My father was 89 years of age. The only time I

saw him move was he did as he crossed the line, you got up and

raised his arms and sat down again. The celebrations were more rockers

that evening when they moved to the hotel in Southport. They had to take

the doors off the main doors of the hotel so the horse could come in and

there were people shouting and screaming and patting him on the

neck and all of this. He stood there for about an hour in the ball room

and I could not believe the crowd that were there clapping him and the

horrors just stood. You were to think he was a saint. -- the horse

just stood there. It was 40 years since Red Rum ran down here for the

final time. The impact the horrors made on this course and this city

lives on. I take two is around the race course and I come to the statue

and see this as the horse you have to thank. Every time I get letters

in and a month ago I got somebody from New Zealand. There will never

be a horse like him again. My grandfather owned lots of people

felt he was part of them. He was very special. Red Rum is buried

beside the winning post. The horse that saved Aintree. The horse that

made the Grand National. Wonderful memories of Red Rum. We have had

some coming in. Ken says that he has a special place in his heart as he

got married on the day of his first national win. That was 1973. 44

years. They had their 44th wedding anniversary not too long ago. Phil

says it is 50 years to the day as Red Rum made his debut. He was a

winner in 73, 74, second and 75, when in 77. We have not done enough

about Aintree this week. We are going to find out

what the weather is going to be like. All of my friends had the

Osmonds and David Cassidy on the wall, I had read Rum. Much prettier.

You like your horses, don't you? I do indeed. If you are heading to

racing at Aintree as we go through the next couple of days, we are glad

to see the forecast going up. Sunshine through the afternoon but

Saturday we will see a marked improvement. Things are going to

improve. The Weather Watcher pictures are looking very lovely and

part of the region. Language so the of the weather. -- Lancashire. It

changes over the next couple of days and if you follow the lines of the

ice of buyers as it tracks across the country, that is when the cloud

cover starts to them and break and were sent on coming through. For the

next couple of days, things will get better. That area of high-pressure

blocks as through the weekend. As we start the working week next week,

the temperatures will fall away and the rain will return. It is all

about the cloud cover. Many chilly start to the day. Through this

evening and overnight, nothing really changes. It was almost

blanket cloud cover and it is sticking with us. Temperatures are

sticking up. That is positive of having the cloud cover in the

overnight period. Temperatures of seven or eight Celsius tomorrow.

Drizzle working its way in. For most of us, a repeat of this morning. A

gloomy morning. It will start to lose the cloud cover. More of a

south westerly wind. As the cloud comes towards us, here come the

spells of sunshine. Through the afternoon, more optimistic for

brighter skies. The temperatures. Still a chill in the day. 12 or 13

Celsius at the very best. This is when the picture starts to get

better. A quiet night into Saturday morning. That all-important wind

direction, the cloud cover will thin and break and brighter skies. By

Sunday we could have 18 Celsius. That's lovely. That is very warm,

isn't it? Other parts of the country is warmer. It will be ladies Day.

Will they be topping up their tans? Fable have come spray tanned anyway.

-- the all will have come spray tanned. Much safer anyway. Thank you

for watching. Good night. Stacey and Chris are preparing for

marriage by spending a few days living alone with

their in-laws to be, and asking them all kinds of

questions. Did you get a kiss on

the first date? No. What does their in-laws' marriage

tell them about each other's I expect you'll want to become

a schoolmaster, sir. That's what most of the gentlemen

does that get sent down