Fraud 'costing NHS £5bn a year'

24 March 2014 Last updated at 03:40

Fraud is costing the NHS £5bn a year, with a further £2bn lost to errors, the former head of its anti-fraud section says.

The amount lost to fraud alone could pay for nearly 250,000 new nurses, a report seen by Panorama suggests.

The NHS must "get on with tackling the problem", said Jim Gee, co-author of the Portsmouth University study and ex-director of NHS Counter Fraud Services.

The Department of Health said it "did not recognise" the figures.

The amount estimated by Mr Gee, who led the NHS anti-fraud section for eight years, is 20 times that recorded in the government's annual fraud indicator report.

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"Start Quote

I think fraud is one of the last great unreduced healthcare costs"

End Quote Jim Gee

"We need to not be embarrassed, or in denial, about the possibility of fraud taking place in the NHS," said Mr Gee.

"We need to get on with tackling the problem, minimising its cost, maximising resources available for proper patient care."

The report, by the University of Portsmouth and accountancy firm BDO, is due to be published on Tuesday.

It found that the biggest areas of fraud are in payroll and procurement budgets.

For example a consultant doing private work on NHS time or procurement wise; an optician charging for glasses which the patient never received or needed.

'Absolute sense'

The £2bn cost of errors relate to when the NHS makes overpayments by mistake to suppliers or staff.

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Former dentist Joyce Trail is the most prolific single fraudster in NHS history

Although the NHS has a budget of about £100bn, it is having to make significant savings and should prioritise fighting fraud, said Mr Gee.

"I think fraud is one of the last great unreduced healthcare costs. And to me, putting money into it makes absolute sense," he said.

"It's one of the least painful ways of cutting costs. It makes absolute sense to cut the cost of fraud before you cut the quality, or extent of patient services."

Mr Gee left the NHS's Counter Fraud Service in 2006 and has spoken out now because of the publication of the report.

He reached the £7bn figure by basing his research upon loss measurement exercises looking at the total cost of fraud.

Mr Gee says it is the most rigorous data that's available about healthcare fraud in the world.

He believes his figure is so much higher than the government's because their annual fraud indicator report only relates to pharmaceutical and dental services, and does not include losses taking place in payroll and procurement expenditure, for example

The Department of Health declined to be interviewed but in a statement said "it did not recognise" the figure or "speculate on levels of losses".

Panorama also found that NHS Protect, the national body that investigates fraud in England for the Department of Health, has had its budget cut by around 30% since 2006.

The operating budget for NHS Protect in 2013-14 is £11.38m, the equivalent budget in 2006-07 was £16.29 million.

NHS Protect has replaced NHS Counter Fraud Services in England.

A Freedom of Information request by the BBC shows that NHS Protect employs 27 counter-fraud specialists, with a further 294 investigators working at a local level.

By contrast, the Department for Work and Pensions employs six times the number of investigators - but if Mr Gee's figures are accurate, they face less than half the amount of fraud.

The Department of Health said NHS Protect had a "significant budget" and "protects and safeguards frontline NHS services".

NHS anti-fraud teams investigate cases ranging from hundreds to millions of pounds.

Among their cases was that of dentist Joyce Trail, from Birmingham, who was one of the most prolific fraudsters in NHS history.

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Panorama: Find out more

• Fiona Walker presents Panorama - The Great NHS Robbery
• BBC One, Monday 24 March at 20:030 BST

Trail charged the NHS for work she had never actually carried out.

She visited care homes offering to check residents' teeth and then used their personal details to claim payment from the NHS.

Trail even claimed payment for the false teeth for patients who had died.

She was jailed in 2012 for £1.4m worth of fraud.

Other fraudsters investigators have prosecuted include NHS employees selling stolen products on eBay and dentists charging the NHS for gold crowns while fitting patients with cheaper ones.

One investigator, Barry Hards, said the lack of money for investigators means that now is a good time to be a fraudster in the NHS.

"How can you have confidence that there's a likelihood you'll be found out, when there's very few people looking at you?" he said.

"I think it's a genuinely held concern that some people in senior positions have just taken their eye off the ball on this."

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Ex-Army chief calls for more troops

24 March 2014 Last updated at 08:34

The UK should recruit more soldiers in light of the Ukraine and Syria crises and station an extra 3,000 troops in Germany, the former head of the Army has said.

Lord Dannatt said boosting troops would signify that "Britain takes its defence responsibilities seriously".

Amid Nato concerns over Russian forces in Crimea, he said the West must not be "weak in resolve and muscle".

He made his comments in The Daily Telegraph.

Lord Dannatt, who was chief of the general staff between 2006 and 2008, warned that despite the "war-weariness and war-wariness" felt by the UK, recent international developments had shown "strategic shocks happen".

"While there is neither the logic nor appetite for intervention in Syria, nor a treaty obligation requiring military intervention in Ukraine, both situations are stark reminders of how the strategic landscape can change," he wrote.

'Challenging' landscape

Continue reading the main story

With a resurgent Russia, this is a poor moment for the US-led West to be weak in resolve and muscle"

End Quote Lord Dannatt

Nato's military commander in Europe said Russian forces at the Ukrainian border were "very, very sizeable and very, very ready".

Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen Philip Breedlove expressed specific concerns about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region.

The build-up has been linked to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements.

Lord Dannatt said that Russian President Vladimir Putin would look beyond diplomacy and sanctions "to see where the real check on his actions might come from".

"Whether his ambition reaches into eastern Ukraine or elsewhere, only he knows," wrote Lord Dannatt.

"However, with a resurgent Russia, this is a poor moment for the US-led West to be weak in resolve and muscle."

He spoke of "uncomfortable shadows of the Thirties" and added: "Russia has long been the ally of Syria.

"Mr Putin will see the UN and EU as virtually powerless to impose their will on [Syria's] President Assad, and will be further encouraged."

Lord Dannatt said an extra 3,000 troops could be stationed in Germany to "underline our commitment to peace and security" to allies in the EU and Nato.

While recognising financial pressures, "to remove further resources from defence would be sending exactly the wrong message at this time".

"On the contrary, there is a strong argument to recognise that the international landscape is more challenging than in 2010, and consider making a statement that greater military capability must underpin our diplomacy," he added.

'Too small'

Current plans for cuts to the Army will see personnel numbers reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018. The number of part-time soldiers will double, from 15,000 to 30,000.

However, Lord Dannatt said there was "genuine concern" as to whether sufficient reservists could be recruited and trained.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Looking at the future, it's very hard to predict the future, if our defence capability is weak then at some point in the future, we may find that we have wrong-footed ourselves.

"Many people think that 82,000 is too small a regular army for the UK to have, I am certainly one of those."

He said that an extra 3,000 troops "would send a message to Mr Putin and others that diplomacy and economic sanctions are one thing, but there is muscle behind our message".

But when asked what the extra troops would be doing, he said: "I wouldn't expect them to do anything."

He suggested the Defence Reform Bill going through the House of Lords could be the opportunity to alter the balance between regular and reserve soldiers in the Army.

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Police incompetent, says acid victim

24 March 2014 Last updated at 06:01

A woman left scarred by an acid attack has accused Scotland Yard of incompetence, saying they initially claimed she had done it to herself.

Naomi Oni suffered severe burns when Mary Konye, who has since been jailed for 12 years, threw acid in her face.

She told Radio 4's Today programme police were slow to act on information she gave them about the 2012 attack.

The Metropolitan Police said they considered all lines of enquiry in the early stages of their investigation.

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Speaking to Today's Mishal Husain, Ms Oni said it almost felt like she had "been accused of lying" after her then-friend attacked her in Dagenham, east London.

The 22-year-old spoke of her "pain and backlash for her (Konye's) actions and other people's incompetency".

She said police were incompetent "to kind of accuse me of doing it to myself, when I've said somebody has followed me from my workplace to my home".

'Nobody has answers'

Ms Oni added: "When I was in court and I saw the CCTV footage, I just looked at it and I thought: 'Well, you can blatantly see that what I said is what happened, so where did that decision come from?'"

Konye, also 22, of Canning Town, east London, allegedly attacked Ms Oni because she had called her ugly.

CCTV footage showed her wearing a veil and secretly following Ms Oni home from her job at a Victoria's Secret shop in December 2012.

Initially, police did not act on what Ms Oni had told them about the circumstances, she has alleged.

"I even got told that they watched the CCTV footage and they saw no-one following me," she said.

"We've all seen the CCTV footage. There was a person in a veil following me.

"Why was this not found in the beginning? Nobody has answers to tell me."

It was argued in court that Ms Oni was trying to find fame and fortune following a similar incident in which model and TV presenter Katie Piper was partially blinded.

But she told the BBC the reason she looked up the case on the internet was that she had seen a documentary on Miss Piper and found it "a moving and touching story".

"If that has been found on my laptop, I don't see what that has to do with someone wearing a veil coming to attack me," she added.

Ms Oni needed skin grafts and has suffered permanent scars to her leg, chest, stomach and arms and was almost blinded in one eye.

She has to wear a face mask and faces further reconstructive surgery.

'Complex investigation'

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "All lines of enquiry were considered in the early stages of the investigation.

"The investigation was detailed and complex and officers had a duty to explore every avenue of enquiry and retain an open mind about the circumstances.

"They carried out numerous actions including door-to-door enquiries, leaflet drops, searches, interviews and forensic analyses.

"The CCTV evidence took some time to collate and analyse but then clearly showed a veiled suspect trailing the victim before the attack. Konye was arrested as the investigation progressed."

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Police cordon set up in woman search

24 March 2014 Last updated at 07:30

Police have cordoned off part of a country park in Kilmarnock in the search for a missing woman from Fife.

A tent has also been erected in Dean Park.

Hazel North, 19, from the Cairneyhill area of Dunfermline, was reported missing on Friday. She last made contact with her sister on 4 March.

Forensics experts searched a flat and garden in Kilmarnock over the weekend, but did not find anything suspicious.

On Saturday, police said there had been a possible sighting of Ms North in Stranraer, where her family lived, earlier this week.

Before going missing, Ms North had told her sister she was going to Kilmarnock to meet a male friend.

Her family were said to have grown "increasingly concerned" for her.

A forensic team started searching a flat and garden in Kilmarnock's Northcraig Road early on Friday morning, but had not uncovered "anything that would give cause for concern" when the search concluded on Saturday afternoon.

Supt Kerr told BBC Scotland police were only informed of the teenager's disappearance on Friday.

He also said she had recently been living in Stranraer with family and had contacted her sister by phone or text message.

He urged Ms North, or anyone who who knows where she is, to contact police.

"Hazel, if you are out there, can you please get in touch with police as soon as you can and let us know that you are ok," he said.

She was described as being 5ft 8in in height and of slim build with a fair complexion. She has brown hair.

Supt Kerr said a number of officers throughout the country were working on the inquiry.

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Co-op Bank to raise extra £400m

24 March 2014 Last updated at 08:02

The Co-op Bank plans to raise another £400m by issuing new shares following the discovery of additional costs related to past misconduct and poor documentation.

The biggest part of the additional costs relates to PPI mis-selling and lapses in the provision of mortgages.

The bank said the discovery meant it would make a loss of £1.2bn to £1.3bn for 2013.

It will release its full accounts in April.

Continue reading the main story

One important question is why these misconduct costs did not come to light last year"

End Quote

"The starting capital position of the bank for the four to five year recovery period is weaker than in the plan announced last year," said chief executive Niall Booker.

Mr Booker said the issues had already been discovered in its Liability Management Exercise prospectus, but said it was only now quantifying the financial impact of some of the risks.

"When I heard about this my jaw dropped because I did think that at last this was a bank on the way to recovery," said BBC economics editor Robert Peston.

Rescue

The Co-op Bank had to be rescued last year after it was left with a £1.5bn capital shortfall, with many of its troubles stemming from the merger with the Britannia building society in 2009.

In November last year, it announced that a group of private investors, made up mostly of hedge funds, would inject nearly £1bn into the bank in exchange for a 70% ownership stake.

Later that year the company was hit by a separate scandal when its chairman Paul Flowers was arrested in connection with a drugs supply investigation.

The group is cutting staff and selling off parts of its business in an effort to survive.

'Simplify'

The Co-operative Bank said that as of the end of 2013, it had cut 1,000 staff equating to about 14% of its total.

It also said it had reduced its non-core assets by around £2bn.

It said raising the extra £400m would enable it to continue with the execution of its original business plan.

"We have started to simplify the business, reduce costs and de-risk assets as we drive the change needed to return to our roots as a bank focused on our retail and SME customers," added Mr Booker.

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Labour 'supports pension reforms'

21 March 2014 Last updated at 23:23

Labour will support government plans to overhaul pensions, the shadow work and pensions secretary has said.

Rachel Reeves told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions she supports the changes announced in Wednesday's Budget.

But she said much more detail was needed about what the changes would mean "in practice".

The proposed reforms will allow people to spend their pension pots how they wish rather having to buy an annuity, which guarantees an annual income.

The new rules are due to come in from April 2015, subject to consultation, with some existing regulations to be relaxed from next Thursday.

'More flexibility'

Speaking to Any Questions, Ms Reeves said the annuities and pension market currently "does not work well for people who have saved all their lives".

She said: "I support reform and I support what has been announced this week, although we need to see a lot more detail about what that will mean in practice."

The party wants the consultation to consider whether the move helps lower and middle income taxpayers, whether people who want to buy an annuity under the current system can do so, and what provision is made for advice.

Ms Reeves said "wider reform", including a cap on pension providers' fees and charges, was needed.

Asked to give an undertaking that Labour would not seek to overturn the reform, she added: "I don't think the annuities market works for people at the moment, so I support reform and I support the changes that people have more flexibility about how to access their money. I can give that assurance."

She said she believes "the majority of people" would not choose to draw down their full pension.

'Complex proposals'

Labour leader Ed Miliband earlier insisted he backs more flexible rules on pensions, but said his party wanted to look at the detail before they support the changes in Parliament.

"We're certainly not going to reject these proposals out of hand," said Mr Miliband. "That would be the wrong thing to do.

"These are complex proposals. We need to scrutinise the detail and we need to have some clear answers from the government on some of those questions."

It is expected that anyone over the age of 55 who belongs to a private pension scheme (as opposed to a final-salary scheme) will be able to take out their savings as a lump sum to spend or invest as they wish.

Chancellor George Osborne has dismissed fears newly-retired people could "blow" their money.

A Downing Street spokesman earlier said that under the rule changes, pensioners were guaranteed independent advice before making any decision about their pension provision.

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Debt firms selling 'unsuitable' plans

22 March 2014 Last updated at 00:24

Debt management companies are persuading people to sign up for "unsuitable" and expensive repayment plans, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says.

The regulator believes these plans do not offer the best value for money for people already struggling with debt.

It also wants firms to give customers information on how they can get free debt advice.

Some debt management plans can cost £620 per year, the FCA said.

More than half a million of these agreements are started annually, most of them with fee-charging firms.

Free help is available from Citizens Advice, National Debtline and other charities, according to the FCA.

'Unacceptable'

"Debt management firms must start putting consumers first," said Christopher Woolard, the FCA's director of policy, risk and research.

"It's frankly unacceptable that these people who are struggling to make ends meet are being talked into unsuitable plans."

From 1 April the FCA will be responsible for regulating consumer credit and it plans to bring in new regulations.

These include a requirement for firms to provide customers with information on how to get free debt advice and for firms to pass more money on to creditors right from the start of the plan.

Debt management firms gather up all a consumer's debts and pay back the creditors on that individual's behalf. They take their fee out of the borrower's money as it comes in each month.

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Soldiers killed during WW1 named

22 March 2014 Last updated at 03:15

Ten soldiers who died in World War One and whose bodies were found in France five years ago have been named after DNA analysis of samples from relatives.

Since the discovery of the bodies in 2009 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been tracking down potential relatives in the hope of identifying them.

The remains were spotted during construction work near the French village of Beaucamps-Ligny.

They were found alongside five other bodies which are yet to be named.

All the soldiers were with 2nd Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment, and are believed to have died in battle on 18 October 1914.

The men are due to be given a funeral with full military honours in October, while investigations continue to try and track down relatives for the remaining bodies.

'Amazing'

Retired computer programmer Peter Hague, 70, of Chinley, Derbyshire said he was "astonished" to find that his cousin twice-removed Cpl Francis Carr Dyson was among those identified.

"It is always strange, and poignant moment when you discover you are related to someone like this, I suppose the sadness of his death is mitigated when you know they died during service for their country," he said.

Continue reading the main story

Still to find:

The investigation team is particularly interested in speaking to the families of the following six soldiers who potentially could be among those yet to be named, they are:

• Lance Sergeant George Edwardes 9854 - born in Middlesbrough
• Private Horace Foster 7147 - born in Sheffield
• Private Ross Jeff 10523 - born in Moss, Doncaster
• Private Gavin Lowe 9194 - born in Alyth, Perthshire
• Private William Albert Sunderland 7429 - born in Ripley, Derbyshire
• Private David Wilson Williams 8458 - born in Thornaby, Stockton on Tees

Anyone who thinks they may be related to these soldiers should contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre team on 01452 712612 (Ext 6303)

Source: Ministry of Defence

Mr Hague, who is widowed with two children, said some years ago he had researched his own family background and was aware of the existence of Cpl Dyson.

And after posting details on a genealogy website, Mr Hague said he was contacted "out of the blue" by a genealogist working on behalf of the MoD.

"I gave a DNA mouth swab about six months ago, and it has led to this, it's amazing really," he said.

History

Defence minister Lord Astor of Hever said: "Our thoughts remain with all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.

"Although these soldiers fell almost a century ago, the Ministry of Defence still takes its responsibility extremely seriously to identify any remains found, trace and inform surviving relatives and to provide a fitting and dignified funeral so they rest in peace."

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

I feel quite emotional about this, I never knew I had a great-uncle who had died in France"

End Quote Marlene Jackson

The funeral of the men has been organised by the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, which traces its history back to The York and Lancaster Regiment.

The 10 soldiers who have been identified are:

• Pte Herbert Ernest Allcock, born in Leeds, with family now living in Lancashire

• Pte John Brameld, born in Sheffield with family living in Yorkshire

• Cpl Francis Carr Dyson, born in Wakefield with family now living in Derbyshire

• Pte Walter Ellis, born in Doncaster with family living in Yorkshire

• Pte John Willie Jarvis, born in Rotherham with family living in Yorkshire

• Pte Leonard Arthur Morley, born in Boxhill, Surrey with family now living in Canada

• Pte Ernest Oxer, born in Rotherham with family living in Yorkshire

• Pte John Richmond, born in Nottingham with family living in Nottinghamshire

• Pte William Alfred Singyard, born in Newcastle upon Tyne with family now living in Lincolnshire

• L/Cpl William Henry Warr, born in Dorset with family now living in Somerset

A DNA sample from retired BT manager Barrie Richmond was able to identify his great-uncle Pte Richmond.

Mr Richmond of Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire said: "We are surprised and amazed and excited - and humbled. He was a great-uncle we didn't know anything about - perhaps it was the grief, that people didn't want to speak about it.

"We have found out so much about him. He enlisted in October 1904, signed on for three years, served in India, then worked in the lace making industry before being recalled in 1914.

"He was from Radford, Nottinghamshire, and married wife Ellen, but they had no children."

'Emotional'

For 69-year-old retired teacher, Marlene Jackson of Garstang, Lancashire, she discovered she had a great-uncle, when her DNA matched that of Pte Allcock.

She said: "It was quite a surprise when they initially phoned, I had no idea I had a great-uncle, it was never talked about in the family.

"They said would I mind giving my DNA, and I did and now it's confirmed.

"He was the brother of my grandmother Ethel, who died aged 102 in 1988. He had enlisted as a soldier and served in India and Ireland before the war, leaving his wife, also Ethel, and two daughters when he died.

"I feel quite emotional about this, I never knew I had a great-uncle who had died in France. We're going to the re-burial in October."

And for Maureen Simpson, 75, from Stradbroke, Sheffield, who is the grand-daughter of Pte Brameld, the process had allowed her to "close the book" on the mystery of her relative's final resting place.

"It will be lovely to see them properly buried. It is what they deserve," she said.

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Sport Relief raises more than £51m

22 March 2014 Last updated at 03:34

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David Beckham filmed a one-off Only Fools And Horse sketch

More than £51m was raised for charity on Friday's live Sport Relief show - breaking the previous on-the-night record.

Kylie Minogue, David Walliams and Sebastian Coe were among the sports stars and celebrities who took part in the six-hour BBC show.

One of the highlights was the return of Only Fools and Horses after 11 years with a sketch starring David Beckham.

The grand total of £51,242,186 was announced at the end of the broadcast.

Host Fearne Cotton described the achievement, which beat the record £50.4m raised during the last Sport Relief show two years ago, as "mind blowing".

Beckham's comic turn saw him join Rodney and Del Boy, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst and Sir David Jason, in a greasy spoon cafe in Peckham.

The Trotter brothers also tried to sell pairs of David Beckham boxers in a market - with Rodney modelling the wares.

Little Mix had opened the TV spectacular, which came live from London's Queen Elizabeth Park, with the Sport Relief single, Word Up.

The girl band, whose visit to a hospital in Liberia was featured on the programme, urged the public to "give what you can".

Music also came from The Voice judge Kylie Minogue. She and Walliams started singing Especially for You, a 1988 hit for her and Jason Donovan, before Donovan himself joined the pair on stage.

It is thought to have been the first time Minogue and fellow Australian Donovan have performed the song live in 25 years.

The show also included Walliams grilling footballers in a special edition of Mastermind, while Lord Coe took on comedian John Bishop in a series of sporting events.

The England football team's Word Cup song, a cover of Take That's Greatest Day, was heard for the first time during the show.

Take That front man Gary Barlow and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker led the group of singers, with members including England football legends Sir Geoff Hurst, Michael Owen and David Seaman.

Disadvantaged

The Clash of the Titans saw team captains Coe and Bishop, supported by a team of celebrities, go head-to-head against each other at a variety of events including synchronised swimming and velodrome cycling.

Comedian Patrick Kielty beat BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James at synchronised swimming, while cricketer Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff fell off his bike at one stage, only to get back on the saddle and win the cycling event.

Also during the show - which saw live performances from bands Coldplay and Boyzone - there was applause for One Show presenter Alex Jones, after it was revealed she had raised a total of £1,281,476 by climbing 1,200m up Moonlight Buttress, a sheer sandstone cliff in Utah.

Lineker and Davina McCall - who herself raised more than £2m for Sport Relief - were among the hosts of the show, which aims to raise money for poor and disadvantaged people in the UK and around the world.

This year's Sport Relief also saw four Paralympians swapping their sports kit for sequins for a Strictly Come Dancing special.

It was won by wheelchair racing athlete Hannah Cockroft, a double Paralympic gold medallist, and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev.

Other highlights included a Mock the Week Andy Murray special which saw the Wimbledon champion showing he has a sense of humour as he was made the butt of most of the jokes.

The fundraising is set to continue over the weekend in a bid to break the 2012 overall total of £67,977,824.

Events taking place across the country on Saturday and Sunday include the Sport Relief Games, with one of the venues being the Queen Elizabeth Park.

On Saturday night, comedian Russell Brand will become a pundit on BBC One's Match of the Day.

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Highlights of Jo Whiley's Sports Relief challenge

Stars began their fundraising activities in the days and weeks leading up to the broadcast.

On Thursday, BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley completed a 26-hour stint on a treadmill, which so impressed Coldplay that the band donated £260,000 to Sport Relief.

A tweet from Coldplay read: "Massive respect to the incredible, indegafatible [sic] @jowhiley £10K per hour makes £260K sponsorship from us."

Speaking afterwards, Whiley said: "I am blown away by Coldplay's generosity and it has made this challenge all the more sweeter."

At the climax of the gruelling challenge, Whiley stumbled following a final 10-second countdown.

"I can't believe I did 26 hours and then fell at the last minute," she said.

On Monday, Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw completed a 12-hour bike ride after he, along with other celebrities, cycled more than 1,000 miles and raised more than £115,000.

Davina McCall raised more than £2m by running, cycling and swimming from Edinburgh to London in just seven days.

Elsewhere, former England football captain Alan Shearer beat ex-footballer Robbie Savage in an exhausting race to sit on all 90,000 seats in Wembley Stadium.

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Man in court over McConville murder

22 March 2014 Last updated at 04:24

An alleged former senior IRA member is due in court in connection with the murder of Jean McConville.

The Belfast mother-of-10 was taken from her flat by the IRA in December 1972.

Ivor Bell, 77, alleged to have been a senior member in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was arrested at his home in Andersontown, west Belfast, on Tuesday.

He is expected to appear before magistrates in Belfast on Saturday accused of aiding and abetting murder as well as membership of the IRA.

Mrs McConville, 37, became known as one of the Disappeared.

She was kidnapped in front of her children after being accused of having been an informer - a claim that was later dismissed following an official investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

She was held at one or more houses before being shot and buried in secret. Her body was eventually recovered on a beach in County Louth in August 2003.

Nobody has ever been charged with her murder.

The Disappeared are those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.

The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments.

It lists 16 people as "disappeared". Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found.

Mr Bell was part of an IRA delegation, which also included Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, that held secret talks with the British government in London in 1972.

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