A 41-year-old Co Antrim man has been jailed for life after he finally admitted the murder of his partner in her Ballymena home last summer.

Denise Dunlop, a 32-year-old mother of two, was killed in her Centuripe Avenue home last June.

Mr Justice Weir told her killer, Richard McAuley, the law permitted only one penalty for murder, and that was life imprisonment.

However, Mr Justice Weir also told McAuley, from Townhill Road in Portglenone, that a tariff would be set later indicating when he may become eligible for release by the Parole Commissioners.

Unemployed McAuley initially entered a ‘not guilty’ plea last January when first arraigned, accused of murdering Ms Dunlop on a date between June 13 and 16, 2014.

However, following a request from defence QC Laurence McCrudden, the murder charge was put to McAuley again during the brief hearing at Antrim Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, and this time, he replied: “Guilty.”

Although no details of the stabbing were outlined to the court, it is understood that Ms Dunlop was stabbed in her home in the early hours of Father’s Day last year.

She had lived in what was known as ‘the army houses’ area of Ballymena, properties which were previously used as family accommodation for soldiers on the site of the former St Patrick’s Barracks.

They were taken over by the Fold Housing Association and civilian families moved in in late 2013.

A DUP MLA has explained comments in which she apparently expressed her opposition to Gregory Campbell’s ‘curry my yoghurt’ mockery of how Sinn Fein MLAs use the Irish language at Stormont.

North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley attended a hustings event at Lagan College on Monday during which she was asked about the issue and reportedly said that she was unhappy at her party colleague’s controversial jibe.

Ms Bradley could not be contacted by the News Letter yesterday, but the DUP press office released a statement in her name which said that on the day Mr Campbell made his comments “my focus...was on a different, but vitally important issue...a debate on pancreatic cancer”.

On Twitter on Monday, Ms Bradley was more candid. She said “we have nothing to fear from a language” and said Mr Campbell’s remarks “detracted from the important issues of that week including the Mairia Cahill debate”.

One person at the event tweeted that Ms Bradley was “all but saying” that she supported gay marriage. But she replied on Twitter to say: “Didn’t quite say that though I do believe we need to be much more tolerant. p45 for Bradley”.

A primary school in Co Tyrone which was removed from the list of polling stations over a Union Flag protest could have its status restored after unionist appeals.

In January, the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland (EONI) said Howard Primary in Moygashel was unsuitable due to concerns around the appearance of loyalist demonstrators on election day 2014.

The school is situated in Fermanagh & South Tyrone which is the mostly closely contested of all 650 Westminster constituencies – Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew coming out just four votes ahead of agreed unionist candidate Rodney Connor in 2010.

Following the EONI announcement, Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott and Lord Morrow of the DUP complained that the decision was unacceptable as local residents had not been consulted about the change.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the chief electoral officer had “noted the contents of the Electoral Commission’s review of his decision” and that a two-week period of consultation will take place from March 26 until April 9.

“Objections and proposals will be sought from all interested parties. A decision will be announced on polling arrangements for the affected electors as soon as possible following the end of the consultation period,” he said.

Tom Elliott said: “The finding of the UK’s Electoral Commission is unequivocal – the decision did not meet the requirements of the electors in Moygashel district. The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland made the initial decision without ever consulting them, instead opting to seemingly listen only to the demands of Sinn Fein.”

Lord Morrow said the latest announcement was a “victory for the people of Moygashel,” and added: “The Chief Electoral Officer should draw back from compounding his initial error and instead accept the sensible decision reached by the Electoral Commission.”

However, Michelle Gildernew claimed the original decision was “the right one” and urged “those affected by the series of threats and intimidation on polling day” to get involved in the consultation.

The victim of an “unprovoked” attack in north Belfast who underwent emergency brain surgery was punched a total of 16 times as he lay motionless on the ground, a court has heard.

The attacker – Ben Cullinan from Glenville Park in Newtownabbey – was handed a sentence of four years and four months.

Belfast Crown Court heard that Cullinan was wearing just a pair of boxers when he sat astride his victim to administer the flurry of punches to the other man’s head and face. Following the punches, Cullinan then stood up and stamped on the other man’s face with his bare foot as he lay prone on the ground.

The incident occurred on the Antrim Road in the early hours of February 23 last year and was captured on CCTV.

The victim, who was 24 when he was attacked, suffered life-altering injuries and spent two weeks in ICU after undergoing emergency brain surgery, followed by a further five weeks in hospital.

Despite not being able to remember the attack, the victim has “distressing recollections” and has expressed an opinion that he will not live a long life, and is now “unfazed about whether he might die imminently”.

The court also heard that the victim’s father said his son is “not the same” person as he was before the attack, which has rendered him unable to return to his job in telesales.

During Wednesday’s sentencing, it emerged that while the victim sustained very serious injuries in the incident, some of the more serious injuries – such as the fractured skull – more than likely occurred when he fell and hit his head on the pavement prior to being repeatedly punched by Cullinan.

Cullinan – who came before the court with a clear record and who admitted a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent – issued an apology, via his barrister John McCrudden QC, to both the young man he attacked and the young man’s family.

Outlining the background, Crown prosecutor Kate McKay said the attack occurred after four men – one of whom was the victim – called at a flat on the Antrim Road at around 4.50am. One of the callers was a cousin of the occupant, who was in bed at the time.

The door was answered by Cullinan, who told the callers that the occupant was in bed. The four friends then left the flat, and as they were walking along the Antrim Road on their way home they were approached by Cullinan and the occupant of the flat.

Telling the court that Cullinan then attacked one of the group, Mrs McKay said the victim was “knocked to the ground and punched a total of 16 times” before his head was stamped on “with force”.

Branding the attack as “unprovoked”, Mrs McKay said Cullinan sat astride the other man to administer the punches.

Mrs McKay said the victim sustained “horrific” injuries which resulted in emergency brain surgery.

The occupant of the flat – Seamus McGranaghan, 33, from Merrion Park in Belfast – appeared in court earlier this year and was handed an eight-month sentence after he admitted assaulting one of the four callers during the same incident.

Defence barrister John McCrudden QC told the court Cullinan’s actions on the night in question were “completely and wholly out of character” and occurred after both alcohol and painkillers were consumed.

Mr McCrudden also revealed that the families of the two men knew each other, and pointed out that when Cullinan attacked the other man he was “barefoot and in a state of almost undress, only wearing shorts”.

Branding the attack as “significant and persistent”, Judge McFarland told Cullinan he accepted the incident was impulsive and that he had displayed remorse.

Cullinan was told he will spend half of this sentence in prison, with the remaining two years and two months spent on supervised licence when he is released from custody.

Zayn Malik has left boyband One Direction saying he wants the chance be “a normal 22-year-old”.

The group said they would continue as a four-piece for their world tour and record another album – their fifth – later this year.

Malik said: “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.

“I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”

Malik quit the boyband’s world tour last week after being “signed off with stress” and returned to the UK after he was forced to defend himself online and declare his love for fiancee Perrie Edwards when pictures emerged of him apparently close to another woman.

In a statement, the rest of the group said: “We’re really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future. The past five years have been beyond amazing – we’ve gone through so much together, so we will always be friends. The four of us will now continue. We’re looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour.”

A leading Belfast cinema and former restaurant owner, who once rejected suggestions his eatery was responsible for an outbeak of E.coli food poisoning, has pleaded guilty to a total of 11 food hygiene breaches.

As the charges were put to Yorkgate Movie House boss Michael McAdam, as an owner of the former Flicks Restaurant, he replied: “We plead guilty.”

In August 2012, when Flicks first came under investigation, Mr McAdam claimed hygiene in his kitchen met the highest standards.

“All of our books and health checks are up to date, staff training is all up to date. We have followed every rule and regulation. We take our job seriously and where this came from I have no idea,” he said.

In October 2012, Flicks doors were voluntarily closed for the last time two days after the first cases of suspected food poisoning emerged. In the coming days it was declared a “major public health crisis”, later described as the worst outbreak of E.coli in Northern Ireland’s history, with over 150 suspected cases.

Ms Nora Largy told Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday that the case against Movie House Cinema Yorkgate Ltd was being brought by the City Council environmental health and food safety department, and asked that the company be arraigned on the charges.

Mr McAdam, as “a duly appointed representative” for Movie House, stepped forward to plead to the charges, which not only predate the first suspected outbreak of food poisoning in August 2012, but also covered the period up to October 12 that year after Flicks had voluntarily shut its doors.

The charges include failure to supervise, instruct or train staff in food hygiene; inadequate training for food hygiene procedures; failure to protect foods from E.coli contamination; failures to identify hazards, or to record or monitor them; no cleaning or drying facilities for staff, or even soap, in a blocked wash hand basin; and one charge of failing to keep chopped parsley at the proper temperature to prevent pathogenic micro-organisms or formation of toxins.

Adjourning the case until next month Judge Gordon Kerr QC asked the defence for an up-to-date report on the company as the court would be considering ‘a financial penalty’ in such a case.

Speakers from HP, Sky, Amazon Web Services, Royal Mail and JustGiving are among those visiting Belfast this April to advise Northern Ireland firms on opportunities within Big Data – the global market for which is set to top £80 billion this year.

They will join hundreds of other delegates for Big Data Week, an annual worldwide interactive event featuring panels, workshops, talks, and industry networking events.

Big Data involves the technologies and practice of handling large volumes of information that conventional databases cannot handle efficiently and represents a multi-billion pound global market - which growing numbers of Northern Ireland firms are already capitalising on.

Dr Stephen McKeown, CEO of Analytics Engines, coordinators of the Belfast conference, said: “We are extremely excited to be hosting Big Data Week in Belfast.

“Through insightful speeches, engaging panel sessions and the work of all our partners in Big Data Week this promises to be a key milestone for all those interested in technology in Ireland.”

Analysis of the details extracted from Big Data can help companies to improve customer service, enhance their product, identify new markets, and direct advertising.

Events will take place around the world in cities such as London, Los Angeles, Kuala Lumpur, Washington, Berlin, Lagos and Madrid, with the Belfast week culminating with a major conference on Thursday 23 April at the Titanic Building, expected to be attended by more than 350 senior IT executives from both Northern Ireland and further afield.

Liam Scahill, from main event sponsor HP, said: “Enterprises today are aware of the need to capture as much data about their business as possible but don’t necessarily understand how to best store, combine and analyse it to make meaningful businesses decisions.

“We’re pleased to be supporting The Big Data Week conference and helping businesses understand how with the latest technology, they can clearly analyse 100% of their data from any source, any format and any location, with extreme speed, security and scale.”

Speakers include behavioural economics expert Mike Unwin who leads the Data Science Engineering team at Just Giving; and Andy McMurtrie, head of data insight at Royal Mail’s technology organisation. There will also be input from top names at Hewlett Packard, Amazon and Sky.

Sponsors for the event include firms such as Analytics Engines, First Derivatives, PwC and Datactics, who are helping solidify Northern Ireland’s reputation as a Big Data hub. In 2013, Northern Ireland was chosen as one of four UK locations to host a new £7m Big Data centre – analysing the equivalent of 150,000 iPads worth of information produced in the world on a daily basis.

For further information about speakers click http://www.bdwbelfast.com/conference-speakers/ or follow the Twitter hashtag #bdwbelfast

Thirty-five of Northern Ireland’s most ambitious entrepreneurs have embarked on an intensive 10 month journey aimed at ‘propelling’ their business onto the global stage, having successfully progressed onto the second phase of Invest Northern Ireland’s 2014/2015 Propel programme.

Propel is aimed at go-getting start-ups with the passion and energy to succeed on an international stage.

The programme received a record number of applications this year as 80 people made through the first phase.

The final 35 were then selected for the second phase, an intensive ten month programme of development workshops, one-on-one mentoring and facilitated networking.

They will also have access to shared workspace at The Hub in Belfast’s Commercial Court and £20,000 of financial support.

Niall Casey, director of Skills and Strategy, Invest Northern Ireland said;

“Propel nurtures creative and dynamic entrepreneurial talent from within Northern Ireland to support and grow our local economy.”

A man was hit by a car he was allegedly trying to hijack within hours of being released from custody, a court has heard.

Kenneth Colwell sustained a broken ankle in the collision with the Vauxhall Insignia he attempted to seize control of in Belfast, police said.

A judge was told the 23-year-old then shouted abuse and threats at police and medical staff trying to treat him at the city’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

Colwell was said to have thrown a shoe at one doctor on the ward on Monday night.

The accused, of Forthriver Link in Belfast, was arrested after allegedly stepping out onto North Street brandishing some form of fake gun.

He faces charges of attempted hijacking, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and disorderly behaviour.

Appearing before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on crutches, Colwell nodded to confirm he understood the allegations against him.

An investigating detective opposed bail by claiming he posed a danger to the public.

She revealed the suspected attempted hijacking occurred after Colwell was bailed on separate charges from another incident earlier the same day.

Staff and customers had to lock themselves into a Tesco store for their own protection, the court heard.

According to the officer CCTV footage shows Colwell being struck despite the driver of the car trying to swerve round him.

She also told the court: “Because of a media appeal there have been two other victims who have come forward.

“One is a bus driver with Translink who stated a gun had been pointed – this happened around the same time – and another lone female in her car.”

It was claimed that Colwell left medical staff and other vulnerable members of the public in a state of fear through his behaviour at hospital.

The detective said he told a police officer: “If I had a real gun I would put one in the back of your head and you would know all about it.”

Colwell had also insisted he was only carrying a laser pen, the court heard.

Defence barrister Sean Devine argued that the accused should be granted bail because his injuries reduced the threat of any further offending.

But Deputy District Judge Joe Rice said he could have no confidence Colwell would abide by release conditions.

Remanding Colwell in custody to appear again on April 22, the judge added: “He has crossed the line, and he’s on the wrong side of the line.”

One of Northern Ireland’s greatest ever footballers is being honoured with a blue plaque on his east Belfast childhood home.

Danny Blanchflower earned 56 international caps and topped a poll in 2009 to be named Tottenham Hotspur’s best player of all time.

The plaque is being unveiled at 49 Grace Avenue in the Bloomfield area on Fri at 1pm.

Chris Spurr of the Ulster History Circle said: “Danny Blanchflower’s contribution to the game he loved, whether as a player with Glentoran, Spurs and Northern Ireland, or later as a manager, is acknowledged as being amongst the best.”

Jurors who found Sinn Finn president Gerry Adams’ brother guilty of raping his own daughter were not properly directed on dealing with widespread publicity in the case, the Court of Appeal heard today.

Lawyers for Liam Adams claimed the level of press, television and radio coverage on both sides of the Irish border before he went on trial turned his case into a national issue.

They also argued that guidance to the jury may have wrongly shifted the burden on to 59-year-old Adams to prove he was innocent of a string of sexual assaults on his daughter Aine.

Defence counsel Eilis McDermott QC said: “There’s a major cause for concern in relation to the clarity of the direction that is given to the jury on this fundamental point.”

Liam Adams, formerly of Bearnagh Drive in Belfast, is serving a 16-year jail sentence for the offences against his daughter, who waived her right to anonymity.

The abuse was said to have been committed over a six-year period between 1977 and 1982 when the victim was aged between four and nine.

He consistently denied the allegations throughout a second trial at Belfast Crown Court in 2013.

But a jury of nine men and three women convicted him of 10 sex offences.

Responding on behalf of the prosecution, Ciaran Murphy QC rejected complaints that the trial judge put commentary into her explanation on the burden and standard of poof.

He told the court: “There’s an enthusiasm for trying to ensure trial judges don’t simply give standard directions which go over a jury’s head. Clearly this trial judge is trying to fit into the various directions that are required on the evidence in the case in an understandable way.”

The appeal continues.

Police say they are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of a man last seen in Belfast city centre three weeks ago.

Geng Feng Shi, 23, was spotted on CCTV crossing Oxford Street at 7am on March 4 but has not been seen since.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Reid said: “Feng who is 23 years old, was last seen on 4th March at around 07.01am crossing the junction of Oxford Street with May Street, walking in the direction of Oxford Street.

“He is of medium build with dark coloured, receding hair. When last seen he was wearing a dark coat with a hood, blue jeans, red trainers and a red and blue baseball cap. He was also carrying a duffle bag over his shoulder.

“We have a dedicated team of detectives who have been working on this case and have been able to determine Feng’s movements up until 07.01am on 4th March. However, we need the public to help us locate him.

“We have been in contact with Feng’s family in China and they have told us he was in regular contact with his mother and it is totally out of character for him not to make contact with them.”

DCI Reid added: “I would encourage anyone who remembers seeing him to get in touch with police on the non-emergency number 101.”

A massive seizure of drugs at ten addresses across the east of the Province vindicates the granting of full powers to the National Crime Agency (NCA), two leading MLAs have said.

A massive seizure of drugs at ten addresses across the east of the Province vindicates the granting of full powers to the National Crime Agency (NCA), two leading MLAs have said.

Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott and Alex Attwood of the SDLP said the international police operation – which recovered £800,000 worth of ‘skunk’ cannabis – was a welcome development.

Seven people were arrested after searches in Belfast, Greenisland, Bangor, Newtownards, Ballywalter and Birmingham, with eight others arrested in the Prato and Bologna areas of Italy.

Those detained are being questioned on suspicion of the importation of cannabis, conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering.

PSNI detective inspector Andy Dunlop said: “This is a developing investigation and we are maintaining close contact with our colleagues in the Italian Carabinieri and the National Crime Agency as well as a number of other law enforcement agencies in the UK and Ireland.”

Tom Elliott said: “This operation completely vindicates the stance taken by the Ulster Unionist Party to maintain pressure on those parties who were reluctant to permit the NCA to operate in Northern Ireland to the same extent as in the rest of the United Kingdom. Crime gangs operate across borders, much of the illegal drugs which circulate in Northern Ireland are sourced abroad and it is clear that an international effort by law enforcement is required to win the war against these groups.”

Alex Attwood said it was now up to the NCA to “prove that no one and no organisation is off limits to pursuit and prosecution,” and added: “The major drugs operation today - stretching from Italy to Ireland and confronting major criminality - is welcome. The SDLP hopes that big prosecutions and big penalties follow.”

A loyalist flute band must have known it risked causing disorder by playing the Famine Song outside a Catholic Church, a court has heard.

Prosecutors claimed the Young Conway Volunteers’ actions at a place of worship in north Belfast triggered “a melee” in the area.

Thirteen members of the band are on trial accused of provocatively playing a sectarian tune while marching in a circular formation outside St Patrick’s Chapel.

The incident, during a Twelfth of July parade back in 2012, was the first in a series of flashpoint incidents at the Donegall Street location.

The band has denied claims that it was playing the tune at the time.

But as the contest began at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, prosecution lawyer John O’Neill argued that they must have known what they were doing.

He said an inference can be drawn from footage recorded at the time and separate other incidents.

“If the court is satisfied it was the Famine Song being played, the only intent the accused could have in playing it was to provoke,” Mr O’Neill contended.

“The defendants must have been aware this was a place of worship; they must then have known there was a risk of disorder if they played that particular tune and indeed disorder did occur.”

The lawyer said one person who videoed the incident was assaulted.

“There was a melee of sorts that occurred,” he added.

Even if public disorder had not occurred the band’s actions were reckless and likely to cause a breach of the peace, according to the prosecution.

The defendants, 11 men and two youths, packed into Courtroom 7 to fight the charge against them.

Defence counsel Paul Bacon, representing two of the accused, argued that the band had only stopped outside St Patrick’s Church during a natural break on its march to the Twelfth field “on a marquee day in the Orange calendar”.

Lawyers for the defendants opposed attempts by the prosecution to introduce footage from other areas, including the Twaddell Avenue flashpoint in north Belfast.

The Young Conway Volunteers do not feature on those clips, it was stressed.

Mr Bacon claimed: “It only goes to serve as prejudicial by showing the conduct of members of other bands and members of the public.”

But Mr O’Neill insisted the footage was needed as background in the case.

“The court may not know or understand the full relevance of what the band were doing,” he added.

“This is being played as one of a number of strands of evidence to demonstrate in evidence the background sentiment and import of the Famine Song.”

Backing the prosecution, District Judge Copeland ruled that the footage could be used.

Following further submissions the case was adjourned to next week.

The news that planning permission has been secured for a major regeneration scheme in Bangor has been welcomed by the Social Development Minister.

Mervyn Storey said that the “dereliction” around the Queen’s Parade area had “tarnished” the town.

However, he hoped the scheme – which will develop 72 apartments, eight terraces, a theatre space, cafes, hotels, parking for hundreds of cars and more – would be a “key step” in transforming the area.

An image of the development can be viewed by typing this into a web browser: bit.ly/1bu7eqf

In an indication of how the Ashers bakery case has divided opinion – and not just along Christian-secular lines – two Alliance Party members publicly disagreed about the issue on Wednesday.

The cake had originally been ordered for an anti-homophobia event hosted by Alliance councillor Andrew Muir, who was mayor of North Down at the time.

Two prominent Alliance Party members publicly disagreed about the action against Ashers.

Ian Parsley, Alliance’s candidate in the 2009 European election, said he had “no sympathy with Ashers”, but “little with the Equality Commission” either.

However, he went on to say on Twitter that he had “come to [the] firm opinion that Equality Commission was wrong to pursue [the] Ashers case. Far from clarifying [the] law, it has created misleading fog.”

But Belfast Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown responded: “I think the Equality Commission have been the victims of a disgraceful campaign against them for doing their job, actually.”

But although Mr Parsley, a former councillor in North Down and a former party employee, opposes Ashers stance in refusing to decorate the cake as requested, he said to his party colleague: “That’s not at issue. But it has also created genuine confusion around free speech where none was necessary.”

He added that the commission’s actions had led to left-leaning liberals supporting the bakery.

But Mr McDonough-Brown said it was the media’s fault that some liberals supported Ashers.

The Belfast councillor went on to accuse Mr Parsley of “bordering on rudeness”.

The Top Gear producer who was assaulted by Jeremy Clarkson has come under huge abuse from trolls on Twitter, including receiving death threats.

Oisin Tymon, who does not have a Twitter account, had his lip split in a 30-second-long assault at the hands of Mr Clarkson, and had to take himself to hospital with his injuries.

He was also shouted at by the former Top Gear presenter in a torrent of verbal abuse in a hotel in North Yorkshire.

The Twitter abuse towards Mr Tymon is violent and threatening, with many blaming him for Mr Clarkson’s departure from Top Gear.

Chris Brennan (@chrisbrennan10) wrote: “So Oisin Tymon got a slap for being lairy then drove himself to A&E then squealed like a b**** That’s a coward right there.”

Micha Galgentanz (@Galgentanz) tweeted: “Oisin Tymon - hope you’ll get screwed for the rest of your useless life.”

Gonzalo Robles (@grobles17) wrote: “Clarkson should have killed you Oisin Tymon, filthy b******.”

Paul Richer (@PaulmRicher) wrote: “Oisin Tymon had to go to A&E !!! let’s hope he visits the morgue VERY soon, a***wipe !!!” and “Tony Hall BBC director , I wonder if Oisin’s and your head can stop a bullet !!! just wondering.”

Pasan Weerasinghe (@PortelloFanatic) wrote: “To meet Oisin Tymon in person and feed him the very food he denied Clarkson. Then, beat him to a pulp with a rolling pin. LifeGoals.”

Maurice Nixon (@ace197777) wrote: “Hope u never work again (Oisin Tymon) n end on the streets u waste of space.”

Many Twitter users wrote of their surprise and anger at those trolling Mr Tymon.

Ollie Connors (@olliexcore) wrote: “I wonder how the people out for Oisin Tymon’s blood would feel if their boss punched them for no good reason?”

Louisa Booth (@louisabooth) tweeted: “Man assaults another man and victim receives abuse because people can’t watch a TV show about cars. Bravo society. Bravo OisinTymon”.

Jason Manford, the comedian, wrote: “It’s surprising how sensitive fans of someone so controversial can be. Clarkson.”

David Cameron believes “aggressive and abusive behaviour” is not acceptable in the workplace, Downing Street said, in response to the Prime Minister’s friend Jeremy Clarkson being sacked.

The Prime Minister, who referred to Clarkson as a “huge talent” when the row over his behaviour broke out, believes that “if you do something wrong at work there can be consequences”, his official spokesman said.

At a briefing in Westminster, the spokesman said: “What the Prime Minister would say is if you do something wrong at work there can be consequences.

“Aggressive and abusive behaviour isn’t acceptable in the workplace or elsewhere.

“Obviously the BBC has undertaken its investigation and it has reached its decision and Jeremy Clarkson has to face the consequences of that.”

When Clarkson was suspended, Mr Cameron gave support to the Top Gear star, who lives in his Oxfordshire constituency, saying he “is a friend of mine, he is a huge talent”.

The Prime Minister said his children would be “heartbroken” if Top Gear was taken off air, and later revealed that his 11-year-old daughter Nancy had threatened to go on hunger strike in protest at the controversial star’s treatment.

Asked if Mr Cameron’s views now clashed with his earlier supportive statements, the PM’s spokesman said: “He did say at the time that there was a BBC investigation under way and obviously that has now concluded.”

The spokesman said BBC director-general Tony Hall acknowledged that “Jeremy is a huge talent”.

“But if you do something wrong at work then there can be consequences and you have had those consequences in terms of this incident set out today,” the spokesman said.

Asked if Mr Cameron wanted to see Clarkson back on the nation’s screens, the spokesman said: “Those will be decisions for Jeremy. In terms of tone and the like about the future, I thought Lord Hall put it pretty well today.”

In his statement, Mr Hall said Clarkson “may be leaving the BBC but I am sure he will continue to entertain, challenge and amuse audiences for many years to come”.

Jeremy Clarkson faces the possibility of police action after the “unprovoked” attack on a colleague that left them in hospital and ended his BBC career.

Director-general Tony Hall said the Top Gear presenter’s attack on producer Oisin Tymon meant “a line has been crossed”.

A BBC report found the 30-second attack, which was only stopped when a witness intervened, was accompanied by a volley of verbal abuse so loud it could be heard throughout the hotel where the programme’s crew were staying.

It said Mr Tymon, who was left with a split lip after being struck by Clarkson, “believed that he had lost his job” following the attack and drove himself to a “nearby A&E department for examination”.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said the force had asked the BBC for its report on the incident which happened at a hotel in the county

She said: “The information will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary.

“It would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire Police to comment further at this time.”

Mr Hall, who said he had met and spoken to both men, said the BBC needed “distinctive and different voices” but not “at any price”.

He said: “Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect.

“I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff - who is a completely innocent party - took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature.

“For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.”

The BBC investigation found that Mr Tymon was “subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy Clarkson”.

It said: “Verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion - both during the attack and subsequently inside the hotel - and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him. The abuse was at such volume as to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom.”

Mr Hall said “no blame” was attached to Mr Tymon, who, he said, “behaved with huge integrity throughout” and the producer himself paid tribute to the man who attacked him.

Mr Tymon said: “I’ve worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love. Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way.”

Clarkson and his co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, were scheduled to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but it was announced on Sunday that they had been postponed.

All three men’s contracts run out at the end of this month and Hammond and May’s future is still unclear, though Mr Hall said the BBC wanted to “renew” the show for next year.

Speaking outside his home, May said Clarkson’s departure was a “tragedy”.

He said: “I’m sure Top Gear will continue in some way. It existed before us and it has been reformatted several times.”

Asked if he will stay at Top Gear, May said: “Erm, well, I don’t want to talk about that too much but I think we are very much the three of us as a package. It works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don’t fully understand. So that will require a lot of careful thought.”

Hammond said he was “gutted at such a sad end to an era” after Clarkson’s sacking. He added: “We’re all three of us idiots in our different ways but it’s been an incredible ride together.”

The BBC declined to comment on the future of the other two men.

Clarkson changed his Twitter profile to: “I used to be a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show Top Gear.”

Clarkson’s next step is unknown but it is understood at least one major broadcaster - Sky - has ruled out signing him up.

Oisin Tymon’s reponse to the verdict

Robin Greer: Jeremy Clarkson is the victim of BBC political correctness

TONY HALL’S STATEMENT BELOW

• Here is the full statement about Jeremy Clarkson from BBC director-general, Tony Hall:

“It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon.

“I am grateful to Ken MacQuarrie for the thorough way he has conducted an investigation of the incident on 4 March. Given the obvious and very genuine public interest in this I am publishing the findings of his report. I take no pleasure in doing so. I am only making them public so people can better understand the background. I know how popular the programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved.

“I want to make three points.

“First - The BBC is a broad church. Our strength in many ways lies in that diversity. We need distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price. Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect. I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff - who is a completely innocent party - took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature. For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.

“Second - This has obviously been difficult for everyone involved but in particular for Oisin. I want to make clear that no blame attaches to him for this incident. He has behaved with huge integrity throughout. As a senior producer at the BBC he will continue to have an important role within the organisation in the future.

“Third - Obviously none of us wanted to find ourselves in this position. This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear. Jeremy is a huge talent. He may be leaving the BBC but I am sure he will continue to entertain, challenge and amuse audiences for many years to come.

“The BBC must now look to renew Top Gear for 2016. This will be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise. I have asked Kim Shillinglaw to look at how best we might take this forward over the coming months. I have also asked her to look at how we put out the last programmes in the current series.”

Here is the statement from Oisin Tymon in full, in response to the BBC decision over Jeremy Clarkson:

“I respect Lord Hall’s detailed findings and I am grateful to the BBC for their thorough and swift investigation into this very regrettable incident, against a background of intense media interest and speculation.

“I’ve worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love.

“Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way.”

• Statement from his lawyer Paul Daniels in full:

“This last month has been a nightmare for Oisin, his friends and his family. Through absolutely no fault of his own he found himself at the centre of a massive news story, but despite that he has conducted himself with dignity, restraint and balance.

“He now simply wishes to return to the job he loves at the BBC. He does not intend to make any further media comment and kindly asks that his privacy is respected.

“More generally, this is an important reminder that UK law protects all staff who face bullying, discrimination or violence at work, and all employers are required to protect their staff from such behaviour.”

• Here are the Jeremy Clarkson investigation findings by Ken MacQuarrie in full:

“On March 9 2015, Jeremy Clarkson reported to BBC management that he had been involved in a physical and verbal incident with Oisin Tymon, the producer of Top Gear, at the Simonstone Hall Hotel, North Yorkshire, whilst working on location. The incident had occurred on 4 March 2015 and Jeremy Clarkson was suspended on 10 March, pending investigation.

“I was asked to undertake an investigation to establish the facts of what occurred. In conducting my investigation, in line with the BBC’s usual practice, I interviewed a number of witnesses and others connected with the incident. Accounts were agreed, based on my interviews, with each participant.

“Having conducted these interviews and considered the evidence presented, I conclude the following: on 4 March 2015 Oisin Tymon was subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy Clarkson. During the physical attack Oisin Tymon was struck, resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip. The verbal abuse was sustained over a longer period, both at the time of the physical attack and subsequently.

“Specific facts I have found as part of my investigation are as follows:

• earlier on 4 March, studio recording of Top Gear had taken place in Surrey and the presenters had travelled that same evening to the location shoot in North Yorkshire;

• the incident occurred on a patio area of the Simonstone Hall Hotel, where Oisin Tymon was working on location for Top Gear;

• the physical attack lasted around 30 seconds and was halted by the intervention of a witness;

• it is the case that Oisin Tymon offered no retaliation;

• the verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion - both during the attack and subsequently inside the hotel - and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him. The abuse was at such volume as to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom;

• derogatory and abusive language, relating to Oisin Tymon and other members of the Top Gear team, continued to be used by Jeremy Clarkson inside the hotel, in the presence of others, for a sustained period of time;

• it is clear that Oisin Tymon was shocked and distressed by the incident, and believed that he had lost his job;

• following the attack, I understand that Oisin Tymon drove to a nearby A&E department for examination;

• over the subsequent days, Jeremy Clarkson made a number of attempts to apologise to Oisin Tymon by way of text, email and in person; and

• it is the case that Jeremy Clarkson reported the incident to BBC management.

“It was not disputed by Jeremy Clarkson or any witness that Oisin Tymon was the victim of an unprovoked physical and verbal attack. It is also clear to me that Oisin Tymon is an important creative member of the Top Gear team who is well-valued and respected. He has suffered significant personal distress as a result of this incident, through no fault of his own.”