i think one of the real fears that any victim in these high profile cases has is that the actual perpetrator is going to be found not guilty. and what we will find, i suspect, is that now she has been found guilty, you may well find more people reporting matters to the met police. and then that s a matter for the met police. the spotlight falls now on others connected with maxwell and epstein. virginia giuffre says they made her have sex with prince andrew. he says he doesn t remember even meeting her. but she is suing him in a new york court. the latest hearing is expected next week. sanchia berg, bbc news. northern ireland s ambulance service says it s under extreme pressure and has warned that even the most urgent calls may now face delays. the service says it s experiencing unprecedented pressure because of staff shortages due to covid i9. let s talk to the service s medical director, nigel ruddell. when director, nigel ruddell. you say extreme pressure, does when you say extre
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The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has warned of lengthy delays in response times for less urgent cases due to a high level of staff absence.
About 160 employees are off due to Covid-19 related absences, a spokesperson said, with about 100 more absent for other reasons.
It comes as NI hospitals are almost at capacity with the latest figures showing only six beds empty.
Services on New Year s Eve are expected to be impacted.
The NI Ambulance Service has about 850 front-line ambulance staff, with nearly 100 call handlers in the control centre.
Meanwhile, a further 1,929 cases and 11 Covid-related deaths, nine of those occurring in the last 24-hours, were reported by the Department of Health on Thursday.
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Business groups in Northern Ireland say Stormont s strategy to stop the spread of COVID-19 has failed.
This will be Northern Ireland s fourth lockdown and it will be imposed on St Stephen s Day.
The Stormont Executive has decided to close non-essential shops and restrict the hospitality sector to takeaway only.
In the first week of the lockdown, households will not be allowed mix and people won t be able to leave their homes after 8pm.
Head of Belfast Chamber, Simon Hamilton, who is a former DUP Minister, said the lockdown strategy has failed and a new way needs to be found to deal with the crisis.