13/01/2014 BBC Newsline

showers in the west and south. That's all from the

Good evening. Our main story on BBC Newsline: The biggest child abuse

inquiry ever held in the UK opens in Banbridge.

I was an abused child. I wasn't a delinquent. I was a child crying for

help. Four men are jailed after being

caught with a gun and ammunition near Omagh.

A woman found dead in a suspicious fire in Newry was from Birmingham.

The Assembly has its say on the Haass proposals. I'll have the

latest. We hear from the Ulster coach ahead

of this weekend's vital Heineken Cup clash with Leicester.

And as temperatures plunge, we can expect fog, frost and ice tonight.

Full weather details shortly. The inquiry into institutional abuse

has opened, and as the chairman put it, children who were abused can at

last feel they are being listened to. More than 300 people will give

evidence to the inquiry, which is examining claims against 13

children's homes and borstals. The time period stretches from 1922 to

1995. The abuse inquiry is being held in Banbridge. Tara Mills was

there for the first day of the public hearing, and is there now.

Yes, Donna, it's the largest child abuse inquiry ever undertaken in the

UK. The court was told today it would examine the very soul of

Northern Ireland and how we treated the most vulnerable in society - our

children. They were the places where children should have been saved.

Homes in Ireland showed a different face in public as we now know the

reality behind closed doors was very different for many children. This

inquiry or setup to establish how widespread the abuse was and to

establish if it amounted to systemic failings by the church and state.

More than 400 people have come for to tell their stories, people like

Kate Walmsley. They classified me as a delinquent child, and today that

still really hurts. I was an abused child. I wasn't a delinquent. I was

a child crying for help. I was a hurts child. Michael suffered years

of abuse, effectively spending his childhood locked up. It is important

to let people in the outside world know what has been going on behind

closed doors. People didn't believe brothers could do these things. 13

homes are under investigation in Belfast, Lisburn and around Northern

Ireland. Sir Anthony Hart is chairing being quarry. -- chairing

the inquiry. Their evidence will be vital and we hope every applicant

who gives evidence to the public hearings or only speaks to the

private and confidential part of the inquiry will have the satisfaction

of knowing that their experiences are at last being listened to and

investigated. Senior counsel to the inquiry Christine Smith said at the

heart of the proceedings was a very human story. By examining how

vulnerable children living in children's homes between 1982 --

1922 and 1995 were treated, this inquiry will examine the soul of

Northern Ireland in that period. People who have campaigned for the

inquiry to be set up are relieved. Enter that we have so much support

and a legal process here who will look after us now. There are people

who work in institutions with us who are no longer with us, and all of us

have those thoughts. The abuse ranges from sexual crimes to

bullying and belittling and asks what those in authority knew, and

whether it was ignored, condone or covered up all stop day one may be

over but the inquiry team want that detestable -- the personal

testimonies which come next will be distressing and harrowing. They are

expected to last for 18 months. Four men arrested in connection with

a dissident republican attack in County Tyrone have been jailed for a

Total of 36 years. Their car was stopped by police officers outside

Omagh in 2010, and a gun and ammunition was found inside it. The

police say the security operation undoubtedly saved lives. Mervyn Jess

was at the Belfast court. In the dock at Laganside Courts were Daniel

John Turnbull, Mark McQuigan, Martin McLoone and Darryn Patrick

McCallion. They were charged with firearms offences including

possession of a gun and ammuniton. The PSNI believe the weapons were to

be used in a dissident republican attack. The four men from Omagh and

Londonderry were in a car stopped by police on the Gorticashel Road near

Omagh in October 2010. A search of the vehicle uncovered a Webley

revolver and bullets. In follow-up searches, police found a car

belonging to McCallion parked in Dava Forest in County Tryone with a

sledgehammer inside. Another car belonging to Turnbull was discovered

at Mill Cottages in Greencastle in County Tyrone. Inside were a

submachine gun, latex gloves and combat clothing. This morning at

Belfast Laganside Courts, a judge jailed all four men for a total of

36 years. 29-year-old Mark McQuigan, from Sperrin View in Omagh, was

sentenced to 12 years in jail. Daniel John Turnbull, aged 33, from

Strule Park in Omagh, was sentenced to nine years. 25-year-old Martin

McLoone, from Abercorn Road in Derry, was given eight years for his

part in the incident. And Darryn Patrick McCallion, aged 25, from

Rathlin Drive in Derry, was sentenced to seven years. Judge

Coreen Philpott ruled that each was to serve half their term in prison,

the other half on licence. The woman who died in a suspicious

house fire in Newry at the weekend has been formally identified by the

police. She was originally from the Birmingham area. Dan Stanton reports

from Newry. This happened late on Saturday night. The information is

still sketchy but from what the police have told me, we know the

woman's body was found in the flat behind me and that she was 38 years

old and from Birmingham. Her body was discovered following a call to

emergency services after a fire at the property. That call was made by

two men in the passivity. Police want to talk to them and anyone else

who may have seen anything suspicious. A postmortem examination

has been carried out and items have been taken for examination.

And in the last few minutes, the police have said there is no

evidence to suggest that the death is anything other than a tragic

accident. Their investigation is still ongoing. Still to come on BBC

Newsline this evening: A lot belonging to the father of David

Healy has been destroyed. An investigation is under way to try to

find out why. A 44-year-old man has died after his

car crashed early this morning. He was Lee Drake from the Ballynahinch

area. It happened on the Ballygowan Road near Saintfield. There were no

other vehicles involved. A man has been arrested in

connection with the murder of Basil McAfee in North Belfast last month.

The 50-year-old's body was found at a house in Henderson Avenue. A

55-year-old man was arrested in South Belfast this morning.

For the first time since the Haass talks, the Assembly is debating the

proposals on flags, parading and the past. The talks broke up without

agreement on New Year's Eve, and have sharply divided the five main

parties. Our political correspondent Martina Purdy is at Stormont. What

is the mood like their? It is calm and measured, which might be

surprising given the level of division between the parties. The

debate began and are go. Sinn Fein led the debate, pressing their own

motion which is that the Executive should lay the foundations for

someone think the proposals, but other parties, including Alliance,

the Ulster Unionists and DUP have sought to amend that. Peter Robinson

has been front and centre in this debate and told the parties that

there were hundreds of elements to the house proposals that need to be

examined. The first job of that panel is to sit down, go through the

340 elements of agreement contained in the proposals, and determine

whether they agree with those elements, to see how many of those

elements are shared by all of the five parties and can be acted upon.

What do you think is likely to come out of this debate? It is hard to

predict because there is this in -- the Sinn Fein and motion and

amendments. Unionists could add boat the Nationalists but much will

depend on what Alliance does. What do you think happens next? Never at

Cork tomorrow with the party leaders at the request of Peter Robinson and

Martin McGuinness has agreed to attend on behalf of his party. I

think tomorrow we will know better if Sinn Fein is willing to hang

around and pour over these proposals or if they will make clear they are

not prepared to renegotiate or give this a lot of time. It is

interesting that no parties have walked away from the table.

A man has been in court in Dublin, charged with the murder of a man who

was allegedly killed in a row over a game of chess. Thomas O'Gorman was

severely beaten and stabbed at his home in Castleknock. Our Dublin

correspondent Shane Harrison reports. This is the house in the

well-to-do area of Castleknock in West Dublin that 39-year-old Tom

O'Gorman owned, and where he died after being stabbed. This afternoon

there were flowers left outside in his memory. He was a former

journalist and religious writer, and was employed as a researcher by the

Catholic think tank The Iona Institute. At the time of the

killing he was at home with his Italian tenant, Saverio Bellante,

who's originally from Palermo in Sicily. It's understood the two men

had been playing chess in the early hours of yesterday morning when a

row broke out. After finding the body, gardai said some of the

details of the death and the circumstances surrounding the

killing were too horrific to release. This morning the Italian

tenant was taken to Blanchardstown District Court, where he was charged

with murder. Detectives told the court that when he was arrested he

said he was guilty. Saverio Bellante appeared in court wearing a black

sweater, black trousers and grey runners. Speaking with a strong

Italian accent, he said he wanted to represent himself and declined an

offer of legal representation. He was remanded in custody for four

days. During that period, he will undergo a medical assessment.

You're watching BBC Newsline, and still ahead before 7pm: Action from

the fifth round of the Irish Cup. The holders Glentoran are delighted

to make it through to the last 16. The police say they attended 42

collisions on the roads this morning between 6am and 9am. The Regional

Development Minister Danny Kennedy says it's clear several roads should

have been gritted last night, and that it should be an issue of public

safety and not resources. He has called for a review into the

decisions about whether to grit the roads.

An arson attack on a pigeon loft in Killyleagh has left the owner

baffled. He doesn't know who was behind it or why his birds were

destroyed. And it's the third time he has been targeted. As Mark

Simpson reports, the pigeon fancier is Clifford Healy, the father of the

former Northern Ireland footballer David Healy. In the Healy household,

football is number one, but for David's dad, Clifford, pigeons

aren't far behind. He keeps dozens of them near his home in Killyleagh,

but at the weekend one of the sheds was set on fire. This used to be a

shared and it's left here in a mess now. The wee pigeons are gone. I

don't know what to think about the situation. It is an absolute mess.

Has this happened before? May shed has been attacked three times in the

last 20 years. One time before there were 18 mutilated, another time they

were poisoned. I had plenty of help with friends, we got on with it. Do

you think it is because you are David Healy's dad? I sincerely hope

not. I don't even see why that should be brought into things. If

you don't like David, tough, get on with life. You don't have to resort

to this. 20 birds were killed in the weekend

fire. The family say they don't know what's behind the attacks, they just

want them to stop. Absolutely gutted for my dad and the birds, but for my

dad because this is my dad's life. From when I was in low-wage, when we

lived on the other end of the estate, the sheds were in the

garden. They have just been my dad 's life. There have been many happy

times in the Healy household over the years. It has been a difficult

weekend for Clifford and his family, but he says the art focusing on the

positive. -- they are focusing. A school in County Tyrone wants to

ensure its pupils have a level playing field when it comes to

Gaelic games. And they have turned to Lord's for help - not divine

intervention, but the home of cricket in London. Our south-west

reporter Julian Fowler joined its groundsman for the pitch inspection.

What annoys me with people, they say it's just a bit of grass. It's not,

it's a playing surface, and that is what it is all about. Michael Hunt

has been a groundsman at Lord's for 44 years, so he knows a thing or two

about grass, but this is the first time he's set foot on a Gaelic

pitch. There is no clover, no weeds. Not bad for amateurs! His wife is

from Armagh, and a recent visit brought him to see an old friend -

the principal of St Joseph's Grammar School in Donaghmore. I lived and

taught in London for years and I went to Lourdes and met Michael, the

head groundsman and he talked to someone who knew nothing about

cricket and he brought me into what. Is there much cricket played around

here? Not much cricket. We are too busy playing Gaelic football,

hurling, rugby. So not much cricket, then, but that has its advantages.

That's the biggest problem, everyone running around, so I'm working and

then they start running around. Without the Lord's budget for grass

seed, it's a hard job for the grounds staff at Donaghmore. The

weather is a bigger thing from here then in London. You have frost,

rain, the usual at you don't really get a good summer here. The grass

may always be greener elsewhere, but having the right pitch is important

to sporting success. The best will come out of players if they are

playing on a good surface, whether it is an individual or a team. We

may be a long way from Lord's, but for the pupils of this school, these

playing fields are where their sporting dreams are made.

It's only Monday, but already everyone connected with Ulster Rugby

is looking forward to Saturday's crunch game with Leicester Tigers in

the European Cup. Tell us what is happening. Ulster defeated

Montpellier last Friday to maintain their 100% record in the

competition, five games from five, and this weekend the way to

Leicester. They can aboard avoid -- they can avoid defeat. A draw would

take them to a home quarterfinal it would be their fourth quarterfinal

in Europe but at this point in Twickenham last year it was

Saracens. It is all about home advantage and if they win against

Leicester, hopefully at Ravenhill it would be an advantage.

They've won more league titles and played in more Heineken Cups than

any other English side. Leicester Tigers, England's most successful

club of the professional era. In order for Ulster to achieve a home

quarterfinal in Europe, they must defeat the Tigers on Satuday - a

Leicester side whose recent form has been average. They are starting to

get some players back, so the fact is that they maybe aren't on top of

their game in some performances but they know they are hard to beat at

home. They have a programme caught, so it will be a challenge, but one

we are looking for two. -- forward two. Craig Gilroy remains a doubt

after suffering a broken nose, but Mark Anscombe is hopeful he will

make the trip to England. He didn't rule out the injured Tommy Bowe

making this weekend's squad, but conceded it would be unlikely.

Ulster are already into the last eight, but are they good enough to

win it? The quarterfinals are not all April and then the semifinals at

another two weeks after that, so if we get everyone on deck and we are

fit, we are confident in our game and we don't have to be scared of

playing anyone. And confidence will be sky high, if Ulster can inflict a

rare European defeat on the Leicester Tigers.

To football, and there were no real shocks in the fifth round of the

Irish cup. Five games went to a replay, but holders Glentoran safely

booked their place in the last 16 with a win over Portadown in the tie

of the round. After signing for the club in the transfer window, it

didn't take long for Curtis Allen to make an impact in a Glentoran shirt.

His two debut goals were the difference as he announced his

return to the Irish League in style. We want to retain it like anyone

would, and it is matches like this you have to win. If you're going to

win the Irish cup you have to beat the best teams, and for myself it

was a fantastic deadly, and for the team is a brilliant day. Linfield

were comphrensive winners against Dergview. David Jeffreys side hit

five goals at Windsor Park to set up a clash with either Ballymena n the

next round. They are playing well, even against Holland and will

welders -- and whoever it is next, they are doing well. One of the

Irish leagues best players over the last decade, Stephen Carson, was

given a guard of honour as he made his final appearance for Coleraine

before moving to America to take up a coaching position. Twice his side

went behind against Cliftonville, but on both occasions Coleraine

equalised. Crumlin Star pushed Crusaders all the way at Seaview.

Stephen Brown brought the junior club level. But former Northern

Ireland Andy Smith scored his first goal for Stephen Baxter's side to

send them through. One of Smith's previous clubs had the biggest win

of the weekend, as they defeated Sport and Leisure Swifts 7-0. The

bill Gaelic football and Holders Tyrone made it two wins from two in

the Power NI McKenna Cup as they defeated Queens University to all

but book their place in the semi finals. -- Derry remain unbeaten, as

they were victorious over Fermanagh. Winning by two goals and four points

to 1-11. Derry manager Brian McIver released squad member Chrissy

McKaigue to play for Jordanstown in their game against Antrim at the

weekend, and said he's keen to see members of his panel getting

game-time at this early stage of the season, whether it's for college or

county. University is a first call. We have gone with the spirit of the

competition and I have no problem with the lads playing universities.

I would hate to see the universities be lost to this competition. I think

it has revived the thing over whatever number of years it has been

running, and I think they are treated very poorly. The Belfast

Giants extended their lead at the top of the Elite League to 13 points

with two high-scoring wins against the Cardiff Devils at the weekend.

On Saturday they beat the Welsh side 7-2 at the Odyssey in front of just

under 5000 fans, their biggest attendance this season. And last

night they had their biggest win of the campaign so far, when they

thrashed the Devils 11-4 in Cardiff. Finally tonight, Kelly Gallagher,

the visually impaired skier we featured here on BBC Newsline last

week, has won a gold medal at the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in

Panorama in Canada. With her guide Charlotte Evans, they comfortably

beat the Russian world champions, which bodes well for next month's

winter Olympics in Sochi. That's your sport tonight.

It seems the strong winds we've had recently have brought over a

feathered friend who's more used to the warmer climate of California.

These pictures were taken by some viewers of a blue phase Snow Goose

spotted in large at the weekend. It is a rare Goose bred in Canada and

usually used to warmer weather. What is that like? I can see you have an

icy ball behind you. It has been cold today but will it get warmer

for our feathered friend? I think he will regret not going to

California. It will be a chilly night and temperatures a short time

ago already at one degree and they will lower than that.

night and temperatures a short time ago already at one degree and The

Met Office has issued a weather warning for icy conditions this

evening and into tomorrow, some treacherous driving conditions,

something to bear in mind if you are out. There will also be the odd

pocket of fog developing and some of that will be thick so it could cause

visibility issues. Towns and cities could drop to -2 but in the

countryside it will be lower than that, maybe even -5 in parts of

County Down. It will be a chilly start tomorrow, a dry start but rain

will push in from the Atlantic, courtesy of this area of low

pressure moving towards us. The isobars are tightening so it will be

windy tomorrow when that rain moves in. To begin there will be plenty of

dry weather, chilly and it will take a while for the pod to left. The

best bright weather will be in the east but this rain will push in from

the west, some will be heavy and over high ground we could see films

lead and snow. Winds gusting at times and temperatures of five or

six degrees will feel colder, so due may want to keep waterproof Sunday.

Towards the evening, rain will ease but there will be further showers

and spells of rain behind tomorrow evening, but with more cloud it

won't be as chilly tomorrow night. Temperatures will typically fall to

three degrees with further outbreaks of rain to come. Some of that rain

will linger into Wednesday so for some of us it will be a wet start,

but it should brighten up towards the afternoon, more sunshine, and

temperatures will be up, maybe 10 degrees, just above average for the

time of year so not too bad. The low pressure system will control the

weather through the week, so for a Thursday and Friday there will be

further spells of rain, some scattered showers and breezy

conditions but not all the time. There will be bright and sunny

weather. Try to follow us on Twitter if you can and we will keep you up

to date. The biggest ever UK inquiry into

institutional child abuse has opened in brown bread, and four men

arrested in connection with a dissident republican -- near Goma

have been jailed for a total of 36 years. Our late news and summary is

at 10:25pm here on BBC One. Tonight on Facebook most of our comments are

about the commute to work and the gritting of roads. Thank you for

watching.