01/09/2014 BBC Newsline

Andy Swiss, has the latest. That's all from us.

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A witness has told the Historical Abuse Inquiry team that

children were sent to Australia like baby convicts.

The evidence was part of opening remarks made as the inquiry

This section will focus on the experiences

of 130 children who were sent from Northern Ireland to Australia.

Kevin Sharkey was at Banbridge Courthouse.

These are some of the children who were sent to Australia over a number

of decades. 131 from Northern Ireland. Some of the boys and girls

came from Barnardos, Manor house and is burned and other institutions.

The vast majority were from the sister of Nazareth homes. For some,

it became a nightmare. Many of those who gave evidence described their

experiences after they arrived in the straight year in shocking terms,

setting out in graphic detail their descriptions of the severe hardships

and is sexual and physical violence to which they say they were

subjected as children in the institutions to which they were

sent. The inquiry heard today that they wanted this scheme to promote

religious and physical well-being. For the government, there were other

concerns, some financial. Also today, an indication of the personal

stories from Australia due to be heard over the next three weeks. I

have always wondered what would have been like to have had a family, her

mother and father, brothers and sisters. I never got the chance to

find out because I was sent to Australia. We were exported to

Australia like little baby convict. The hearing also heard from a child

migrant expert. She said many of the children were deceived over the

reasons for going. She said the children did not know they would not

be coming back home. The inquiry started last January

and, so far, almost 70 people have One of the organisations

representing survivors and witnesses has written to the Assembly

about aspects of the inquiry some I've been speaking to two witnesses

who have already given evidence. The Work and Pensions Secretary,

Iain Duncan Smith, has called on Alison was ten years old but she

went to live in a children's home. Physically and sexually abused, she

said the things she suffered there are as clear in her mind as if they

happened yesterday. Night-time is the worst for me. I would set up

most nights were other people would be asleep, just walking the floors.

Then you are remembering every last detail, smells, noises. It is like

somebody just turns on a movie and bulb let it stop. Alison gave

evidence to the inquiry back in February, something she thought

would lift her up pressure from her shoulders. It is like having chains

around Pandora's box. He gave the inquiry the key, the chains come

off, but you are still left with that. You don't know what to do with

it. Alison was told information about the priest she claimed abused

her that she did not know beforehand, something similar also

happened to Kate, seen here on the left, during her evidence. She found

a significant details of past only when she had taken the stand. The

shock of finding out that I was abandoned when I was one-year-olds.

The shock of that, those little screens in front of you. You can see

bad child, bad behaviour. All my life I thought I was about person

anyway. My mum used to say to me, your mother and father doesn't want

you. The former residents knows little about their past that any

little bit of information can have a huge impact. There has been

criticism over her lack counselling. Justice will not be done here. I

think a lot of our people are very disappointed. We are wondering why

we have allowed yourselves to go through all of this. Isolation,

depression and frustration at some of the feelings that survivors talk

about. Alison is sad to say that giving evidence hasn't changed any

of that. It has been so long. No one knows what is really going on in

your head, that is the worst part. Painting on her smile. -- a smile,

when all you feel are doing is crying. The inquiry says that it

understands that people often find that stressful and upsetting to talk

about their experiences. They say they have for full-time members of

staff helping people through the process.

Pastor James McConnell has announced he is stepping down. The cleric from

the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle caused controversy

recently when he called Islam 'heathen' and 'satanic. Pastor

McConnell told his congregation that after 57 years of ministry he felt

the hour had come to hand over the reins. The 77 year old has recently

The Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, has called on

Sinn Fein to back the Government's welfare reforms, accusing them

Sinn Fein are currently refusing to endorse the changes, which has

resulted in London withdrawing money from the block grant.

Mr Duncan Smith was responding to a question in the House of Commons

from the North Antrim DUP MP Ian Paisley.

Is this secretary aware of the threat to stability in Northern

Ireland due to Sinn Fein not adopting these proposals? I would

say to the honourable gentleman, they need to face up to their

responsibilities. They can't have it all ways. If they get the welfare

bill through they will benefit from the support they will get, but they

can't set in limbo land. It is time for them to get on him to what

elected government needs to do. Conor Murphy said his party would

not take any lectures from Iain Duncan Smith and they would continue

their opposition to welfare reform. Former Real IRA leader Michael

McKevitt has been granted leave by the Republic's High Court - to bring

another legal challenge to his detention. Earlier today he lost a

case against the Irish Justice Minister- for refusing to allow his

early release from a 20-year sentence. Michael McKevitt will now

use a judicial review to contest his 100 new jobs have been created

at a nursing home in Limavady. Almost ?3.5 million has been spent

on the Cornfield Care Centre. The new 52 bed extension will cater

mainly for care of the elderly. The nurses at the centre look

after patients with different needs Staff numbers at the facility

will increase from 100 to 220. People are living longer. The demand

for the husband and wife to work means that needs to be extra care

provided and it can be provided in their own home, so it is provided by

people like ourselves. A look ahead at the weather

forecast now with Barra. A lot of settled weather to come

this week, but not many blue skies. Overnight tonight, if the cloud

breaks, temperatures could get down to single figures. Tomorrow, cloudy

start and will stay that way for much of the day. Some of us will get

to enjoy the odd bit of sunshine. The wind will be like tomorrow,

cloud to start the day. Across Britain and Ireland high-pressure is

in control so we will all have a fine, dry day. Sunshine stretching

from Scotland into the far south-west of England. In the

south-east of England, temperatures will be in the low 20s. Not bad at

all for the time of year. When we do get spells of sunshine tomorrow in

Northern Ireland, temperatures could reach 21 degrees. Under the cloud,

19 degrees. As for weather state, we still hold onto the high-pressure,

so a lot of dry weather in the forecast. There will be a good deal

of cloud around. Temperatures could reach 22 degrees on Wednesday if the

clouds break. Winds will be light. For the rest of the week

high-pressure is here to stay so a lot of dry weather to come. Great

for getting outdoors.