14/01/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening, the headlines on BBC Newsline: Two religious orders

apologise for abuse which happened in their childrens' homes.

A father and his two sons plead guilty to animal fighting charges.

The images that I saw were certainly the worst that I have ever seen.

There is nothing to compare with this. Stallman's party leaders

agreed to meet again to resolve their differences over Richard

Haass's proposals. It is great news, our high school are staying

open! A reprieve for one school but the

news isn't so good for some others. Also on the programme this evening:

Going for gold. He has been watching us from space

and now he has come down for a closer look. Commander Chris

Hadfield has landed based -- Belfast.

We hear from Northern Ireland's Paralympic skier on her World Cup

excess -- success. And the rain has returned but it's

also accompanied by milder air. Two religious orders in the Catholic

Church have apologised for the abuse suffered by children in their

residential homes. The Health and Social Care Board said that if the

state had failed in any way it was sorry. The comments were made on the

second day of the inquiry in historical abuse in 13 care homes

and borstals between 1922 and 1995. BBC Newsline's Tara Mills was there

today. Well, we had no idea what the

religious orders were going to say when they gave their opening

statements to the enquiry. As it turned out, the two orders said

sorry. This home was one of two run by the

De La Salle order. Today they admitted that some brothers had

abused boys in their care which was in total contradiction of their boat

Quay should. They told the enquiry that they deeply regret that boys in

their care were abused and they offered their sincere and unreserved

apology. The enquiry also heard from the sisters of Nazareth who ran this

home in Derry and several others across Ireland. There are solicitors

said they had already begun a period of reflection about what happened.

The enquiry was told the nuns were shocked and horrified at the

testimonies given by some of the children met and cared for and

they, too, apologised. Government run homes are also part of this

enquiry and solicitors for the Department of Health and the

Department of Justice also made statements, along with Barnardos who

ran two of the homes being investigated. In its submission, the

health and social care board said...

Earlier the enquiry heard how one child in a care home and in the

1970s had wet the bed and had her nose broke -- nose rubbed in it

before being stripped and left on a cold room. The enquiry was told that

all homes were aware of regulations dating back to 1952 and the

enquiry's job is to establish how widespread such abuse was.

The public hearing has now been adjourned until the end of the month

when the first witnesses will be called to give evidence.

Three members of an east Belfast family have pleaded guilty to

offences following, what the police and the USPCA describe as, some of

the worst animal cruelty they've seen. Jeremiah Kirkwood from Island

Street and his sons Chris and Wayne admitted keeping or training animals

for fighting, having equipment in connection with animal fights and

causing unnecessary suffering to four pups. The investigation into

the family's activities began over two years ago when video pictures

were recovered from a mobile phone. I warn you that some of that video

is in our next report from Gordon Adair. You may find it upsetting.

A joint USPCA and police raid on a house in east Belfast in November

2011. An ordinary terraced house, with a not so ordinary backyard. It

is packed with cages, some empty but many of them with dogs, some just a

few days old. Heavily marked. There were concerns about marks on some of

the mature animals. Today the occupier of this house, Jeremiah

Kirkwood, seen here on the right with his hood pulled over his face,

his son Wayne who is with him and another son, Chris, pleaded guilty

to having your training animals for fighting. Now, for the first time,

we can tell you just why the police raided the home. Sometime before

it, police officers searching a house band mobile phone. When they

examined videos recorded on the phone that they were shocked. We are

going to show you some of those recordings now but we would warn you

that they are very distressing. A cat, probably a pet, caged. It has

no way to escape as a dog is set on it. In moments it is pulled from the

cage. The rest of the pictures are simply too graphic to show. In total

for dogs were allowed at the cat which remained alive for some time.

A man shakes a tree to dislodge a cat, again probably a pet. As soon

as it hits the ground, two dogs are it. Again the rest of the sequence

is too disturbing to show and the result the same. We showed the MP

for East Belfast a slightly longer version of the pictures that we have

broadcast this evening. Naomi Long has an established interest in pet

welfare issues and first raised the issue of domestic pets going missing

in the area over a year ago. It is appalling. To see people 's pets

effectively being torn limb from limb while they are still alive, it

is simply obscene and barbaric. Unfortunately we have not been able

to identify who the cats belong to do but it appears they were being

trapped and then used for the dogs to train them in preparation for

animal fighting. When USPCA officers examine the video they quickly came

to believe that what was going on went beyond cruelty, they felt that

the cats were being killed in order to bloodied young dogs for other

so-called blood sports such as badger baiting. The images that I

saw were certainly the worst I have ever seen. There is nothing to

compare with this. It is premeditated, the animal was totally

defenceless and the cruelty was completely unnecessary and this was

done purely for the enjoyment and we suppose it's guilt of people trying

to demonstrate their dogs. All four guilty men will be sentenced next

month. Still to come on the programme

before 7:00pm: Concerns that Rathlin's tourism could be affected

because of a building project. The fate of seven schools in East

Belfast and Holywood has hung in the balance for nine months. Today they

found out what is to happen to them. Some were earmarked for closure,

some for merger and some for expansion. The Department for

Education is trying to produce what's seen as a workable plan for

controlled secondary schools in the area. Our education correspondent,

Maggie Taggart has the story. It has been a nail-biting time for

Dundonald Highbridge faced closure until a campaign drew teachers,

pupils and the local community together. After nine months of

uncertainty the principle was able to tell pupils and teachers the

decision. It is great news, Dundonald high school is staying

open! It was just pure elation, it is unbelievable. There was actually

a tear because it has been a long and hard year for everybody, the

kids, the school, the parents, the community. It has been really

emotional for me as a pupil and also for the teachers as the teachers

need the school is obviously they will lose their jobs and everyone is

a big family here at the end of the day and we just needed to be the

same and not change. It is a red letter day that they know that

despite the good news there is a mountain to climb. They must

increase the pupil numbers and improve performance to justify the

confidence placed in them by the education minister. Your campaign is

not over, it has only just begun. Show me, and more importantly, show

the young people in your area, that you are serious about demanding a

high-quality education and you are determined to stamp out in

adequacy, raise achievement and expectation for your young people

and show that you value and believe what the young people of Dundonald

can achieve. The school was under threat because of low numbers and a

poor performance and it will now get a lot of extra help, mentoring and

training for the staff and the principle. I believe -- I agree with

Mr O'Dowd that this is not the end of the hard work and the high school

has to move forward and we are planning very carefully for the

future of the children and the community here and all of the

stakeholders involved in the school. One school is to close though.

Orange field high school knew its days were numbered and it has wound

down to only 80 pupils. I am disgusted, it is inconvenient for

the pupils who go to the school. Many of them actually walk to the

school and now they have to get buses. It is inconvenient. There

were proposals to expand other schools and although this one is

getting extra numbers are others are not. The merge of two schools in

knock breeder is going ahead. The police are this evening dealing

with a security alert in the Bell Steele Road area of Poleglass near

Lisburn. An earlier alert in Market Square in Dungannon has ended and

was declared a hoax. Leaders of the five Executive

parties have agreed to meet again next week for more discussions on

flags, parades and the past. Our political editor Mark Devenport is

at Stormont. This is the first leaders meeting

since the failure to agree to the proposals from Richard Haass. How

did they get on with it they seem to have got on reasonably well in the

sense it was a brief meeting. They stated their different positions and

Unionists did not think the proposals were balanced by the

Nationalists want to get on and implement them. Martin McGuinness

said afterwards he does not want to get bogged down in considering the

340 elements of the proposals which is what Peter Robinson has suggested

and he said that it was now up to Unionists to show leadership. I have

watched over the course of the last 18 months the two Unionists party is

dancing to the tune of extremists within their own communities. I say

that because I believe that the influence of these people has

impacted on the Richard Haass negotiations and the outcome. What

do the other leaders have two say? The Unionists did not actually come

out to speak to us but DUP picked -- DUP spokesman has just told me that

the parties need to achieve a deal amongst themselves and it is not

enough for the Nationalists to agree with Richard Ass. The Alliance say

that the meeting next week should tell whether this is just an

illusion of activity and the SDLP were reasonably positive about the

meeting, saying that they thought it had made progress and really it was

now the time for implementation rather than renegotiating what was

talked about by Richard Haass. How long can these meetings or this

process keep going? That is an open question. Martin McGuinness said

that there is no way that these leaders meetings will carry on until

the time of the next election which is, of course, in May when the

Council and European elections. It may well be that Unionists will want

to play this long but Nationalists will want at some point to decide

whether this is a delaying tactic or whether it will lead to the

implementation of at least part of the Richard Haass proposals that

they support. Thank you very Commissioners The DUP has criticised

a documentary featuring its former leader. The civil rights movement he

opposed was demanding equality in housing and voting. Never, never,

never, never. Love him or loathe him, Ian Paisley has for decades

been impossible to ignore. He made headlines for his opposition to the

civil rights movement. He has surprised many with his latest

admission in this exchange with a journalist. Was it fair? Now, it was

not fair. Fair tournament is that every man has the same power to

vote. -- fear government. Now Catholic had been allocated a

permanent house for 34 years, how unacceptable is that? Not

unacceptable at all. One-woman of Camara said she found it

contradictory but many of those we met said they had not time to watch

it. I did not see it. I did not, no. What did you think of it? I don't

know. I have never been a big man supporter. He is now saying what I

have said he should have said 30 years ago. It would have been useful

for everyone here, young people looking at an old man, who made a

political move at the end of his days, if he had said he learned

something and he was not right in those times, that would have been a

useful lesson for people but he was not big enough to do that. The DUP

said many will regret the programme which selectively picks over parts

of doctor Paisley's legacy and its other elements. There are failures

of recollections and inaccuracies. Doctor Paisley always taught the

party not to their grievances in public. -- air grievances. And

coming up. Ground control to Major tom. The musical astronaut who has

had a close encounter with Elf fast today. -- Belfast. There are fears

that a decision to close the sea bird centre on Rathlin for a year

could have a big impact on the island's economy. The RSPB runs the

centre in the spring and summer but is suspending its activities while

the building is upgraded by the owners, the Commissioners Of Irish

Lights. David Maxwell has more. Around 30,000 Buddhas make this

journey every year to the island home of Northern Ireland's sea bird

colony. -- two lists. -- tourists. This is a fantastic viewing point.

Within a few months thousands of sea birds will be on these clefts. This

top attraction will pose for all of 2014. Investment has been welcomed.

There are fears it could damage the island economy which relies on

tourism. We knew the RSPB wanted to develop their facilities. We did not

think it would happen during tourist season. They take the ferry across

and it has wide implications not just for the island but for the

wider lens and coastal area. The RSPB has now see over the building

work but many believe they should have explored alternatives. It will

have an impact on visitors, staff and volunteers. They should have

been a review. It is the forthcoming season which is now in focus,

thousands of birds will still come here, islanders hope a way can be

found to make sure just as many two lists all. -- tourists follow.

Tourism Ireland believes someone who will encourage more visitors is the

man who has been watching us from space. The Canadian astronaut

Commander Chris Hadfield who famously sang and tweeted pictures

from the International Space Station has become a tourism ambassador. He

landed in Belfast today for a close in counter with the city. Mark

Simpson went to meet him. Disses ground control to Major tom, you've

really made the grade... There says how Commander Chris Hadfield saw us.

Last year he created a picture of Belfast by night. Today, Key decided

to drop in. The first question, what is it like to walk in space? It is

like the music Titanic, if you can stand at the very front you don't

even see the ship any more. The dramatic images from space won hen a

million followers on Twitter. I could see the geology and geography

of Ireland, two are certain extent even the history becomes visible. I

could directly communicate to show Ireland how it looks from millions

of feet up and the immediate response and rebound of the warmth

of a motion from the people across the island was just delightful. He

has been doing promotional work for Tourism Ireland when you get to meet

him he is very down to earth. He proved that last night singing Danny

Boy in a bar in Donegal. The verdict on his singing, out of this world.

Out of this world! We are not renowned for winter sports in this

part of the world but today we celebrate more gold-medal winning

success. Stephen Watson is here with more. The Paralympic skier Kelly

Gallagher has won a second gold at the World Cup in Canada. The

visually impaired skier from County Down won the giant slalom with her

guide Charlotte Evans in Panorama in British Columbia, following

Saturday's victory in the super combined event. It's a massive boost

ahead of the Winter Paralympics in Sochi. Gallagher now looks sure of

selection to the team next week and hopes to become GB's first-ever

Paralympic gold medal winner. When we win we are working in harmony

together so I am trusting and listening and working hard and

Charlotte is doing exactly the same. It is like a relaxed flow of things

that normally comes out and we are doing everything we can to make sure

we are doing that every day. When we have done our last race together we

like to know we have put everything into that. Then you can be proud of

yourself because the two of us have worked very hard for it. More medals

to come I am sure. The new Ireland rugby coach, Joe Schmidt, has named

ten Ulster players in his first-ever extended Six Nations squad. As well

as seasoned campaigners such as Rory Best and Andrew Trimble, he has

included two uncapped Ulstermen in Robbie Diack and Rob Herring among

44 names. Ireland's opening fixture of the Six Nations is against

Scotland in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday second February. There is a

full programme of matches in the Irish League tonight. The standout

fixture sees leaders Linfield at home to one of their nearest

challengers, Crusaders. And the Linfield manager is well aware his

team has not beaten Crusaders in the last seven league meetings. It will

be a tough game there is no doubt. I was bitterly disappointed when we

went there earlier in the season and I thought we did not put up a fight

at all. We were very unfortunate in the Premier league cup. We lost on a

penalty shoot out. It is a mouthwatering game that you will

relish. I am looking forward to seeing how much we have progressed

down the line. A match has been conceded tomorrow against caravan

due to the unavailability of players. And finally tonight, Rory

McIlroy gets his season underway in Abu Dhabi, he has been getting

underway for the next big tee off. Have a look at this. He is getting

in the swing of things along with some of the world's other top

players but not in a manner you would expect. Rory McIlroy will be

looking to get off to a good start on Thursday. He really looks like he

is enjoying this, hopefully he will get much better read than this when

he gets out on the golf course. I hope to be in contention able more

into an and is. By the standards I set myself last season I have not

been doing enough but I feel like I am now doing much better and doing

the start of the season on a solid case. Stick to the golf, I cannot

see him doing Strictly explanation mark --! . After a wet and cold day,

let us get the forecast, here is Angie. It has been a pretty cold and

miserable day. We had the cold and icy start this morning. Temperatures

down to -4 and -6. We did have some lovely sunrises. There is this

frosty look to the foreground. It has all been change. To weather

fronts pushed through, one this afternoon and another tonight. This

evening the rain is turning more shallowly. There will be drier gaps

and the weather front will move in. There will be more persistent rain

and some heavy bursts. It will not be so cold as last night because of

a southerly breeze. Temperatures will be higher by tomorrow morning.

It looks like a milder day tomorrow and eventually it will be drier but

it will be a slow start, breezy with spells of rain during morning rush

hour but eventually that will become more shallowly and after a miserable

start to the day the wind will ease away. There may still be a few

showers into the early afternoon in parts of Antrim then drier weather

follows. The best start of brightness developing in the West

during the afternoon. Temperatures above average. Tomorrow night will

get cooler again, we still have the southerly breeze but it will ease

off. There may be the odd pocket of ground frost. Thursday will have a

mixture of bright spells and showers and generally it is cooler, six or

seven, closer to average. Cooler with bright spells and showers into

the weekend. Two Catholic religious orders have apologised for abuse

that happened in their children's homes. A father, their two sons and

another man have admitted cruelty to animals. Our Facebook page has been

getting a lot of reaction to that story. Join us if you can. That is

all for now, goodbye.