10/12/2015 BBC Newsline

Tonight's top stories. news teams where you are.

No sustained effort was made to find sexual abusers of children in care

says a report Stormont departments have been warned they could face

Stormont departments have been warned they could face

A new EU rule, but what will it mean for Fisher vote?

but journey times are not getting any shorter.

The stars of stage, screen, sport, turnout for Paddy Wallace. Join me

on the red carpet. And the next few days will be cold with their risk of

heavy rain. We also have snow in places tonight. I will have the

details. A report into child sexual

exploitation in Northern Ireland says the police made no sustained

effort to find out who was responsible for abusing children

being looked after in care. The authors of the review into 22

cases of abuse are critical of the authorities for not doing

enough to tackle the problem. Here's our Ireland correspondent

Chris Buckler. What exactly does the report say?

It was a police investigation into alleged abuse of 22 children, was

launched in a blaze of publicity, this particular investigation, by

the safeguarding board of Northern Ireland. They are very critical of

the police, saying the police did you an awful lot to locate and

return some children they believe were abused, children in care, so

they went, found them, returned them to care homes, however it is

critical about what says is a failure to look at the extent of the

child sexual exploitation taking place and also, they say, their

attempt to find and stop the abusers, in the words of the review,

Ltd and inconsistent. There is also some praise for residential staff

and members who were looking after these children, saying some of them

had suicidal behaviour, with self harming, and were helped. In some

cases, their lives saved, with the help of staff. However the health

minister has now very clear, he says that this report shows are lot of

support was given to protect the teenagers from harm. Or indeed, the

risk of harm. This report has been a long time

coming. It certainly has. Plenty of publicity surrounding this at the

start, when the investigation was launched, the health minister talked

about deaths and that led to a huge investigation by the safeguarding

board of Northern Ireland however it has not been published for a number

of months, it is my belief the report was published some months ago

and was meant to be published in the summer but at that time there were

suggestions reporters would be brief, suggestions that charities

would be brought in to look at this, at that stage, it was not published.

That came as some surprise. The Department of Health today says that

it was partly because they were concerned young people could be

identified, they were also concerned that they needed to be prepared for

the report being published. Nevertheless it has been published

in a way that is quite surprising. It was published online. We were

given details of it just this afternoon. And really, there has not

been the same purpose the findings as was put into launching it.

Any reaction from the Department of Health? They have released a

statement welcoming the investigation and this report. They

say that the professor and his team have very good work. It also says

that they have worked with the young people to prepare them the

publication. Which of course they helped to create because ten of the

people they believe were abused actually took part in details for

this report, a very brave step for them, we do of course want to hear

what the police have to say, a big concern is how the officers acted,

they have to make sure this does not happen again. The police say they

welcome this report and the opportunity to further examine how

they and their partner agencies are doing with this very important

issue. They said they are doing every thing they can to keep

choosing an young people safe. -- children and young people.

An Inquiry is trying to trace a former Barnardo's worker,

who is facing serious abuse allegations.

The ex care worker, whose name cannot be made public,

is one of a number of former Barnardo's staff who are accused

of sexually abusing children at the charity's former home

The former home here is no more but that history is still very much. The

former employee being sought by the enquiry was one of two former

workers described at the enquiry today is evil. Let's focus on one of

the people making the allegations. His account of abuse that he said

happened to him was described at the enquiry today is graphic. It also

emerged that he was paid ?15,000 by Barnardos in 2003 out of a civil

case. He also has a significant record. The enquiry heard today that

his story is part of a complex picture involving various

individuals. It's an industry that was worth ?15m

last year but a new EU rule due to take effect in weeks has

prawn fishermen along They're concerned that a cut

in quotas and a new rule banning the discard of unwanted fish

could have a big impact Our Agriculture and Environment

Correspondent Conor Macauley The Northern Ireland Fishing fleet's

main target is prawns. Hundreds of tonnes of them land in our ports

every year. But a new European Union law to stop unwanted fish been

thrown overboard, a so-called discard ban is causing concern.

I got this in July of last year. I just have to be making money. I

cannot afford to be tying up, releasing more of a quota, now they

want to be throwing fish away, which can through communities away either.

Trawlermen happen trying to fish sustainable. The green mesh panel in

this prominent is to let other species and the juvenile fish

escape. But the European Union is getting tough. From January are

fleet will have to land all prawns or haddock they catch. 2019 and see

further species added to the list. The problem is that next year's

proposed quota has been cut by more than sent. Even though scientists

say that the fish is abundant in the Irish Sea at the moment. If that

quota cannot be changed at negotiations in Brussels next week

it could have a big impact on the fleet.

The indications are very stark. Because of the European Commission

and the Council of ministers which will ultimately make the decision,

they do not give a sufficient quota. Within a few short weeks of the New

Year the haddock quota will be exhausted. But quota may well and be

counted against the prawn quota. Ultimately what will happen is the

prawn quota becomes exhausted by the end of the fleet is to tie up.

And while reform was meant to stop dumping efficiency the reality may

turn out to be a lot different. Before the rule change under sized

prawns used to be able to be dumped at sea. Now most of them will have

to be landed. Although there cannot be sold as food. A couple of

different options have looked at about what to do with them. As yet

there is no workable solution. Frustration for Allen, who has

applied for a waste licence to take them from the port, back out to sea,

where there will be dumped. Which is, of course, the very thing that

the rule change was meant to stop. The Department of the Environment,

which issues the licences, says it has told Mr McCulla he'll

have to look at alternatives to dumping at sea and is

awaiting a response. He says that detail has

already been sent to them. Stormont departments

here are being told to plan for cuts They're due to get details of how

much cash they are losing by way After the Chancellor's autumn

statement we knew cuts would be coming and now we're beginning

to get a sense of just how deep Our Business and Economics Editor

John Campbell's with me - John it's looking like a very bleak

mid-winter? We knew that cuts were coming.

Whenever the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement that meant a 1%

reduction in the amount of money stomach receives from Westminster,

once it arrives in Stormont it is down to the executive to decide how

to spend it. If they want protect health and education, their biggest

department, that means any cuts must follow Cross all the other

departments. By that measure all those departments have been asked to

plan for two scenarios, a 5% cut, and a 10% cut. It would be with

significant, to perform at in one year.

What does this mean for people who rely on other services?

Senior civil servants have already begun to brief committees on what

the impact will be on their departments and the services they

deliver. For example, the Department of culture, today, an official was

saying, if you do a 10% cut on others, that will mean the closure

of libraries, potentially museums, arts groups will cease to exist, and

we also heard from the Department for social development, they look

after some regeneration stuff, and they also look after the Social

Security agency, and a senior official that explained how that

department would deal with this. We would seek to provide a suite of

options to the minister which would have arranged within them smaller

cuts within particular areas, the consequences being outlined, and

also outlining places where we might suggest stopping altogether. Given

the level of the cuts that we have already sustained it is impossible

to deliver the same with less. Not at this stage. We seem to go

through the cycles of boom and gloom and then everything appears to be

resolved. Will this be the same? We heard from

a official saying they are in the position now where they have orally

made cuts in the last budget period, so if you do so again, then you're

getting close to the bone. Of course, during these periods, there

are always apocalyptic predictions about what will happen. But there

will definitely need to be more cuts made. I do not see how they can

prevent that from impacting on some services.

Union members at the troubled Bombardier aerospace firm have voted

overwhelmingly to reject a pay offer.

It included a two year pay freeze and a longer working week.

When the company made the offer last month it warned

that it was in serious financial crisis.

The level of Lough Erne is continuing to rise -

It has gone up by 2 inches in the last 24 hours -

and is now just 6 inches below the 2009 peak which saw large parts

Here's our South West reporter Julian Fowler.

If you're going for a swim at the Lakeland Forum leisure centre you

could get wet before you get to the pool. Even going to catch a bus at

the depot in Enniskillen can be tricky. As can finding a parking

spot in the town, or someone tried to sit. Disruption caused by slowly

rising waters spreading. But it is rural areas that continue to be

worst affected. There are a number of areas like this around Lough Erne

affected by the flood water. Most are managing to cope but if the

levels get any higher, plans are being put in place to help those who

may find themselves cut off. The emergency services and government

agencies are working together to reach those who need to get

essential supplies or prescriptions. The guys were out this morning. In

conjunction with the Red Cross. We provide services to a family who had

been trapped. A family of seven, including five children.

The operators of two hydroelectric dams at Bally Sham and say they are

discharging at the maximum rate, some 365 tonnes of water a second.

At the moment, it is filling up faster than it can get out.

Cecilia will be here with the forecast shortly.

Proposed changes to the Belfast to Dublin rail timetable would make

the service little better than the steam engine age of seventy

years ago - that's the warning from the SDLP's transport

It comes as Translink prepare to consult passengers on changes

BBC Newsline's Mark Simpson reports.

The elliptical enterprise from Dublin arrives in Belfast by Don.

But the issue is how much time as cross-border rail journey is taking.

The news is that it could soon take even longer. A new timetable has

been drawn up. It would increase the average travel time by more than

five minutes. Belfast to Dublin is hundred and five miles. In the new

timetable discouraged at around two hours, 15 minutes. An average of

only 47 mph. Much slower than a similar journey in England.

Birmingham to London as well and 70 miles. That takes around one hour 50

minutes. An average speed of 64 mph. A lot quicker than trains here. If

this timetable was in fermented we would go back to the steam age,

1947. When it was possible to travel from Belfast to Dublin in two hours,

15 minutes. That is not modern Europe. Not when you think of trains

travelling in France at 200 mph. Translink point out that the new

timetable is not set in stone. It is only a proposal. And they want to

hear from passengers. In fact, a new official consultation will begin on

board the trains next week. But with the car to Dublin often quicker than

the train now, will all passengers opt for the road rather than rail?

No. You can do it quicker in the car but by the time Park, but ever, the

service on the train is amazing. It is old-style value.

Like the Orient express. The Orient express?! Are you serious?

It is much better than coming by car Mike until you.

It should be faster, giving the European trains and everything.

Consultation on the new timetable ends on December 18. Tell us what

you think on our Facebook page. Two victims groups have taken out

a full page ad in a local newspaper today, accusing the British

government of failing to address That real life struggle to find

a way forward for society here as a whole is being explored

in a new BBC NI film, It was shown this week as part

of a series of preview screenings for our local audience -

Catherine Morrison went along, and spoke to some members

of the well-known cast. The coming months will tell whether

Northern Ireland is ready to face truth about its past.

Set in the near future, a fictional moment in the peace process as a

suburban style truth and reconciliation process begins.

Nobody is asking anybody to forget. We are trying to get at the truth.

After that, people make up their own minds.

It is a question of being asked a hypothetical. What if this was to

happen? And into that, to the space that is created by that question,

people can start putting in their own answers.

But in fiction, as in real life, getting to the truth of what really

happened during the troubles proves elusive. Roger Allen plays career

diplomat, Henry Stanfield, heading up the commission. His task is

enormous. The stakes are high, and the pressure from victims, political

parties, and the police, is immense. There are a number of truths.

Depending on where you are standing and what has happened to you. There

are an awful lot of truths. And somewhere in the centre of all of

that is something that you might call the truth, but all those other

people might not agree with that. I don't know. But I think what is

important is that, is that... Is that the story gets told, and

continues to get old, so that people do not forget.

The film also stars Ballycastle born: with Hill, who is also in

gamer friends. -- game of friends. I think what is holding up truth is

the protection of people involved, etc. The duplicity, the spying, that

we were all aware of now, that was going on, like steak knife. So it

just shows you how come they did it all was. So yes it is a work of

fiction, and we are having a truth commission on it, but I can see how

hard it would be to actually have a truth commission as you could not as

it were get to the truth. A real mechanism for Northern

Ireland's victims is far less certain.

It's an annual honour - bestowed on giant global figures.

This year's Time magazine's person of the year is

Her cover portrait was painted by the Northern Irish

Our Arts Correspondent Robbie Meredith went to meet

It is one of the most famous front pages and most coveted awards on the

planet. This year Time magazine's person of the cover has been created

in artist studio in County Down. I got a communication from them

about six to go. Asking me if I would consider painting the German

Chancellor. : Davidson has painted many

prominent people but always in personal sittings.

This was different. They were saying to me, actually, you will not have

the luxury of spending time with her. You will not have the lottery

of being able to meet her. So I embarked on the process where I

looked at a lot of film, but at how her face worked. But although he has

not yet met her he is full of admiration for his subject.

With this one I was very aware of her work last year. Particularly the

number of months. I suppose it was the compassion, humanitarian aspect

of what she has been doing the dignity of sorts, those other things

that I was interested in trying to pull out.

And it was only yesterday he found out that his work was front-page

news everywhere. Including in Germany.

The German reaction has been pretty big. I have spoken to a number of

German newspapers yesterday. Nobody is saying whether they think the

paintings could. Nobody is saying whether they feel the painting

reflects her or not. But I suppose it is a good sign this would adopt

me. Some collectors have already been in

touch but at the moment the Chancellor's home is still in

Northern Ireland. Christmas can be a lonely time

for many older people who may live BBC Northern Ireland has teamed up

with the charity Age NI The big lottery funds a Belfast

based project called Hope which brings older people at risk

of social isolation together Today we got an invitation

to their Christmas party. Our reporter Helen Jones

was there for BBC Newsline. A full house with most of us at

Christmas is a happy house. A time to catch up with others. Take time

to indulge. It time for families. This is one happy family.

You are sitting in the house on your own although. I think it is nice to

come and meet other people and enjoy their company.

They look out for each other. There are some who are less mobile

than I am. If you give them a wee help or a word, it helps them, it

helps me to. People become isolated and lonely

for all sorts of reasons. Often having gone through some sort of

transition, they may have been ill, breathe, and it can take a lot of

confidence, if you're used to doing something with other people, with a

partner, say, to actually go out start to meet new people.

These two have just met each other. Where were you?

The start of a great relationship, friendship!

Yes. We will have to see each other

again. I keep forgetting her name,

unfortunately. Little Audrey!

When my wife died in 2002 that is when I decided to leave my house, it

was too big for me, the garden was much too large. I decided to look

for a place. And I am very happy here. It is a good place. It is a

great place. And you have got lots of company.

Mostly female! Is that a good thing?

It is a lovely thing, it is why here.

This project is all about playing our part. Whether that is visiting

an older relative, helping around the house, simple gestures like

that. It can mean the world to them. Stephen is at the Titanic Quarter on

the red carpet for what is becoming an annual gathering of local sports

stars. You're looking very dapper. Thank you very much indeed. We had

to dress up for the big occasion. The stars of not just sport, but

stage, and screen, they are all out in force tonight, at Titanic

Belfast, for this man, the former Ulster and Ireland rugby

international, Paddy Wallace. How please do you do have Rory McIlroy

Jimmy Nesbitt and in your honour this evening?

Please does not cover it. Very humbled by it. It is a cause close

to heart. We raised a huge amount of funds at the testimonial last year

and off the back of it decided to set up our own funds, try to help us

meet people who suffer, from autism, families, clips, in Northern

Ireland, it is absolutely fantastic to have them here with us tonight.

Among the sporting stars this evening are about half a dozen of

the injured Ulster rugby team. Including Tommy Bowe, Ian Henderson,

Darren Cave, I'm sure you would much prefer them on the pitch tomorrow

night for the big European game. Absolutely, as an Ulster fan I am

gutted to see them here tonight and not getting into their beds at night

and preparing for a big match. Ulster are a bit thin on the ground

unfortunately having been hit by an injury crisis. Maybe we will be

chatting about that later tonight. But sometimes when our backs are

against the wall, you know, we have a full house at the ground, stranger

things have happened. To lose-testing scene. -- to

Toulouse are a fantastic team, but because certainly be doing with

Stephen coming out of retirement. What do you begin to crisis D? We

have had a bad run, no doubt about it. The World Cup cycle is a tough

year for the Irish provinces. We don't have the same amount of depth

goes we are only picking from three, maybe four teams in Ireland. So from

that point of view, they have had six months under their belt already,

as a result that, injuries will happen.

Have a great night night. The Northern Ireland manager Michael

O'Neill is in attendance as well. Back to you.

And now the weather. It is a cold one tonight. Heavy

showers are moving across the moment, they have started to fall is

now in places. In fact the snow is lying across some high ground in

North Antrim, as well as over towards parts of Tyrone. It should

not rely on a main road. But of course the skies clear again it will

turn icy. And there will be further wintry showers through the night. So

by the end of the night some lying snow, a dusting of it, really,

particularly on high ground. A cold one tonight. The sky will clear in

between and it will be blustery with showers moving through quickly. But

there will be ice tomorrow morning for a shower. And further wintry

showers around as well. Not the best of weather for driving in more

morning. There will be rain, sleet, hail stones, across parts of manner

and are in. A strong wind as well make me feel better outside -- cross

Fermanagh and Tyrone. You could see some snow falling on your journey to

work just about anywhere. As the day goes on showers will use. They will

become less wintry. More in the way of sunshine. Many places having a

dry afternoon. Others still pretty cold in the bitter westerly winds.

It will be cold tomorrow night but fairly quiet compared to tonight.

One or two showers, but otherwise tempered as close to freezing and

the wind started to drop as well. Then we looked at the South ahead of

the next weather system. A rather concentrated area of low pressure

and probably three areas of thing to the island is Saturday, Sunday and

Monday. And it looks as though Western counties will be closer to

that area of the pressure. Therefore they will be most at risk of heavy

rain. There are not anyone's at the moment but it is something that be

monitored. On Sunday the air will be cold so there could be snow mixed in

with the rain on the high ground. It certainly will not be raining all

the time but there will be some rain at times. In the West it is likely

to be more persistent. Then you see it. On Saturday, wet to start with,

snow on the hills, clearing away later in the day but further rain

appearing at times on Sunday and Monday. We will keep you up-to-date.

Our late summary is at 10:25 p.m., and after that the Secretary of

State is interviewed. From every body on the team, goodbye.