:00:07. > :00:13.The Victims Commissioner has said the government cannot use national
:00:14. > :00:15.security as a rock under which to hide from
:00:16. > :00:21.Speaking at a major conference in Belfast, Judith Thompson also
:00:22. > :00:24.said the current process could be the last chance for politicians
:00:25. > :00:28.to get agreement on how to deal with the past.
:00:29. > :00:31.At the same event the Lord Chief Justice said controversial legacy
:00:32. > :00:34.inquests could be dealt with in five years if funding is made available.
:00:35. > :00:40.Our political correspondent Chris Page reports.
:00:41. > :00:42.There were more than 3500 killings in the Troubles.
:00:43. > :00:48.With the conflict receding into history, victims are warning
:00:49. > :00:50.that time's running out for a political agreement
:00:51. > :00:58.Jennifer McNern lost both her legs in the IRA Abercorn bombing in 1972.
:00:59. > :01:02.She's calling on politicians to agree a way forward.
:01:03. > :01:10.The 1998 agreement promised people who were injured
:01:11. > :01:13.as a result of the conflict would be looked after.
:01:14. > :01:22.Peter Heathwood was badly injured in a shooting in 1979.
:01:23. > :01:27.Loyalist gunmen attacked my home and shot me, paralysed me.
:01:28. > :01:29.My father arrived at the scene and thought
:01:30. > :01:39.I think if we don't get into this and deal with legacy issues,
:01:40. > :01:41.no matter how embarrassing, because no
:01:42. > :01:43.one will come out of this with clean hands.
:01:44. > :01:45.Everybody has dirty hands and we just have to accept that
:01:46. > :01:48.as a society and say that all of society
:01:49. > :01:54.The sticking point in political negotiations has been a disagreement
:01:55. > :01:57.The government has argued that the release of some state
:01:58. > :02:00.documents could compromise national security.
:02:01. > :02:05.The Victims Commissioner says the deadlock needs to be broken.
:02:06. > :02:08.I believe that you can't expect any government to let go of national
:02:09. > :02:13.At the same time you can't expect people who have
:02:14. > :02:17.been waiting 40 years to find out what happened to their loved ones
:02:18. > :02:19.to just take it on someone else's word
:02:20. > :02:23.that they can never be told because there is a risk there.
:02:24. > :02:29.unique transparency. And agreement over what really is national
:02:30. > :02:31.security. So how do the First
:02:32. > :02:33.and Deputy First Ministers We are all optimistic
:02:34. > :02:37.about when it can be found. If we are honest with
:02:38. > :02:47.victims then we can We should not raise hopes before the
:02:48. > :02:50.election because I cannot see any clarity, before that.
:02:51. > :02:52.I think there is a joint determination to resolve
:02:53. > :03:03.I am hopeful, even optimistic, that it can be resolved.
:03:04. > :03:05.People involved in this process have been stressing that there has
:03:06. > :03:08.But victims are very frustrated, even hurt,
:03:09. > :03:12.They are using this conference to put pressure on politicians again
:03:13. > :03:19.The family of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty say they won't accept
:03:20. > :03:22.a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute the soldier
:03:23. > :03:29.The teenager was shot twice in the head during an army operation
:03:30. > :03:37.An inquest in 2011 found he posed no risk and was shot without warning.
:03:38. > :03:50.His sisters say they're determined to get justice for him.
:03:51. > :04:01.As I say, people need to move on and you can't move
:04:02. > :04:07.It is worse when you know it is the state that murdered him.
:04:08. > :04:12.Nobody should be above the law, beneath the law.
:04:13. > :04:15.If you murder, whether you wear a uniform or not, you must stand
:04:16. > :04:19.If you don't, then you're sending out the wrong signal
:04:20. > :04:25.They're not going to trust you, they're not going to trust the law.
:04:26. > :04:28.A pipe bomb has been found during a security alert in Dunmurry.
:04:29. > :04:30.Upper Dunmurry Lane was closed for a time this afternoon.
:04:31. > :04:37.The device has been taken away for further examination.
:04:38. > :04:39.A group which helps people with drug and alcohol addictions
:04:40. > :04:43.is being investigated by the Charity Commission.
:04:44. > :04:47.Fasa has suspended its services and its 60 staff and 60 volunteers
:04:48. > :04:52.have been told they're no longer needed.
:04:53. > :05:04.Out of the blue, uses a charity with a 20 year record is set to close, a
:05:05. > :05:09.charity which helps some of the most vulnerable across Northern Ireland.
:05:10. > :05:13.People with addiction problems, people at risk of suicide and self
:05:14. > :05:16.harm. We're the statement and the board says they face the prospect of
:05:17. > :05:22.immediate and terminal financial insolvency. Because of that, it has
:05:23. > :05:25.to suspend all services but having said that, this building will be
:05:26. > :05:31.open tonight and tomorrow night to service users. The decision has
:05:32. > :05:37.far-reaching applications, more than 60 full-time staff will lose jobs,
:05:38. > :05:42.70 volunteers also are set to go. It is very serious and devastating news
:05:43. > :05:45.for the people, the 2000 clients of Fasa and their families, the rebels
:05:46. > :05:50.will be felt across Northern Ireland. It affects the
:05:51. > :05:57.organisation, so that will affect offices in Belfast, in Strangford,
:05:58. > :06:02.North Down and Ballymena and in East Belfast as well. The board will meet
:06:03. > :06:05.funders and political representatives to avert what it
:06:06. > :06:08.describes as a crisis. Anyone who has been affected by the news is
:06:09. > :06:12.advised to contact lifeline or the Samaritans.
:06:13. > :06:16.One of the leading teaching unions is calling for more to be done
:06:17. > :06:20.The Ulster Teachers Union also says that schools should consider
:06:21. > :06:22.introducing unisex toilets to cater for transgender pupils.
:06:23. > :06:24.Our Education Correspondent, Robbie Meredith, has been
:06:25. > :06:27.to one Belfast school where there are a number of LGBT
:06:28. > :06:36.staff and pupils to find out more about their approach.
:06:37. > :06:38.For Year 12 at Hazelwood Integrated College in North Belfast,
:06:39. > :06:42.Hilary Donnan is the Head of Science.
:06:43. > :06:47.But she's also open with colleagues about her sexuality.
:06:48. > :06:51.The more people who can stand up and say, I am gay,
:06:52. > :06:53.I am a teacher, I am perfectly successful in my career,
:06:54. > :06:57.I have a happy family life, a loving partner.
:06:58. > :07:00.It is important for me to stand up and say I am gay
:07:01. > :07:03.because then those kids growing up and
:07:04. > :07:07.struggling at school can look at me and see it can be OK and it can be
:07:08. > :07:11.There are signs everywhere that a number of staff
:07:12. > :07:16.And that includes the head of maths, Kieran Coyle.
:07:17. > :07:19.But he admits he may not be able to be as open in other schools.
:07:20. > :07:22.There are very few schools who are actively engaging
:07:23. > :07:26.with the issue as we are at here Hazelwood.
:07:27. > :07:31.The biggest impact that has for me is the fear of moving on.
:07:32. > :07:35.I'm the head of department, my next step
:07:36. > :07:38.would be vice principal jobs and that puts me off.
:07:39. > :07:41.Hazelwood also has a small number of transgender children
:07:42. > :07:49.They're accommodating their needs in a number of ways,
:07:50. > :07:50.including setting aside this gender-neutral toilet
:07:51. > :07:53.which only transgender children can use.
:07:54. > :07:59.Firstly, I had to start looking at toilets.
:08:00. > :08:01.Now we are looking at uniforms and I think the best thing
:08:02. > :08:05.we can do in schools, through pastoral care,
:08:06. > :08:08.and the best thing we can do in being Christian is actually
:08:09. > :08:16.The Ulster Teachers Union now want the education authorities to ensure
:08:17. > :08:18.more schools follow Hazlewood's example.
:08:19. > :08:20.Recently one of our members was asked by
:08:21. > :08:23.the inspector what provision they had
:08:24. > :08:27.made for transgender people and why did they line pupils up as boys
:08:28. > :08:32.Those are questions that need asked and we need to answer them.
:08:33. > :08:35.We need to work out, all of us, what these answers are.
:08:36. > :08:37.Back at Hazelwood, Hilary's pupils may know she's a lesbian,
:08:38. > :08:40.but they're much more interested in what she teaches them
:08:41. > :08:48.Seriously ill cancer patients who have complications
:08:49. > :08:50.during their illness are to be able to access round-the-clock
:08:51. > :08:57.It's the first service of its kind in the UK.
:08:58. > :09:00.The Macmillan Cancer Support charity has invested ?1 million
:09:01. > :09:02.in the new scheme, which will see nurses in place
:09:03. > :09:05.Our Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly,
:09:06. > :09:11.I am getting a bit of stick about my hair.
:09:12. > :09:18.Sam Keers is almost back to his old self.
:09:19. > :09:22.Diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, he's been part of a pilot
:09:23. > :09:25.scheme at Craigavon Area Hospital where he's been able to access
:09:26. > :09:27.a specialist cancer nurse day or night.
:09:28. > :09:34.When we phoned up from home, some of the issues were dealt
:09:35. > :09:38.with over the phone very promptly, very thorough.
:09:39. > :09:42.Ongoing analysis of how you felt and what was going on and sent back
:09:43. > :09:49.very quickly with a solution or suggestion.
:09:50. > :09:52.This new facility means that when a cancer patient turns up
:09:53. > :09:54.at a local emergency department, they'll have direct access
:09:55. > :10:01.Every day in Northern Ireland around 30 people are told they have cancer.
:10:02. > :10:05.This new facility will not only help people who require specialist
:10:06. > :10:09.and immediate assistance, but it will also remove
:10:10. > :10:22.some of the pressure from hospital emergency departments.
:10:23. > :10:25.At the heart of the scheme is the Macmillan cancer charity,
:10:26. > :10:27.which has invested ?1 million to provide the seven specialist
:10:28. > :10:30.That would be the direct link between the specialist service
:10:31. > :10:35.To take control, to have a plan, to say this is what is going
:10:36. > :10:38.to happen to you, this is my name and number.
:10:39. > :10:41.When you go home, if you are worried, you can contact me.
:10:42. > :10:45.If you are admitted, I will be around to coordinate your care.
:10:46. > :10:47.Driving the initiative, the Public Health Agency
:10:48. > :10:54.If people develop complications they can become ill quite quickly
:10:55. > :11:01.so the acute care service can be there to respond to that.
:11:02. > :11:05.For people like Sam, it's a service they can't live without.
:11:06. > :11:11.Outstanding in their approach to their work.
:11:12. > :11:19.Really dedicated people and I felt that and that was reassuring for me.
:11:20. > :11:26.Work has begun at the former headquarters of the Harland
:11:27. > :11:31.and Wolff shipyard in Belfast to restore it after years of neglect.
:11:32. > :11:36.The famous building is to become a hotel and its drawing offices,
:11:37. > :11:39.where Titanic was designed, will open as a visitor attraction.
:11:40. > :11:47.The work will cost more than ?20 million -
:11:48. > :12:03.The wind easing away, so in some spots temperatures
:12:04. > :12:06.will get low enough for a touch of frost.
:12:07. > :12:09.Not a widespread frost but a few pockets of frost around
:12:10. > :12:13.Otherwise, Thursday should feel quite mild.
:12:14. > :12:20.Light winds and some sunshine, particularly through the morning.
:12:21. > :12:22.around but overall some lovely bright skies.
:12:23. > :12:24.Likewise, further south, across the Republic of Ireland,
:12:25. > :12:29.lots of fine weather, too, for much of Scotland.
:12:30. > :12:34.Maybe one or two showers draped over parts of England and Wales
:12:35. > :12:36.but generally it looks like a fine day for many parts
:12:37. > :12:46.in from the Atlantic, that will bring some patches
:12:47. > :12:49.of rain, which will eventually reach parts of Fermanagh and Tyrone late
:12:50. > :12:52.in the day but much of the day is looking dry, although it
:12:53. > :12:53.will turn increasingly cloudy in the afternoon.
:12:54. > :12:56.Temperatures in many places up to ten or 11 degrees.
:12:57. > :12:58.No frost on Thursday night, unfortunately the rain
:12:59. > :13:00.is in on Friday so you will need the umbrella.
:13:01. > :13:02.Still quite mild, though obviously not quite as nice
:13:03. > :13:06.But then it dries up again for the weekend.
:13:07. > :13:08.And generally quite a lot of cloud around but lots of dry
:13:09. > :13:12.Temperatures into double digits and where we get some sunshine
:13:13. > :13:17.So, some milder, more springlike weather on the way.
:13:18. > :13:21.Our next BBC Newsline is at 6.25am in the morning during
:13:22. > :13:25.You can also keep updated with News Online.