09/03/2016 BBC Newsline

The Victims Commissioner has said the government cannot use national

security as a rock under which to hide from

Speaking at a major conference in Belfast, Judith Thompson also

said the current process could be the last chance for politicians

to get agreement on how to deal with the past.

At the same event the Lord Chief Justice said controversial legacy

inquests could be dealt with in five years if funding is made available.

Our political correspondent Chris Page reports.

There were more than 3500 killings in the Troubles.

With the conflict receding into history, victims are warning

that time's running out for a political agreement

Jennifer McNern lost both her legs in the IRA Abercorn bombing in 1972.

She's calling on politicians to agree a way forward.

The 1998 agreement promised people who were injured

as a result of the conflict would be looked after.

Peter Heathwood was badly injured in a shooting in 1979.

Loyalist gunmen attacked my home and shot me, paralysed me.

My father arrived at the scene and thought

I think if we don't get into this and deal with legacy issues,

no matter how embarrassing, because no

one will come out of this with clean hands.

Everybody has dirty hands and we just have to accept that

as a society and say that all of society

The sticking point in political negotiations has been a disagreement

The government has argued that the release of some state

documents could compromise national security.

The Victims Commissioner says the deadlock needs to be broken.

I believe that you can't expect any government to let go of national

At the same time you can't expect people who have

been waiting 40 years to find out what happened to their loved ones

to just take it on someone else's word

that they can never be told because there is a risk there.

unique transparency. And agreement over what really is national

security. So how do the First

and Deputy First Ministers We are all optimistic

about when it can be found. If we are honest with

victims then we can We should not raise hopes before the

election because I cannot see any clarity, before that.

I think there is a joint determination to resolve

I am hopeful, even optimistic, that it can be resolved.

People involved in this process have been stressing that there has

But victims are very frustrated, even hurt,

They are using this conference to put pressure on politicians again

The family of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty say they won't accept

a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute the soldier

The teenager was shot twice in the head during an army operation

An inquest in 2011 found he posed no risk and was shot without warning.

His sisters say they're determined to get justice for him.

As I say, people need to move on and you can't move

It is worse when you know it is the state that murdered him.

Nobody should be above the law, beneath the law.

If you murder, whether you wear a uniform or not, you must stand

If you don't, then you're sending out the wrong signal

They're not going to trust you, they're not going to trust the law.

A pipe bomb has been found during a security alert in Dunmurry.

Upper Dunmurry Lane was closed for a time this afternoon.

The device has been taken away for further examination.

A group which helps people with drug and alcohol addictions

is being investigated by the Charity Commission.

Fasa has suspended its services and its 60 staff and 60 volunteers

have been told they're no longer needed.

Out of the blue, uses a charity with a 20 year record is set to close, a

charity which helps some of the most vulnerable across Northern Ireland.

People with addiction problems, people at risk of suicide and self

harm. We're the statement and the board says they face the prospect of

immediate and terminal financial insolvency. Because of that, it has

to suspend all services but having said that, this building will be

open tonight and tomorrow night to service users. The decision has

far-reaching applications, more than 60 full-time staff will lose jobs,

70 volunteers also are set to go. It is very serious and devastating news

for the people, the 2000 clients of Fasa and their families, the rebels

will be felt across Northern Ireland. It affects the

organisation, so that will affect offices in Belfast, in Strangford,

North Down and Ballymena and in East Belfast as well. The board will meet

funders and political representatives to avert what it

describes as a crisis. Anyone who has been affected by the news is

advised to contact lifeline or the Samaritans.

One of the leading teaching unions is calling for more to be done

The Ulster Teachers Union also says that schools should consider

introducing unisex toilets to cater for transgender pupils.

Our Education Correspondent, Robbie Meredith, has been

to one Belfast school where there are a number of LGBT

staff and pupils to find out more about their approach.

For Year 12 at Hazelwood Integrated College in North Belfast,

Hilary Donnan is the Head of Science.

But she's also open with colleagues about her sexuality.

The more people who can stand up and say, I am gay,

I am a teacher, I am perfectly successful in my career,

I have a happy family life, a loving partner.

It is important for me to stand up and say I am gay

because then those kids growing up and

struggling at school can look at me and see it can be OK and it can be

There are signs everywhere that a number of staff

And that includes the head of maths, Kieran Coyle.

But he admits he may not be able to be as open in other schools.

There are very few schools who are actively engaging

with the issue as we are at here Hazelwood.

The biggest impact that has for me is the fear of moving on.

I'm the head of department, my next step

would be vice principal jobs and that puts me off.

Hazelwood also has a small number of transgender children

They're accommodating their needs in a number of ways,

including setting aside this gender-neutral toilet

which only transgender children can use.

Firstly, I had to start looking at toilets.

Now we are looking at uniforms and I think the best thing

we can do in schools, through pastoral care,

and the best thing we can do in being Christian is actually

The Ulster Teachers Union now want the education authorities to ensure

more schools follow Hazlewood's example.

Recently one of our members was asked by

the inspector what provision they had

made for transgender people and why did they line pupils up as boys

Those are questions that need asked and we need to answer them.

We need to work out, all of us, what these answers are.

Back at Hazelwood, Hilary's pupils may know she's a lesbian,

but they're much more interested in what she teaches them

Seriously ill cancer patients who have complications

during their illness are to be able to access round-the-clock

It's the first service of its kind in the UK.

The Macmillan Cancer Support charity has invested ?1 million

in the new scheme, which will see nurses in place

Our Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly,

I am getting a bit of stick about my hair.

Sam Keers is almost back to his old self.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, he's been part of a pilot

scheme at Craigavon Area Hospital where he's been able to access

a specialist cancer nurse day or night.

When we phoned up from home, some of the issues were dealt

with over the phone very promptly, very thorough.

Ongoing analysis of how you felt and what was going on and sent back

very quickly with a solution or suggestion.

This new facility means that when a cancer patient turns up

at a local emergency department, they'll have direct access

Every day in Northern Ireland around 30 people are told they have cancer.

This new facility will not only help people who require specialist

and immediate assistance, but it will also remove

some of the pressure from hospital emergency departments.

At the heart of the scheme is the Macmillan cancer charity,

which has invested ?1 million to provide the seven specialist

That would be the direct link between the specialist service

To take control, to have a plan, to say this is what is going

to happen to you, this is my name and number.

When you go home, if you are worried, you can contact me.

If you are admitted, I will be around to coordinate your care.

Driving the initiative, the Public Health Agency

If people develop complications they can become ill quite quickly

so the acute care service can be there to respond to that.

For people like Sam, it's a service they can't live without.

Outstanding in their approach to their work.

Really dedicated people and I felt that and that was reassuring for me.

Work has begun at the former headquarters of the Harland

and Wolff shipyard in Belfast to restore it after years of neglect.

The famous building is to become a hotel and its drawing offices,

where Titanic was designed, will open as a visitor attraction.

The work will cost more than ?20 million -

The wind easing away, so in some spots temperatures

will get low enough for a touch of frost.

Not a widespread frost but a few pockets of frost around

Otherwise, Thursday should feel quite mild.

Light winds and some sunshine, particularly through the morning.

around but overall some lovely bright skies.

Likewise, further south, across the Republic of Ireland,

lots of fine weather, too, for much of Scotland.

Maybe one or two showers draped over parts of England and Wales

but generally it looks like a fine day for many parts

in from the Atlantic, that will bring some patches

of rain, which will eventually reach parts of Fermanagh and Tyrone late

in the day but much of the day is looking dry, although it

will turn increasingly cloudy in the afternoon.

Temperatures in many places up to ten or 11 degrees.

No frost on Thursday night, unfortunately the rain

is in on Friday so you will need the umbrella.

Still quite mild, though obviously not quite as nice

But then it dries up again for the weekend.

And generally quite a lot of cloud around but lots of dry

Temperatures into double digits and where we get some sunshine

So, some milder, more springlike weather on the way.

Our next BBC Newsline is at 6.25am in the morning during

You can also keep updated with News Online.