06/04/2017 BBC Newsline

Good evening. and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

This is BBC Newsline and these are the headlines

More questions about why the authorities decided not

to prosecute this man after he admitted abusing children.

One lawyer challenges the judgement of a senior detective.

In his view, this is not an offence punishable by law. No, that is quite

clearly wrong and it doesn't make any sense.

It's also revealed that the abuser went on to run

Two people working in this pharmacy are stabbed

Anger over the closure of one of the north-west's few

engineering factories, and the loss of nearly 100 jobs.

Rory McIlroy is about to start his bid to win the US Masters and join

the greats of the game with a career Grand Slam of Majors.

And we're still mucking around with cloud which could be a sticking

First to our investigation which spans the Atlantic,

between here and Canada, where we tracked down a self

Yesterday, Henry Clarke told us he had abused children from three

He said he had owned up to the RUC in 1985 but nothing happened.

He then went on to run a home for boys in Canada.

As Kevin Magee reports, major questions need to be answered

about how the criminal justice system handled this abuse.

In the 1980s when the police began investigating the notorious Kincora

Boys Home in Belfast the uncovered abuse at other homes including one

called Bawnmore in Newtownabbey. The recent historic institutional abuse

enquiry heard a man who worked there are confessed to police in 1985 he

had sexually abused children but escaped justice. He couldn't be

named until the BBC's successfully applied to have his anonymity

lifted. Last night we revealed who he is and where he's living.

Tonight, we ask, why he was never convicted. For nearly 50 years,

Henry Clarke have carried a secret. He is a paedophile who has never

been held accountable for his crimes. We discovered his past and

will be confronted him, he agreed to talk publicly for the first time. I

broadly at that time would not have used the word paedophile because I'd

never thought of it. As the years have gone on, I realise that that is

the proper word for what I've done. Always in the back of my mind I knew

what I was doing was wrong. Billy Brown was one of Henry Clark's

victims and remembers being terrified. He has agreed to waive

his right to anonymity to speak to the BBC. Even if you called you in

for his dinner, you stayed away from him. You had to stay away from him.

You went to bed at night, you killed your blankets as tightly around you

as you could. I know that very fact, I that.

The police knew Henry Clarke's crimes in 1985 when he confessed

to the RUC during a family holiday in Northern Ireland.

I admitted that I had interfered with a boy at

Bawnmore House and one at Firmount Hostel.

And then at a later date, I omitted to mention something else and I

wrote a letter to the RUC and told them that I had missed telling them

about this other boy. I am not sure, my wife and I thought

that I would probably finish So a man confesses to

police, expects them to act upon what he has told

them and are surprised when there is not

a knock at his door. Clues as to how the RUC

responded to his admissions are contained in some of

the documents released at the recent Historical Institutional Abuse

Inquiry carried out in The inquiry heard his first two

confessions of abuse were made in 1985, but the Director

of Public Prosecutions He admitted to sexually abusing two

boys. According to evidence

heard at the inquiry, one of the offences happened

17 years before the the DPP felt it would be

inappropriate to pursue Having looked in the papers in this

case and on any reading, the DPP decision not to prosecute here is

devoid of any rationale or indeed any legal principle. One leading

barrister we spoke to said the passage of time it doesn't matter in

this case. Simply to say a 17 year delay exists without more doesn't

actually hold weight from a legal perspective. The evidence and

material is clearly there. All I would say is that there is no

Statute of Limitations applicable here. Jim Gamble is one of the UK's

leading experts. He believes the DPP should have mounted a prosecution.

In this instance you had an admission, you didn't need to go

back, you didn't have to worry that the allegation was old and the

evidence might be stale, you had a contemporary admission. Given that,

I don't understand why it wasn't prosecuted. Henry Clarke returned to

Canada, but he had more to tell the police. From there, he wrote them a

letter of confession, admitting a third instance of abuse at a Boys'

Brigade camp in Newcastle, County Down. Given the state prosecutor's

previous refusal to make a case against Henry Clark, this time the

police didn't even tell the DPP about this confession. Documents

from the time Surbey police said they should be no further action. A

senior police officer said... We have in the documentation in a

statement by a very senior RUC detective who oversees this

investigation, making it quite clear that, in his view, this is not an

offence punishable by law. That is quite clearly wrong and it doesn't

make any sense. The decision not to seek prosecution made Henry Clarke

was free to resume his life in Canada. There are unanswered

questions on this side of the Atlantic as well. Why was a

self-confessed paedophile allowed to live his life and challenged in

Canada as if nothing had happened? And, crucially, why would the

Canadian authorities not told about Henry Clarke's history of serial

child abuse? It is an error of judgment, I don't know how many of

us would have cheered the information back then, given that

the level of maturity and understanding of this was very low.

Today, I would expect that information to be shared. The PSNI

said it is now reviewing the case, including how it shares information

with the Canadian police. We investigated the allegations in the

1980s, it was a different world. But we did investigate them thoroughly.

We need to look at why that was not successful and why there was no

prosecution and we need to look at what opportunities may know exist

and we need to respond with those matters anyway that doesn't... Since

no one in Canada was made aware of Henry Clarke's admissions to police,

he continued to live his life without anyone in authority knowing

about his confessions. A pastor at four different churches and went on

to adopt a 13-year-old boy, something he says he probably would

not have been able to do if the Canadians had known about his

background. When he first emigrated to Canada, he ran a home for boys in

northern Ontario. The charity responsible said that as far as it

was aware it had no reports of sexual abuse allegations against

Henry Clarke. Have you ever abused any children in Canada? No, you have

asked me that three or four times. But do you still have desires

towards children? In the sands of setting up and seeing children as a

sexual object, no, but do I see children with the old feelings, from

time to time, yes, but I don't act out on it because I know now that

that is wrong. Our children safe around you if you still have those

desires? Absolutely. Know the details of his crimes are public,

Henry Clarke said he is fearful of what will happen next. I don't know

what's happening today. Sitting here with you, I am taking

responsibility. He is left wondering if his past will become part of his

future. There is an update to this story,

which is just breaking. Yes, Donna, the PPS has just been

in touch with us to say they are considering a formal review

of the case against Henry Clarke and they've written

to the Chief Constable about the failure of the police

in 1985 to pass evidence to the DPP. I'll just read the statement

they have sent to us: "The PPS is concerned to learn

that the police did not forward significant evidence

concerning serious offences to the then Department of the Director

of Public Prosecutions in 1985. Accordingly, a request has been

forwarded to the Chief Constable Given the revelations that have come

to light in these cases, the PPS proposes to carry out

a formal review of all relevant matters and of any previous

prosecutorial decisions relating We intend to contact Mr Brown -

that's Henry Clarke's victim Billy Brown, to seek his views

on the review and to keep him Clearly an evolving story after your

investigation. Kevin, thank you. Two people working at a pharmacy

in West Belfast have been stabbed It happened this morning

on the Falls Road and a man A group representing pharmacists

says security precautions may now need to be stepped up.

Maggie Taggart reports. The note on the door gives little

hint of a violent attack on two pharmacists going about their daily

work, providing a health service A man with a knife went into

McDonagh's about half past nine. He threatened staff,

apparently demanding they hand He then attacked two men,

one was stabbed in th chest Other staff then held him back,

reportedly immobilising The attacker also suffered a stab

wound in the lower back. A 26-year-old man is now in custody

on suspicion of attempted murder Politicians at the scene

condemned the attack. The have traumatised a pharmacy,

customers in the area, and this community and this committee is

angry these people have attacked a business and we have also attacked

this community. -- purvey. The two staff who were stabbed

were both pharmacists in the shop. The Pharmacists' Forum says

it is shocking news. It says front line healthcare staff

face violence and abuse every day. It has called for all

workplaces to be safe. It would be very sad if we had to

have security guards in pharmacies and hopefully this will be a one-off

incident. We will be addressing security issues with the PSNI in the

future to see how we can assist our colleagues to prevent the sort of

attacks from happening. The police have

appealed for witnesses. The staff were praised for their

bravery. The two men who were stabbed were taken to hospital but

their injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

A 23-year-old man was wounded in a gun attack

Blood stains and wrappers from medical dressings mark the spot

He was wounded in the elbows, knees and ankles.

The shooting happened on this grassy area here

between Dakota Avenue and Hampton Grove.

It was shortly before eleven o'clock last night and the sound brought

people out of their houses into the dark to try

The incident has caused shock and concern in the local community.

People are upset, I have to say, and they're maybe a bit wary now.

They don't want this, they don't want this, definitely not.

I totally condemn it without reservation.

It's not for these people down here and people don't want it.

There should not be firearms back on the streets again.

It's understood the young man is not from here, but from elsewhere

His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A judge has granted an application by media organisations to lift a ban

on the publication of images of a woman who, along

with her husband, was jailed for the sexual abuse

Caroline Baker was given an 18 month jail sentence,

with another 18 months on licence, for her part in the abuse

of the woman who was kept a virtual prisoner in the Bakers' family home

Keith Baker was sentenced to 15 years in prison,

The couple kept their victim in a squalid room without carpet,

a light bulb, bedclothes or curtains, until the police

Trying to stay focussed - Lions favourite Rory Best

ahead of Ulster's latest challenge tomorrow night.

A woman has died in a road crash early this morning.

It happened on Finvoy Road between Rasharkin and Ballymoney.

The Secretary of State says he will need to make decisions

at Easter if there's still no agreement on restoring devolution.

James Brokenshire was speaking during a visit

to Antrim Area Hospital to highlight the danger to public

services because of the current talks impasse.

Sinn Fein has accused him of having a brass neck.

Here's our political correspondent, Gareth Gordon.

When you're trying to keep something alive where better

One talks process has already expired and another seems

Time to abandon Stormont Castle for a morning and head

I am here at the hospital underlining the public services that

are looking for a certainty, looking for an executive in place, to be

able to make decisions. And also to apply a bit of pressure

on politicians who seem as far away as ever from a deal

to restore devolution. Getting back to normality. That is a

different matter altogether. James Brokenshire could not have

put it better himself, but he knows the situation may soon

require drastic surgery. It is that Easter is focused that I

have for me to take decisions, therefore to introduce legislation

thereafter red so we can get on with the job, get an executive back into

place and if we don't see that, start to make decisions about what

further contingencies may need to be put into place.

But at an Irish language demo this afternoon, the former

The last time I saw James Brokenshire up close, I'm pretty

sure he had a brass neck, because the main pressure on our public

services is the austerity agenda of the Tory Government. They have

removed staff from our budget and front line services over the period

of the last Assembly and he predicts to impose another 3% decrease. The

patient James Brokenshire I may turn his attention to is the political

process. Right now the prognosis does not look good.

The Minister in Wales responsible for the Welsh Language says

unionists should embrace the Irish language which will not compromise

With the Irish Language Act, one of the biggest stumbling blocks

in the talks process at Stormont, Alun Davies told the BBC programme

The View his use of Welsh adds to his identity and

I am a Unionist and I speak Welsh, my children speak Welsh and go to

Welsh language schools. I speak Welsh when I am at home and work. It

is the part of who I am an part of my identity, part of my cultural

experience and future and is part of my British teacher. I don't need to

choose between being British are being Welsh, I can have both.

More on that in The View on BBC One at 10:40 after our late news.

There's anger about the lack of focus from Stormont on addressing

the economic fortunes of the area in and around Londonderry.

Last week, an aerospace company shuts its doors with the loss

Two of its former employees believe the region has been neglected

for years and they want the politicians to get their act

Our north-west reporter, Keiron Tourish, has

What's happening now? What are you doing with yourself? Doing some

renovations around the house. Keeping myself busy.

Catching up after a lifetime working together.

Danny McDowell and William Heywood have spent more than 70

But they've lost their jobs at the Schibo aerospace plant

after administrators couldn't find a buyer.

A lot of young people down there had good skill, now there is nothing for

them. They have to move on. My own son who worked there had to move

away, to average the way. I don't think anybody cares, to be honest

with you. 100 people lost their jobs and has been very little said about

it. You just feel as if nobody wants you more. There is no body looking

out for the younger people. We should not as young people, we

shouldn't have to travel to business up the country for jobs. There

should be jobs here. It's not happening. We don't even have a

Government and we are not doing anything about it, as far as I

conceive. There has to be something to bring jobs to Derry. The union

said it underlined the need for an executive to get up and running to

bring forward an industrial strategy.

One leading north-west businessman agrees and claims a north-west

ministerial sub-committee at Stormont met only once or twice.

The north-west is the economic blackspot of not only Northern

Ireland but the whole of the UK and within Europe and has been a special

case for a number of years but we need our politicians to address

this. We need them to do with as quickly and we need an executive up

and running. Danny McDowell and William Heywood

believe they're fortunate to have had long working lives,

but they feel the future looks bleak unless there's renewed

impetus from Stormont. In a statement this evening,

the Department of the Economy said it remains committed to putting

in place an industrial strategy to promote job creation and growth

across Northern Ireland. If you're a golf fan,

you'll probably spend a lot of time watching the TV

over the next few days because today saw the start of the first major

championship of the season - the US Masters in Augusta,

Georgia. Gavin Andrews is here

with the latest on the play. In the last few minutes,

Rory McIlroy has just teed off The only one of golf's four major

championships he hasn't won. The weather at D1 is ensuring this

is a tough test for the best golfers in the world. Very windy conditions

with gusts of 30 or 40 mph, getting stronger as the afternoon

progresses. At least the weather has improved from last night, when a

massive thunder and lightning storm meant the part three tournament and

practice were abandoned. Rory McIlroy arrives here today, feeling

very confident about his challenge. As he tries to complete the career

grand slam. And he has the backing of one of only five golfers in

history to achieve the feat, Gary player, an honorary starter today. I

would love to see Rory went, joined the five of us as a grand slam

winner. He had his problems here as we all have at some time or another,

he is not scared of that any more, subconsciously we are a little bit

scared of having that, a bad time at this course. And then he has been

playing consistently well, I am a big admirer of Rory. He has got the

best golf swing in the world today. He looks like a ballet dancer, the

way he finishes that shot. He really deserves to win it, in my opinion.

It would be very exciting for him. Rory McIlroy two. If you minutes ago

and watching some lucky fans from back home who have managed to get

their hands on the hottest ticket in sport. I would absolutely love him

winning this week, just to be here for that and see him get the clean

sweep would be unbelievable. I was in Liverpool when he won the open

then, as I'm open I'm a lucky omen for him. Joining McIlroy there is

one other Irish golfer playing this week, Shane Lowry. We will update

you on both of the progress on tonight's BBC newsline.

Ireland pair Rory Best and Paddy Jackson return

to the Ulster team for tomorrow's Pro12 game against Cardiff Blues

The Ireland captain is a favourite to be named on the British

and Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand this summer.

That announcement comes in just under two weeks' time,

but for now Best is focusing on the season run in with Ulster

having learnt the lessons of his last Lions experience four

You've got to be focused in the game, probably for years ago, I was

getting a little bit too far ahead and making sure I was available for

selection and not as focused on playing. It's a hard one to talk

about because it was so disappointing, four years ago,

everything about it. Obviously you want to rectify that but at the same

time you have been there and done that. You just have to try and get

on with your work, looking at how people deal with pressure, and this

is another pressure, but if that wasn't the Lions here, it will be a

World Cup year, a big southern Hemisphere tour coming up with

Ireland, there is always something with pressure to perform, to try and

do what you've done. Make sure your game goes right.

Finally, the Republic of Ireland women's football team have called

off their boycott of Monday's international against Slovakia.

After mediation last night, they resolved their dispute with

The weather forecast is next with Angie Phillips.

Little or no rain in the forecast over the next few days, at least not

till the weekend, even then there won't be an awful lot of rain. The

emphasis is on a lot of dry weather. A lot of cloud around today, we

started out with some sunshine towards the north by the cloud has

been feeding in off the Atlantic, even with that you couldn't say it

was unpleasant. It looked good there. Still if you bright intervals

trying to come through. We might get one or two bright intervals this

evening but the cloud is the dominant feature, as it will be to

the cause of the night. In places it could lower giving odd pockets of

drizzle, particularly over the hills, but many places will stay dry

and mild. Only if we get some clear spells coming along, it may get

chilly empires of the countryside. Into tomorrow, variable, large

amounts of cloud again. But we still have that mainly dry theme. If you

do have drizzle first thing, they will go away to leave a dry day. The

cloud is a bit of an issue, as it always is when it's dark and high

pressure. We are hoping as we go into the afternoon, although there

is more cloud than sunshine, it will try to thin out, hinting at the odd

bright spell. Temperatures should reach 12, possibly 13. Even if you

do get those breaks tomorrow, they will fill in again tomorrow night, a

played night, drizzle across the hills. Other than that, dry, not to

chilly beneath the cloud. On Saturday, we start the day on a

cloudy note, but the wind direction is different coming in from the

south and we will start to get clearer air coming in towards us.

Away from the east coast with the onshore breeze, feeling very

pleasant and amateurs getting up to slip away towards the new continent

through the weekend, allowing a weather front to move into the north

and west bringing cloud on Sunday and possibly some light rain later

on. Our late summary

is at half past ten.