:00:13. > :00:15.A major inquiry into historical abuse of children in
:00:16. > :00:17.Northern Ireland has found there was widespread mistreatment
:00:18. > :00:20.at homes run by the state, the church and charities over
:00:21. > :00:23.The inquiry's chair - Sir Anthony Hart -
:00:24. > :00:26.recommended the Stormont Executive make an official apology,
:00:27. > :00:29.and pay compensation of up to ?100,000 to each victim.
:00:30. > :00:33.He also dismissed long-standing allegations that the security
:00:34. > :00:35.services consipired in abuse at the notorious
:00:36. > :00:41.Our reporter Kevin Sharkey has followed the inquiry's work since
:00:42. > :00:54.The inquiry investigated the physical, emotional and sexual abuse
:00:55. > :00:58.and neglect of children who are under 18 years of age. There were
:00:59. > :01:06.public hearings into a total of 22 of the homes. During its work, at
:01:07. > :01:11.the inquiry sought evidence and vast amounts of historical evidence from
:01:12. > :01:15.seven states, church, and charitable organisations. Today, a judgment on
:01:16. > :01:19.that past. A long and painful journey from
:01:20. > :01:25.troubled childhoods. Decades of suffering, years of campaigning,
:01:26. > :01:28.today, a vindication. There are individuals who provided
:01:29. > :01:33.excellent care, and there were others who were cruel and abusive.
:01:34. > :01:39.Sexually, physically and emotionally, towards children for
:01:40. > :01:43.whom the responsible. This abuse has affected many people for the rest of
:01:44. > :01:47.their lives. Thousands of young people, toddlers
:01:48. > :01:50.and teenagers, were placed into the institutions investigated by this
:01:51. > :01:59.inquiry. Hundreds of others claim they were abused or neglected.
:02:00. > :02:03.Victims and survivors of historical abuse can eventually pull the
:02:04. > :02:10.curtain back over the shame of the last 73 years.
:02:11. > :02:16.Here, here. The enquiry looked into a past, a
:02:17. > :02:20.broken place. The ruins of countless damage lies and the scandal of
:02:21. > :02:23.institutionalised abuse. We know that for the great majority
:02:24. > :02:28.of applicants, this was the first time they had described the
:02:29. > :02:33.experiences as children in residential care. Even in some cases
:02:34. > :02:38.to members of their own family. The inquiry also investigated sexual
:02:39. > :02:44.abuse at Kincora Boys' Home in east Belfast. Despite years of
:02:45. > :02:48.speculation about a Secret Service conspiracy, the inquiry found no
:02:49. > :02:53.evidence of a cover-up. We are satisfied that Kincora was
:02:54. > :02:58.not a homicidal brothel, nor used by any of the security agencies as a
:02:59. > :03:06.honeypot to entrap blackmail or otherwise exploit homosexuals.
:03:07. > :03:14.The sessions were attended by men and women, elderly and infirm. Adult
:03:15. > :03:19.lives scarred by the memories, echoes from their past demanding to
:03:20. > :03:23.be heard. Describing those experiences were
:03:24. > :03:26.not always easy. Indeed, at times, it was clearly distressing and
:03:27. > :03:31.painful. Report describes a new start call
:03:32. > :03:36.document on a bleak period in Northern Ireland's past. An often
:03:37. > :03:40.harrowing and heartbreaking account of damage lies. The future,
:03:41. > :03:46.according to the report says McGraw authors, has a duty to remember and
:03:47. > :03:50.provide redress. The apologies should be a
:03:51. > :03:56.wholehearted and unconditional recognition of the failure to
:03:57. > :04:03.protect -- protect children from abuse that should've been protected
:04:04. > :04:07.-- prevented undetected. It should be a reminder of what many
:04:08. > :04:10.children experienced in residential care for stop we have provided a
:04:11. > :04:17.detailed framework for the recommended compensation scheme, and
:04:18. > :04:21.for the redress board that would administer the compensation scheme.
:04:22. > :04:25.This was an investigation focusing on abuse, but not the inquiry praise
:04:26. > :04:31.the good work of many people walking in the suggestions. The report is
:04:32. > :04:38.now available to the public. We have urged -- urged the new
:04:39. > :04:41.executive in the Assembly temperament are recommendations and
:04:42. > :04:46.to do so as a matter of priority after the election. We believe those
:04:47. > :04:47.who have waited for so long for their voices to be heard deserve
:04:48. > :04:52.nothing less. With reaction to the findings
:04:53. > :05:06.of the Historical Institutional Institution after institution, from
:05:07. > :05:09.local authority homes to secular homes. Homes run by the Catholic
:05:10. > :05:15.Church, and one by the Church of Ireland. 22 in total. Those in
:05:16. > :05:17.charge have issued an apology, an apology to those abused in their
:05:18. > :05:21.care. Barnardo's in the past have
:05:22. > :05:26.expressed our deep regret for what happened in those particular
:05:27. > :05:31.children. We have said yet, yes, we did feel to protect those particular
:05:32. > :05:36.children at that particular time. Does is bring shame to Barnardo's?
:05:37. > :05:39.I don't think you bring shame, because we did exercise our duty of
:05:40. > :05:44.care when we realised we had problems. We approach the inquiry
:05:45. > :05:46.with openness and have taken responsibility to bring about change
:05:47. > :05:52.and learn from the lessons. The largest number of complaints
:05:53. > :05:57.related to four Sisters of Nazareth homes, much of the abuse was known
:05:58. > :06:01.to members of the clergy. The report finds nothing was done to stop the
:06:02. > :06:07.abuse. The report was discussed were proprietors today.
:06:08. > :06:11.I think all of us must accept the findings of this report, a operate
:06:12. > :06:18.fully the new Northern Ireland Executive in ensuring that proper
:06:19. > :06:22.reparation is made, and proper outreach to those who have been hurt
:06:23. > :06:26.or traumatised by these awful things, that that happens.
:06:27. > :06:30.The Department of Health has conceded systemic failings on the
:06:31. > :06:37.half of its predecessor, specifically in connection to
:06:38. > :06:48.legislation. The Health Minister said...
:06:49. > :06:54.Bernardo say that, while lessons have been learned, organisations
:06:55. > :07:00.cannot rest on their laurels. Any organisation that says there is
:07:01. > :07:05.no risk is very unwise. I think what's important is to be constantly
:07:06. > :07:08.vigilant and constantly learning and improving our standards.
:07:09. > :07:12.The Department of Justice say the findings of the report are being
:07:13. > :07:14.carefully examined. Any new lessons to emerge from it will be an cut
:07:15. > :07:15.upon. A murder investigation has begun
:07:16. > :07:18.after the body of a woman was discovered at a house in Lurgan
:07:19. > :07:21.early this morning. Police say she was
:07:22. > :07:22.51-year-old Anita Downey. A man arrested on suspicion of her
:07:23. > :07:25.murder remains in police custody. A postmortem examination is expected
:07:26. > :07:31.to take place tomorrow. Police say a man has been arrested
:07:32. > :07:33.in connection with recent social media posts that made serious
:07:34. > :07:36.allegations against a It follows a series
:07:37. > :07:41.of paramilitary-style The arrest followed the search
:07:42. > :07:44.of a house in Sinn Fein are to reveal next Monday
:07:45. > :07:51.who will replace Martin McGuinness. Politicians from across the board
:07:52. > :07:57.have paid tribute to the former Deputy First Minister,
:07:58. > :07:59.including the DUP MP Ian Paisley, who thanked him for his
:08:00. > :08:02.contribution to peace. But how did that praise go
:08:03. > :08:05.down in the DUP MP's We took to streets of
:08:06. > :08:18.Ballymena to find out. I think it was measured. I think it
:08:19. > :08:22.was of the time. It has to be said. I think it's hard to forget about
:08:23. > :08:27.Martin's earlier life and what he did in that time will stop he's
:08:28. > :08:31.never really come clean about that. A great deal of lettuce people in
:08:32. > :08:36.this country, very few Christians. Mr Paisley showed he was a bridge in
:08:37. > :08:43.last night. Did he go too far?
:08:44. > :08:48.I would say yes. McGuinness, maybe he has tried his
:08:49. > :08:54.best over the past ten years. Football man, Glentoran won three
:08:55. > :09:05.now. After the recent gloom, we're
:09:06. > :09:10.guaranteed something a little brighter. It is going to feel
:09:11. > :09:14.chilly. We have night frost as well. A frosty one tonight, as the clouds
:09:15. > :09:19.clear. Temperatures dropping to freezing, a couple of degrees or so
:09:20. > :09:24.below that in rural areas. That will go slowly tomorrow, a lot of dry
:09:25. > :09:28.weather, some sunshine too, and the best of that sunshine likely to be
:09:29. > :09:34.in the morning time, before cloud starts to edge in in the afternoon.
:09:35. > :09:38.A lot of sunshine, but cold after a frosty start tomorrow, applied
:09:39. > :09:44.edging in from the North Sea into England. Also cloud from the south
:09:45. > :09:49.west. This is likely to edge towards us in the early afternoon. The
:09:50. > :09:52.bright and sunny spells coming through, but temperatures
:09:53. > :09:57.struggling, only around 6 degrees. Cloudy on Sunday, some showers in
:09:58. > :09:58.the east, mainly dry, but still quite chilly.
:09:59. > :10:03.Our next BBC Newsline is at 5:20pm tomorrow afternoon, here on BBC One.