Hundreds of children were abused at Church and state-run institutions over seven decades
Ministers from each party in the NI Executive have apologised on behalf of the state
So did representatives from six institutions that ran facilities where abuse took place
While many welcomed the official apology, survivors criticised some of the institutions' statements for being "insincere"
The apology was a key recommendation made by findings of the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry in 2017
Image source, PacemakerThat's the end of our coverage after a day that's been long-awaited for the survivors of historical institutional abuse.
You can continue to follow this story online on the BBC News NI website.
BBC Radio Ulster will have the latest on Evening Extra from 4pm, as will BBC Newsline on BBC One NI at 6:30pm.
Thanks for following along with our coverage.
While today was a momentous day for survivors, and the culmination of decades of campaigning, the story is not yet finished.
For one thing, an official apology was just one of the recommendations made by Sir Anthony Hart at the end of the wide-reaching HIA Inquiry in 2017.
He also said there should be a memorial and compensation for victims.
Work is under way to deliver compensation to victims, with a review being carried out amid criticisms that the process has been too slow.
But with Northern Ireland currently without a fully-functioning government, and an election to be held in May, it remains unclear just how quickly these issues will be resolved.
We've been hearing reaction to the official apologies made to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse.
It's clear that survivors are angry with what some of the religious institutions said.
Here's a round-up of some of what they've been saying:
While our local politicians were praised for making an official apology, Gerry McCann from the Rosetta Trust criticised the government for not having a first and deputy first minister there to lead it.
"Today was very tough in many ways for survivors, but to come to parliament and expect an apology from the first and deputy first minister and that didn't happen - that in itself is an indictment of our politics.
"I cant help but feel the opportunity was there for the political parties to reinstate the first minister, even for two hours
"Our apology was stolen."
Mr McCann adds that the apology from the Sisters of Nazareth in particular was "cold", saying that they lost an "opportunity to grasp and recognise what has gone before".
"We were left in that chamber hurt again.
"We didn't get the best outcome but we did our best and I'm glad this journey has come to an end."
Jon McCourt praises the apology given by ministers - when asked what they did differently compared to the institutions, he says politicians "sat and thought out and listened to what it was we said".
He accuses the institutions of failing to do this in their apologies - so much so that some victims had to leave the room while they were speaking.
"What happened today was supposed to heal and I think for some people it may well have compounded the hurt and that's regrettable."
Jon McCourt points to a black armband he is wearing which shows a picture of his sister, Annette, who died in 2012 and his friend Una Irvine.
"They never got to hear what was said in that room today and I actually feel blessed at the fact that they didn't have to sit through what appeared to be an apology from the Sisters of Nazareth."
Jon McCourt from Survivors North West gives a damning response to the apologies given by the religious institutions today.
"If what happened today was the best that the church could offer by way of an apology they failed miserably," he says.
"There was no emotion, there was no ownership.
He calls on the intuitions to "do the right thing" and contribute to the redress fund for survivors, saying that institutions in Scotland have done this for people there.
"I don't believe that the church and institutions atoned today," he says.
Caroline Farry attended St Joseph's Training School in Middletown from 1978-1981, which was overseen by nuns from the Sisters of St Louis.
She was among those angry at their apology this afternoon and also criticised the redress scheme, which is looking at a compensation process for survivors.
"This redress board has put me through more trauma than I ever went through when I as in care," she says.
"They believe every word the nuns said."
She adds: "They punished us by giving us five cigarettes a day - I went into care not smoking and came out addicted to cigarettes.
"That is abuse."
Ms Farry says the government gave some closure but that victims and survivors "have to live with this for the rest of our lives".
It's clear that many survivors and campaigners accept what ministers said earlier, but are not happy with the apologies from those representing the institutions - some are clearly quite angry over what they heard.
Six institution representatives spoke earlier in the assembly chamber - four representing Catholic orders, one from Barnardo's and one from a Church of Ireland missionary organisation.
Pádraigín Drinan, from the campaign group Survivors of Abuse, says she was "disgusted" with what the religious groups had to say.
"In particular the St Louis' nuns who did not apologise at all," she says.
"They continue to contest cases, they say they believe people but they do not."
She adds that the Sisters of Nazareth order "say they're sorry they took away people's identities" but accuses them of not giving over records when asked.
"If these people were genuine and remorseful, then they should be co-operating with victims and helping with cases."
Alice Harper speaks to the media on behalf of her brother, who was a victim of abuse and has since died.
"I will not and cannot accept the apology from the De La Salle Brothers," she says.
"How dare they?
"My brother was one of the worst abused victims and I didn't know that until the report. It's hard for us to take.
"I will never accept their apology for what they've done to our family."
Margaret McGuckin also criticised the apologies from religious institutions, saying: "They were made and forced to come to this today.
"With the greatest respect, they're not sincere.
"Why did we have to fight this length of time, why was there such a battle.
"They apologised but I take that with a pinch of salt."
Ms McGuckin says she did believe the ministers' apologies were sincere.
Margaret McGuckin, from the campaign group Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (Savia), has been campaigning for justice for 15 years.
She says: "We thought when they said they were starting the inquiry in 2011, that would be it."
But it's taken more than a decade for survivors to receive an apology.
Ms McGuckin says the constant delays by the government for redress and an apology had "made a fool out of us".
"The way we have been treated all these years, have hurt and damaged us.
"This campaign has caused trauma.
"The apology today has been more than welcomed but we had to demand and lobby, even threaten more legal action just to get to this stage.
"So we won't slap them on the back and say well done."
Peter Murdock, from campaign group Savia, who suffered years of abuse at Nazareth Lodge Orphanage from the age of 6, spoke to media gathered at Stormont's Great Hall.
He likened the institution to an "SS camp".
"The terrors that me and my older brother went through were extremely shocking," he says.
He says he's here for his brother, who died last December.
"It's shocking to hear a nun from the institution apologising," he says.
"My personal opinion as a victim is that it comes 30 years too late."
"Apologies are one thing but people need to realise that it has to come from the heart. They say it came from the heart but why did they not apologise 30 years ago?"
Image source, PacemakerCampaigner for survivors Margaret McGuckin pictured with some others who went to Stormont to hear the apology
Ministers from the five main Stormont parties have each apologised for the abuse hundreds of children endured in church and state-run homes in Northern Ireland.
It comes five years after the HIA Inquiry report was published, which examined that abuse over seven decades.
Its chair Sir Anthony Hart had recommended compensation, an apology and a memorial.
Ministers from from the Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, Alliance, UUP and SDLP each spoke on behalf of their party, the executive and the government.
Julian Smith, who served as NI's secretary of state from 2019 to 2020, says he had the honour of meeting with and working with many of the abuse survivors when he was in that role.
"Hearing their stories, reading that report, I think there was no way I wasn’t going to come and be with them today," he says.
"I can’t speak highly enough of what they've achieved.
"I think they've also achieved being the first in the UK for getting an apology and getting institutions and the state to say sorry."
It was an apology decades in the making that took just under half an hour to deliver.
One-by-one, five Northern Ireland ministers, representing each of the parties sitting in government, took to their feet to apologise for abuse suffered by many children over seven decades at Church and state-run institutions.
You can watch comments from each minister below on a momentous day for survivors and campaigners.
Abuse apology: 'Nothing like this should happen again'
For those waiting decades for recognition of the decades-long historical abuse suffered by many young people in Northern Ireland, today has been an important day.
The official apology at Stormont started with Fiona Ryan, the commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse, who outlined the significance of today’s proceedings, before a minute's silence was observed.
We then heard apologies from five executive ministers, one each from the main political parties, who spoke on behalf of the government.
This was followed by official apologies from six representatives of institutions where abuse took place.
We’re now expected to hear reaction from victims and survivors who are due to speak in the Great Hall at Stormont this afternoon, so stay with us.
Speaker Alex Maskey brings the session to an end and adds some comments of his own.
"Our thoughts are with victims and survivors today and it is for you to form your own views," he says.
"I also hope that others watching today will reflect on our past and how our society looks after those who need our support, both now and in the future."
The final speaker representing institutions is Rev Mark Jones, from the Irish Church Missions, a Church of Ireland organisation which ran Manor House home in Lisburn from 1929 until its closure in 1984.
He says the Sir Anthony's report identified abuse and systemic failures at the home and he profoundly apologises.
"These were crimes that could have been detected and should have been prevented. And we acknowledge that such violations robbed you of your childhood and that you continue to live with the consequences to this day."
He says the organisation recognises the courage of survivors in coming forward.
"Our trustees, management and staff failed you while you were in our care," he adds, before offering an unreserved apology to those who were abused while resident in Manor House home.
Ms Janes says she has spoken to victims and has reflected on their experiences.
“You were clearly let down when you were most vulnerable,” she says.
“What happened to you has affected you as you have grown into an adult… raised families of your own… it has affected your relationships.”
“We can’t go back and change things but we have learned from our failings.
Ms Janes says Barnardo's has changed how they train staff to ensure children are protected and robust checks are carried out in advance.
Next up is Michele Janes, the director of Barnardo's Northern Ireland.
She says: "We now know there were times when we failed to query the behaviours that staff displayed.
"When concerns were reported – we did not use the systems and processes we had in place robustly enough to ensure your voice was heard and to address concerns."
Ms Janes says Barnardo's recognises when concerns were raised, those responsible should have been removed from their roles.
"Instead, they moved around freely," she says.
"We are sorry.
"It created a climate of fear when you should have felt nurtured and safe."