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Northern Ireland inquiry report outlines shocking child abuse Belfast police failed to stop sexual abuse of boys in care, inquiry finds
(35 minutes later)
Shocking instances of historical child abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland have been outlined in the findings of a four-year inquiry into mistreatment of residents. Police were guilty of a “catalogue of failures” over the abuse of boys at a Belfast care home run by a paedophile ring, a comprehensive report has found.
Sir Anthony Hart, its chairman, is announcing the conclusions of the wide-ranging report in Belfast on Friday – in a statement due to last more than two hours. The historical institutional abuse inquiry, which was established in 2014, said a Royal Ulster Constabulary investigation into sexual abuse at the Kincora boys care home in east Belfast was “inept, inadequate and far from thorough”.
The retired judge is dealing with the 22 church, state and charity-run homes in sequence. The inquiry’s remit included an investigation into the care home, which was run by a number of paedophiles whom it was alleged were agents of the state. They included the prominent Orange Order member William McGrath, who was accused of being an informer for MI5 and Special Branch in the 1970s, spying on fellow hardline loyalists.
At the start of the statement, he said 189 former residents made allegations of maltreatment regarding four homes run by nuns in the Sisters of Nazareth order. At least 29 boys were sexually abused by McGrath, who was the Kincora housemaster, and others at the home. One boy is said to have killed himself by jumping off a ferry into the Irish Sea in the late 1970s following years of abuse. Three senior staff at Kincora – McGrath, Raymond Semple and Joseph Mains – were jailed in 1981 for abusing 11 boys.
He said some nuns engaged in physical and emotional abuse of children, with the “denigration and humiliation” of residents widespread. The retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, who chaired the inquiry, said if a proper investigation had been undertaken by the RUC many of the victims might have been spared.
Turning to a home run by the Catholic De La Salle order, Hart said children were subjected to excessive physical punishment and physical assaults. But he said the notion that Kincora was a homosexual “brothel” used by the security services to entrap paedophiles and get them to spy on influential political figures was without foundation.
He said systemic physical, emotional and sexual abuse took place at the De La Salle-run St Patrick’s training school in Belfast. Hart said children were often humiliated, such as being stripped of their clothes and forced to stand naked. Hart was announcing the conclusions of the report in Belfast on Friday, in a statement due to last more than two hours and dealing with 22 church, state and charity-run homes in sequence.
He said there was evidence of corporal punishment and staff sexually abusing girls at the Rathgael training school in Bangor. The Stormont executive and those institutions which ran homes where child abuse took place should offer a “wholehearted and unconditional” apologyto their hundreds of victims, the inquiry recommended.
In regard to the Good Shepherd Sisters facilities in Belfast, Londonderry and Newry, the retired judge said there had been unacceptable practices of young girls being forced to do industrial work in the laundries. Hart said 189 former residents made allegations of maltreatment regarding four homes run by nuns in the Sisters of Nazareth order.
In Lissue House, Lisburn, he said there was an unacceptable use of physical restraints and injections to sedate children, and that some children were sexually and emotionally abused by “unfeeling” staff. He said some nuns engaged in physical and emotional abuse of children, with the “denigration and humiliation” of residents being widespread.
The inquiry also found failings by the diocese of Down and Connor, the County Welfare Authorities/Health and Social Services Board, the Ministry of Home Affairs/ Department of Health and Social Services and local and statutory authorities. Turning to a home run by the Catholic De La Salle order, Hart said children were subjected to excessive physical punishment and physical assaults. Systemic physical, emotional and sexual abuse took place at the De La Salle-run St Patrick’s training school in Belfast, where children were often humiliated, for example, by being stripped of their clothes and forced to stand naked.
Evidence from hundreds of witnesses during 223 days of hearings outlined claims of brutality and sexual abuse dating back to the 1920s in institutions run by churches, the state and Barnardo’s charity. Hart said there was evidence of corporal punishment and staff sexual abuse of girls at the Rathgael training school in Bangor.
Hart has already indicated that compensating victims will be among his recommendations. But it is uncertain when action will be taken amid a crisis at Stormont and looming elections following the resignation of deputy first minister Martin McGuinness. In regard to the Good Shepherd Sisters facilities in Belfast, Derry and Newry, the retired judge said there had been unacceptable practices of young girls being forced to do industrial work in the laundries.
The public inquiry was ordered by Stormont’s ministerial executive following pressure from alleged victims and similar investigations in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere. In Lissue House, Lisburn, he said there was an unacceptable use of physical restraints and injections to sedate children, some of whom were sexually and emotionally abused by “unfeeling” staff.
The inquiry also found failings by the diocese of Down and Connor, the County Welfare Authorities/Health and Social Services Board, the Ministry of Home Affairs/ Department of Health and Social Services, and local and statutory authorities.
Evidence from hundreds of witnesses over 223 days of hearings outlined claims of brutality and sexual abuse dating back to the 1920s in institutions run by churches, the state and the Barnardo’s charity. Hart has already indicated that he will recommend compensation for victims.
It is uncertain when his recommendations will be acted on amid the crisis at Stormont, including upcoming elections following the resignation of the deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness.
The public inquiry was ordered by Stormont’s ministerial executive after facing pressure from survivors and similar investigations being held in the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere.