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| Kincora abuse investigation stopped by MI5 says ex-army officer | Kincora abuse investigation stopped by MI5 says ex-army officer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former army intelligence officer has said he was ordered to stop investigating allegations of child sexual abuse at a boys' home in the 1970s. | |
| Brian Gemmell said a senior MI5 officer told him to stop looking into claims of abuse at Kincora Boys' Home in east Belfast. | Brian Gemmell said a senior MI5 officer told him to stop looking into claims of abuse at Kincora Boys' Home in east Belfast. |
| He said he presented a report on the allegations to the officer in 1975. | He said he presented a report on the allegations to the officer in 1975. |
| In 1981, three senior care staff at the home were jailed for abusing 11 boys. | In 1981, three senior care staff at the home were jailed for abusing 11 boys. |
| It has been claimed that people of the "highest profile" were connected to abuse at the home. | It has been claimed that people of the "highest profile" were connected to abuse at the home. |
| Mr Gemmell, who worked as an intelligence officer in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, has called for a fresh investigation into the home. | Mr Gemmell, who worked as an intelligence officer in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, has called for a fresh investigation into the home. |
| He has previously spoken anonymously about his investigations into Kincora, but said he had decided to go public because he feels the allegations need to be investigated again. | He has previously spoken anonymously about his investigations into Kincora, but said he had decided to go public because he feels the allegations need to be investigated again. |
| The former intelligence officer said that he learned details of what was happening inside the home while gathering information about loyalists. | The former intelligence officer said that he learned details of what was happening inside the home while gathering information about loyalists. |
| He said he was told about the abuse by two contacts, one an agent known as Royal Flush. | He said he was told about the abuse by two contacts, one an agent known as Royal Flush. |
| 'Hostile' | 'Hostile' |
| However, after presenting his report to a senior MI5 officer, Mr Gemmell said, he was told to cease his investigation. | However, after presenting his report to a senior MI5 officer, Mr Gemmell said, he was told to cease his investigation. |
| He said: "I was summoned to go and see him. I went up thinking he was going to be pleased with me. | He said: "I was summoned to go and see him. I went up thinking he was going to be pleased with me. |
| "He bawled me out. He was rude and offensive and hostile. | "He bawled me out. He was rude and offensive and hostile. |
| "He told me not just to stop any investigation into Kincora, but to drop Royal Flush." | "He told me not just to stop any investigation into Kincora, but to drop Royal Flush." |
| Mr Gemmell said Kincora should be investigated again but said "there is not a lot of hope" that it will happen. | Mr Gemmell said Kincora should be investigated again but said "there is not a lot of hope" that it will happen. |
| "I think there's more hope than there has been in the past. Although there's not a lot, there is more than in the past." | "I think there's more hope than there has been in the past. Although there's not a lot, there is more than in the past." |
| Earlier this month, another former Army officer, Colin Wallace, said any new investigation of Kincora must have access to information from intelligence agencies. | Earlier this month, another former Army officer, Colin Wallace, said any new investigation of Kincora must have access to information from intelligence agencies. |
| Mr Wallace said he received intelligence in 1973 to say that boys were being abused, but claims some of his superiors refused to pass on the information. | Mr Wallace said he received intelligence in 1973 to say that boys were being abused, but claims some of his superiors refused to pass on the information. |