This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/23/theresa-may-under-pressure-belfast-care-home-abuse-westminster-inquiry-kincora
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Government will not include Belfast boys' home in nationwide abuse inquiry | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The disclosure of secret state files on abuse allegations at a notorious Belfast boys’ home will not prompt a government rethink on its exclusion from a UK-wide abuse inquiry. | The disclosure of secret state files on abuse allegations at a notorious Belfast boys’ home will not prompt a government rethink on its exclusion from a UK-wide abuse inquiry. |
| The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, said the best forum to examine claims of political involvement in a paedophile ring that operated from Kincora boys’ home was an ongoing Stormont-established inquiry, chaired by the retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, not the nationwide inquiry being chaired by the New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard. | |
| Campaigners for Kincora’s inclusion in the UK-wide inquiry have highlighted that the Northern Ireland-specific investigation does not have the powers to compel security services witnesses to give evidence or produce documents. | |
| “The Hart inquiry is doing an exceptionally good job,” Villiers said. “We feel that it is the right forum to investigate the despicable events that took place at Kincora. | |
| “Like everyone else, we want to ensure that the truth is discovered, that these events are fully investigated and we believe the Hart inquiry is the best forum to do that.” | “Like everyone else, we want to ensure that the truth is discovered, that these events are fully investigated and we believe the Hart inquiry is the best forum to do that.” |
| Paedophiles abused boys from the Kincora home in east Belfast during the 1970s. While three staff members were convicted in 1981, it has long been alleged that well-known figures in the British establishment – including senior politicians – were also involved. | Paedophiles abused boys from the Kincora home in east Belfast during the 1970s. While three staff members were convicted in 1981, it has long been alleged that well-known figures in the British establishment – including senior politicians – were also involved. |
| Related: Leon Brittan among senior Westminster figures named in new child abuse files | Related: Leon Brittan among senior Westminster figures named in new child abuse files |
| Moreover, it has been claimed that the UK security services knew about the crimes but did nothing to stop them, instead using the knowledge to blackmail and extract intelligence from influential men who were committing the abuse. | Moreover, it has been claimed that the UK security services knew about the crimes but did nothing to stop them, instead using the knowledge to blackmail and extract intelligence from influential men who were committing the abuse. |
| Amnesty International is among the campaigners making fresh calls for Kincora’s inclusion in Justice Goddard’s inquiry, following the discovery of a series of confidential government files. | |
| Amnesty’s Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan, questioned the government’s stance. | Amnesty’s Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan, questioned the government’s stance. |
| “Nothing less than a full public inquiry – with all the powers of compulsionthat brings – can finally reveal what happened at Kincora,” he said. | “Nothing less than a full public inquiry – with all the powers of compulsionthat brings – can finally reveal what happened at Kincora,” he said. |
| “It is not too late for the government to reconsider its position.” | “It is not too late for the government to reconsider its position.” |
| The Home Office said the papers were uncovered during a fresh search of the archives, carried out after a file emerged that should have been submitted to a government-established inquiry examining whether evidence linking prominent figures to child abuse was deliberately destroyed. | The Home Office said the papers were uncovered during a fresh search of the archives, carried out after a file emerged that should have been submitted to a government-established inquiry examining whether evidence linking prominent figures to child abuse was deliberately destroyed. |
| The contents of the freshly located files have not been made public but the Cabinet Office has provided brief descriptions. The papers included a file about the former Northern Ireland minister and Conservative MP Sir William Van Straubenzee, which also “contained references to the Kincora boys’ home”. | The contents of the freshly located files have not been made public but the Cabinet Office has provided brief descriptions. The papers included a file about the former Northern Ireland minister and Conservative MP Sir William Van Straubenzee, which also “contained references to the Kincora boys’ home”. |
| Another group of papers contain allegations made by the former military intelligence officer, Colin Wallace, about Kincora. It is known that Wallace claimed the intelligence services blocked police investigations in the 1970s into alleged abuse at the home. | Another group of papers contain allegations made by the former military intelligence officer, Colin Wallace, about Kincora. It is known that Wallace claimed the intelligence services blocked police investigations in the 1970s into alleged abuse at the home. |
| The Cabinet Office said that group of the papers also make reference to Van Straubenzee, as well as the former cabinet minister Leon Brittan; Peter Morrison, an aide to Margaret Thatcher; and ex-diplomat and former deputy director of MI6, Sir Peter Hayman. | The Cabinet Office said that group of the papers also make reference to Van Straubenzee, as well as the former cabinet minister Leon Brittan; Peter Morrison, an aide to Margaret Thatcher; and ex-diplomat and former deputy director of MI6, Sir Peter Hayman. |
| A former resident of Kincora, Gary Hoy, is currently making a legal challenge against the government’s refusal to include the facility in the Justice Goddard inquiry. | |
| Villiers said all relevant documentation was being made available to the Hart investigation. | |
| “The government is determined to do all it can to cooperate with the Hart inquiry on these matters and provide whatever we can in terms of disclosure,” she said. | “The government is determined to do all it can to cooperate with the Hart inquiry on these matters and provide whatever we can in terms of disclosure,” she said. |
| Chris Lyttle, the East Belfast Alliance member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said claims that the state covered up the Kincora scandal have been bolstered by the new files because they show the Thatcher government was discussing the care home in the 1980s. | Chris Lyttle, the East Belfast Alliance member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said claims that the state covered up the Kincora scandal have been bolstered by the new files because they show the Thatcher government was discussing the care home in the 1980s. |
| Lyttle said the files on Wallace name government figures allegedly involved in paedophile rings in Belfast and London. | Lyttle said the files on Wallace name government figures allegedly involved in paedophile rings in Belfast and London. |
| Related: Thousands of child abuse victims to be invited to testify in truth project | Related: Thousands of child abuse victims to be invited to testify in truth project |
| “Systematic abuse took place at this house. The nature of that abuse and alleged cover-up are unable to be investigated in the way they should be by the HAI. | “Systematic abuse took place at this house. The nature of that abuse and alleged cover-up are unable to be investigated in the way they should be by the HAI. |
| “Only the Home Office’s inquiry has the power of compulsion to ask the people who need to be quizzed the questions that will bring truth and justice to the survivors and victims of Kincora.” | “Only the Home Office’s inquiry has the power of compulsion to ask the people who need to be quizzed the questions that will bring truth and justice to the survivors and victims of Kincora.” |
| A number of the survivors of abuse at the care home, run by prominent loyalists including the Orangeman and convicted paedophile William McGrath, have claimed they were taken from east Belfast to London in order to be abused by establishment figures at places such as Dolphin Square where a paedophile ring operated in the 1970s. | A number of the survivors of abuse at the care home, run by prominent loyalists including the Orangeman and convicted paedophile William McGrath, have claimed they were taken from east Belfast to London in order to be abused by establishment figures at places such as Dolphin Square where a paedophile ring operated in the 1970s. |
| Wallace first raised his concerns about what was going on at Kincora as early as 1973. He and other military intelligence officers alleged that the paedophiles abusing boys at Kincora were being blackmailed by RUC special branch and MI5 to spy on fellow hardline loyalists during the 1970s. | Wallace first raised his concerns about what was going on at Kincora as early as 1973. He and other military intelligence officers alleged that the paedophiles abusing boys at Kincora were being blackmailed by RUC special branch and MI5 to spy on fellow hardline loyalists during the 1970s. |
| Three senior care staff at Kincora, including McGrath, who was an agent/informer for MI5 and special branch, were jailed in 1981 for abusing 11 boys. | Three senior care staff at Kincora, including McGrath, who was an agent/informer for MI5 and special branch, were jailed in 1981 for abusing 11 boys. |
| At least 29 boys were abused at the home between the late 1950s and the early 1980s. A number of the victims later killed themselves. | At least 29 boys were abused at the home between the late 1950s and the early 1980s. A number of the victims later killed themselves. |