Boy’s murder ‘most horrific’ case in abuse inquiry

By Sharon O'neill
UTV
September 2, 2015

http://www.u.tv/News/2015/09/02/Boys-murder-most-horrific-case-in-abuse-inquiry-44247

The sister of a teenage boy murdered by the IRA in 1973 has described her shock at hearing his case is the “most horrific” before the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.

Bernard Teggart was a vulnerable 15-year-old boy when he was abducted by the IRA, along with his twin brother Gerard, from St Patrick’s Training School in west Belfast in November 1973.

Gerard was let go, but his brother was beaten, tortured, shot and dumped near Belfast Zoo.

“At first they had taken Gerard, thinking Gerard was Bernard, because they were identical. They brought Gerard back and then came and took the two of them,” Alice Harper, Bernard and Gerard’s sister told UTV.

“The problem that Gerard has to this present day, is he heard Bernard getting beat, they were taking him down the stairs in this house, and they were taking [Gerard] to send him home.

“I pray for them, because nothing will ever bring my brother back. It was terrible just watching Gerard,” Alice continued.

“He has been through so much.”

She added: “Over and over in my head all these years, I keep imagining my brother with his hands and feet tied and then getting shot in the back of the head. Nobody there. What was he like taking his last breath? It’s really horrendous.”

More than four decades on, more information has emerged about how Bernard suffered at the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, which is focusing on the Catholic-run institution.

The inquiry, chaired by Sir Anthony Hart, is examining physical, sexual and emotional harm to children at homes run by the church, state and voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland.

Counsel revealed Bernard’s killing was the most horrific incident of child abuse to come before the inquiry.

His family, who were not at Banbridge Courthouse on Wednesday, are in shock.

“To find out it was one of the worst abuse [cases], that’s really killing me.”

Alice Harper, Bernard’s sister

It was also revealed at the inquiry that the abduction of Bernard and Gerard was not reported to the police by the school.

“If they had have reported it right away, our child would have been saved. I am convinced he would have been saved,” Alice continued.

The IRA denied any involvement in the murder, until in 2004 when they finally admitted killing him and apologised to his loved ones.

Alice said: “He was completely innocent and it took me 30 odd years to get the IRA to open up to murdering him and then to be told by the IRA that he was a completely innocent child and it should never have happened – that doesn’t bring my brother back.”

The family has suffered enormous loss during the Troubles. They not only lost Bernard, but also their father Daniel who was killed in the Ballymurphy massacre.

The inquiry has a deadline to submit its findings to the Northern Ireland Executive by 17 January 2017.