Hia Sex Abuse Inquiry: No Credible Evidence British Establishment Paedophile Ring Operated in Belfast Boys" Home Kincora

Belfast Telegraph
January 20, 2017

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/hia-sex-abuse-inquiry-no-credible-evidence-british-establishment-paedophile-ring-operated-in-belfast-boys-home-kincora-35383455.html

Sir Anthony Hart led the independent Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry

There was "no credible evidence" of a paedophile ring made up of members of the British Establishment using an east Belfast boys home to carry out abuse, Sir Anthony Hart has said while delivering his report on historical institutional abuse at a series of children's homes run by church and charity in Northern Ireland.

Retired judge Sir Anthony Hart chaired an independent panel, the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry, helped by a team of lawyers and researchers.

On Friday he delivered his 2,300 page-long, 10 volume report saying he had the full co-operation from state, religious orders and government in its making.

Sir Anthony Hart said: "Our terms of reference, unlike other current inquiries, were not limited to sexual abuse, we examined allegations of physical and emotional abuse and other failings to provide proper terms of care."

At the notorious Kincora boys home, where there were numerous allegation made of abuse, Sir Anthony said if an adequate RUC investigation had been carried out "those sexually abused after 1976 would have been spared their experience."

The inquiry investigated persistent claims that intelligence agencies covered up the crimes committed by a paedophile ring in the home in the 1970s in order to blackmail some alleged high-profile abusers from within the British Establishment.

However, Sir Anthony ruled this out saying there was no "credible evidence" such an operation was in existence.

Ahead of outlining his conclusions on the home, Sir Anthony said the Government's assurance that all files and evidence would be given to the inquiry had been "honoured".

Also among those to be singled out was the Sisters of Nazareth order which ran boys homes at Nazareth House and Nazareth Lodge in Belfast and Termonbacca and Bishop Street in Derry.

Sir Anthony said: "The largest number of complaints to the HIA related to four homes of the Sisters of Nazareth religious order. In each of the four homes some nuns engaged in physical and emotional abuse against children. Emotional abuse was widespread in all homes."

Turning to Rubane House which was run by the Catholic De La Salle order, Sir Anthony said children were subject to "excessive physical punishment" and fell victim to "physical assaults".

Four-hundred-and-ninety-three people gave evidence to the Sir Anthony Hart headed investigation over 223 hearings - some in Australia - which outlined claims of brutality and sex abuse dating back to the 1920s in institutions run by churches and the state.

Delivering his opening statement, Sir Anthony Hart said it was "clearly distressing and painful" for those taking part

"We hope in some way giving evidence helped those who were not listened to in the past," he said.

Sir Anthony said the investigation found many examples of good practice.