NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

The first member of the De La Salle religious order to give evidence to the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry has denied abusing boys in his care.

The brother, known at the inquiry as BR10, taught at Rubane House boys home, County Down, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Several former residents accused him of physically abusing them at the home.

Earlier, the inquiry took evidence from a lay worker at Rubane, who also denied abuse and claimed the boys pulled knives on each other in the home.

‘Dumping ground’

He said the incident happened after a De La Salle brother was removed amid sex abuse allegations.

The lay staff member worked at Rubane more than 30 years ago and has been accused of assaulting a number of boys, which he denies.