NORTHERN IRELAND
Befast Telegraph
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD – 30 DECEMBER 2014
Police are investigating more than 700 claims of child abuse in Northern Ireland, it can be revealed.
Officers are probing 718 “live” cases where the victim was aged under 18.
The figure is thought to include a number of historic allegations relating to children’s care homes.
It comes as a leading charity revealed it has seen the number of calls to a specialist helpline jump by almost a quarter in the last year.
The issue of child abuse has been in the headlines throughout 2014. A State inquiry into historical abuse in Northern Ireland, chaired by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, opened in January.
The inquiry, which has so far been contacted by 524 individuals, has already heard harrowing testimonies from victims.
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