Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry to focus on notorious paedophile priest Brendan Smyth

NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Live

11 May 2015 By Maurice Fitzmaurice

Pervert priest Brendan Smyth is to be subjected to a specific section as part of a massive inquiry into institutional sex abuse.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry also announced on Monday that three new institutions – Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre in Belfast and Fort James Children’s Home in Ardmore Road and Harberton House Assessment Centre in Irish Street both in Derry – are also to be looked into.

HIA Chairman Sir Anthony Hart said the extra parts to the large-scale probe will bring “the total of homes and matters to be investigated to 18”.

He said Module 6 “will examine issues arising from the actions of Fr Brendan Smyth in a number of homes in Northern Ireland, actions which have been described by a number of witnesses who have already given evidence to the Inquiry”.

Smyth died of a heart attack in prison in August 1997, just a month into a 12 year prison sentence for a raft of offences against children.

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