NORTHERN IRELAND
Londonderry Today
Northern Ireland’s public inquiry into child abuse is to investigate three more state-run institutions – two of which were in Londonderry, the chairman has said.
The Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry has extended its work to cover Hydebank Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast and former homes at Fort James and Harberton House, Londonderry.
Another section will focus on issues arising from the actions of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, a serial child molester who frequented some Catholic residential homes, according to HIA chairman Sir Anthony Hart.
He is heading what was the UK’s largest probe into child abuse and has been investigating homes run by religious orders of nuns and brothers.
The treatment of children in church-run residential homes is a key concern of the investigation, which is considering cases between 1922 – when Northern Ireland was founded – and 1995.
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