NORTHERN IRELAND
Irish Times
Gerry Moriarty
The North’s Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry on Tuesday began investigating the “extraordinary allegations” that elements of the British state colluded in the abuse of children at Kincora Boys’ Home in east Belfast.
The inquiry, among a number of matters, is trying to determine whether there is any truth to allegations that elements of the British secret services were implicated in facilitating a paedophile ring to operate at the boys’ home during the Troubles.
It is claimed that up to 30 boys were abused at the home between the late 1950s and the early 1980s.
In 1981 three senior staff — William McGrath, Raymond Semple and Joseph Mains – were imprisoned for abusing 11 boys. Now the inquiry is investigating allegations that organisations such as MI5 and/or MI6 may have facilitated the abuse of children for blackmail purposes during the Troubles in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Junior counsel to the inquiry, Joseph Aiken, in providing an overview of the Kincora allegations said that the inquiry would also examine allegations that the late and former head of MI6, Sir Maurice Oldfield abused boys at Kincora.
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