Biggest UK Public Inquiry into Child Abuse to Begin, ITV, January 13, 2014

Biggest UK Public Inquiry into Child Abuse to Begin

ITV
January 13, 2014

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-01-13/historical-child-sex-abuse-hearing-to-open-in-northern-ireland/

Sir Anthony Hart will chair the historical child abuse trial.

Many of the homes were run by religious orders and thus evaded state scrutiny.

Public hearings into allegations of historical child abuse in church and state-run homes in Northern Ireland will begin later today. The inquiry is the biggest into historical allegations of abuse to occur in the UK.

Retired senior judge to lead UK's biggest abuse trial

Retired senior judge Sir Anthony Hart will lead the public hearings into historical allegations of sexual abuse across a number of state and Church schools and homes for children across Northern Ireland.

Sir Anthony Hart's probe was ordered by Northern Ireland's executive after the problem was found to be "endemic" across similar institutions across the border in the south of Ireland.

The expert panel will investigate whether sexual, emotional or physical harm was inflicted upon children and if there were systemic failings by institutions or the state in their duties towards children in their care between 1922 and 1995.

300 witnesses to give evidence at abuse hearings

More than 300 witnesses from Northern Ireland, Australia, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain are expected to give evidence during the public hearings into allegations of historical abuse that will begin later today.

The inquiry will begin with a focus on two homes run by the Sister of Nazareth nuns in Derry, St Joseph's at Termonbacca and Nazareth House on Bishop Street.

Most of those giving evidence will do so in person, though some may only submit a written statement.

Child sex abuse inquiry hearings to begin

Public hearings into allegations of historical child abuse in church and state-run homes in Northern Ireland will begin later today. The hearings will be the biggest undertaken into historical allegations within the UK.

The inquiry is examining the extent of allegations of abuse in a number of state and church institutions: children's homes, orphanages, industrial schools, workhouses, borstals, hospital units and schools for disabled children.