Sisters of Nazareth Become Second Catholic Order to Admit to Child Abuse

By Henry McDonald
The Guardian
January 14, 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/14/de-la-salle-brothers-order-admits-abuse-boys-care-home

Two Catholic orders have now admitted children were abused in their care at the largest inquiry into institutional child abuse in UK legal history.

The Sisters of Nazareth nuns joined the De La Salle Brothers in their admissions on Tuesday that girls and boys were subjected to physical and sexual abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland that they controlled.

On day two of hearings at the Northern Ireland historical institutional abuse inquiry, Turlough Montague, a barrister representing the nuns, said: "They recognise the hurt that's been caused to some children in their care. They apologise unreservedly for any abuse suffered by children in their care. They go forward hoping that lessons will be learned, not just by them in the provision of care but also by carers generally in society and in wider society at large."

Earlier at Banbridge courthouse, Kevin Rooney, a barrister representing the De La Salle Brothers, told the inquiry the religious order accepted there was abuse at its boys' home in Kircubbin.

Rooney said: "They accept and deeply regret that boys in their care were abused. They wish to offer their sincere and unreserved apology to all those whom they failed to protect.

"The Brothers recognise the human pain and suffering caused to those victims that have been abused."

These were the first two religious orders to give evidence at the inquiry, which is estimated could cost up to ?19m and is expected to run until June 2015. More than 400 people will give evidence with up to 300 witnesses ready to speak in person at the tribunal.

It was set up to investigate claims of widespread sexual and physical abuse in 13 institutions ranging from orphanages to young offender institutions. The inquiry will examine claims relating to the Kincora boys' home in east Belfast where a senior Orangemen, the late William McGrath, along with a number of loyalist extremists, repeatedly raped young children.

The tribunal may also have to explore allegations that the security services MI5 and RUC special branch knew about the abuse in Kincora but failed to act because some of those responsible were state agents.

Chaired by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, the inquiry will also investigate the practice of shipping 120 local children from these institutions to Australia between 1947 and 1956.

Christine Smith QC, the senior counsel for the inquiry, said today that post-war welfare reforms in Britain were not adopted by many of the institutions now under scrutiny.

Smith said: "The evidence suggests that those homes operated as outdated survivors of a bygone age."