NI abuse inquiry hears from witnesses sent to Australia

RTE News
September 1, 2014

http://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2014/0901/640658-ni-abuse-inquiry/

Evidence of those who featured in the UK administration's child migration scheme have never before been aired before a judicial inquiry

An Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland has started to hear evidence of the child migration scheme that selected over 100 children from institutions and sent them to Australia.

It is the first time that a judicial inquiry will hear evidence of the practice operated by the UK authorities in the years immediately after World War II. 

When the inquiry team went to Australia last year to begin gathering evidence about Northern Irish children who participated in this scheme, they interviewed a 75-year-old man.

He told them: "We were exported to Australia like little baby convicts. I found it hard to show affection to my children when they were young. I have a nightmare every night of my life. I relive my past and I am happy when daylight comes." 

The man has since died, but his full statement and the video evidence accounts of over 50 others will be heard in Banbridge over the next three weeks.

The majority of them were aged eight and under when they were selected from Northern Ireland institutions, mainly homes run by the Nazareth Order, and sent to Australia.

The inquiry is breaking new ground. Evidence of those who featured in the UK administration's child migration scheme have never before been aired before a judicial inquiry.

Campaigners will now press British Prime Minister David Cameron to set up a similar forum in Britain.