Inquiry Hears 1 in 5 Boys at Co down Children’s Home Say They Were Abused

The Journal
September 29, 2014

http://www.thejournal.ie/abuse-rubane-house-1-in-5-1696824-Sep2014/

The independent Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry at Banbridge Court, Northern Ireland.

AN INQUIRY EARLIER today was told that one in five former residents of a children’s home in Co Down were sexually abused.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry is examining allegations made about Rubane House in Kircubbin.

The home was ran by the De La Salle religious order from 1950 to 1985 and its residents were mostly boys aged 11-16. It’s one of 13 Northern Ireland institutions being investigated.

BBC reports that 55 of the 1,050 former residents have come forward to the inquiry to allege they were physically or sexually assaulted, while a further 150 boys made allegations in the past but have not contacted the inquiry.

The inquiry has heard that the paedophile priest, Father Brendan Smyth, was among the offenders.

First published 2.34pm