Former Kincora Residents Launch Legal Proceedings against Villiers

Irish News
January 17, 2015

http://www.irishnews.com/news/former-kincora-residents-launch-legal-proceedings-against-villiers-1406607

FORMER residents of Kincora Boys' Home in east Belfast have issued legal proceedings against the secretary of state over her refusal to have the abuse they suffered investigated as part of the Westminster inquiry into historical sexual crime.

In October, Theresa Villiers announced that Kincora would not form part of the Home Office Independent Panel into sexual abuse and would instead be included in the ongoing Sir Anthony Hart inquiry into church and state abuse currently hearing evidence in Banbridge.

There had been calls for Kincora to come under the Westminster probe as it will have greater powers to compel former security and intelligence service personnel to give evidence.

This is amid allegations from whistle blower Colin Wallace that British army intelligence was aware boys at the home were being abused but that members of the RUC and senior political figures conspired to cover up a paedophile ring that included senior members of the establishment.

Although three members of staff at the home, William McGrath, pictured right, William Semple and Joseph Mains, were jailed for abusing boys in their care, there has long been a belief that the true extent of the crimes perpetrated against vulnerable children was covered up to protect paedophiles in positions of influence, including unionist

politicians.

The secretary of state said the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry into state and Church-run institutions was the more appropriate forum for the Kincora allegations to be examined.

However, solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law said they are now in the process of lodging a judicial review to challenge this decision, saying they do not consider the HIA inquiry to be in compliance with human rights law.

Saying that his clients quest for truth and accountability

for the long term, physical, mental and sexual abuse suffered was being further delayed by the denial of a proper investigation.

"The allegations of our clients and others have been in the public domain for years", Mr Winters said.

"There is now an opportunity for the truth to be uncovered and for our clients to be able to move on with their fractured lives.

"This opportunity is being lost because of the UK government's fear of being exposed.

Mr Winters added that the Kincora case includes; "state agents in a very dark episode of the conflict in Northern Ireland."