Kincora boys’ home abuse: Files handed to HIA inquiry

UNITED KINGDOM
BBC News

The discovery of new state papers about the Kincora abuse scandal does not mean the inquiry into what happened should be extended, the NI secretary has said.

There is pressure to include the east Belfast boys’ home in the Goddard abuse inquiry in England and Wales.

However, Theresa Villiers said the right place for the new files to go was the Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA).

It cannot compel witnesses or documents from agencies like MI5.

‘Best forum’

New government files containing allegations about Kincora have been handed over to the HIA.
Three senior care staff at Kincora were jailed in 1981 for abusing 11 boys. At least 29 boys were abused at the home between the late 1950s and the early 1980s.

Ms Villiers said the inquiry, chaired by Sir Anthony Hart, was “doing an exceptionally good job”.

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