NORTHERN IRELAND
Daily Mail
Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry – Report Chapters
By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline
A paedophile ring run by British Establishment figures did not abuse boys in the notorious Kincora boys’ home in Belfast – but there were hundreds of children who were attacked by sex offenders led by a paedophile priest, a major report said today.
Inquiry chairman Sir Anthony Hart said the VIP gang claims are not supported by credible evidence and insisted the abuse did not extend beyond the three guilty staff members.
Some victims alleged to have been abused by figures including the late Liberal MP Cyril Smith, Cabinet ministers, clergymen, pop stars, spies, judges and members of the royal household.
Sir Anthony denied this happened at Kincora but did say that there was widespread sexual abuse of children and police investigations in the mid-1970s were ‘inept, inadequate and far from thorough’.
He said authorities in Belfast were guilty of a ‘catalogue of failures’ and said if a proper investigation had been undertaken many victims might have been spared.
Hundreds of victims should be offered a tax-free lump sum compensation payment, Sir Anthony said, this would be at least £7,500 with the amount rising according to the severity of the abuse.
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