Call for abuse report on NI church
Hundreds of child abuse victims in Northern Ireland have demanded a full inquiry into the mistreatment they suffered in institutions run by the Catholic Church and the state.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
The victims have called for a major investigation similar to the Ryan report that catalogued abuse by Catholic clergy in the Republic of Ireland.
A lawyer for the victims said they suffered sexual and physical abuse in cases dating back to the 1940s, but believed they have been discriminated against since inquires in the south of Ireland did not extend to Northern Ireland.
Solicitor Joe Rice said he had written to First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, plus Secretary of State Shaun Woodward, detailing the demand for an inquiry into child abuse in the jurisdiction over the last 70 years.
'Endemic'
"We have instructions from a significant number of clients who have been, and are, the victims of abuse, whether sexual, emotional, physical or through neglect, in numerous church and state run institutions in Northern Ireland since 1947," the victims' letter read.
"It is apparent that the level of abuse was widespread and endemic and moreover that all the institutions involved had a duty of care to those children placed in their trust and responsibility under the different statutory frameworks in the post-war period."
Mr Rice said the cases related to a range of institutions, including homes run by the Catholic Church and the state which housed orphaned children, or those referred to the institutions by the courts.
The institutions would have been overseen by inspectors linked to the old Stormont government in Northern Ireland, but took place in a time when he said the relevant authorities fell short of their duty to many of the children being held in care.
"We believe that the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Department of Education are the principal successors in title to those institutions and Government departments throughout the years which had overarching responsibility for the care and welfare of children who were unable to be accommodated in their own homes," said the victims' letter.
Mr Rice said many of his clients had approached him and other solicitors following the release of the Ryan Report.
Sinn Fein backed the calls for an inquiry into the abuse claims.
"Victims in the north deserve to have their abuse and mistreatment acknowledged, there needs to be full accountability and restitution from the religious orders. They need to fully accept their moral obligation to the victims", Sue Ramsey, who sits on the Stormont health committee,said.
© Press Association