Anyone following the news will note the conclusion of the Historical Abuse Inquiry into children’s homes and social services for those in care by the state. Its findings are without any shadow of a doubt a shocking scar on the local psyche. Some in the Roman Catholic Church have been complicit in the systematic punishment and molestation of young people they were tasked with looking after. I feel a sense of sickness in my gut reading some of the accounts and anecdotes which have emerged from it.
But there is one notable absence in the whole thing and that is the failure to comprehensively investigate exactly what was similarly going on at Kincora Boy’s Home in East Belfast. Mike Nesbitt told the media some time ago that it needs to be held to account and that he was prepared for any of the findings, including the possibility that some members of the Ulster Unionist Party may have been complicit in what was occurring under the watchful eye of the state. I say “watchful” because anyone in the know is aware that the British Intelligence services weren’t just cognisant that boys were being abused at Kincora; they were using it as a “honey-pot” brothel of surveillance so as to gather damaging information on Unionist politicians and leading Loyalists as a means of recruiting and blackmailing them accordingly.
There have been accusations of high profile establishment figures having visited Kincora regularly, many of whom are now dead. But if all those involved remain deceased, then why the hesitation to open the episode up to scrutiny? Why the reluctance to have a similar inquiry into what was going on and who exactly was involved? Surely there can be no hierarchy of victims.
These are dark questions and cannot but produce dark conclusions. But allow me to speculate some food for thought on the matter. We all know that Britain ran agents in the IRA and Loyalist paramilitaries, that’s clear. However, what it isn’t clear is how they also ran agents within political parties on both sides of the border in Ireland. Anyone who has watched the film “J. Edgar Hoover” knows it’s really not that hard to understand; blackmailing people over their private lives and affairs to do your dirty work politically.
The burning questions which the public really must know are who was involved? And are they still active politically? We need to wake up to the fact that some members of the Orange Aristocracy who governed this state from its inception subjected innocent young boys to the most brutal regime of rape and torture, to fulfil their sexual appetites. We need to wake up to the fact that some of these people have a dual mandate, to both the public and to the spooks complicit in the cover up. Getting to the truth regarding Kincora really ought to be a pertinent election issue, for how we treat victims is reflective on us as a society. The central finding which so many seek to duck remains, that if the Unionist and Loyalist working class knew exactly what kind of people exist among those they elect, they would be compelled to rethink their endorsement of them altogether.
I heard Judge Hart stating his opinion on the non role of the Brit state in respect of Kincora, I had a wee smile to myself, simply because, some year’s ago I provided written evidence of an abuse allegation at one state institution I was aware of, having, pre-University, worked there.
Of course, neither the inquiry, nor my Deputy, had any interest in investigating this matter, it seems, the higher up the six county food chain you are, the less answerable you become.
Thankfully the information is now in other hands but, other information was rejected by the Criminal justice inspectorate, victims of institutional abuse need an inquiry into the inquirers.
‘The non-role of the Brit state’.
Would that involve the activities of at least one Secretary of State?
Apparently at least one was a regular customer at Kincora.
His security detail would arrive in one car, go in and check the place was secure.
Then a second car, containing this SoS, would arrive and he was escorted into a particular room where his victim would be waiting.
An hour or so later he would leave – and this happened about once a week for most of his ‘service’ looking after the people of N Ireland!
This comes from someone who worked at Kincora at that time!
Sherdy, I once worked in a UDA part of east Belfast, my colleague, a local gaisun, had spent time there while himself a teenager, told me passing it one afternoon that two well known unionist politicians were regular visitors, one is still alive but, the cover up will continue, can’t upset the apple cart for fear of exposing Louis and them Battenbergs.
Right Jude, how about hearing you dissect the inquiry findings forensically and intelligently rather than using the horrific abuse at Kincora for your predictable sectarian grandstanding.
Ted, Theresa Villiers moved the Kincora inquiry from the english inquiry which had powers to compel evidence from special branch to the HIA which did not.
Even the evidence found in the english investigation which drew attention to it in the first place was not included.
But let me dissect the inquiry findings in relation to Kincora forensically for you
Evidence not accessible
Witness is not compellable
You don’t want to go there
I don’t think so
Run along now, there’s a good chap.
I want the full facts to come out about Kincora. I have my suspicions that we haven’t heard the full story. At the moment the evidence isn’t there. What I don’t want is Jude Collins twisting a vitally important issue and a national scandal to promote his predictable sectarian agenda. And no, I won’t be running along any time soon.
Ted, I agree that it would be beneficial to have a skilled journalist, like the blog owner, dissect and analyse the facts and outcomes of this ‘inquiry’.
For mine own part, I should be happy, were Jude to undertake such, to provide, with identities redacted, the evidence I supplied to the inquiry in 2015.
This, I am of opinion, is another Widgery, cover up with cash to buy off dissent, the guilty shall escape while, again, a dreadful padeophile ring on the Ballynafeigh side of the Ormeau Rd., direcrly connected to an institution, the Orange order, has escaped any scrutiny.
Again, many decades ago, I am aware the RUC had the evidence, the only investigation and conviction was of a victim.
Let’s be absolutely clear, Ted. Are you saying that I am sectarian – that is, a political/religious bigot?
Just putting this here…
“we have stripped away the overgrowth of decades of ill-informed comment, half truths and deliberate misrepresentations which have all too often masqueraded as established facts.”
https://goo.gl/mmqf52
Is there any evidence Mick, that britain have blocked evidence and made documents containing evidence and information which could lead to further evidence under the guise of national security ?
Not that I can see. Worth quoting this on McGrath:
“397 William McGrath was a sexual pervert who had political and religious views of an extreme and bizarre type who managed to trick gullible young men who were interested in political matters into regarding him as an important political figure. William McGrath was never more than a minor player on the wider political stage who managed to create a spurious air of self-importance through Tara at a time of great political instability, communal violence and terrorist activity. Tara was never more than an organisation of occasional interest to the security agencies.”
Mick Fealty, you are either very naïve or …………..well, worse.
When you have faced these ‘impartial’, ‘above reproach’ whiter than white ‘upstanding’ citizens of our community I.e judges, on other matters then you will know and understand why so many wouldn’t heed a word these people would say. Tools of the state handpicked by tools of the state will always ensure the tools of the state are protected. Please pay attention, there’s a good lad.
Then I would agree with you Ted, as im sure Jude would too since it wasn’t him wrote this piece but Donal.
And I never asked you to run along, I was suggesting that is how the last remaining living victim must feel he is being treated knowing what happened to him, knowing evidence was found in England linking back to Kincora which is how it ended up in the english abuse inquiry in the first place and now hearing there is no evidence of wrong doing.
The declaration of no evidence makes us proud to be british im sure.
To hell with the economy, I want nothing to do with these people, their supporters or this sick state.
Mick Fealty like MT, will only ever see what he wants to see, only ever hear what he wants to hear.
Unlike MT, I don’t think he even comprehends the offense his disgusting insinuations cause.
It is not possible to live among people like this, we should not fool ourselves any more that they are capable of change,
While these people have any say in this country, there will never be peace.
Not in any part of this island.