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Theresa Villiers says Kincora not to be included in UK abuse inquiry Theresa Villiers says Kincora not to be included in UK abuse inquiry
(about 1 hour later)
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has said allegations of abuse at the east Belfast Kincora boys home will not be included in a new UK-wide inquiry into child sex abuse.Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has said allegations of abuse at the east Belfast Kincora boys home will not be included in a new UK-wide inquiry into child sex abuse.
Ms Villiers said the best way to address the allegations was for them to be examined by the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. Ms Villiers said the best forum to address the allegations was the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.
It is investigating child abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland. There have been claims that the security services knew about the abuse of boys at the home.
Three senior care staff at Kincora Boys home were jailed in 1981.Three senior care staff at Kincora Boys home were jailed in 1981.
In July, the Home Secretary Teresa May announced a UK-wide investigation following claims of an establishment "cover-up" over allegations of paedophile activity at Westminster. Last month, the assembly backed a motion that said allegations MI5 had been involved in covering up abuse at the Kincora Boys home could not be adequately investigated in any way other than by a Westminster-led UK inquiry.
In July, Home Secretary Teresa May announced a UK-wide investigation following claims of a e cover-up over allegations of paedophile activity at Westminster.
In response, politicians and others called for Kincora to be included in the inquiry.In response, politicians and others called for Kincora to be included in the inquiry.
Ms Villiers said she had been giving "careful consideration" on the best way to address the allegations of abuse at Kincora and said the HIA inquiry was the "better forum" to investigate the claims. However, Ms Villiers said the HIA inquiry into institutional abuse being chaired by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart was the "better forum".
"The protection of children is a devolved matter and legislation was enacted by the Northern Ireland Assembly to establish the inquiry," she said."The protection of children is a devolved matter and legislation was enacted by the Northern Ireland Assembly to establish the inquiry," she said.
"The inquiry has already received a number of reports relating to allegations of abuse that took place at Kincora."The inquiry has already received a number of reports relating to allegations of abuse that took place at Kincora.
"It has wide powers of compulsion under section nine of the act to require persons and bodies to produce evidence, although, respecting the fact that it is a body established by the devolved authorities, those powers do not extend to the UK government."It has wide powers of compulsion under section nine of the act to require persons and bodies to produce evidence, although, respecting the fact that it is a body established by the devolved authorities, those powers do not extend to the UK government.
"The Home Office inquiry panel will have no such powers of compulsion, unless a decision is made to turn it into a statutory inquiry at some point in the future."The Home Office inquiry panel will have no such powers of compulsion, unless a decision is made to turn it into a statutory inquiry at some point in the future.
"In addition, because the protection of children is a devolved matter, it would clearly be less appropriate for the inquiry panel to make recommendations for Northern Ireland concerning the running of the child protection system there."In addition, because the protection of children is a devolved matter, it would clearly be less appropriate for the inquiry panel to make recommendations for Northern Ireland concerning the running of the child protection system there.
"Because the inquiry's powers of compulsion do not extend to the UK government, concern has been expressed as to whether it will be able to deal effectively with the allegations that have been made of misconduct and cover-up regarding the horrific events that occurred at Kincora.""Because the inquiry's powers of compulsion do not extend to the UK government, concern has been expressed as to whether it will be able to deal effectively with the allegations that have been made of misconduct and cover-up regarding the horrific events that occurred at Kincora."
Ms Villiers told the Commons that the Northern Ireland Office had "already started this process" by disclosing a list of files to the inquiry held by the NIO relating to Kincora boys' home. Campaigners have expressed concern that the local inquiry cannot compel witnesses from the UK government.
"In parallel the MoD has begun work to establish whether it holds any documents which are relevant to the inquiry, and other UK departments and agencies will do likewise," she added. However, Ms Villiers said the UK government and its agencies, including the Ministry of Defence and the security service MI5 will give the Hart inquiry "the fullest possible degree of co-operation".
The secretary of state said she would "monitor carefully the extent to which the inquiry is able to make progress in respect of material relevant to Kincora".The secretary of state said she would "monitor carefully the extent to which the inquiry is able to make progress in respect of material relevant to Kincora".
"We will look at the situation again if the inquiry tells us it is unable to determine the facts," she said."We will look at the situation again if the inquiry tells us it is unable to determine the facts," she said.
'Disappointment''Disappointment'
"In the event that this were to occur, there remains the possibility of seeking agreement to bring the Kincora allegations within the terms of reference of the inquiry panel, along with the option of converting it into a statutory inquiry.""In the event that this were to occur, there remains the possibility of seeking agreement to bring the Kincora allegations within the terms of reference of the inquiry panel, along with the option of converting it into a statutory inquiry."
The HIA inquiry was first announced in 2010 and was formally set up by Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers on 31 May 2012.The HIA inquiry was first announced in 2010 and was formally set up by Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers on 31 May 2012.
It is the biggest public inquiry into child abuse ever in the UK and began its first public hearings in January 2014.It is the biggest public inquiry into child abuse ever in the UK and began its first public hearings in January 2014.
It is being chaired by Sir Anthony Hart.
Its aim is to establish if there were "systemic failings by institutions or the state in their duties towards those children in their care" dating from 1922 to 1995.Its aim is to establish if there were "systemic failings by institutions or the state in their duties towards those children in their care" dating from 1922 to 1995.
It will also determine if victims should receive an apology and compensation.It will also determine if victims should receive an apology and compensation.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt expressed "disappointment" that Kincora would not be included in the UK-wide inquiry. East Belfast MP Naomi Long said the victims and survivors of Kincora had been "let down" by the decision.
"Kincora is under the spotlight not just for allegations of abuse but also claims that security services participated in blackmail and cover-ups around it," she said.
"While the secretary of state is correct in saying the welfare of children is a devolved matter to Northern Ireland, the security services are not."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt expressed "disappointment".
"I acknowledge the work the secretary of state says she has carried out to ensure all UK government departments and agencies, including the security services, make available to Sir Anthony all relevant documents they hold regarding Kincora," he said."I acknowledge the work the secretary of state says she has carried out to ensure all UK government departments and agencies, including the security services, make available to Sir Anthony all relevant documents they hold regarding Kincora," he said.
"However, Theresa Villiers' statement also makes clear there is no certainty that Sir Anthony can compel witnesses and that is the critical weakness."However, Theresa Villiers' statement also makes clear there is no certainty that Sir Anthony can compel witnesses and that is the critical weakness.
"Again, I acknowledge the secretary of state is working with colleagues in government to address that point, but until it is resolved satisfactorily, these proposals have a potentially fatal weakness. That would be a betrayal of the victims.""Again, I acknowledge the secretary of state is working with colleagues in government to address that point, but until it is resolved satisfactorily, these proposals have a potentially fatal weakness. That would be a betrayal of the victims."