Home Affairs Select Committee Supports Kincora Claim

01 Jan 2018

Health and Social Care, Inquests and Inquiries, Public Law and Judicial Review

The Home Affairs Select Committee today published a report into the Child Abuse Inquiry in England and Wales, and said:

‘We recommend that the scope of the inquiry be extended to include cases of abuse in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where there is reason to believe that material relevant to the case might be held by the UK Government. This would include cases such as the Kincora Boys’ Home.’

The abuse at the Kincora Boys’ Home has already led to the imprisonment of three members of its staff. There are credible reasons to believe that the abuse there was permitted or authorised by State agents, with the aim of blackmailing prominent Loyalists. At present the abuse is due to be investigated by Historical Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland, which has no powers of compulsion against the UK Government.

Ashley Underwood QC represents victims of the Kincora abuse, and is bringing a judicial review challenge, arguing that the inquiry must have such powers of compulsion and that it ought not to be conducted by the Historical Abuse Inquiry. That challenge is due to be heard on 17 February 2015.