Catholic children's home in Northern Ireland was scene of 'rampant' sexual abuse of boys

Alleged victims of paedophile priest Father Brendan Smyth
(above ) are among those expected to give evidence

Sexual abuse was rampant at a children's home in Northern Ireland run by a Catholic order of brothers, a former senior policeman has said.

Around a fifth of boys at Rubane House in Co Down were subjected to sexual or physical abuse, according to a public inquiry, equal to if not worse than that at another notorious home, Kincora in east Belfast.

Rubane was the subject of a police investigation in the 1990s, the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry was told.

Three De La Salle Order brothers were charged but none convicted after their trials did not go ahead due to legal issues.

Former Royal Ulster Constabulary Detective Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson wrote a note to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that read: 'Sexual abuse by a considerable number of the De La Salle brothers on the children and consequently between children is rampant.'

Most offenders were already dead or medically certified unfit for trial.  (more...)

Catholic children's home in Northern Ireland was scene of 'rampant' sexual abuse of boys

Related:

MI5 'stopped Kincora abuse probe'