Abuse cover-up led to paedophile cleric continuing terror

Abuse cover-up led to paedophile cleric continuing terror

25 January 2017

A FAILURE to deal with allegations of sexual abuse at Rubane House in Kircubbin led directly to the sexual abuse of more children in Downpatrick, an inquiry has ruled.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry findings released this week found one Brother based at the De La Salle Order run home sexually abused boys in Rubane over a number of years. After a “gravely deficient” investigation into his activities in 1958, he was moved to a primary school in Downpatrick in the 1960s and continued his offending.

Chaired by Sir Anthony Hart, the Inquiry, which examined 22 homes across Northern Ireland run by state, church and charities over a period of 73 years, found evidence of systemic failings in all but two. 

The allegations of repeated sexual assaults by a Ruane House Brother, later moved to Downpatrick, were first made at the Inquiry hearing at Banbridge Courthouse in the autumn of 2014. This week, the report confirmed the abuse and was highly critical of its handling. The Brother concerned is referred to only as BR 17, and the Brother who investigated him as BR 19.

“We are satisfied that BR 17 sexually abused boys in Rubane over a number of years,” the report read. “We consider BR 19’s handling of the investigation in 1958 was gravely deficient…. BR 17 remained in post for almost four more years until he was moved on 1 August 1962 to work in a primary school in Downpatrick.  We are aware from documentation provided by the Order that BR 17 sexually abused children while working in Downpatrick. 

“Had BR 19 reported the 1958 allegations to the civil authorities as he should have done, then it may well be the case that BR 17 would have been brought to justice at that time, and so have been unable to abuse more children in Rubane and in Downpatrick.”

The inquiry noted that BR 17 maintained contact with two children after they left Rubane to return to their families and when he himself had left Rubane. The Brother, who offered financial help to the family, then stayed overnight and abused one of the boys.

The report recorded the impact of the abuse on his victim, who told the Inquiry: “It wasn’t  just  the  physical  aspect  of  the  abuse  that  affected  me;  it messed  with  your  mind. I remember  thinking  I hope when I grow up it isn’t compulsory the way mass and prayers were compulsory. I was thinking I hope this isn’t something all adults do because it doesn’t seem right at all.”

Overall, the report found sexual abuse was occurring regularly between 1953 and 1971 in the home, which opened in 1950. It also came to the shocking conclusion that for a five-year period from 1957 to 1962 three Brothers were all sexually abusing boys.

The report also found children in Rubane House were living under the threat of “random and unpredictable” violence from some Brothers and lay staff. It found that of the widespread physical abuse, some of it amounted to “serious physical assault”.

Newcastle man Sam Adair, a former resident of the home who campaigned for an inquiry, said Sir Anthony’s report into the abuse suffered by him and other children was a comfort.

“Anthony Hart did nail the sexual physical violent and torturous abuse of children,” he said. “We are glad he nailed those things. He also did it for Nazareth Lodge.”

He added: “Victims were asked specific questions about the modus operandi of Fr Brendan Smyth and these De La Salle Christian Brothers. It was the same thing, the same method of operating.

These were not people storytelling.”

“All of this has been proven today.”

Margaret McGuckin of SAVIA (Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse), who spent time as a child in Nazareth House in Belfast, also welcomed the report’s findings. “We are vindicated,” she said. “We are believed. Our day has come.”

While the De La Salle Order did not accept all the accuracy of all the allegations directed at it during the Inquiry, it issued an apology at the beginning of the hearing.

“First and foremost, the Brothers would wish to say publicly at the outset of this Inquiry that they accept and deeply regret that boys in their care were abused.  They wish to offer their sincere and unreserved apology to all those whom they failed to protect,” the Order said. 

“The De La Salle Order has previously acknowledged that innocent victims within its care were abused by some of its members.  That some Brothers abused boys in their care was in total contradiction of their vocations as De La Salle Brothers and of their mission as established by their founder, namely to look after the welfare and educational needs of deprived, vulnerable and abandoned children.