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The independent Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry at Banbridge Court, Northern Ireland. PA Archive/Press Association Images

Inquiry hears 1 in 5 boys at Co Down children's home say they were abused

It also heard that paedophile priest, Father Brendan Smyth, was among the offenders.

AN INQUIRY EARLIER today was told that one in five former residents of a children’s home in Co Down were sexually abused.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry is examining allegations made about Rubane House in Kircubbin.

The home was ran by the De La Salle religious order from 1950 to 1985 and its residents were mostly boys aged 11-16. It’s one of 13 Northern Ireland institutions being investigated.

BBC reports that 55 of the 1,050 former residents have come forward to the inquiry to allege they were physically or sexually assaulted, while a further 150 boys made allegations in the past but have not contacted the inquiry.

The inquiry has heard that the paedophile priest, Father Brendan Smyth, was among the offenders.

First published 2.34pm

Read: Child sex abuse survivors far more likely to be disabled, poor and live alone in later life>

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    Mute Benny
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    Apr 20th 2019, 12:20 AM

    How many of these incidents led to prosecutions?

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    Mute tooler doogan
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    Apr 20th 2019, 1:14 AM

    @Alan O Donoghue: profound comment!

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Apr 20th 2019, 8:15 AM

    @Benny: isn’t the 25c per fine for each overdue book not enough?;-)

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    Mute Michelle McCabe
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    Apr 20th 2019, 6:55 PM

    @Benny: I’d say as you guess very few

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    Mute Artur Gurta
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    Apr 20th 2019, 6:52 AM

    Headline should read “Confirmed: Dublin is a kip full of pr1cks”

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    Mute Tom Nolan
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    Apr 20th 2019, 12:31 AM

    Suspended sentence

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    Mute Al Madzer
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    Apr 20th 2019, 1:26 AM

    @Tom Nolan: cheers judge….

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    Mute Bass demon
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    Apr 20th 2019, 12:40 PM

    Anyone that attacks members of the emergency services should get an automatic 10 year jail sentence, no plea bargaining or sob stories should be entertained.

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    Mute Damien O'Cáthail
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    Apr 20th 2019, 5:03 PM

    Attacked by the ones getting a free ride through life provided by the council I bet.

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    Mute mondoburley80
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    Apr 20th 2019, 5:01 AM

    Gimme that bleedin boook

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Apr 20th 2019, 4:29 AM

    God damn librarians.

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    Mute Ah hold on now
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    Apr 20th 2019, 11:18 AM

    I would suggest that SOME (definitely not all) of these “victims” version of assault would be somewhat questionable. On a similar vain to the personal injury claims we hear about day in day out.

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