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An internal view of the courtroom at Banbridge, Northern Ireland, as a public inquiry into historical child abuse begins today. Paul Faith/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Public inquiry into historical child abuse in NI begins today

The inquiry will focus on claims of abuse by institutions run by organisations like churches and the state in Northern Ireland.

THE NORTHERN IRELAND public inquiry into institutional abuse of children is to begin today.
The Inquiry will commence its oral hearings in the former Banbridge Courthouse at 2pm.

The alleged abuse at 13 Catholic, secular, local authority and juvenile detention institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995 will be investigated by by the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry.

Abuse

Speaking in September, the Chairman, Sir Anthony Hart, said the Inquiry had received 363 applications from people claiming to have suffered abuse.

While many of the victims are living in Northern Ireland other applications were received from Britain, approximately 20 were received from the Republic of Ireland and and a “significant number” were received from Australia.

Today’s hearings will initially focus on Institutions at Termonbacca and Sisters of Nazareth, Bishop Street in Derry with dates of subsequent hearings to be announced in due course.

Inquiry

In total there are three other Catholic homes being investigated are: Nazareth House and Nazareth Lodge children’s homes in Belfast and the De La Salle Boy’s Home, Rubane House in Kircubbin, County Down.

Barnardo’s Sharonmore Project and Barnardo’s Macedon in Newtownabbey are the two  secular voluntary homes under investigation.

The three local authority homes are: Kincora Boy’s Home in Belfast, Lissue Children’s Unit in Lisburn and Bawnmore Children’s Home in Newtownabbey.

St Patrick’s Training School in Belfast, Lisnevin Training School in County Down and Rathgael Training School, Bangor in County Down are the the three juvenile justice institutions under investigation.

Read: 19,044 referrals about child abuse concerns were received in 2012>

Read: ‘Scant evidence’ that Mayo/Sligo diocese told gardaí about child abuse>

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:30 PM

    If immigration was apparently the top issue, and the single-issue far-right anti-immigrant parties couldn’t even get seats, then there is no hope for them lol. The current govt who have been overseeing the migration “issue” is reelected. This echo chamber won’t be happy and clearly doesn’t reflect the rest of the nation.

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    Mute M To The B
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:44 PM

    @9QRixo8H: these people predominately exist on social media and are based on foreign soil. They absolutely do not represent the views of the vast majority of Irish people

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    Mute Stiles
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    Jun 9th 2024, 6:36 PM

    ming has worked tirelessly to call out hypocrisy corruption and general BS since he started in his career.. he is one of the most honest politicians I’ve ever come across.. he actually wants to improve our country.. most politicians are just spouting about whatever topical soundbites are currently fashionable to have an opinion on, while behind the scenes being only interested in lining their pockets.. this man is the real deal.. just my opinion..

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    Mute John finn
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    Jun 9th 2024, 6:54 PM

    @Stiles: thanks. You made me laugh. See you in 5 years time ming

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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:33 PM

    Brendan, the extreme left hypocrite, speaking for the Irish people. How many votes did you win?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:37 PM

    @Oh Mammy: The Irish people spoke for themselves yesterday, and I am not ‘extreme left’.

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:40 PM

    @Oh Mammy: Think he supports FFG, who have topped the polls. How many votes did your far right parties get? You’ve all been very quiet licking those wounds.

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    Mute Éamonn OKane
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:08 PM

    @Oh Mammy: you need her, time for your bottle

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    Mute Hibernicus
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    Jun 9th 2024, 2:50 PM

    None the wiser, then!

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    Mute tom mitchell
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:11 PM

    Surely away to digitalize the vote for 2042 elections

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    Mute Adam O'Sullivan
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    Jun 9th 2024, 3:14 PM

    @tom mitchell: There is, but they’ve been sitting in a barn for 20 odd years!

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:52 PM

    At least he called out the agribusiness lobby. On a radio discussion some idiot tried to raise the “derogation issue.
    Ming pointed out that it affected some 300 farmers in the constituency out of 13,000 and asked why it should be discussed.
    No. 1 for me!

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    Mute Ronan Mc
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    Jun 9th 2024, 5:10 PM

    Bring in e-voting for these huge constituencies. Only fair way to do it.

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:29 PM
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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Jun 9th 2024, 4:33 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: https://euandi.eu/en/survey/european-elections.html
    This is a better link

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