Two Catholic orders admit child abuse

Two religious orders of the Catholic Church have admitted the allegations of child abuse in their residential homes across Northern Ireland.

The De La Salle Brothers and the Sisters of Nazareth nuns confessed that boys and girls in their care were subjected to physical and sexual abuse in some children’s residential institutions in Northern Ireland.

The confession came on the second day of public hearings into allegations of historic child abuse in Northern Ireland’s churches and state-run homes.

The inquiry is considered to be the largest public probe into institutional child abuse in British legal history.

Kevin Rooney, a barrister representing the De La Salle Brothers, apologized for the abuse and suffering of victims at a boys’ home run by the religious order in Kircubbin, County Down.

“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,” Rooney said.

Turlough Montague, a barrister representing the nuns, also admitted the allegations, saying “They recognize the hurt that’s been caused to some children in their care.”

The major inquiry began at the Banbridge Courthouse in the northeastern County Down on January 13.

At least 300 witnesses are to testify to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) on physical, sexual and emotional harm inflicted upon children at state and church institutions over a 73-year period between 1922 and 1995.

More than 400 individuals have applied to speak to the inquiry, which is examining claims against 13 different care homes and orphanages in Northern Ireland.