Northern Ireland: Amnesty International asks MLAs to back inclusion of Kincora in Westminster inquiry

Amnesty International has written to all Northern Ireland MLAs asking them to support the inclusion of Kincora Boys' Home in the UK-wide inquiry into child sexual abuse.

The call comes ahead of a debate on the issue this morning (Tuesday) in the Assembly.

The human rights organisation has also asked for support for their call that the government should waive the Official Secrets Act to enable witnesses such as former Army intelligence officers to give evidence to the inquiry, being chaired by Fiona Woolf QC.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director of Amnesty International, said:

"After decades of rumours of abuse and cover-up, the Woolf Inquiry may present the last opportunity to get at the truth about Kincora.

“There are deeply disturbing claims - that MI5 turned a blind eye to child abuse and actively blocked a police investigation, instead using the paedophile ring for its own intelligence-gathering purposes.

“With Kincora, the power to secure the release of key documents from Whitehall or MI5 filing cabinets is absolutely vital.

“That is why we need the backing of the Northern Ireland Assembly, to demonstrate a strong, united voice from our political representatives that the UK government must act.

“Nothing less than the inclusion of the Kincora home in the new inquiry and the waiving of the Official Secrets Act, is likely to see the truth about this murky episode emerge.”