Brother was moved to Downpatrick school where he abused children

Brother was moved to Downpatrick school where he abused children

CHILDREN at Rubane House in Kircubbin were living under the threat of “random and unpredictable” violence from some Brothers and lay staff, a report has found.

The findings of the  Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry released today found there was widespread physical abuse at the De La Salle Order run home, some of which amounted to “serious physical assault”.

It also noted the “systemic” failure in dealing with allegations of sexual abuse at the home. In one instance in the 1960s it was noted that an abusing Brother was moved to a primary school in Downpatrick and that he continued to abuse children.

There was also a failure to deal with notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth who abused boys on visits to the home in the late 1970s.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, chaired by Sir Anthony Hart, opened in January 2014 and studied allegations of abuse in 22 homes and other residential institutions between 1922 to 1995.

It found that children’s homes run by church and charities in Northern Ireland were the scene of widespread abuse and mistreatment.

Fifty  of  the  60  former  residents  who  gave  evidence  to  the  Inquiry  about Rubane House alleged they suffered physical abuse by brothers and lay staff.

“Witnesses who were resident in Rubane across the four decades of its operation described staff losing control and severely beating boys,  excessive  caning  and  strapping  which  was  not  limited  to  hands  and  behinds,  and  some  staff  using  their  fists  and  feet  to  hit  boys,” the report read.  “They  described  a  culture  of  physical  force  being  used  to  assert  and  maintain authority and control and an atmosphere where the risk of physical violence was constantly present and often realised.”

It continued: “We recognise that during much of Rubane’s operation, the use of informal corporal punishment was typical of many day schools and families…However,  we  are  satisfied  that  there  was  widespread  resort  to  excessive  physical  punishment  by  some  brothers  and  lay  staff.    We  are  convinced  by the evidence we have heard that individual brothers, and in later years lay  staff,  lost  control  and  physically  abused  boys  and  that  in  some  cases  this  violent  behaviour  amounted  to  serious  physical  assault.  We  accept  that, particularly in the early years, the risk of violence from some brothers was  ever  present  and  that  in  many  instances  the  violence  was  random and unpredictable.

“We consider that such behaviour was a consistent feature of life in Rubane up until at least the early 1980s and that it amounts to a systemic failure by the Order to keep children free from abuse.”

Turning to sexual abuse at the home, it found a number of Brothers, referred to by number only, had abused the children in their care.

“We  are  satisfied  from  the  evidence  we  have  received  that  BR  1  used  the  pretence  of  medical  examinations  to  sexually  abuse  boys  and  that  more generally he inappropriately fondled boys,” the report read.

In another example it recorded what happened when allegations of abuse against another Brother, referred to as BR 17, were not dealt with at the home.

“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.”

Sir Anthony Hart has recommended compensation, a memorial and a public apology to abuse survivors, who say they have been vindicated by the report.

He said a tax-free lump sum payment should be made to all survivors, including in homes and institutions that were not covered by the inquiry. The payments will range from £7,500 to £100,000.

Sir Anthony also recommended that a permanent memorial be established at Stormont and a commissioner for survivors of institutional abuse be appointed.