Four Civil Servants In Sex Scandal’ (Press, 24 March 1983)
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Summary: Four Civil Servants In Sex Scandal’ (Press, 24 March 1983)
On 24 March 1983, a scandal involving civil servants from the Northern Ireland Office was brought to light during a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly. This was the first public discussion of the issue in two years, prompted by allegations surrounding the Kincora boys' home in Belfast. John Cushnahan, Chief Whip of the Alliance Party, highlighted the involvement of four senior civil servants, up to the rank of Under Secretary, in relation to the scandal. The Kincora home, which has since closed, was the site of serious allegations as three housemasters were convicted for sexually abusing the boys entrusted to their care. As the scandal evolved, a police report examining the matter was under review by the Director of Public Prosecutions, while a second report from Sussex Chief Constable Sir George Terry into the incident and possible cover-up from the early 1970s was still being prepared. Cushnahan expressed concern in the assembly regarding the perceived slow progress and lack of transparency surrounding the investigation, suggesting it might indicate a cover-up at high levels of government. He urged Northern Ireland Secretary James Prior to establish a date for a full judicial inquiry to scrutinise the scandal comprehensively. He stated, “The public is entitled to know the roles of those involved,” emphasizing that the inquiry must also look into the actions of the Royal Ulster Constabulary regarding the repeated reports of suspicious activities at Kincora, which had been allegedly ignored on six occasions. Cushnahan particularly stressed the troubling existence of a homosexual vice ring connected to the Kincora home, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of the boys in care at the institution.
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