Kincora Boys' Home

The Kincora Boys' Home was a boys' home in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, that was the scene of serious organised child sexual abuse. It caused a scandal and led to an attempted cover-up in 1980, with allegations of state collusion.^[1]

On 31 May 2016, the Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) began examining allegations relating to Kincora, including claims that a paedophile ring with links to the intelligence services was based there. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said that all state agencies would co-operate with the inquiry.^[2] On 20 January 2017, the HIA inquiry concluded that the abuse which took place at Kincora was limited to the actions of three staff members and did not take place with the collusion of the state or intelligence services.^[3] The head of the HIA observed that it was a matter of urgency that the victims be compensated up to £100,000.^[4]

In 2016, Gary Hoy, a former resident of Kincora, lost a UK Supreme Court challenge to the powers of the HIA, which could not compel the UK security services to hand over documents or testify.^[5] Clint Massey, another former resident, likewise stated in 2015 that due to the scope of the allegations, the HIA was inappropriate and that, instead, Kincora should be investigated by the Goddard Inquiry.^[6] Richard Kerr, another former resident, rejected the remarks made by HIA, specifically the claim that the abuse was limited to three members of staff. In March 2016, he issued a High Court writ suing four government agencies. He continued to challenge the veracity of the HIA investigation and advocated for it to be extended scope to include sexual abuse at Europa Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as well as in UK and Europe.^[7]

The home was demolished in 2022.