A call has been made for a full public inquiry into historical clerical abuse in Northern Ireland.
It comes after a report outlined experiences by a number of victims and survivors, including exorcism, physical violence and sexual abuse at a range of faith-based settings connected with the Catholic Church and Protestant churches between 1922 and 2024.
The report heard accounts of religious rituals used to abuse children, including “exorcising demons” by “laying on of hands” on intimate parts of a girl’s body, and a priest using the sacrament of confession to coerce a boy to stimulate his sexual pleasure by pressing his head close to the priest’s groin.
A culture of violence in schools was also described, with one person who took part in the report recalling witnessing a “fist on the back of the head” and a “desk breaking in two”.
Meanwhile, another participant in the report described how a pastor who was “very much into demon culture” and “deliverance” beating them so badly they believe they had broken ribs.
The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) revealed sexual, physical and emotional abuse in religious and secular institutions from 1922 to 1995.
However, it prompted further work to examine the extent of historical clerical child abuse, as well as Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene institutions.
Following the long-awaited publication of the historical clerical child abuse (HCCA) research reports, the Executive Office said the findings will help shape future policy and support ongoing work to ensure victims and survivors receive the support they need and that lessons continue to be learned.
Legal firm KRW Law hailed an “important step towards acknowledging the experiences of victims and survivors” and a “broader understanding of clerical abuse and institutional responses”.
But it stressed this “must only be the beginning of a much larger process of truth recovery and accountability”.
The firm said having represented a large number of clerical abuse victims and survivors over the years it believes the reports “highlight only a fraction of the abuse that occurred and leave significant questions unanswered”
KRW Law solicitor Gary Duffy said only a public inquiry will have the powers to establish the full truth, adding survivors have already waited too long for accountability.
“We welcome the publication of the HCCA research reports and recognise the significant work undertaken by those involved in bringing forward the experiences of victims and survivors,” he said.
“However, it is clear that these reports represent only the tip of the iceberg.
“The reality is that many survivors are still searching for answers about how abuse was allowed to occur, what church authorities knew, and how allegations were handled when concerns first emerged.
“Victims and survivors deserve the same level of scrutiny and accountability that was provided through the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry and the Mother and Baby Homes Inquiry.
“Only a statutory public inquiry will have the powers necessary to compel witnesses, obtain documentation and establish the full truth.
“For that reason, it is now imperative that the Executive move without delay to establish a full public inquiry into historical clerical abuse.
“Survivors have waited far too long for answers, accountability and justice.”
Mother and daughter died trying to save seven-year-old in water – family friend
Mother of Pc Harper says early release of killers ‘another letdown for Andrew’
Remains of 22 more infants found at site of former mother and baby home
JK Rowling offers support to Women’s Rights Network after Féile cancellation
Late pub hours during World Cup blamed for spike in domestic abuse
Disgraced former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson stripped of knighthood
