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29/05/2003
Government called on to investigate school sex abuse claim
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission today called upon the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to conduct a statutory inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse at Cabin Hill Preparatory School in the early 1990s.
The call comes after the Commission closely examined claims made by the father of one of the victims that his son was sexually abused at the school in 1992.
The man also claimed that the school did not report this and other incidents of abuse to the relevant authorities. It was only in 1999, after a number of attempts at suicide, that the boy disclosed the abuse to his parents.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, the Chief Commissioner, Professor Brice Dickson, said: "Obviously it is a matter of great concern if parents cannot be sure that proper systems are in place, and are being followed, for the protection of their children against sexual, physical and emotional abuse in all our schools.
"The particular allegations in this case are, in the Commission's view, so serious as to merit a statutory inquiry under the relevant legislation. Such an inquiry would clarify what steps were or were not taken by the school in question and whether these were sufficient in the circumstances. Lessons can then be drawn for all other schools in Northern Ireland."
(MB)
The call comes after the Commission closely examined claims made by the father of one of the victims that his son was sexually abused at the school in 1992.
The man also claimed that the school did not report this and other incidents of abuse to the relevant authorities. It was only in 1999, after a number of attempts at suicide, that the boy disclosed the abuse to his parents.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, the Chief Commissioner, Professor Brice Dickson, said: "Obviously it is a matter of great concern if parents cannot be sure that proper systems are in place, and are being followed, for the protection of their children against sexual, physical and emotional abuse in all our schools.
"The particular allegations in this case are, in the Commission's view, so serious as to merit a statutory inquiry under the relevant legislation. Such an inquiry would clarify what steps were or were not taken by the school in question and whether these were sufficient in the circumstances. Lessons can then be drawn for all other schools in Northern Ireland."
(MB)
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