Drugged care home children prostituted throughout NI: claim

GANGS of criminals drugged and prostituted residents from a Northern Ireland children’s home, it has been claimed.

The allegations are the latest in a long-running investigation by Impartial Reporter newspaper journalist Rodney Edwards.

His report claimed criminals allegedly prostituted teenagers around Northern Ireland from the home in Killadeas almost 20 years go. It was alleged they were drugged and repeatedly raped.

Brindley House catered for young people with emotional and psychological needs.

It opened in 2000 despite protests from local residents. Managed by the now defunct private company Care (NI) Ltd the home closed just six years later.

The Western Health and Social Services Board said the home was closed as it was “no longer commercially viable to continue operations”.

According to “well-placed sources” the paper was told staff members who tried to intervene and stop the abuse where threatened. One woman claimed she and up to 12 other young girls were raped by a group of at least 13 men. She said it began when she was just 13 years old. She told the Impartial Reporter authorities knew about the abuse “but were too scared to do anything because of the men involved”.

Paula Kane, owner of the now defunct Care (NI) Ltd told the Impartial Reporter that “every single incident of concern and of a child protection nature was recorded and reported to the Western Board”.

“We had no power to investigate,” she said.

The company reported its concerns to the Children’s Commissioner saying it was not satisfied with the board’s response.

Ms Kane said staff “went over and above the call of duty and some of the staff even put themselves at huge risk while trying to protect the children”.

The Department of Health said issues were brought to the department’s attention by the NI Children’s Commissioner in March 2005.

The spokesman said an inspection of child protection services was initiated in early 2006.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma said her office was aware of the matter in 2005 and raised them with the relevant authorities and was assured the appropriate action would be taken.

A PSNI spokeswoman said that in early 2007 detectives launched an investigation into the allegations of organised child abuse at the former Brindley House children’s home between 2000 and 2005.

In 2008 a number of properties were searched and 11 people arrested in counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh and interviewed for child abuse offences, as part of a long and protracted investigation.

A “comprehensive file” was prepared and submitted to the Public Prosecution Service who concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

The PSNI spokeswoman said if anyone had a complaint about actions of police during the investigation they could contact the Police Ombudsman’s office.

They encouraged anyone who had been the victim of abuse to call 101.