Inquiry into abuse claims at top NI school

An inquiry is to be held into allegations of sexual abuse at one of Northern Ireland’s top preparatory schools, it emerged today.

Stormont Education Minister Barry Gardiner gave the go-ahead for the probe into allegations that a 13-year-old pupil indecently assaulted a young boarder at Cabin Hill school in the early 1990s.

Cabin Hill is the preparatory department belonging to one of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious grammar schools, Campbell College.

The events, which have sparked the announcement of the statutory inquiry, took place in 1992 to 1993 but were not made public until May 1999.

The alleged abuser was placed on the Sex Offenders Register after being arrested and formally cautioned by police in April 2002.

Mr Gardiner’s predecessor Jane Kennedy had decided in February that an inquiry should not go ahead until the family of the boy making allegations of abuse had completed civil legal proceedings against the school.

However, Mr Gardiner said he decided to act now because of the length of time that the civil action was taking.

“As it is now five years since the abuse first came to light, I have concluded that the inquiry should start as soon as possible,” he added.

He said his department would examine the outcome of the inquiry very carefully to consider whether any additional guidance about child protection should be issued to schools, particularly those with boarding departments.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the inquiry would begin as soon as the necessary arrangements were put in place. She said it would be held in private but its report would be published.

“We are in the process of appointing two people to head up the inquiry and we are consulting with colleagues at the Department of Health on the process so that one of those appointed has a social services background.”

She added: “It will be their responsibility to choose representatives from Cabin Hill/Campbell College, and anybody else they find necessary, to give evidence.”

The decision to speed up the inquiry was welcomed by Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which has been urging action since May 2003.

Chief Commissioner Brice Dickson said: “We hope that an inquiry will produce lessons not just for this school but also for other schools in Northern Ireland.”