Kincora: Abuse victim gets settlement after claims MI5 agent protected

An individual who suffered abuse at the Kincora Boys’ Home has reached a confidential settlement following allegations that a pedophile housemaster was shielded from prosecution for being an MI5 agent. Gary Hoy, aged 63, pursued damages from the home secretary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for the abuse he underwent at the now-demolished children’s home in east Belfast during the 1970s. The legal dispute was resolved on undisclosed terms at the High Court in Belfast on Monday, with no acknowledgement of liability as part of the agreement.

The site on the Newtownards Road saw at least 29 boys subjected to abuse from the 1950s to the 1980s. Former housemaster William McGrath, also known as the “Beast of Kincora,” was incarcerated in 1981 for victimizing boys as part of a pedophile network within the home. McGrath played a significant role in the far-right loyalist group Tara before his passing in the early 1990s. Lawyers for Mr. Hoy argued that authorities allowed McGrath to exploit vulnerable young victims to gather more information about the organization.

Allegations were made that Royal Ulster Constabulary officers were obstructed from investigating McGrath because of his ties to MI5. Claims of negligence and misfeasance in public office were put forth as part of broader legal actions against the PSNI, Home Office, and Department of Health. While the defendants have challenged any responsibility for breaching their duty of care to Kincora Boys’ Home victims, a three-day trial slated to commence on Monday was averted when Mr. Hoy’s counsel announced that the proceedings had reached a confidential settlement. No further details regarding the agreement were shared publicly.

Mr. Hoy emphasized to reporters outside the court that the case was not about financial gain but about holding those accountable. Justice Simpson, the presiding judge, praised the parties for resolving the matter in a challenging case

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