Kincora: Lord Mountbatten, MI5, William McGrath – and the search for the truth
It was a home for vulnerable boys east Belfast run by paedophiles, it was a place where dozens of boys and teenagers were abused, raped and damaged by a gang of predators.
That story would be bad enough in and of itself, but the scandal did not stop there.
The home was run by William McGrath, a leading loyalist, and the founder of the mysterious Tara paramilitary group.
McGrath has long been believed to have been an MI5 agent – and the agency has long been accused of endeavoring to cover up what happened in Kincora.
That allegation was rebuked by Sir Anthony Hart's in his final report for the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.
The report did not find any evidence that the intelligence services were aware of the paedophile ring operating at the home; or that the "spooks" were blackmailing the abusers to spy on fellow hardline Ulster loyalists.
Sir Anthony said the idea that Kincora was a "brothel", used by the security services as a "honeypot" to extract information about leading loyalists was without foundation. But the secrecy around MI5's approach to Kincora continues to foster suspicion.
But perhaps the most shocking allegation to come out of the home is some of the victims believe that they were abused by Lord Mountbatten – a mentor to King Charles, he was the late Queen's second cousin.
Journalist Chris Moore has worked on the Kincora scandal for 30 years. His new book is entitled Britain's Shame – Mountbatten, MI5, the Belfast Boys' Home Sex Abuse Scandal and the British Cover-Up.
He joined Ciarán Dunbar in the studio.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
4 hours ago
- Sky News
Iranian threat to UK could increase after US strikes, says cabinet minister
The threat to the UK from Iran is already at a "significant level" and could increase following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a cabinet minister has told Sky News. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that "not a week goes by" without an Iranian cyberattack on the country's critical national infrastructure. Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Reynolds said: "There is Iranian activity on the streets of the UK, which is wholly unacceptable." And he said it would be "naive" to think the threat will not escalate as Tehran could seek to retaliate against the US, Israel and their allies. Early on Sunday, the American military struck three sites as it joined Israel 's effort to destroy Iran 's nuclear programme. B-2 bombers dropped 14 bunker-busting GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, each weighing 30,000lbs. Iran has maintained its programme is for peaceful purposes only. He called on Iran not to retaliate, saying the government "must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier". Mr Reynolds said Iran had a choice - "Do they want to continue being an agent of instability in the region and the wider world? Where has that got them? Where has it got the Iranian people? "There's a better course of action for Iran to take here, and I think they should consider that." Last October, MI5 chief Ken McCallum said authorities had stopped 20 state-backed plots hatched by Iran in the UK since 2022. In February 2023, a London-based Iranian news station said it was forced to shut its UK headquarters over alleged threats from Tehran and fears for the safety of its journalists. Iran International TV said it "reluctantly" closed its west London studios and moved the operation to its offices in Washington DC. The broadcaster said the move followed warnings from the Metropolitan Police that there were "serious" and "grave" concerns about "hostile intentions of foreign states". In December 2023, a Chechen-born man was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after being found guilty of spying on the London-based dissident Iranian TV station to help terror plotters. Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, was accused of conducting surveillance on the west London headquarters of Iran International as part of a plan by others to carry out a terror attack. He was found guilty of one charge of attempting to collect information useful for terrorism. Meanwhile a British-Iranian journalist, who was told by the Metropolitan Police to leave her UK home for her own safety last year after Iran International presenter Pouria Zeraati was stabbed in the leg in London, has warned of the "dangers" if the "regime survives". Sima Sabet, who also worked for the Persian-language television news channel, told Sky's Emma Birchley: "What I want, and what I hope, is this Islamic Republic is gone, because the more this regime survives, the more danger to the world it would be, the more danger to international peace, and also… the more danger to the Iranian people." She added: "There has to be a way that this transition is going to be peaceful. Iran cannot be bombed and then left on its own. So there must be an answer for it. There must be an international effort for us. So Iranian people can have a very smooth transition into democracy." Ms Sabet also spoke of her life being under threat in the UK. She said she is not "back to my normal life", adding: "I have to still cover my face. I have to still be very mindful of where I go, who I see." Two men will face trial next year accused of attacking Mr Zeraati in Wimbledon in March 2024. The defendants are charged with wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have called on Iran's leaders to enter negotiations and "not to take any further action that could destabilise the region". Sir Keir urged Britons in Israel and Palestinian territories to make contact with the Foreign Office as it prepares for an evacuation flight early next week. Speaking to Sky News, the prime minister said: "I urge all citizens to make contact with the Foreign Office so that we can facilitate whatever support is needed." The Israeli government said about 22,000 tourists are seeking to board evacuation flights but it is unclear how many of those are from the UK.
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Leader Live
Iran already carrying out ‘wholly unacceptable' actions in UK, Reynolds warns
Jonathan Reynolds said Iranian activity in the UK is already substantial and it would be 'naive' to think it will not escalate. The Business Secretary said 'not a week goes by' without Iran targeting cyber attacks on the UK's critical national infrastructure. Both MI5 and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have warned about Iran's activities. The head of MI5, Ken McCallum, said in October that authorities had stopped 20 state-backed plots hatched by Iran in the UK since 2022. He warned of an 'unprecedented pace and scale' of plots posing 'potentially lethal threats' to British citizens and UK residents. The NCSC has warned Iran 'is developing its cyber capabilities and is willing to target the UK to fulfil its disruptive and destructive objectives'. Mr Reynolds told Sky News the risk from Iran in the UK is 'not hypothetical'. He said: 'There is not a week goes by without some sort of Iranian cyber attack on a key part of the UK's critical national infrastructure. There is Iranian activity on the streets of the UK, which is wholly unacceptable. 'It's already at a significant level. I think it would be naive to say that that wouldn't potentially increase. The number of state threat investigations run by MI5 has jumped by 48% in the last year. Countries like Iran use proxies to carry out lethal plots on UK soil – we must act. Those carrying out activity for Iran in the UK must declare it or risk facing up to 5 years in prison. — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) March 6, 2025 'But again, there's a choice here for Iran: Do they want to continue being an agent of instability in the region and the wider world? Where has that got them? Where has it got the Iranian people? 'There's a better course of action for Iran to take here, and I think they should consider that.' Iran was the first foreign power to be listed on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme, aimed at protecting the UK from malign foreign influence. It means anyone who is directed by Iran to carry out activities in the UK must declare it or face five years in prison. The scheme is due to come into force in July. The Home Office will also introduce new laws that will allow the UK to proscribe state-based groups such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In the latest sign of Iran's actions against the UK, it emerged on Saturday that authorities in Cyprus have arrested a Briton alleged to have been carrying out surveillance of the RAF Akrotiri base on the island.
Glasgow Times
13 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Iran already carrying out ‘wholly unacceptable' actions in UK, Reynolds warns
Jonathan Reynolds said Iranian activity in the UK is already substantial and it would be 'naive' to think it will not escalate. The Business Secretary said 'not a week goes by' without Iran targeting cyber attacks on the UK's critical national infrastructure. Both MI5 and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have warned about Iran's activities. The head of MI5, Ken McCallum, said in October that authorities had stopped 20 state-backed plots hatched by Iran in the UK since 2022. He warned of an 'unprecedented pace and scale' of plots posing 'potentially lethal threats' to British citizens and UK residents. The NCSC has warned Iran 'is developing its cyber capabilities and is willing to target the UK to fulfil its disruptive and destructive objectives'. Mr Reynolds told Sky News the risk from Iran in the UK is 'not hypothetical'. He said: 'There is not a week goes by without some sort of Iranian cyber attack on a key part of the UK's critical national infrastructure. There is Iranian activity on the streets of the UK, which is wholly unacceptable. 'It's already at a significant level. I think it would be naive to say that that wouldn't potentially increase. The number of state threat investigations run by MI5 has jumped by 48% in the last year. Countries like Iran use proxies to carry out lethal plots on UK soil – we must act. Those carrying out activity for Iran in the UK must declare it or risk facing up to 5 years in prison. — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) March 6, 2025 'But again, there's a choice here for Iran: Do they want to continue being an agent of instability in the region and the wider world? Where has that got them? Where has it got the Iranian people? 'There's a better course of action for Iran to take here, and I think they should consider that.' Iran was the first foreign power to be listed on the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme, aimed at protecting the UK from malign foreign influence. It means anyone who is directed by Iran to carry out activities in the UK must declare it or face five years in prison. The scheme is due to come into force in July. The Home Office will also introduce new laws that will allow the UK to proscribe state-based groups such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In the latest sign of Iran's actions against the UK, it emerged on Saturday that authorities in Cyprus have arrested a Briton alleged to have been carrying out surveillance of the RAF Akrotiri base on the island.
