Press Release
Statement in relation to the HIAI Apology Day from the trustees of Irish Church Missions
On 11th March 2022, in accordance with the recommendations of the Hart Report (link here) on behalf of the historical institutional abuse inquiry (HIAI) into widespread and systemic abuse at institutions across Northern Ireland, Irish Church Missions made a public apology to victims and survivors of abuse at Manor House Home, a children’s home in Lisburn managed by our Northern committee from 1929 until it’s closure in 1984.
The Hart Report revealed a number of failings regarding the management of Manor House Home including negligence in protecting the children in the home’s care from sexual abuse, and systemic failures in the care of vulnerable children entrusted to the home.
A spokesperson for the Irish Church Missions Board of Trustees said:
“We profoundly apologise for the failure of the Manor House Home management committee and staff to detect and prevent the sexual abuse of children in our care in the 1960s and 70s.
“These were crimes that could have been detected and should have been prevented, and we recognise that such violations robbed you of your childhood and that you continue to live with the consequences to this day.
“We also acknowledge the systemic failings of the home, including the treatment of bedwetters in the 1940s; co-operating in the sending of boys to Australia in November 1950 under the Child Migrant Scheme; and the poor condition of the home in the 1950s.
“We recognise the profound and ongoing impact such abuse and neglect has had on victims’ lives and we are deeply sorry that this happened while under our care. We recognise your courage in coming forward.
“Our trustees, management and staff failed you while you were entrusted to our care. As members of the current Board of Trustees of Irish Church Missions, we offer this unreserved apology to those who suffered emotional, physical or sexual abuse while resident in Manor House Home.”
Irish Church Missions will continue to cooperate fully with the recommendations of the Hart Report and is committed to maintaining the highest levels of transparency and safeguarding in all its current ministries.
If you would like to get in touch regarding any aspect of the inquiry, please contact us directly at dublin@irishchurchmissions.ie or david@irishchurchmissions.ie