Lyttle says all child sex abuse must be fully investigated

Alliance East Belfast MLA, Chris Lyttle, has said there can be no excuse for the cover up of any sexual abuse. His comments were made following a BBC Spotlight programme in which Mairia Cahill described her interrogation by the IRA over alleged sexual abuse she suffered by a member of the IRA.

Chris Lyttle MLA said: “I commend the courage of Mairia Cahill to speak out about such a personal and traumatic issue.

“The Spotlight investigation raises further serious allegations of severe child sex abuse and organisational cover up.

“Alliance supported the establishment of the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry and have worked for the Kincora allegations to be included in the UK child abuse inquiry. Alliance backed proposals for a Historical Investigations Unit as part of the cross party talks in December 2013, which were blocked by politicians now offering support to victims who are rightly seeking truth and justice.

“If parties are serious about supporting victims, they should review their opposition to proposals to establish a comprehensive mechanism to investigate all heinous human rights abuse in our past.”

ENDS