Courtney McGrailA representative of the Diocese of Down & Connor told the Historical Abuse Inquiry in the North that some children in the care of the Church were “tragically and catastrophically” failed.
Fr Tim Bartlett told the sitting in Banbridge courthouse, Co. Down that the diocese would “not wish to offer any excuse at this stage. Only apologise.”
The inquiry is investigating claims of abuse at Rubane House boys’ home in Kircubbin, Co. Down which was operated by the De La Salle order.
Fr Bartlett told the hearing “good people made very fundamental mistakes and some very evil people capitalised on that and manipulatively used that situation for the most grotesque ends”.