A redacted copy of the Terry Report [1] has been released some time ago in response to a Freedom of Information request [2].
I have been meaning to write a comprehensive account of Kincora but there is so much to do, that I have not managed to. It is now pressing that I bring attention to the release of this Report due to the Historical Inquiry in Northern Ireland and the decision not to include Northern Ireland and Kincora in the overarching child abuse inquiry, which is included in the statement by Theresa Villiers yesterday [9]
The Terry Report was a report by Sir George Terry, CBE, QPM DL, the Chief Constable of Sussex CBE into the "Kincora Boys Home and kindred matters" in 1983.
It was commissioned by Sir John Hermon OBE, Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to investigate the RUC's previous inquiries into Kincora. HMIC appointed Sir George Terry, Chief Constable of Sussex. This was announced by James Prior the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the UK Parliament on 18th February 1982.
Sir John Hermon
The Terry Inquiry had been commissioned because there had been widespread disquiet, unease and skepticism about the Police inquiries into Kincora and rumours of widespread paedophile rings.
The two Chief Constables held a joint press conference on 28th October 1983, in which they released only the conclusions of the Report, presumably Page 19-27 (000020-000028) of the full report.
However the big surprise on the first page of the report (0000020 of the released report) is that it states that the report by Terry should be read in conjunction with 2 separate reports by his fellow investigators. Detective Superintendent Gordon Harrison Report covered the criminal investigation aspects and Superintendent Richard Flenleys Report which dealt mainly with the press allegations and background and ramifications. The Terry report was really 3 Reports. It also states that these reports were linked to the RUCs reports of their continuing investigation.
Unfortunately the Flenley Report FOI [10] release has been refused [11]. Similarly the Harrison Report FOI [12] has been refused [13], both after unnecessary delay by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Both I believe should have been released redacted. However this is the problem with asking an authority to release a report that may contain information of detriment to that organisation. They are reluctant to do so. If anyone has the time it may be worthwhile to ask for these again and take them to the Information Commissioner. I believe that the Historical review should also release the reports redacted.
The Terry Report was written before the more famous Hughes Kincora Report [6], which was essentially an internal Social Services investigation.
Two essential books to understand Kincora are The Kincora Scandal by Chris Moore [4] [3] and Who Framed Colin Wallace? by Paul Foot [14]. Lobster [5] [5a] has much information, upon which my first attempt to understand Kincora was based "The Politics of Kincoras Child Sexual Abuse – a Beginners Guide" [15]. Chris Moore video [16] .
Apologies for lack of timeline and brief article.
Links
[3] Free book on Kincora via Scribd Subscription http://www.scribd.com/doc/90215651/Kincora-Scandal-by-Chris-Moore
[4] 1996 Chris Moore The Kincora Scandal ISBN 1 86023 029 6
[5] Lobster Archives http://www.rogerdog.co.uk/ (maybe bad link)
[9] 2014 Oct 21 Northern Ireland Office Kincora Boys’ Home: HM Government co-operation with the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Statement by The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MPhttps://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/kincora-boys-home-hm-government-co-operation-with-the-historical-institutional-abuse-inquiry
[14] 1989 Who Framed Colin Wallace by Paul Foot ISBN 0 330 31446 7
[15] 2013 Oct 13 The Politics of Kincoras Child Sexual Abuse – a Beginners Guidehttp://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/the-politics-of-kincoras-child-sexual-abuse-a-beginners-guide/
[16] Chris Moore Video http://youtu.be/fl-Wv0sHXuw