Posted by The UK government has indeed restricted access to files related to the Kincora Boys’ Home scandal, with some documents sealed until 2065 and others until 2085. At least 19 files held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) are closed, either fully or partially, with review dates ranging from the mid-2060s to 2085. One file, containing transcripts and witness evidence from a committee of inquiry into children’s homes, is locked until 2085. The official reason is to protect “sensitive personal data” and comply with data protection laws, citing the need to shield victims’ identities.
However, this secrecy fuels suspicion of a cover-up. The Kincora scandal, exposed in 1980, involved the sexual abuse of at least 29 boys at the East Belfast care home, with three staff members—William McGrath, Joseph Mains, and Raymond Semple—convicted in 1981. Allegations persist that MI5 and other state agencies knew about the abuse and may have used it to blackmail perpetrators for intelligence purposes, particularly given McGrath’s role as an MI5 informant and his ties to loyalist groups like Tara. Claims also surfaced in a 2025 book, Kincora: Britain’s Shame by Chris Moore, alleging abuse by prominent figures, including Lord Mountbatten, with MI5 obstructing investigations.
Critics, including victims like Ron Graham and politicians like Naomi Long, argue the prolonged closure—far exceeding the standard 20-year rule for declassification—suggests the government is hiding evidence of institutional complicity or involvement of high-profile individuals. Some files were even destroyed between 2010 and 2015, raising further questions. The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (2016) found no evidence of a wider pedophile ring or state-orchestrated blackmail but criticized MI5 for obstructing police investigations. Victims and advocates continue to demand transparency, rejecting the “data protection” excuse as insufficient given the public interest and the passage of time.
The UK government has locked up files on Kincora until 2065 & 2085. Veteran investigative journalist Chris Moore’s new book, ‘Kincora: Britain’s Shame’, launched tonight in a packed Duke of York bar, means we don’t have to wait until then. #mustread
Who Watches the Watchers? 