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Biggest UK public inquiry into child abuse opens

Public hearings into allegations of historical child abuse in church and state-run homes in Northern Ireland have begun. The inquiry is the biggest into historical allegations of abuse to occur in the UK.

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Child sex abuse inquiry hearings to begin

Public hearings into allegations of historical child abuse in church and state-run homes in Northern Ireland will begin later today. The hearings will be the biggest undertaken into historical allegations within the UK.

Many of the homes were run by religious orders and thus evaded state scrutiny. Credit: Press Association

The inquiry is examining the extent of allegations of abuse in a number of state and church institutions: children's homes, orphanages, industrial schools, workhouses, borstals, hospital units and schools for disabled children.

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