Son of Jean McConville tells of abuse by Fr Brendan Smyth

One of Jean McConville's sons has told the North's Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry that he was sexually abused while in care by the notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.

Billy McConville, who today waived his right to anonymity, also told the inquiry that he was sexually and physically abused by some De La Salle brothers and also physically abused by a lay teacher in Rubane House in Co Down.

Mr McConville with other members of his family was put into care after his mother was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972. One of the ‘Disappeared’ her remains were discovered on a beach in Co Louth in 2003.

Billy McConville said the IRA must also bear responsibility for the “nightmare” of abuse he said he suffered. He told the BBC that if “the IRA hadn’t killed our mother” he wouldn’t have ended up in care and subjected to abuse.

He said that Fr Smyth “was one of the most devious people” he had ever encountered.The lay teacher in a statement read to the inquiry denied the allegations against him.