Allegations of systematic sex abuse in a Dr Barnardo's childrens' home emerged when an alleged victim and a social worker talked about the sex scandal at Kincora, a Belfast court heard today.
A female witness (41) told Belfast Crown Court she was talking to the social worker in 1985 when the worker commented "thank God that doesn't happen in Macedon or Barnardo's".
Under cross-examination for the third day, the witness said she told the social worker "you would be surprised to hear what went on" before alleging that she was abused by a member of staff while she was a resident in the Dr Barnardo's home in Macedon, Whiteabbey.
In the dock denying a total on 133 sex offences is Mr Robert George Anderson (46) and Ms Sarah Jayne Margaret Hewitt (68).
Mr Anderson, formerly from the Hillhead Road in Ballycarry but now living in England, denies 34 offences including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against five children between January 1979 and June 1981.
Ms Hewitt, formerly from the Coast Road in Drain's Bay near Larne, denies 99 similar offences against nine children between December 1977 and June 1981, when the home closed.
Today the woman told Ms Hewitt's defence QC Mr James Gallagher that although she claimed she was abused by a third care worker at the home , "I know I mentioned George Anderson", adding that she told the social worker to ask another child about abuse he allegedly subjected her to.
"We were talking about the sex scandal in Kincora and she said to me 'thank God that didn't happen in Barnardo's'. I said you would be surprised at what happened and I spoke to her about the third care worker. I then said to her about Anderson [raping her] at the Glenavna Hotel but I didn't want to speak about it so said 'go and speak to another child'", claimed the woman.
She agreed with Mr Gallagher's suggestion that at that stage she made no allegations about Ms Hewitt but said it was because "I was not asked about her".
The alleged victim told the lawyer that after her conversation with the social worker she was interviewed by officers and made a statement but said her opinion was that "to me they were not interested . . . I wasn't going to say anything more because it was brushed under the carpet".
Earlier, Mr Anderson's defence QC Mr John Creaney put to her that "your sworn testimony in this court is a lie". However, she rejected this stating: "No it's not a lie. You would like to make sure it is but it is not."