Kincora: Britain's Shame - Mountbatten, MI5, the Belfast Boys’ Home Sex Abuse Scandal and the British Cover Up

by Chris Moore

For over four decades the story of the extraordinary evil that occurred at the Kincora Boys’ Home in East Belfast in the 1970s and the shocking attempts by MI5 to cover it up have haunted our political and social terrain for decades. Award-winning former BBC journalist Chris Moore has been working on the story since it first emerged in 1980, and has uncovered a horrific catalogue of failed opportunities to put an end to the sadistic activities of the men who were running the home, in particular those of prominent Orangeman and MI5 source William McGrath.

What has emerged over the course of Moore’s investigation, in which he has gained exclusive access to witnesses, secret documents and whistleblowers within the British intelligence services, is that not only were the boys in Kincora systematically sexually abused, but that some were forced into a countrywide paedophile ring, whose members included Lord Louis Mountbatten. Moore also exposes MI5’s attempts to cover up what actually happened and that the organisation knew as early as the 1970s that the boys in Kincora were being abused.

Kincora is a shocking exposé of how the British state failed to protect some of its most vulnerable members.

Genres: Nonfiction, Ireland, Crime

272 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2025

Reviews

[Libby Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tricky review to write, as I wish to be sensitive to the feelings of victims and survivors of this abuse.

I have concerns about the author’s use of language, which appeared to me to at times interchange terms about homosexuality with those of paedophilia. I do not think this was intentional, and perhaps a further edit might have handled the language in what I would consider to be a more sensitive way.

I dropped a star from my review entirely for this reason. I want to reiterate that I think this was unintentional, based on the overall tone of the book and clear concern it showed for victims. I hope this might be addressed in any future editions.

[Jamie Bookboy Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

MI5 covered up and enabled a pedophile ring operating on both sides of the Irish border in order to blackmail the powerful men involved in abusing children. The current monarch’s great uncle was one of the most prolific abusers of children. Vile stuff but what do you expect from them?

[Philip Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating, well-researched & utterly shocking. Continued corruption, cover-ups and a failure to protect those who needed it most for over 50 years and it seems like the truth is no closer.

[Matthew O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book that is written like a conspiracy theory. the fact that MI5 would go so far in preventing justice of those facing sexual abuse in Kincora is unbelievable but its all true. I wish it gave more information of William McGrath in particular his british-israeli ideas as I find that area particularly interesting.

[Jessie Atack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the abuse that took place at the Kincora boys home in Belfast and the wider implications which includes questions about the British establishment. This is a shocking book about a scandal which raises more questions than it answers.
It is well written and seemingly well researched but the structure is a little difficult to follow.
Chris Moore is an experienced journalist who has reported for many years about this scandal. He interviewed Andrew Lownie whose book about the Mountbattens cover some of the areas raised in his book.
A real problem with the book is the lack of an index and there are no references which is a serious issue and I think really reduces the value of this book as an authoritative source of information .
Some of the language used in the book seemed to be quite outdated.
For readers unfamiliar with the politics, history, organisations and legal set up in Northern Ireland I felt the book could be confusing. It would have helped to have had a glossary of all the terms that were used and also a list of names of people mentioned in the book with some information about them.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up very close to this building, I thought it was beautiful, beautiful trees, a little glass sun house in the garden that I wanted to play in as a kid. Over the years you hear many stories and my heart is broken for the survivors of this and disgusted by those that could have stopped it and put people to justice for the hell they caused.

This is a book that everyone in the UK and Ireland needs to read..... then the world.

I would have given it a 5 but the use of some of the language is outdated and old fashioned.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is important in regard to the depth of corruption within the British government, especially in order to protect pedophilic royals, the author cheapens his work with his own prejudices. His constant implications that pedophilia and homosexuality are one and the same would be like if I said that all heterosexuals are pedophiles because of Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Windsor.

However, the victims of Kincora deserve justice. The British population should be angrier.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed and researched book, and evidence. Well done Chris Moore, I can’t even imagine how many obstacles you had to get through for the book to make it to print. A horrific period, and so many unanswered questions. Thoughts and prayers to all the young men, that had to suffer unimaginable abuse from these monsters. And shame on the government and individuals who covered it up. And continue to do so.

[Fionnbharr Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conspiracy around the Kincora paedophile ring is the blackest of marks against Britain’s name. It should be an albatross hung round the necks of every security forces agent involved in the conspiracy and its cover-up.

Every single Irish person, and person interest in Irish political history, should read both this book and ‘Who Framed Colin Wallace?’ by Paul Foot.

[Paddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A meticulously researched and well written account of the Kincora scandal which exposes the hypocrisy and evil which lies at the heart of the British establishment. Importantly the book doesn’t overlook the innocent victims and the suffering endured by them and their families over the decades. Well done Mr Moore.

[Conor Mcvarnock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucid and gripping, the evils visited on the world by the establishment here should never be forgotten. But take aways: "Dickie" Mountbatten was a paedo. Paisley definitely knew about McGrath for ages and didn't do anything about it before it became public knowledge.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent journalism by someone who wouldn’t give in.

[Aaron McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madness what goes on & you wouldn't realise it - also as always high profile cover-ups & denials