The new Stormont Health and Justice Committees will consider examining the fallout over Fermanagh’s historical child sexual abuse claims at its first meetings, due to take place today (January 23).

Responding to The Impartial Reporter’s query this week as to when the historical abuse claims would be raised in the chamber, a spokeswoman on behalf of the Chairman of the Health Committee Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said: “The Chair believes that the most effective way to deal with the health aspects of the issues you raise, would be for the Committee to consider it collectively.” She went on to say that the series of questions posed by The Impartial Reporter will be added to the list of correspondence for discussion as part of the Committee’s proposed work plan for the coming months.

Justice Committee member DUP MLA Pamela Cameron told The Impartial Reporter that the sexual abuse allegations must be “fully investigated” and needs to be “part of a wider strategic approach rather than an attempt at a quick fix”.

She said: “These are grave and disturbing allegations. The shock as more and more has been revealed by The Impartial Reporter has travelled well beyond County Fermanagh.”

Ms. Cameron continued: “All allegations must be fully investigated, and I support the forces of law and order as they pursue this course of action. Due process must be followed. I know my colleague Lord Morrow has been pressing this issue for many months and we support his efforts.

“I am always in favour of more funding for frontline services. This needs to be part of a wider strategic approach rather than an attempt at a quick fix.”

“I will certainly use my platform to press for justice and support for victims,” Ms. Cameron told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist MLA and Justice Committee member Doug Beattie MC said: “I am aware of media reports regarding historical child sexual abuse cases in Fermanagh. This is obviously an extremely worrying and serious matter and I welcome the fact that there is an active police investigation which must be allowed to run its course.

“I understand that this matter is likely to be raised at the meeting of the Justice Committee,” he said.

The matter will be raised today (Thursday) after Justice Chairman and Democratic Unionist MLA Paul Givan included queries sent by this newspaper in correspondence for consideration.

More than 70 alleged victims have been in touch with The Impartial Reporter to make allegations against more than 70 people. Many of these alleged victims have spoken out for the first time. Many of them have never got justice and many of them are critical of the way in which their allegations have been handled by Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and other statutory bodies.

The issue, which was first reported last March, has been discussed at Westminster and now Stormont, but has yet to be discussed at length at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.