by BBC Wales's social affairs correspondent Gail Foley

The Waterhouse tribunal - the largest child abuse inquiry ever set up in the UK - heard evidence from hundreds of victims.

The tribunal was established following decades of disquiet over the children's home care system in north Wales.

In all, Sir Ronald Waterhouse and his two fellow tribunal members heard evidence from 650 people who had been in care in north Wales since 1974.

Complaints were made to the inquiry about 40 homes in the old north Wales counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd, although most allegations centred on just seven.

Not all the alleged abuse - at homes across the region - was sexual. Much was physical - children being thumped, kicked and hit for minor misdemeanours.

North Wales police mounted an investigation in the 80s which was later criticised as sluggish, shallow and inadequate. Still the allegations persisted.

The former Clwyd County Council then commissioned a report from an independent expert - John Jillings - to look into the allegations and the care system.

But the victims' hopes that the full story would come out were dashed when the Jillings Report remained under wraps following advice from the council's insurers.

That report named abusers and those considered negligent in failing to stop their activities.

Lacked the will

Those criticised included the Welsh Office's Social Services Inspectorate for lacking the will to police local authorities in Wales.

Finally in 1996, William Hague - then Welsh Secretary - decided a full public inquiry was the only way of quelling public disquiet. The North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal - chaired by Sir Ronald Waterhouse - was established.

Those who worked in childcare then - and now - know the report's criticisms are likely to be harsh, and its recommendations far-reaching.

There are still concerns that the report may shy away from naming all those suspected of abuse and those who allowed it to happen.

Protecting children in the future

Wrexham councillor Malcolm King fought for the inquiry. He believes the Waterhouse report will have a huge impact on councils throughout Britain.

"There's a total acceptance that across Britain we have all totally failed to protect the most vulnerable children in our care," he said.

Some victims have already received compensation. A court action involving many others is to be heard next month.

But other victims - like Owen Long of Aberdare - have refused money.

For them, making sure children are protected in the future is more important.