Retired church pastor Henry Clarke, 75, who now lives in Canada, admitted in 1985 that he had abused three boys at a care home.

A PPS spokesperson said that the police had not given it “significant evidence concerning serious offences”.

In a statement to the BBC, the PPS said: “The PPS is concerned to learn that the police did not forward significant evidence concerning serious offences to the then Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1985.”

“Accordingly, a request has been forwarded to the chief constable under section 35(5) of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 to now provide this information.

“Given the revelations that have come to light in these cases, the PPS proposes to carry out a formal review of all relevant matters and of any previous prosecutorial decisions relating to Mr Clarke.”

Mr Clarke came to the attention of police in 1982 during the investigation into Kincora Boys’ Home in Belfast.

One victim, Billy Brown, told BBC News NI that Mr Clarke should be brought to justice.

He said: “The legal system let me down.

“He should be brought to justice now. He should have faced the courts like everyone else. If I do something wrong I face the courts.

“At the end of the day, why should he not face the courts? I can’t understand it. What was the reason they let him go?”