Historical Institutional Abuse

Academics and survivors of historical institutional abuse have called on the Government to withdraw legislation which would seal abuse records for at least 75 years. In a letter to The Irish Times, the group called for the "immediate withdrawal" of the Retention of Records Bill 2019 and for minister

Mr Justice Adrian Colton will be appointed as president of the new Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board, the Lord Chief Justice has announced. The redress board, established by legislation fast-tracked through Westminster before it dissolved, will be responsible for receiving and processing

A judge will be appointed to oversee the redress scheme for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland by the end of the week. David Sterling, head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, met with victims and survivors yesterday to outline plans to set up the long-awa

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal has found that the Executive Office can exercise the prerogative power to set up an ex gratia redress scheme for the victims of historical institutional abuse, and that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland should consider giving a direction to the Executiv

Legislation to establish a redress scheme for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland will be debated in the House of Lords today. The second reading of the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill will take place this afternoon.

The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan, has hit out at the "shocking" lack of progress on redress for victims of historical institutional abuse. The late Sir Anthony Hart chaired an inquiry which recommended, in its 2017 final report, that victims should receive compensation.

The interim advocate for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse has sought a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith over fears that the prorogation of Parliament will set back legislation for redress. Conservative MP Simon Hoare, chair of the Northern Ireland select co

Brendan McAllister has taken up his position as interim advocate for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse. Mr McAllister's office in Belfast officially opened today following his appointment by David Sterling, head of the Northern Ireland civil service, last month.

The new Northern Ireland Secretary, Julian Smith, has been urged to introduce legislation to compensate victims of historical institutional abuse. The UK Government recently said legislation to implement the recommendations of Sir Anthony Hart's 2017 report would not be introduced until after the su

Amnesty International has welcomed a recommendation from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that compensation for victims of Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) should progress as quickly as possible through Parliament. A redress scheme was one of the key recommendations of the Historical Insti

Legislation to establish a redress scheme for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland will not be progressed through Westminster, Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has said. The head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) earlier wrote to Ms Bradley t

The head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has written to Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley to ask her to progress legislation to provide redress for survivors of institutional childhood abuse. The Executive Office (TEO), in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive, drafted