The figures were revealed yesterday in the first of a new series of online events organised by Amnesty International and Ulster University.

The events aim to help survivors of mother and baby and Magdalene laundry institutions in Northern Ireland to design a public inquiry into abuses they suffered.

A six-month co-design process for the mother and baby homes investigation commenced in March, facilitated by Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Professor Phil Scraton and senior social worker Deirdre Mahon.

Professor Patricia Lundy of Ulster University said: “Our research shows that the HIA inquiry referred 190 criminal complaints to the PSNI, from which 77 cases were reported to the PPS for consideration. However, we understand that no prosecutions have resulted.

“In designing the inquiry into mother and baby institutions, it will be important to build in a real prospect of criminal prosecution if that is where the evidence points.”

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland programme director of Amnesty International, said: “Survivors have a right to both truth and justice. Yet, despite a 2300-page report from the HIA inquiry detailing a litany of crimes and human rights abuses, victims got precious little justice.

“This new series of events will help survivors of mother and baby homes institutions in their work of co-designing the investigation into the abuses they suffered. We must not repeat the mistakes of past inquiries.”