Historical Institutional Abuse

Fiona Ryan has been appointed as Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) for a five-year term beginning in December. The establishment of the new independent office fulfils one of the recommendations of the inquiry chaired by the late Sir Anthony Hart, which was publishe

Controversial legislation which would have sealed abuse records for at least 75 years has been postponed pending a re-examination, according to reports. The Retention of Records Bill 2019 would seal all records currently contained in the archives of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (C

Former police officer Judith Gillespie has been appointed for a one-year term as the new independent chair on an inter-departmental working group on Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene laundries and historical clerical child abuse. Ms Gillespie is the third person named as chair of the troubled group,

The interim advocate for victims of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland has come under renewed pressure from victims and survivors to step down after assisting in a Catholic church service. Brendan McAllister, who faced calls to quit last month following a data breach in his office, r

The interim advocate for victims of historical institutional abuse has said he will "consider his position" if he is found to be culpable for a recent data breach. The names and email addresses of 250 victims were inadvertently circulated with an email newsletter from Brendan McAllister's office las

The redress scheme for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland has opened for applications. The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act was passed in Westminster on the last day of the previous Parliament after MPs fast-tracked the law last November.

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