Compensation for abuse victims next Spring

By PA and Q Radio News

Compensation payments to victims of historical abuse in Northern Ireland will begin next spring, the head of the Civil Service said.

A Redress Board panel will be available to sit from the end of April, with the first sums for survivors to follow shortly afterwards.

Victims of physical, emotional and sexual wrongdoing in homes run by the Catholic church and state organisations have been campaigning for compensation following a landmark report.

Senior civil servant David Sterling said: "We have made significant progress over the last month in developing arrangements for redress payments and are now ready to engage with victims and survivors on the design of an application form that meets the needs of applicants and provides the information required for the Redress Board to carry out its role effectively."

The necessary preparatory work to appoint a Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) has been undertaken and a competition for this position will be launched in January.

January will also see the announcement of the first members of the Redress Board and the launch of a competition to recruit for additional panels.

🎥 @SAVIA_NI solicitor @MckeeganClaire says work will begin in the New Year on the design of the redress application form for abuse victims in NI. The redress board will be engaging with victims and survivors throughout this process to ensure it meets their needs. pic.twitter.com/iYFMDlfZRX

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 17, 2019

Mr Sterling said: "This is a complex process and getting to this point is the result of a huge effort on the part of many parties, who are all committed to ensuring victims and survivors get the redress they deserve.

"We will continue to do everything possible to support the Redress Board in this regard."

The late Sir Anthony Hart recommended compensation be paid, following a lengthy public inquiry.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) was established in May 2012 to investigate allegations of abuse in 22 institutions, between 1922 to 1995.

Sir Anthony also recommended a memorial be built and a public apology made to abuse survivors.

He said a tax-free lump sum payment should be made to all survivors, with payments ranging from £7,500 to £100,000.

🎥 Abuse victims in NI will be able to make applications for compensation by next March. @SAVIA_NI met with @HeadNICS earlier, who set out a timeframe of how the application process will be conducted. Margaret McGuckin from SAVIA says it’s positive news: pic.twitter.com/It7NnGDiBE

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 17, 2019