Commissioner launches initiative to contact survivors of historical child abuse living outside of Northern Ireland
A new awareness campaign is aiming to reach survivors of historical childhood institutional abuse living outside of Northern Ireland who are not aware they are entitled to compensation.
Northern Ireland’s Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse, Fiona Ryan, said some victims and survivors had left the province because of their experience and may not know their entitlements.
The new appeal comes as comes as a redress scheme, set up to provide financial compensation for survivors, will enter into its final year, with no new applications accepted after April 2 2025.
Support and compensation were among the recommendations of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) which revealed sexual, physical and emotional abuse at state, church and charity-run homes in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1995.
Ms Ryan (pictured) said: “I have been concerned for some time that there are victims and survivors who may be unsure or unaware of their entitlements, particularly those living outside of Northern Ireland. I know from having listened and spoken to Northern Ireland victims and survivors living elsewhere, that for many, the abuse they experienced as children in institutions contributed to their decision to leave Northern Ireland.
“I think it is part of the ongoing tragedy of what happened to victims and survivors as children that they thought they had to make that choice.”
The office of the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse can be contacted on 028 9054 4985 or email [email protected].