Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry

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The 2014-2015 Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry[1] is the largest inquiry into historical institutional sexual and physical abuse of children in UK legal history. Its remit covers institutions in Northern Ireland that were in charge of children from 1922 to 1995.[2] The Inquiry was set up in response to the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Act (Northern Ireland) 2013, and must conclude its investigation within two years and six months of the commencement of the Act, and then report within a further six months. Preliminary estimate of the cost was about £15m, with 37 people working on the enquiry according to its Frequently Asked Questions in October 2014. There are provisions for witness support.[3] The Inquiry has statutory powers to compel witnesses living in Northern Ireland to appear before it and evidence held in Northern Ireland to be given to it; to take evidence under oath; and to be held in public except where necessary to protect individuals’ privacy.

Victims and survivors are represented by the Inquiry’s legal team at hearings; other witness may have their own legal representatives. Only the Inquiry legal team questions witnesses, and victims and survivors will not normally be cross examined by anyone else except in extremely unusual cases. The Inquiry will publish its own report; government ministers will see it in advance, but have no powers to change it.

Institutions under investigation as of October 2014 were:[3]

  • Local Authority Homes
    • Lissue Children's Unit, Lisburn
    • Kincora Boys' Home, Belfast
    • Bawnmore Children’s Home, Newtownabbey
  • Juvenile Justice Institutions (formerly Industrial and Reformatory Schools, effectively children's detention centres)
    • St Patrick’s Training School, Belfast
    • Lisnevin Training School, County Down
    • Rathgael Training School, Bangor
  • Secular Voluntary Homes
    • Barnardo's Sharonmore Project, Newtownabbey
    • Barnardo's Macedon, Newtownabbey
  • Roman Catholic Voluntary Homes

The inquiry covers residential care, but specifically does not cover other cases of clerical abuse.[3]

The Inquiry's hearings are held in the former Banbridge courthouse; the opening hearing was held on 13 January 2014, with open oral testimony to finish in June 2015[dated info], and with the inquiry team reporting to the Executive by the start of 2016.[2] Hearings are divided into modules: Module 1 into the Sisters of Nazareth Homes in Derry/Londonderry (27 January 2014 to 29 May 2014), Module 2 Child Migrant Programme, which forcibly sent children from NI institutions to Australia where they were often maltreated and exploited, and Module 3 De La Salle Boys Home - Rubane House, from 29 September 2014,[1][4] with closing submissions on 17 December 2014. Module 4, on Sisters of Nazareth Belfast - Nazareth House and Lodge, started on 5 January 2015. Module 5 covers Fort James Children's Home of Ardmore Road and Harberton House Assessment Centre of Irish Street, both in Derry/Londonderry. Module 6 relates to Fr. Brendan Smyth, who abused children in parishes in Belfast, and also in Dublin and the United States.[1]

Evidence called and transcripts are available on the NIHIA Web site.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Web site
  2. ^ a b BBC News: Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry - the background, 13 January 2014
  3. ^ a b c Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Web site: Frequently asked questions
  4. ^ Belfast Telegraph: Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry examines Australian migration, 14 August 2014
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