Northern Ireland

Redress board says no disparity in treatment of victims of different institutions

Survivors Together spokesman Marty Adams.
Survivors Together spokesman Marty Adams. Survivors Together spokesman Marty Adams.

THE body dealing with applications for compensation from survivors of institutional abuse has insisted victims in state-run institutions are not treated differently from those under religious orders.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry was set up in 2012 to investigate allegations of abuse in 22 institutions between 1922 and 1995.

Recommendations made in a report by the late Sir Anthony Hart included redress in the form of compensation, ranging from £10,000 to £80,000 to those most seriously impacted.

Following legislation passed at Westminster, a redress board was set up earlier this year to receive and process applications from victims.

While the process is open for the next five years, many of those abused as children have already received offers.

However, Marty Adams of the Survivors Together group has said those who were in state-run institutions and juvenile correction centres believe they are being offered less than those who were in the care of the Catholic Church.

Mr Adams said his own offer of compensation was on the lowest band of the award scale despite a psychiatric report that found he would never fully recover from his ordeal.

He said many members feel their abuse is being graded as not being serious despite suffering "a lifetime of trauma".

"They have also been told that people who suffered similar experiences in Catholic Church institutions are receiving much higher offers of compensation," he said.

"While those victims could and should appeal the offers, many are vulnerable and financially in difficulties and just don't feel strong enough to keep going. It's shocking when they've already been though a lifetime of pain."

A spokesperson for the redress board said: "Whether the institution is state-run or run by a religious order plays no part whatsoever in the determination of the level of award".

"The Redress Board is considering applications in relation to a wide range of institutions, from orphanages to juvenile justice institutions. As a matter of historical fact, there is a considerable disparity between the periods that individuals spent in institutions, ranging from a matter of weeks up to 15 years.

"This is an important factor which must be considered in any fair analysis of a 'perceived pattern' of awards.

"Many applicants to the Redress Board spent periods of time in a number of different institutions, some of which were run by the state while others were run by religious orders or charities.

"The award made to an applicant in those circumstances is a composite award covering each institution in which abuse was suffered.

"All applicants are provided with a summary of the reasons for the panel’s determination;

"All applicants have an automatic right of appeal against the panel’s determination.

"The Redress Board is entirely satisfied that there is no disparity in relation to how applications are assessed as between the relevant institutions."