Northern Ireland

Compensation for abuse victims needs to go through Westminster 'at the earliest opportunity', parties say

The north's main parties have told Secretary of State Karen Bradley she must act over compensation for victims of institutional abuse. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association
The north's main parties have told Secretary of State Karen Bradley she must act over compensation for victims of institutional abuse. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association The north's main parties have told Secretary of State Karen Bradley she must act over compensation for victims of institutional abuse. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association

COMPENSATION for victims of institutional abuse should be taken through Westminster as soon as possible, Northern Ireland's main parties have said.

The parties signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State yesterday asking her to urgently agree their proposed changes to legislation which would see redress for victims and survivors.

Karen Bradley had insisted last month that she is committed to the payments but that survivors cannot be compensated until the Stormont parties address fundamental questions about the redress scheme.

The letter, signed by the leaders of Sinn Féin, the SDLP, DUP, Ulster Unionists, Alliance and Greens, gave the parties' answer to the questions.

The parties want all abuse survivors to be given a basic compensation award of £10,000, rather than the £7,500 recommended by the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry.

In the letter, seen by The Irish News, the parties said an abuse victim's spouse or child should receive 100 per cent of their planned compensation rather than 75 per cent.

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It said victims should be able to apply for compensation from the proposed redress board regardless of any previous settlement.

Redress amounts should be based on an individual basis, taking into account the severity of abuse, how often it occurred and how long it lasted.

"Victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse have been waiting a very long time to receive the redress they deserve," the parties wrote.

"They have told us clearly that we must do everything we can to ensure that the legislation addresses their needs."

The parties said legislation to establish a redress scheme needs to be "taken through Westminster at the earliest opportunity".

Victims' campaigner Margaret McGuckin has welcomed a new step forward in gaining compensation for those affected by institutional abuse. Picture by Hugh Russell
Victims' campaigner Margaret McGuckin has welcomed a new step forward in gaining compensation for those affected by institutional abuse. Picture by Hugh Russell Victims' campaigner Margaret McGuckin has welcomed a new step forward in gaining compensation for those affected by institutional abuse. Picture by Hugh Russell

A spokesman from the Northern Ireland Office yesterday confirmed Mrs Bradley had received the parties' letter.

"The secretary of state will consider their views urgently," he said.

"She is determined to do everything in her power to ensure that the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse get the redress they deserve as quickly as possible."

The HIA Inquiry recommended compensation payments to victims more than two years ago. The scheme would have seen pay-outs of between £7,500 and £100,000.

The inquiry also made other recommendations including bespoke care packages for victims and a memorial to be built in the grounds of Stormont.

A 16-week government consultation on draft legislation to establish a compensation scheme for victims ended earlier this year.

Margaret McGuckin from Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (Savia) said she was pleased the letter had been finally sent.

"This is now in the hands of Karen Bradley," she said.

"We hope that the MPs at Westminster will tell her what to do. We've had great support from our own parties and MPs across the board in Britain.

"Hopefully it will satisfy all of the questions she had. I do think that (asking questions) was a stalling tactic. Those issues had already been dealt with."

She said an agreement on compensation needs to be made before parliament breaks for the summer next month.

"This needs to be done before the summer recess," she said.

"We all need this done swiftly. We can't be put on the long finger again. None of our people can take another set-back."