Opinion

Editorial: Abuse survivors deserve better

FIVE years ago, Sir Anthony Hart delivered the findings of the landmark Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry which survivors had waited a lifetime to hear.

The report set out details of shocking sexual, physical and emotional abuse carried out over decades behind closed doors at children’s homes run by religious bodies, charities and the state.

It also made a series of recommendations to address the terrible wrongs suffered by some of the most vulnerable in our society, including compensation, a public apology and a permanent memorial at Stormont.

The inquiry's conclusion coincided with the collapse of the power-sharing executive, followed by a bitter stand-off that would leave Northern Ireland without devolved government for three years.

In a letter to party leaders after elections in 2017, Sir Anthony made a heartfelt appeal to urgently implement his panel's recommendations if a new executive was agreed. Failing that, he asked that they press the Secretary of State to take the necessary action.

The retired judge warned that many of those who had waited years for their voices to be heard were elderly or in poor health and the "prospect of more delay adds to the burden that so many have carried for so long".

It should therefore be a source of shame that it has taken five long years to reach the stage where a formal apology will finally be delivered.

In that time dozens of those who suffered abuse have passed away without hearing the words that they were not to blame. Sir Anthony himself died in 2019 without seeing his report implemented in full.

The first and deputy first ministers have now set March 11 for an official apology to be delivered at Parliament Buildings. Statements will also be made by institutions criticised in the inquiry.

But it is hard to avoid the conclusion that this only followed pressure from campaigners, who had planned to hold a protest at Stormont yesterday and launch legal action over the delay.

Similar steps had to be taken to ensure a compensation scheme was set up and a promised memorial has still to be delivered.

The executive is now entering its final months before another election, set once more against a background of threats and uncertainty about the future.

After enduring so much, our politicians owe a debt to all those abused as children and still suffering today to ensure all remaining recommendations of the Hart report are implemented without further delay.