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Historical institutional abuse

The Northern Ireland Executive is setting up an inquiry and investigation into historical institutional abuse.  That is the sexual, physical or emotional abuse of children living in an institution that was run either by the state or other organisations, including religious orders.  It applies to abuse in an institution that was responsible for the children’s residential care and welfare between 1945 and 1995.

What will the inquiry involve?

A confidential acknowledgement forum, which victims and survivors can choose to attend in either Belfast or Londonderry/Derry, will provide the opportunity for individuals to tell what happened when they lived in an institution.  

It is planned that the forum will be ready to start work by summer 2012. More detailed information, including how to contact the forum, will be publicised then.

When the work of the forum is finished, a report of the experiences of victims and survivors will be prepared for the Chair of the Inquiry. No names will be used in this report and all records will be destroyed when the inquiry is finished.  

The Chair of the Inquiry will consider the report of the forum and conduct an inquiry and investigation to identify any systemic failings by the state or institutions in their duties towards children in their care.

Timing of the inquiry

Legislation is needed to give the inquiry full powers to investigate. This is being prepared and is due to be completed early in 2013. This will not delay the start of the forums.  More information will be publicised when it becomes available.

Support for victims and survivors

Arrangements are also being made to set up a support scheme, sometimes called an advocacy service, to help victims and survivors before, during and after the inquiry.

The advocacy service will provide information, practical and emotional help and support to all victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse and will include:

  • a support helpline
  • counselling
  • housing and benefits advice
  • education, employability and training advice and support
  • assistance with accessing and searching victims and survivors own personal, medical and institutional records
  • assistance and support with PSNI referrals for those seeking to pursue civil/criminal claims
  • assistance and support for those preparing for and attending the acknowledgement forum and inquiry
  • a befriending scheme

An announcement will be made when this service becomes available.

Help for victims and survivors now

If you are in distress or despair as a consequence of historical institutional abuse please contact Lifeline:

Lifeline 0808 808 8000

You can call free, in confidence, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Report abuse to the PSNI

The PSNI have specialist units who will investigate all reports of institutional abuse. You can find addresses and phone numbers for these units by using the following link.

Other help available

Below are links to other kinds of government help that victims have said they need most. If there is other information you would like please contact the historical institutional abuse unit in the Office of the First and deputy First Minister at hiataskforce@ofmdfmni.gov.uk

Claiming benefits

You can get help and advice on all social security benefits from Jobs and Benefits Offices or from the Benefit Shop, Castle Court.

Or you can find information about benefits at the nidirect page below.

Homelessness and housing

You can get information and advice about your housing options from

Education, training and work

The Careers Service offers advice to young people and adults about education, training and employment. You can find your local careers adviser by using the following link.

Or you can read more at

Birth and family records

General Register Office of Northern Ireland (GRO)

The General Register Office holds the records of births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and adoptions in Northern Ireland.

There is a search room open to the public for anyone who wants to use the records to trace family members.

Access to adoption records is more restricted. An adopted person may apply to see their original birth record. They can also register their interest in tracing family members through the Adoption Contact Register.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)

The Public Record Office holds some records which may help victims of abuse. It also has records to help you research your family tree and advice to help you start.

You can search the records online or visit the PRONI building and search in person.

In general PRONI does not hold:

  • records of voluntary homes
  • records of homes run by religious orders - these may still be with the relevant order
  • files of individual children in care – from 1947 these are held by the Social Service Departments of the Northern Ireland Health Trusts.

More useful links