In recent years the Northern Ireland Executive set up an inquiry to investigate allegations of historical institutional abuse between 1922 and 1995. The inquiry closed in June 2017. The final report, known as the Hart Report, can be found here .

Among the recommendations, the Northern Ireland Executive recommended that financial compensation should be administered by a redress board to survivors of historical abuse.

In addition to financial redress, survivors can seek an apology and obtain advice about the following:

• benefits and housing
• debt and personal finance
• education and further education, jobs and training
• searching for personal records
• help reporting abuse incidents to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

For those who suffered abuse in children’s homes runs by the church, state and charities the scheme is capped at £100,000 and survivors who attended institutions in which abuse was widespread may be entitled to an initial £10,000 acknowledgment payment.

The scheme opens in March and applications for redress should not be delayed.

Switalskis Solicitors have a wealth of experience representing survivors of abuse and dealing with redress schemes. We have already been instructed by a number of survivors of abuse in Northern Ireland. We have represented over 400 applicants of the Lambeth Children’s Home Redress Scheme and work closely with survivor organisations to ensure our clients receive the support they need through such a difficult process.