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Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry

Completed

HIA Inquiry

Chair Sir Anthony Hart Judge / Judiciary
Established 01 Jan 2013
Final Report 20 Jan 2017
Commissioned by Northern Ireland Executive

Northern Ireland inquiry into abuse of children in residential institutions between 1922 and 1995. Found widespread abuse across institutions run by churches, the state, local authorities and charities.

Evidence & Impact
The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, chaired by Sir Anthony Hart, examined the treatment of children in residential institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995. The inquiry reported in January 2017 with 12 recommendations focused on establishing a compensation scheme, providing support services, and ensuring recognition for victims and survivors.

The government accepted all 12 recommendations, though no formal response document appears to have been published. The primary legislative response was the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019, which established the framework for compensation and support services.

The evidence indicates substantial progress on most recommendations. The Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board operated for five years from March 2020, processing thousands of applications and distributing £99.2 million in compensation. The 2019 Act specified compensation amounts as recommended by the inquiry: a standard payment of £7,500, an additional £20,000 for child migrants, and enhanced payments up to £100,000.

Support services were established through the Victims and Survivors Service from December 2020, offering counselling, therapies and welfare support across Northern Ireland. The appointment of a Commissioner for Survivors (COSICA) in October 2020 created an advocacy role for victims and survivors.

A formal apology was delivered by Northern Ireland government ministers in the Assembly Chamber in March 2022, acknowledging systemic failings. A permanent memorial was unveiled at Stormont in February 2026.

The 2019 Act addressed several technical recommendations, establishing that compensation payments would be tax-exempt and would not affect social security entitlements, while ensuring legal aid availability for applicants.

One area where progress appears incomplete concerns financial contributions from institutions. As of September 2024, only three of the six voluntary institutions identified by the inquiry had made financial contributions to the redress scheme and support services, with three institutions yet to contribute.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 established a publicly funded compensation scheme for survivors of institutional childhood abuse
- The Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board operated from March 2020 to April 2025, processing 5,496 applications and awarding £99.2 million in compensation to victims and survivors
- The office of Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) was created, with Fiona Ryan appointed in October 2020 for a five-year term
- The Victims and Survivors Service launched dedicated support services in December 2020, offering caseworker support, counselling, complementary therapies, disability aids, persistent pain management and social welfare support across Northern Ireland
- A memorial to victims and survivors was unveiled in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings, Stormont in February 2026
- Legal aid eligibility for compensation applicants was established through the 2019 Act
- Compensation payments were made exempt from taxation and protected from affecting social security entitlements under the 2019 Act
Unfinished Business
- Three of the six voluntary institutions identified by the Inquiry as having systemic failings have not made financial contributions to the cost of the HIA Redress Board and specialist support services as of September 2024
Generated 18 Mar 2026 using claude-opus-4. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
4 years Duration
£30m Total Cost
Inquiry Website
Government Response
Accepted 12
Total Recommendations 12
Data last updated: 20 Feb 2026 · Source
Data verified: 23 Mar 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

2 questions since Jan 2018
Written Question Offences against Children: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon (Independent)
11 Jan 2018
Written Question Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry
Lady Hermon (Independent)
11 Jan 2018
All Activity (2)
Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
Report of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Final Report 20 Jan 2017 12
18 Sep 2012
Inquiry Announced
01 Jan 2013
Inquiry Established
20 Jan 2017
Final Report Published

Recommendations (12)

HIA-1
Accepted
Public Apology
Recommendation
We recommend that the Northern Ireland Executive and those who were responsible for each of the institutions investigated by the Inquiry where we found systemic failings should make a public apology. The apology should be a wholehearted and unconditional recognition … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the official government response (11 March 2022) and the Northern Ireland Assembly (11 March 2022), on 11 March 2022, Ministers Michelle McIlveen, Conor Murphy, Nichola Mallon, Robin Swann, and Naomi Long delivered a public apology on behalf of the Northern Ireland government to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in the Assembly Chamber of Parliament Buildings. According to the same sources, six institutions identified by the Inquiry (De La Salle Brothers, Sisters of Nazareth, Sisters of St. Louis, Good Shepherd Sisters, Barnardo's, and Irish Church) also provided formal apologies on the same date.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-2
Accepted
Memorial at Stormont
Recommendation

We recommend that a suitable physical memorial should be erected in Parliament Buildings, or in the grounds of the Stormont Estate.

Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on February 20, 2026, and the Northern Ireland Executive on February 20, 2026, a physical memorial to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse was unveiled in Parliament Buildings, located within the Great Hall of the Stormont Estate, on 20 February 2026. According to the same sources, the memorial was designed in consultation with victims and survivors through the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA).
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-3
Accepted
Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA)
Recommendation
We therefore recommend that a designated person should act as an advocate for such children, and should be responsible for ensuring the co-ordination and availability of services, and identifying suitable means whereby such services can be made available to those … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on October 6, 2020, and The Executive Office (NI) on December 14, 2020, Fiona Ryan was appointed as the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) on 6 October 2020 for a five-year term, as established by the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019. According to the same sources, COSICA acts as an advocate for survivors, promoting their interests and coordinating the availability of services such as counselling and welfare support.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-4
Accepted
Compensation as Lump Sum Payment
Recommendation

We therefore recommend that compensation should take the form of a lump sum payment.

Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on 5 November 2019, the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 established that compensation payments for survivors would be provided as lump sums, in line with the Inquiry's recommendation.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-5
Accepted
Publicly Funded Compensation Scheme
Recommendation

We recommend that the Northern Ireland Executive create a publicly funded compensation scheme.

Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on November 5, 2019, and The Executive Office (NI) on January 1, 2025, a publicly funded compensation scheme was established through the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019. According to the same sources, this scheme was administered by the HIA Redress Board, which operated from March 2020 and closed for applications on 2 April 2025, having processed 5,496 applications and made 4,449 final determinations by December 2024.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-6
Accepted
HIA Redress Board
Recommendation
We consider the appropriate method of administering the compensation scheme is to create a specific Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board for that purpose, and we so recommend. The HIA Redress Board should be responsible for receiving and processing applications for, … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report (31 March 2020) and The Executive Office (NI) (1 January 2025), the Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board was established and opened on 31 March 2020, as mandated by the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019, to administer the compensation scheme. According to these sources, the Board received 5,496 applications before its closure on 2 April 2025, making 4,449 final determinations and awarding a total of £99.2 million in compensation to victims and survivors.
Victims and Survivors Service (Primary) Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-7
Accepted
Compensation Amounts and Caps
Recommendation
We recommend that the amount of compensation should therefore consist of one or more of the following elements. (i) A standard payment of £7,500 payable to anyone who was abused, including those who experienced a harsh environment, or who witnessed … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019, the specific compensation amounts and caps were established, including a standard payment of £7,500, an additional payment of £20,000 for individuals sent to Australia under the Child Migrants Scheme, and an enhanced payment up to a maximum of £100,000. According to the Gov.uk progress report (5 November 2019) and The Executive Office (NI) (1 January 2025), the HIA Redress Board provided this specific £20,000 payment for child migrants.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-8
Accepted
Specialist Care and Assistance Facilities
Recommendation
Sufficient funds should be made available by government on a ring-fenced basis for a fixed period of ten years, subject to a review after five years, to establish dedicated specialist facilities in Belfast, Derry and, if necessary, at other suitable … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report (5 November 2019) and the Victims and Survivors Service (NI) (1 December 2020), the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) launched a dedicated service on 1 December 2020, in partnership with WAVE Trauma Centre and Advice NI, to support the health and wellbeing of survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse. According to the same sources, this service provides health and wellbeing caseworkers, talking therapies, counselling, complementary therapies, disability aids, persistent pain support, welfare support, and drop-in social support, delivered regionally across Northern Ireland, including in Belfast and Derry. No further published evidence has been identified since 2020 regarding the ring-fenced funding for a fixed ten-year period or the five-year review.
Victims and Survivors Service (Primary)
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HIA-9
Accepted
Social Security Payments Unaffected
Recommendation

We also recommend that social security payments should not be affected by lump sum payments awarded by the HIA Redress Board.

Published evidence summary
According to Gov.uk progress report (5 November 2019), the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 included specific provisions to ensure that lump sum compensation payments awarded by the HIA Redress Board would not affect recipients' social security entitlements.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-10
Accepted
Compensation Payments Tax-Free
Recommendation

We recommend that payments of compensation should not be taxable, and that the Northern Ireland Executive make representations to the Treasury and to HMRC to achieve this.

Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on 5 November 2019, the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 included provisions that ensured compensation payments awarded to victims and survivors were exempt from taxation. According to the same report, the Northern Ireland Executive made representations to the Treasury and HMRC to achieve this outcome.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-11
Accepted
Legal Aid for Applicants
Recommendation

We recommend that applicants should be eligible for legal aid to allow them to obtain legal assistance to make an application for an award.

Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on November 5, 2019, the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 established eligibility for legal aid for applicants seeking compensation, allowing individuals to obtain legal assistance for their applications.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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HIA-12
Accepted
Financial Contributions from Institutions
Recommendation
We recommend that any voluntary institution found by the Inquiry to have been guilty of systemic failings should be asked to make an appropriate financial contribution to the overall cost of the HIA Redress Board and any specialist support services … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the Gov.uk progress report on September 6, 2024, as of September 2024, three of the six voluntary institutions identified by the Inquiry as having systemic failings have made financial contributions to the overall cost of the HIA Redress Board and specialist support services. According to the same source, these institutions are the De La Salle Order, the Sisters of Nazareth, and the Good Shepherd Sisters, while contributions from the remaining three institutions were still outstanding.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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