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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, was established in 2013 to examine abuse of children in residential institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995. The inquiry published its final report in January 2017, making 12 recommendations focused on acknowledgement, redress and support for survivors.

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

Published evidence indicates substantial progress on most recommendations. A formal apology was delivered by five Northern Ireland ministers in the Assembly Chamber in March 2022, acknowledging systemic failings. The Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board operated from March 2020 to April 2025, processing 5,496 applications and awarding £99.2 million in compensation. The compensation scheme followed the inquiry's recommended structure of lump sum payments, with amounts ranging from a standard £7,500 to a maximum of £100,000.

Support services for survivors were established through multiple channels. The Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse was appointed in October 2020, and the Victims and Survivors Service launched dedicated support in December 2020, offering counselling, therapies and welfare assistance across Northern Ireland. A permanent memorial was unveiled at Stormont in February 2026.

The 2019 Act addressed several technical recommendations, establishing that compensation payments would be exempt from taxation and would not affect social security entitlements. Legal aid was made available for compensation applicants.

One area where evidence suggests incomplete progress concerns institutional contributions to the redress scheme. As of September 2024, three of the six voluntary institutions identified by the inquiry had made financial contributions (the De La Salle Order, Sisters of Nazareth, and Good Shepherd Sisters), while three had not yet contributed.
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 six voluntary institutions identified by the Inquiry as having systemic failings have not made financial contributions to the redress scheme as of September 2024, despite the recommendation that all institutions should contribute
AI-generated narrative. Generated 26 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: 26 May 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 Tracked 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
Clear

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
- On 11 March 2022, in the Assembly Chamber of Parliament Buildings, five Northern Ireland Executive Ministers delivered a public apology to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse (Northern Ireland Executive Public Apology, 11 March 2022).
- The apology was described as a wholehearted and unconditional recognition that institutions failed to protect children in their care (Northern Ireland Executive Public Apology, 11 March 2022).
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
- On 20 February 2026, a memorial to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse was unveiled in Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland Assembly, February 2026).
- The memorial is located in the grounds of the Stormont Estate as recommended by the Inquiry (Northern Ireland Assembly, February 2026).
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
- On 6 October 2020, Fiona Ryan was appointed as Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) for a five-year term (COSICA Appointment, October 2020).
- COSICA acts as an advocate for survivors and is responsible for ensuring the coordination and availability of services, as recommended by the Inquiry (COSICA, October 2020).
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
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 established that compensation payments for survivors would take the form of lump sums, as recommended by the Inquiry (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
- The HIA Redress Board has been making lump sum payments to applicants since it opened on 31 March 2020 (HIA Redress Board, March 2020).
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
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 established a publicly funded compensation scheme, receiving Royal Assent on 5 November 2019 (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
- The scheme was administered by the HIA Redress Board, which opened on 31 March 2020 and received over 5,000 applications (HIA Redress Board, March 2020).
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
- The Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board was established and opened on 31 March 2020 to administer the compensation scheme (HIA Redress Board, March 2020).
- The Board received over 5,000 applications and has been processing claims and making payments as recommended (HIA Redress Board).
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
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 established the compensation structure, including a standard payment of £7,500, additional payments of £20,000 for those with special circumstances, and further payments up to a maximum (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
- The HIA Redress Board has been making payments in accordance with the statutory structure since March 2020 (HIA Redress Board).
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
- The Victims and Survivors Service launched dedicated support services on 1 December 2020, offering caseworker support, counselling, complementary therapies, and group support in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry (Victims and Survivors Service, December 2020).
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 provided for ring-fenced funding for specialist support services.
- No published assessment of whether the full range of specialist facilities specified in the recommendation is available across all locations in Northern Ireland, including those beyond Belfast and Derry, has been identified to March 2026.
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
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 included provisions to ensure that lump sum compensation payments would not affect social security benefits (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
- This recommendation was fully implemented through the legislation (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
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
- The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 provided that compensation payments are exempt from taxation (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
- Representations were made to the Treasury and HMRC to achieve the tax exemption as recommended (Northern Ireland Executive, 2019).
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
- Legal aid eligibility for applicants seeking compensation was established by the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 (Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019).
- Applicants have been able to access legal assistance to make applications to the Redress Board since it opened in March 2020 (HIA Redress Board).
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
- 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 (Northern Ireland Executive, September 2024).
- Three institutions have not made financial contributions as of the most recent published update in September 2024.
- No published information on the total financial contributions received or outstanding from voluntary institutions has been identified to March 2026.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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