Public Inquiry
Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry
Status: Completed
Chair: Sir Anthony Hart
Established: Jan 2013
Report: 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.
Response breakdown
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.
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.
Reports & milestones
Reports
20 Jan 2017
12 tracked recs
Report of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry
· Tracked recommendations
· PDF
Timeline
18 Sep 2012
Inquiry Announced
01 Jan 2013
Inquiry Establish…
20 Jan 2017
Final Report Publ…
Recommendations
| Code | Recommendation | Addressed to | Response | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIA-1 |
We recommend that the Northern Ireland Executive and those who were responsible for each of the institutions investigated by the Inquiry where …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-2 |
We recommend that a suitable physical memorial should be erected in Parliament Buildings, or in the grounds of the Stormont Estate.
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-3 |
We therefore recommend that a designated person should act as an advocate for such children, and should be responsible for ensuring the …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-4 |
We therefore recommend that compensation should take the form of a lump sum payment.
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-5 |
We recommend that the Northern Ireland Executive create a publicly funded compensation scheme.
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-6 |
We consider the appropriate method of administering the compensation scheme is to create a specific Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board for that …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-7 |
We recommend that the amount of compensation should therefore consist of one or more of the following elements. (i) A standard payment …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-8 |
Sufficient funds should be made available by government on a ring-fenced basis for a fixed period of ten years, subject to a …
|
Victims and Survivors Service | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-9 |
We also recommend that social security payments should not be affected by lump sum payments awarded by the HIA Redress Board.
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-10 |
We recommend that payments of compensation should not be taxable, and that the Northern Ireland Executive make representations to the Treasury and …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-11 |
We recommend that applicants should be eligible for legal aid to allow them to obtain legal assistance to make an application for …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
| HIA-12 |
We recommend that any voluntary institution found by the Inquiry to have been guilty of systemic failings should be asked to make …
|
Northern Ireland Executive | Accepted | View → |
Parliamentary activity
2 questions