Historical Institutional Abuse Compensation Scheme

The Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Redress scheme is now open for applications as of 31st March 2020.
The Redress Board has been set up to receive and process applications for compensation from anyone who suffered abuse in a residential institution in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995.

You should instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf and the Redress Board will pay all of your legal costs and expenses.
You are eligible for compensation if you suffered abuse whilst you were a child resident in an Institution in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995 or if you were sent to Australia under the Child Migrant Programme.

Compensation

You can apply for compensation on behalf of someone who has died on or after 28th April 1953 if you are/were the Deceased’s:

• Surviving spouse
• Civil partner
• Cohabiting partner
• Surviving child

There are 3 amounts of compensation which may be awarded:

• Standard amount of £10000
• Enhanced award of between £10,001 and £80,000
• Award of £20000 if you are applying due to the Child Migrant to Australia Programme

The Northern Ireland Executive set up an Inquiry and investigation into historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland. The Inquiry covered abuse of children under the age of 18 years who lived in institutions such as children’s homes, borstals, training schools, juvenile justice centres, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions run by religious orders between 1922 and 1995 in Northern Ireland.

The Inquiry produced a final report and made a number of recommendations. One of the recommendations was that victims and survivors should receive compensation payments to be administered by the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Redress Board. The recommendations of the final report can be found in full by reading the full report of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry.

Redress Scheme

The long awaited redress scheme is now open for those who have suffered to apply to receive redress. The application process will be open for a period of five years.

The Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 provides the legal framework for the establishment of the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board.

The scope of the Redress scheme is fairly wide ranging and will provide compensation for those who suffered neglect, maltreatment, emotional abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse whilst attending an institution. Therefore you should ensure that you contact Gus Campbell Solicitors for advice about the redress scheme.

Gus Campbell Application Help

The application can be submitted online, and Gus Campbell Solicitors will be able to make the application on your behalf. We are able to take instructions by telephone or e-mail given the current circumstances and we can then give you clear advice about the application process.

If you provided advice to the HIA Inquiry, you are not required to provide further evidence. Otherwise, you will need to provide further details to the Redress Board and Gus Campbell Solicitors can advise you about the process. There is a determination process and an Appeals process and your solicitor will be able to advise you fully about this.

We would urge anyone who wishes to apply for compensation to contact us as soon as possible by telephone or e-mail.