Our office has recently secured over 100 five figure sum payments for clients who have suffered abuse while under the age of 18.
The abuse took place in institutions such as Crumlin Road Gaol, Long Kesh, The Maidstone, Armagh Gaol, Magilligan Prison, Hydebank YOC, Milisle Borstal, as well as homes such as St. Patrick’s Training School, Nazareth Lodge / House, St Joseph’s Training School, and many others.
HIA typically consider factors such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, in addition to neglect and maltreatment. Clients have reported abuse such as sectarian name calling, being belittled in front of their peers, denied parental or sibling contact, and general lack of care.
The most common phrase we hear in our consultations is ‘’that was normal then, we just accepted it’’.
We wish to take this opportunity to remind our clients, and any potential clients that just because abuse was normalized, does not make it acceptable, and this is exactly what we aim to accomplish with our clients. We not only fight for a strong compensation, but we strive for our clients to leave our office with a sense of empowerment, well-being, and dignity.
Often times our clients will explain how nervous they are to come to their initial consultation, but immediately feel a sense of relief, and empowerment after our very first discussion.
An important aspect of the HIA redress scheme to keep in mind is that if you are in receipt of benefits, or legal aid, the legislation protects these benefits for you. This means that if any compensation is awarded, there is no affect to your benefits or legal aid.
Qualifying factors include suffering abuse while under the age of 18 and resident in an institution in the North of Ireland.
Under Section 1 (a) of the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019;
‘An application for compensation under this Part may be made by or in respect of a person who suffered abuse while a child and while resident in an institution at some time between 1922 and 1995.’
An application can also be made on behalf of someone who died on, or after, 28 April 1953 if you are the deceased persons:
- surviving spouse;
- civil partner;
- cohabiting partner;
- surviving child.
If you would like advice on making an application the HIA Redress Board please contact Seán Egerton of our office on 02890230222 or by e-mail sean@omuirighsolicitors.com
Image Courtesy of Belfast Media Group