THE DECISION by leaders of the Stormont Executive to establish an inquiry into institutional child abuse in Northern Ireland has been well received.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness made the announcement following calls for an investigation and a motion of support passed by the Assembly.
Mr Robinson said he did not envisage a drawn-out and expensive inquiry along the lines of the Saville report into the Bloody Sunday killings in 1972.
“If it is an inquiry that is more investigative which can be done with fewer personnel then it is very much a smaller figure,” he said.
Mr McGuinness said it would “hopefully give closure to people who have . . . felt that they were not worthy or listened to”.
However, this has prompted a solicitor representing some victims of abuse to say an inquiry needed to go beyond recognition that grave injustices took place.
“A report that says there was institutional abuse would certainly not suffice . . . it is the level and the nature and the recommendations that come out of this report which will be the important thing,” said Hugh Leslie.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland programme director, welcomed the announcement of an inquiry.
“This is exactly what we have been calling for,” he said “and, for the victims, the announcement will come as welcome news in advance of Christmas”.
He added that Amnesty will seek to ensure the inquiry meets the needs of victims and the human rights obligations of government.
Nationalists also applauded the decision to set up an investigation.
SDLP Assembly member Conall McDevitt said any inquiry “will only really mean something when the terms of reference have been agreed with survivors and the terms of redress have been put in place”.
He added: “Survivors will be disappointed that there is no commitment at this stage to an apology . . . The taskforce will also have to address the issue of redress . . . as well as moving immediately to meet their specific needs. These include specific counselling support and advice.”
Sinn Féin also welcomed the announcement. Derry Assembly member Martina Anderson said: “Despite the harrowing nature of [victims’] stories I have no doubt that they will welcome this announcement.”