KRW LAW statement on Abuse Apology delay
We act on behalf of 640 victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse many of whom have since received High Court settlements or Redress compensation. They all represent a wide political and religious diaspora of victimhood.
However, for many the most important issue has always been an acknowledgment of the pain and suffering endured by them over many years. Expectations were therefore raised last month when the First and Deputy Ministers announced that a formal Apology would issue later in March.
After the collapse of The Executive growing concerns that the long-awaited apology might not be delivered crystallised today when the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Abuse Fiona Ryan confirmed to a Stormont Committee that the planned apology was now in doubt. The resulting anger expressed by the Commissioner resonates with so many survivors who all feel very badly let down.
Some feel it was wrong to raise expectations that the apology would go ahead on March 11 while others take the view that all steps should have been taken to have it delivered long before now.
Speaking today in the aftermath of today’s depressing announcement solicitor Owen Beattie who heads KRW LAW’s Historic Abuse Redress Dept said
“We have taken soundings from a number of the Survivors Groups. Collectively they all want to see every possible effort made to deliver on this promised apology. Any further timeline slippage past March only serves to compound the anger and hurt felt by survivors. We have written tonight to The Executive and other engaged agencies with some proposals to address the issue. What needs addressed is finding consensus across all sectors on who should deliver the apology in place of the First and Deputy Ministers. We are confident that with a lateral approach on this key issue then a remedy can be found. For example, the existing Ministers who remain in office present as an option and that features in our representations. There’s a real danger that delivery of any apology now is already tainted and somewhat hollow, indeed something of an afterthought. Victims deserve better.”