Next Steps at 30 November 2017
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Site Updating - This site will no longer be updated as the Inquiry has completed its work however if you need up-to-date information, this will be provided on the NI Direct site at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/historical-institutional-abuse. Report Implementation - In the absence of a functioning Executive and without the necessary political authority, the report's recommendations in Sir Anthony Hart's report cannot be implemented. The Executive Office will bring forward implementation proposals as soon as possible when there is a restored administration. In the meantime preparatory work and planning is already underway. As the Inquiry formally closed on 30 June 2017 you will no longer be able to contact any member of Inquiry staff directly. You can contact The Executive Office for updates on progress at: HIAImplementationBranch@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk. Further Support - If you need help urgently you can contact the Lifeline helpline on 0808 808 8000 for free from UK landlines and mobiles, in confidence, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Details for additional counselling services which are available in England and Australia are provided on the links page - https://www.hiainquiry.org/links. |
INQUIRY HOME PAGE
Welcome to the website of the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995. The Inquiry was independent from government and had two main components. One was the Acknowledgement Forum, whose members listened to the experiences of those who were children in residential institutions (other than schools) in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995.
The other component was the Statutory Inquiry. In its 223 days of public hearings between 13 January 2014 and 8 July 2016 it investigated 22 institutions, as well as the circumstances surrounding the sending of child migrants from Northern Ireland to Australia, and the activities of Fr Brendan Smyth, and issues of finance and governance. We delivered our Report to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on Friday 6 January 2017, and were obliged to deliver the Report to them at least 14 days before the Report could be published. We published the Report in both hard copy form and on our website on 20 January 2017.
Throughout the Inquiry was committed to making as much of our work as possible publicly available. My remarks at the launch of the Report on 20 January 2017, the Report itself, the transcripts of the public hearings, and the documents placed on our website can all be accessed by following the links at the bottom of this page. These links also provide access to other information relating to our work.
The Inquiry has now formally come to an end. However, in order that those interested in the detail of our work have as much information available as possible in the future we have now placed on our website all those documents we consider are relevant and which do not contain private information, or information which need not be published, and we have begun the process of transferring custody of the Inquiry Record in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
By following the various links on this website you will be able to see the transcripts of the public hearings, with the exception of some days of closed hearings which remain closed lest they prejudice criminal proceedings, the full Inquiry Report, and the documents referred to in the Report, together with the documents referred to in each of the public hearings.
Sir Anthony Hart
Chairman of the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse 1922-1995
30 June 2017
Links: -
Chairman's Statement - Launch of HIA Inquiry Report on 20 January 2017