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| 'Come forward' plea to abuse victims
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Thousands of people who were the victims of sexual,
physical and emotional abuse in Irish institutions are being urged
to come forward to seek compensation.
A solicitors’ firm
representing Irish victims in England estimate that 12,000 people
have yet to seek redress for a lifetime of trauma brought on by
abuse.
Manchester-based solicitor Peter Garsden, of the
Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, currently represents around 400
Irish-born abuse sufferers, mainly based in England.
However the
group believe there could be up to 12,000 victims worldwide, who
suffered abuse over a 50-year period in Ireland but who have yet to
come forward.
Peter Garsden is encouraging other victims to make
themselves known so they can have their case heard by the Redress
Board, set up by the Irish government to compensate the victims of
institutional abuse.
“We believe there are between 6,000 to
10,000 people in England, with the rest scattered across the globe,”
said Mr Garsden.
“It’s hard to say how many of these people now
live in Ireland but it has to be in the thousands.
“A lot of
people who were abused in these facilities in Ireland throughout the
decades from the ‘20s to the ‘70s left the country when they came
out of them.
“Many people ended up in England and we believe
there could easily be as many as 12,000 living outside Ireland.
“Most were totally unprepared for life outside their institution
and Ireland was poverty-stricken at the time, so they left.
“As
well as seeking redress for the abuse suffered we also raise the
issue of loss of opportunity.”
According to the latest figures
provided by the Redress Board, 5,071 applications have been made by
people claiming they were abused while being cared for in
institutions, including schools run by the Catholic Church and the
state.
Of that number, 2,397 cases have been processed. 1,784
offers have been made following settlement talks, while 539 awards
have been made following hearings.
Just two applicants have
rejected their awards, and only one application for a settlement was
rejected.
In total, 73 refusals have been issued for various
reasons.
So far the average value of each settlement totals
€78,0000 (£53,000). The largest pay-out possible is €300,000
(£204,000) and depends on the severity of abuse suffered.
A fund
to cover the cost of compensating victims is topped up every two
months by the Department of Finance.
A spokesperson for the
Redress Board declined to comment.
Anyone who suffered abuse
while at an Irish institution can call the Survivors Helpline on (00
44) 800 783 5969 (freephone from the North of Ireland), or call (00
44) 0161 482 8822 from the South of Ireland. There is also free
advice in the ‘Irish Survivors’ Guide’, which can be found at
www.irishsurvivors.org.uk.
The deadline for lodging a case with
the Redress Board is December 2, 2005. |
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