Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt is challenging the logic of the refusal by the Head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland to deliver any redress to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse. David Sterling has written to Ulster Unionist Leader, Robin Swann MLA, making clear he is not prepared to offer survivors an interim payment. But Mr Nesbitt says Mr Sterling’s logic is flawed.

Mr Nesbitt said:

“David Sterling states explicitly that he would expect a Northern Ireland Executive to have approved full implementation of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry led by Sir Anthony Hart. This ignores the fact that the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference make clear that it is for the Executive, not Sir Anthony, to make the final decision of what form any redress should take. On that basis, it is not for HOCS to assume a future Executive would agree full implementation, but rather to command scoping of options for a future Executive to consider.

“Mr Sterling also states his officials have been undertaking appropriate preparatory and planning work. I have no idea what he means by “appropriate” but I am clear that what is inappropriate is doing nothing for the victims. Victims and survivors had their claims of institutional abuse vindicated by the Inquiry in January, but eleven months later, they have had nothing.

“Tomorrow I meet representatives of what I believe is the oldest surviving victim of abuse. She was betrayed by those who were charged with looking after her 83 years ago and still she has to wait. What do I say to her and her family?

“There are three good reasons not to implement the Hart recommendations. Firstly, the Executive needs to agree the proposals. Secondly, the victims want changes to those recommendations. Thirdly, the institutions need to contribute to any financial redress and that requires a series of conversations.  

“But there is no reason not to make an interim payment. It is negligible money for the government but hugely important to victims and survivors, both in practical and symbolic terms. 

“In the last number of days, both the Head of the Civil Service and the Secretary of State have refused to act for people whose lives were blighted at a very early stage through no fault of their own. If good government is measured in how well we look after the vulnerable, this is failure on a global scale.”