The Ulster Unionist MLA, Doug Beattie MC, has called for the Interim Advocate for Historical Institutional Abuse, Brendan McAllister, to step down from the post, following  a major data breach in which the names and email addresses of many victims were shared, breaching anonymity and causing a great deal of anguish in the process.

Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“The data breach from the office of the Interim Advocate for Historical Institutional Abuse is devastating for many of the victims.

“Having been abused, many fought for justice with anonymity the only armour they had in their defence. Now that anonymity has been breached by a lack of due diligence and clear data protection protocols. 

“Many victims had already voiced their misgivings at the appointment of Brendan McAllister - the Interim Advocate – when it was announced he was in training to become a Deacon in the Catholic Church, because to many people this represented a clear conflict of interest, given that much of the abuse was carried out by clergy who were members of that church.

“The reality now is that this incompetence from the HIA office will sadly add to the lack of trust many already feel.

“It is clear that Brendan McAllister should accept responsibility for this data breach and do the right thing and stand down. If he does not, then the Executive Office must take action to remove him from post and immediately begin the process to appoint a HIA commissioner, a process that should have been started in November 2019.

“Victims must come first in all we do, and establishing and maintaining confidence and trust is at the heart of helping victims. If there is no confidence and trust then we are failing victims.”