Institutional abuse victim wins judicial review case

An abuse victim's lawyer has told the court Karen Bradley has the power to set up a a compensation scheme

A victim of historical institutional abuse has won the right to a full judicial review of the Northern Ireland secretary and Executive Office's failure to implement a financial redress or compensation scheme.

Such a scheme was recommended by a judicial inquiry in 2017.

However this has not been implemented since the collapse of devolution.

The High Court ruled that the applicant, known only as JR80, had an arguable case.

A lawyer representing JR80, argued that the Secretary of State Karen Bradley has a residual power to set up a scheme in the absence of a restoration of the devolved executive.

• What is the HIA?

• HIA report findings

• HIA victims 'cannot be paid without ministers'

The barrister also argued that the Secretary of State has disregarded her duty to call a fresh Assembly election.

Lawyers acting for Karen Bradley contended that she has no residual power as the redress scheme recommended by Sir Anthony Hart is a matter for the Stormont Executive.

Sir Anthony Hart's recommendations

• Compensation to survivors of abuse, including in homes/institutions not covered by HIA inquiry, and relatives of deceased

• Permanent memorial erected at Stormont

• Public apology to survivors

• Establishment of a commissioner for survivors of institutional abuse

• Specialist care and assistance tailored to needs of victims

The lawyer also argued that there is no time limit for the Secretary of State calling an election.

A lawyer representing the Executive Office pointed out that civil servants are undertaking preparatory work on draft legislation for a redress scheme.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry was set up to examine allegations of child abuse in children's homes and other institutions

The lawyer told the court that although such legislation was being prepared for the Assembly the head of the Civil Service David Sterling had made it clear that, in the absence of an Assembly, he would ask the Secretary of State to bring the legislation through Westminster.

Granting Leave for a judicial review to be heard before September, Mr Justice McCloskey noted that there have been a number of cases in which members of the Northern Ireland public have had to appeal to the court for assistance due to what he called the "indefinite moratorium " at Stormont.

The judge said this involved a very substantial diversion of judicial time and administrative resources which he described as an "unfortunate consequence" of the failure to reach an agreement at Stormont.

Background

The findings of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA) were published in January 2017 and recommended a redress mechanism.

It was established to examine allegations of child abuse in children's homes and other residential institutions in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1995.

Karen Bradley said in March that it would be "constitutionally inappropriate" for the Government to approve the payment of compensation.

However she indicated she would consider any proposals from the head of NI's Civil Service as a result of the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry.

David Sterling wrote to victims explaining payments would be open to legal challenge without ministerial approval last December,