The Executive Office has proposed a £10,000 payment for victims and survivors of mother-and-baby homes following a 12-week consultation. This proposal aims to establish both a public inquiry and a redress scheme. First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly announced the consultation, expressing their commitment to addressing the suffering endured by those affected.
The proposed scheme includes an early standard payment of £10,000 for eligible individuals, such as women admitted for less than 24 hours or those born in these institutions. Additional payments will be individually assessed based on the findings of the inquiry.
A report from January 2021 by university academics highlighted that over 10,500 women and teenage girls passed through Northern Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes between 1922 and 1990.
Ms. O’Neill emphasized the long overdue need for truth, redress, and accountability for victims, stating, “Victims and survivors have waited far too long.” She stressed the importance of sensitivity to their concerns and expressed hope that the initial payment will provide reassurance of the Executive’s commitment.
Ms. Little-Pengelly underscored the significance of the public consultation in shaping legislation for the inquiry, aiming to deliver answers and justice for victims. She acknowledged the prolonged wait for financial redress, outlining the proposal’s initial £10,000 payment for eligible individuals and the subsequent individually assessed payments that will consider personal experiences.
Mother-and-baby homes were institutions across Ireland that housed unmarried women and their babies, particularly during times when unmarried pregnancy was stigmatized. Northern Ireland had several of these homes, including Catholic-run Magdalene Laundries, known for their harsh conditions and unpaid labor. Many residents were under 19 years old, with some as young as 12, and faced various forms of abuse, including sexual crimes.
The closure of the last institution in Northern Ireland occurred in 1990, marking the end of a painful era for many affected individuals.
