Non-recent Institutional Abuses and Inquiries: Truth, Acknowledgement, Accountability and Procedural Justice

Over the last two decades, historical abuse in state and religiously-operated institutions and some civil society groups and organisations has come under scrutiny around the world. The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has had a large number of investigations, redress schemes or apologies regarding non-recent institutional abuse against women and children, some of which are ongoing. Many of these efforts have been criticised by victims/survivors, academic activists and advocates for deficient processes or inadequate recommendations or outcomes. Despite widespread acknowledgement that recent official responses to non-recent institutional abuse are lacking in terms of their capacity to deliver truth, acknowledgement, accountability, and procedural justice, discourses are rarely informed by detailed empirical assessment of the views of key stakeholders including victims/survivors, victim-advocates/representatives, lawyers and human rights advocates, judges/commissioners, politicians, policymakers and members of churches and religious orders. This is an important moment, therefore, to stand back and assess justice responses to non-recent institutional abuse across the island of Ireland and how they compare to efforts across the world. This research will provide a guiding standard to improve social and public understanding to redress non-recent institutional abuse across Ireland and elsewhere.