The government of Northern Ireland issued a public apology on Friday over a massive sexual abuse and abuse scandal in child care facilities spanning more than seven decades in the United Kingdom, after years of delay.
"We are sorry that the state failed to protect you from abuse, we are sorry that the state did not protect you from those who abused their power," Education Secretary Michelle McElvin said.
The investigation, which lasted for 4 years and concluded in 2017, highlighted cases of mistreatment on a very large scale in institutions dedicated to the care of children and managed by religious bodies, which revealed structural gaps in this area.
The minister addressed the victims, saying, "We are sorry that we did not believe you. The state listened to you, the state believed you, and we are very sorry."
Irish authorities have apologized to the families of the victims (Getty Images)
official apology
This official apology was followed by similar stances from representatives of 4 major political parties who spoke during the emotionally charged public apology session in Stormont, the seat of Parliament and Government in Belfast.
These apologies - which were also made by the religious institutions involved in these practices - fall within the framework of the recommendations issued in the final report of the investigation.
In all, 493 people reported experiencing such abuse in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as well as Ireland and Australia.
The report highlighted, in particular, the multiple failures of the police to investigate the allegations, in addition to the role of the Catholic Church in protecting the perpetrators of these violations.
Sadness and regret in the eyes of those who attended the apology ceremony (Getty Images)
Attacks and evidence
He also referred to "evidence" of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, and "cases of neglect and unacceptable practices" between 1922 and 1995 in most of the institutions covered by the investigation.
Twenty-two of these institutions were run by the state, by the church, or by associations.
Northern Ireland has seen several scandals linked to cases of abuse.
In October, police opened an investigation into accusations of sexual and physical abuse at women's institutions run by the Catholic and Protestant churches, where thousands of single mothers have faced social ostracism for decades.
And in the neighboring Republic of Ireland, a report revealed that 9,000 “illegitimate” children died between 1922 and 1998 in institutions run by the state or the Catholic Church, in a scandal that led Prime Minister Michael Martin in January 2021 to issue an official apology.