Abuse Victims Criticise ˆ110m State Agency

By Ellen Coyne
The Times
March 27, 2017

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/victims-agency-accused-of-wasting-money-s76n2qj2t

Some survivors of institutional abuse said that they had had negative experiences dealing with Caranua

An agency set up to help survivors of institutional child abuse has been accused of wasting redress funds on expensive administrative costs amid criticism of delays in paying out to victims.

Mary Higgins, chief executive of Caranua, received a ˆ10,000 raise in 2015, taking her salary to more than ˆ87,000. Her wages are paid out of a fund from religious congregations established to compensate victims of institutional abuse.

Caranua was set up in 2012 to manage the ˆ110 million fund and make payments to survivors who have health, housing or educational needs. There is ˆ48 million left in the fund.

The Times has spoken to ten survivors who have had negative experiences dealing with the agency. Some said they had waited up to 18 months…