Northern Ireland’s Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry recommends children sent to Australia receive compensation

NORTHERN IRELAND/AUSTRALIA
ABC News

Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry – Report Chapters

Kincora Material

By Europe correspondent Steve Cannane

The Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry in Northern Ireland has recommended children who were transported to Australia in the 1940s and ’50s be given compensation for the trauma they suffered.

The inquiry found at least 138 children under 14 who were in state and church care in Northern Ireland were wrongly transported to Australia — often without their parents being told the truth about where they were being sent to.

Former child migrants who gave evidence at the inquiry said they were treated like baby convicts.

The chair of the inquiry, Sir Anthony Hart, said the Sisters of Nazareth were the worst offenders.

“They were wrong to send children to Australia who were so young,” he said.

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