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  Abuse Victims Consult with Task Force

UTV
March 9, 2011

http://www.u.tv/News/Abuse-victims-to-consult-with-task-force/5222e2ff-83cc-4514-a8cf-44bdfd35913d

[with video]

Victims and survivors of institutional abuse in Northern Ireland have met with the Executive's Task Force in Armagh to give their views and ideas on a forthcoming inquiry.

The meeting was the first of a series and forms part of a consultation process launched after the government announced in December that an investigation will be held into the abuse.

Survivor Paul Toner, who experienced institutional abuse at the Nazareth Lodge orphanage in Belfast as a young boy, said: "We've all got our stories to tell," adding that the abuse experienced by children in institutions was "horrifying".

"I hid it for 40 years - just didn't tell anyone 'til a year ago - I couldn't hold it in no longer."

Margaret McGuckin said she wanted to find out the remit of the inquiry and what victims and survivors want out of the investigation. She was abused during her seven years in care at the Sisters of Nazareth ran orphanage.

"This is a consultation directly with the survivor/victims - all of us," she told UTV.

"I know we as the group leaders have been up [at Stormont] dealing with the Task Force, but this is for all now.

"This is for people who haven't come forward yet - for them to have their say on how the inquiry should take place.

"We want everyone to have their say. There are a lot of victims out there that are all still traumatised and haven't received counselling and they haven't been able to act as a normal part of society.

"Also, there is the need of compensation for a lot of people - that's the only way that they can regain any part of life so obviously this will have to come up too."

There will be another meeting on Thursday in Belfast and also later this month in Derry.

 
 

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