Beth Morrison

Minister @GordonLyons1 has made a Written Statement to the @NIAssembly on the Department’s response to recommendations made in the New Decade New Approach (NDNA) Reviews into The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (@NIChildCom) and The Commissioner for Older People (@COPNI). The links to each response can be found in this thread. 👇

A clerical child abuse inquiry for Northern Ireland is long overdue. This week, Amnesty International's Patrick Corrigan joined victim/survivors Nikella Holmes and @TonyGribben3 to give evidence to the Executive Office committee at the NI Assembly. Generations of children have suffered sexual and other abuse in faith-based settings. Amnesty International has been supporting victims' calls for accountability and action for the last sixteen years. The First Minister and deputy First Minister have had a comprehensive research report - with clear recommendations for a public inquiry and a raft of safeguarding measures - since summer 2025. But still no decision and no engagement with victims. Meanwhile, new stories of catastrophic abuse within churches and church-linked schools emerge on a regular basis. The best time for action would have been 16 years ago. The second best time is now.

The father of a man with severe learning difficulties says it was "grossly insensitive" for the health service to write to his non-verbal son to tell him that his care package will be reviewed by an independent provider based in England. bbc.in/47Jz1kS