Madam, – The High Court ruling that the Residential Institutions Redress Board was not unreasonable in refusing a late application because the applicant did not explain why he was late bodes very badly for survivors yet to apply (Home News, June 25th).
This will include hundreds living in Britain who remain isolated and alone, often not having told their family until now, or not having been well enough or emotionally strong enough to make applications and to talk to lawyers, psychiatrists or other professionals about their experiences. They are finding courage now because the Ryan report has vindicated the truth of the terrible abuse they spoke about before, when no one would listen.
It cannot be right or just that all these late applications will be refused.
Every survivor has exceptional circumstances. The barbarity and suffering endured throughout entire childhoods were exceptional circumstances. It took 10 years to produce the Ryan report, based mostly on the evidence given by survivors in good faith. Yet they were given just three years to apply to the Redress Board.
The Minister should act now to amend the Redress Act to ensure that all survivors can apply with no time barriers. A failure to do so will lead to further abuse and injustice to survivors. – Yours, etc,