Historical Clerical Child Abuse (HCCA) - version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Historical Clerical Child Abuse (HCCA) in Northern Ireland: A project sponsored by the Northern Ireland Civil Service's Interdepartmental Working Group on Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries and Historical Clerical Child Abuse.
IRAS ID
318363
Contact name
Marcella Leonard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
HIA Implementation Branch
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
Clerical child abuse outside residential institutions was excluded from the 2014-2017 Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. This left a gap in the local historical abuse narrative which this research, commissioned by an NI Civil Service Interdepartmental Working Group (the Sponsor), will address.
The principal aim is to understand from 1968 on, the extent of Historical Clerical Child Abuse (HCCA); if its systemic (widespread and basic); and its outcomes include policy recommendations for Ministers on future actions such as further HCCA investigation and potential victim/survivor remedies. As 1968 was the introduction of the landmark Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 it is the chosen start date with inclusion of earlier relevant material being at the Sponsor's discretion. The research is led by a multidisciplinary, professional team drawn from the Health and Social Care Leadership Centre’s Associate List.
The research methodology includes a working definition of HCCA; a literature review; a review of changing societal mores since 1968, and three distinct investigatory strands: victims/survivors, faith organisations/affiliated groups, and health/justice agencies. All share a number of common principles: investigations are trauma informed; all participants, including the researchers, have access to therapeutic support; the Human Rights of all participants are to be respected; and any personal data generated is to be managed as per GDPR. Victims/survivors investigations will focus solely on the response of faith organisations/affiliated groups and health/justice agencies to abuse allegations, the impact this had on victims/survivors and will not seek to obtain/record their lived experience.
The research will use a mixed methods approach: based on current estimates all faith organisations/affiliated groups will be asked to participate and convenience sampling will be used with victims/survivors. Statistical quality assurance will be provided by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
The final report will be shared with all participants ahead of publication.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
22/NI/0190
Date of REC Opinion
16 Dec 2022
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion