An insult to the brave victims

SURVIVORS of child abuse who have given evidence to an inquiry have already suffered, repeatedly.

Not only have they had to live for many years with the scars of violent assault or even rape committed while they were in the state’s care, they have courageously relived their experiences, first to police and then before a panel appointed to investigate historic abuse cases.

So, it seems unnecessarily cruel to expect victims to tell their stories yet again.

Those victims who lodge compensation claims will have to appear before a panel set up to decide appropriate levels for each claimant.

There is something rather dehumanising about a system that requires victims to appear in front of officials before being ranked on some kind of ‘trauma scale’. Survivors’ stories are on the record and it should, therefore, be a perfectly simple process for the panel to allocate appropriate damages without the need for yet another series of traumatic interviews.

Thanks to a handsome daily rate, those appointed to decide compensation stand to earn more than some victims will receive for life-altering abuse. This cannot be right.

The victims of abuse were failed by a system devoid of empathy. The least they deserve now is a little of the compassion they were denied.

Everyone who shared his or her experience of abuse is entitled to compensation.

The process by which this is awarded should not require them to relive another second of the trauma they have already suffered.