Welcome to our Summer 2026 update. This edition gives me an opportunity to share some recent developments from the Office and reflect on the work we have been undertaking in recent months.
This edition comes at a significant time, as I step down from my role as Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse to take up a new position in August.
Since my appointment in December 2020, it has been a profound privilege to serve victims and survivors, to listen to their experiences and to promote their interests.
I remain deeply grateful to the victims and survivors who have engaged with me and my team over the past five and a half years.
By sharing their views and experiences, they have shaped the work of this Office and have been fundamental in ensuring that we represent their needs to policy and decision-makers, service providers, elected representatives and others.
Throughout my time as Commissioner, I have sought to advocate for the rights, needs and priorities of survivors. From contributing to the delivery of key Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry recommendations, including the Apology and the permanent memorial at Stormont, to highlighting the ongoing need for lifelong, trauma-informed supports and services, our work has been guided by the experiences shared with us by survivors.
I have also highlighted the challenges experienced by many survivors on a range of issues and the one in five survivors of non-recent child abuse who contact my Office and who fall outside my legislative remit.
Elsewhere in this newsletter, we highlight the publication of the Truth Recovery Independent Panel Report, an important milestone for victims and survivors of Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses.
We also share details of my recent engagement with counselling and psychotherapy practitioners at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy conference in Derry-Londonderry, where I discussed the findings from our consultation on supports and services to victims and survivors, and the importance of ensuring survivors can access responsive, specialist support throughout their lives.
You will also read about our recent working paper on the need to establish the prevalence of non-recent child abuse in Northern Ireland. The paper highlights significant gaps in research and recommends that a prevalence study be considered. This would help to better understand the scale of abuse, inform policy development and support the planning and delivery of services for victims and survivors.
As I reflect on my time as Commissioner, I want to express my sincere thanks to victims and survivors, their families, survivor groups, their representatives and my Advisory Panel. I was honoured to represent their interests and add my voice to theirs.
Above all, I wanted survivors to know: we see you, we hear you and we believe you. The experiences you have shared about your lives before, during and after your time in institutions will stay with me forever.
You can read my full statement here.
Fiona Ryan
Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse
Commissioner Calls for Prevalence Study on Non-Recent Child Abuse in Northern Ireland
In June 2026, we published a working paper calling for the establishment of a prevalence study on non-recent child abuse, including child sexual abuse, in Northern Ireland. The paper highlights a significant gap in research and argues that better data is essential to understand the true scale of child abuse, inform public policy and ensure that services are appropriately planned and resourced for victims and survivors.
Drawing on evidence from the Office's engagement with victims and survivors, alongside international research and recent studies from neighbouring jurisdictions, the paper emphasises that non-recent child abuse remains under-reported and that many survivors continue to face barriers to disclosure.
The paper recommends that Northern Ireland consider a dedicated prevalence study to strengthen understanding of survivors’ experiences, support the development of effective services, and help ensure that victims and survivors receive the recognition, support and care they need throughout their lives.
You can read the full paper here.
Advisory Panel Continues to Shape Future Work on Supports and Services
I am pleased to give an important update on the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel.
The Advisory Panel has continued its work by supporting us as we carry out further examination on the needs of victims and survivors in relation to supports and services – now and in the future. This will be a valuable addition to the work that my Office has already taken forward on services, both general and specialist, as we work to develop a series of reports on key issues highlighted within our consultation report, which was published earlier this year.
We are grateful to members of the Advisory Panel for their commitment, engagement and willingness to share insights and lived experiences, which will prove invaluable as my Office continues its work on providing advice on supports and services to victims and survivors.
Commissioner Responds to Truth Recovery Independent Panel Report
I welcomed the publication of the Truth Recovery Independent Panel Report recently, describing it as an important milestone for victims and survivors of Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses.
In my statement, I paid tribute to those who shared their experiences with the Panel and acknowledged the courage required to come forward. Victims and survivors have waited too long for truth, acknowledgement and justice.
The report identifies a number of significant issues requiring further examination by the forthcoming public inquiry, including the treatment of women and children, family separation, institutional oversight and the sexual abuse experienced by many girls and women.
The findings highlight the importance of fully understanding the causes and consequences of these institutional failings and ensuring that those affected receive the recognition, support and acknowledgement they deserve. For many victims and survivors, the impact of these experiences continues throughout their lives
Commissioner Meets Health Minister
I recently met with the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, to discuss the findings and recommendations arising from my Office’s Consultation on Supports and Services to Victims and Survivors of Non-Recent/Historical Institutional Child Abuse.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the experiences shared by victims and survivors throughout the consultation, particularly in relation to accessing health, mental health and wellbeing services.
I also highlighted a number of key recommendations, including the recommendation that victims and survivors of non-recent/historical institutional child abuse should be included within the Regional Trauma Network. This was a valuable discussion with the Minister which reflected the importance of ensuring survivors can access appropriate, trauma-informed support and specialist services throughout their lives.
Commissioner Addresses BACP “Making Connections” Event
I was pleased to attend the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Making Connections event in Derry-Londonderry, where I delivered a keynote address entitled Listen to Know: Consultation on Supports and Services to Victims and Survivors of Non-Recent/Historical Institutional Child Abuse.
The event offered a valuable forum to engage with counselling and psychotherapy practitioners from across the sector, share learning from our consultation, and explore how these insights can help inform therapeutic practice and support services for victims and survivors.
Drawing on the consultation findings, I spoke about the long-term impact of child abuse and the importance of ensuring that services remain responsive to the needs of victims and survivors throughout their lives. I also highlighted the importance of trauma-informed approaches and the need to foster trust, safety and wellbeing across all settings.
A key theme throughout the discussion was the lasting impact of childhood experiences on wellbeing across the life course and the importance of services that recognise barriers to trust and support meaningful engagement with those accessing care.
Raising Awareness of Supports and Services
We continue to prioritise raising awareness of the supports and services available to victims and survivors of non-recent/historical institutional child abuse.
In recent months, we have used our social media channels to share information about available supports and services, promote awareness of survivors’ entitlements, and highlight resources that may be helpful to victims and survivors and their families.
Many people may not be aware of the full range of supports available to them. By continuing to share clear and accessible information, we hope to help victims and survivors better understand what support is available and how it can be accessed.
COSICA Attends NOTA Ireland and Northern Ireland Conference 2026
We were pleased to attend the NOTA Ireland and Northern Ireland Conference 2026, joining practitioners and organisations working to improve responses to disclosures of sexual and domestic abuse.
The conference explored a range of important themes, including justice responses, the value of lived experience, and trauma-informed safeguarding. It also highlighted the importance of partnership working in supporting victims and survivors.
From Institutions to Emigration
Members of the COSICA team recently attended the Fréa Renewing Roots Oral History Project, From Institutions to Emigration, at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin.
We heard powerful oral histories from survivors of Ireland’s institutions and the event highlighted the importance of ensuring that these experiences continue to be heard, remembered and understood. The stories shared offered valuable insight into the lasting impact of institutional experiences and the journeys many survivors undertook in rebuilding their lives.
Reflecting and Remembering
Members of the COSICA team recently visited the memorial plaque at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, dedicated to victims and survivors of historical institutional child abuse, taking a quiet moment to reflect and pay their respects.
Commissioner Meets Mental Health Champion
I recently met with Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, to discuss the ongoing mental health needs of victims and survivors of non-recent/historical institutional child abuse.
The meeting allowed me to share some of the key findings from the Office’s consultation on supports and services with Professor O’Neill, including insights into survivors’ experiences of accessing mental health support. We discussed some of the barriers survivors continue to face and the importance of services that are accessible, responsive and trauma-informed.
Seeking support
If you need advice or support, our website provides contact details for a wide range of support organisations that may be able to help with different issues www.cosica-ni.org/support.
Specialist supports can include:
- Counselling and complementary therapies
- Social support, including social activities and befriending
- Personal development, such as education and training opportunities
- Records search and information recovery
I would like to encourage anyone who is eligible for supports and services to contact my Office if they would like more information.
A Final Thank You
As I prepare to leave the role of Commissioner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has engaged with and supported the work of the Office over the past five and a half years.
I want to again express my profound thanks to the victims and survivors, their families, survivor groups, their representatives and members of my Advisory Panel and I would like to acknowledge the courage and commitment they have shown in their ongoing campaign for justice.
I want to acknowledge and thank my own staff, whose professionalism, compassion and unwavering commitment ensure survivors are listened to, supported and treated with dignity and compassion.
I have also been fortunate to work alongside many dedicated organisations, professionals and advocates whose commitment has helped ensure that the voices of victims and survivors were recognised.
Thank you once again for your support, engagement and collaboration during my time as Commissioner.
I hope our paths will cross again in the future.
Fiona Ryan
Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse