For decades, these experiences were hidden, ignored or minimised. Survivors often carried not only the trauma of abuse itself but the profound pain of invisibility, the sense that the world had not seen them, heard them, or believed them.

It is against this backdrop that the need for systemic change and public recognition became urgent. The Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry established to examine these abuses, concluded in 2017 that children were systemically abused in institutions in Northern Ireland. The inquiry recommended a statutory Commissioner to advocate for survivors, a state apology and memorialisation to serve as reminder of the suffering endured.

Delivering on these recommendations required not just policy but sensitivity, expertise, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. It required collaboration between advocacy and academic research, the kind of partnership that could help translate theory into meaningful advice that could be taken forward. 

Advocating for Survivors

Fiona Ryan was appointed the first Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse in Northern Ireland. Her role: to represent the interests of survivors and amplify their voices, ensuring their needs are understood and acted upon.

Fiona brought a wealth of experience. She had spent nearly a decade leading the largest frontline organisation in the Republic of Ireland supporting women and children experiencing domestic and sexual abuse. Earlier in her career, she worked with Barnardos (ROI) as Advocacy and Campaigns Manager, focusing on children’s rights. These experiences gave her a deep understanding of the intersecting vulnerabilities of abuse, neglect, and systemic oversight failure.

“For many victims and survivors, not being seen and not being heard was part of their life journey … it is about making sure victims and survivors are heard and seen.”

Collaborating with Queen’s

Fiona’s advice on apology was informed and strengthened through her collaboration with Professor Anne‑Marie McAlinden from the School of Law at Queen’s. McAlinden’s research focuses on the theory and practice of public apologies in the context of institutional abuse, exploring how apologies can serve as mechanisms for restorative justice, accountability, and symbolic repair.

McAlinden’s framework identifies five key elements of a meaningful apology: 

• Acknowledgement of harm 
• Acceptance of responsibility 
• Expression of remorse 
• Assurance of non‑repetition 
• Offer of repair or corrective action

This research provided a vital bridge between academic theory and the lived experiences of survivors, offering Fiona key research and principles to inform thinking around state apologies.

Collaboration in Action – From Principles to Policy

Fiona reached out to Anne‑Marie McAlinden to explore how the academic framework could be used to inform actionable advice for government and public officials.

“I said, look, here’s what I want to do … let’s explore the concepts that you’ve actually set out in your work.”

The partnership allowed theory and practice to meet. Fiona applied McAlinden’s principles in her advice to ministers, while ensuring survivor voices remained central.

“This underlines how important it is to have the intention to get it right in the first instance. Then to ensure that these first principles are used to take intention to action.”

Impact - Recognition, Reform and Healing

In March 2022, ministers issued a formal state apology in the Assembly, structured around McAlinden’s five elements and rooted in survivor testimony.

Beyond the apology, the partnership fostered stronger connections between academia and public service. It helped to reinforce the importance of creating a space for survivor experiences to inform policy, ensuring a trauma-informed approach and practical interventions are integrated into wider state redress measures such as apology and memorialisation measures.

Fiona and her team have engaged with over 1,300 survivors.  Many are still carrying the legacy of the abuse they suffered as children including complex issues of shame, stigma, and trauma.

“Shame is one of the most destructive emotions someone can feel … Many survivors have shared with me their shame … internal and reinforced externally. If I could say one thing to survivors it would be, this shame was never yours, you should never have had to bear it.”

Legacy - A Blueprint for Collaboration

The Fiona Ryan and Anne‑Marie McAlinden collaboration demonstrates how research and advocacy can work together to inform meaningful change. Key lessons include:

• Centering survivor voices in all decisions
• Translating academic principles into practical, actionable guidance
• Bridging research and public service to ensure policies are informed by best practice
• Committing to intention and action to achieve real results

“Victims and survivors have done us all a massive public service … their testimony, their courage has enabled us to understand what happened … and what did happen to a whole generation of children in Northern Ireland.”

Through their work, Fiona Ryan and Anne‑Marie McAlinden have shown that acknowledgement, accountability, and repair can be advanced when advocacy and academic insight are combined.