The Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board (Applications and Appeals) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2020

Notice of application to be given to institution

7.—(1) The Board, having received an application for compensation under the Act, must give written notice to the body, society or organisation which provided residential accommodation in an institution to which the application relates that the application has been made.

(2) The secretary to the Board must stamp each notice under this rule with the date on which the notice is issued (“the notice issue date”) and must secure that the notice is delivered to the last-known address for the body, society or organisation concerned on the notice issue date or the next day by such means (electronic or otherwise) as the Board may decide.

(3) A notice under this rule must specify—

(a) the name of the applicant and, where the application is in respect of a deceased person, the name of the deceased person;

(b) the name and address of the institution in which the applicant or deceased person was resident;

(c) the period during which the applicant or deceased person was resident in the institution;

(d) the name of any person referred to in the application as having responsibility for the abuse to which the application relates.

(4) The notice must also include a request for the body, society or organisation concerned—

(a) to provide information as to whether compensation in connection with any of the matters to which the application relates has been paid and, if it has, information as to the amount of compensation and when, by whom and to whom it was paid,

(b) to indicate whether or not the body, society or organisation is able to verify the accuracy of the information specified in the notice under paragraph (3)(a) to (c), and

(c) to indicate whether or not the body, society or organisation intends to provide written evidence in response to the notice.

(5) The body, society or organisation must, within seven days of the notice issue date, respond in writing to the Board’s request under paragraph (4); and any evidence to be provided pursuant to paragraph (4)(c) must be submitted to the Board within 28 days of the notice issue date.

(6) If the applicant or deceased person provided evidence to the Inquiry (within the meaning of section 9(9) of the Act) and the body, society or organisation either does not respond in accordance with paragraph (5) or indicates in its response that it does not intend to provide written evidence, the panel appointed under section 8 of the Act to determine the application may immediately begin its consideration of the application.

(7) If the body, society or organisation informs the Board that a person whose name is specified in the notice under paragraph (3)(d) has died, it is for the Board to decide whether to make further enquiries.