About the Special Advocate For Survivors of Institutional Abuse

Who Is The Special Advocate?

The role of the Special Advocate for Survivors is to ensure that the view of Survivors and Affected Persons are central to the delivery of the State’s response to the legacy of institutional trauma and forced family separation.

Patricia’s focus is to ensure a strong and amplified voice for those affected by institutional abuse and forced family separation.

What Does the Special Advocate Do?

The Special Advocate meets with and speaks to Survivors and Affected Persons to hear their interests, issues and their lived experiences related to the legacy of institutional trauma and forced family separation. Patricia aims to present the collective issues and experiences of those she meets with to government and to amplify the voices of Survivors and Affected Persons as a central role in key projects.

The Remit Of The Special Advocate

The Special Advocate’s remit encompasses Survivors and Affected Persons from the following groups:

It is important to note that many Survivors have spent time in multiple institutions and the impact of this on people’s lives.

Industrial and Reformatory School Institutions
Magdalene Laundries
Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions
People fostered or boarded out as children
Those resident in other institutions related to Ireland’s network of mother and baby institutions & forced family separation
Those trafficked overseas for the purpose of adoption

The response of Government must be directly informed by the voices of those most directly affected. The Special Advocate aims to Amplify the Voices of Survivors and Affected Persons

The Special Advocate is committed to:

Facilitating extensive consultation with Survivors and Affected Persons and their families.
Providing opportunities for Survivors and Affected Persons to meet and share their own lived experiences and views.
Reporting on the collective interests, experiences and issues of Survivors and Affected Persons.
Ensuring Survivors and Affected Person’s voices are central in key projects such as the National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
Establishing and working with an Advisory Council of Survivors and Affected Persons,reflective of the broad range of experiences of Institutional Abuse.

The Limits of the role of the Special Advocate:

Please note certain actions are outside the scope of the role, these are:

Providing direct/individual services on behalf of Survivors and Affected Persons.
Investigating the institutional experiences of individuals or complaints about otherservices or providers.
Inspecting or regulating the quality or delivery of services.
Providing legal advice on individual cases.