VICTIMS of institutional abuse waited for decades before their stories were heard and accepted.
For months, the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry heard shocking details of the abuse of vulnerable children in church and state-run children's homes and other residential institutions across Northern Ireland.
Retired judge Sir Anthony Hart's recommendation that all survivors should receive redress payments was seen as a vital step in acknowledging the horrors of the past.
But just days after he published his final report, Stormont collapsed.
Victims' relief quickly turned to dismay and anger when it became apparent that the recommendations would not be progressed.
Although all the main parties agree that victims should receive payments, that consensus has not been strong enough to force them back into government.
Secretary of State Karen Bradley could take action.
She has already altered the law to allow for some public appointments in the absence of an executive.
It seems incredible that the make-up of the Livestock and Meat Commission has been deemed more important than payments for vulnerable survivors.
Now a leading victims' group has called on Mrs Bradley to resign - not the first time she has faced such a call since her appointment in 2018.
In March, families of people killed during the Troubles hit out at her outrageous comment that security force killings, including those at Bloody Sunday, were "not crimes". The secretary of state later apologised.
Mrs Bradley may not be inclined to act because she is no longer facing legal action. A High Court judge ruled ruled last month that there was no unlawful failure by either her or the Executive Office over the redress scheme.
However, she does have an obligation to make decisions in the absence of an executive.
Since the HIA report was published, 32 abuse victims have died. More survivors have been driven to despair at Mrs Bradley's inaction.
Even if, by some miracle, she agrees that Westminster can progress legislation to introduce redress payments, any money will come too late for some.
