Northern Ireland

Campaigner for victims of abuse in institutions to launch book

Margaret McGuckin from Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse. Picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association
Margaret McGuckin from Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse. Picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association

Former Secretary of State Julian Smith will help launch the life story of Margaret McGuckin, the long time campaigner for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse.

Ms McGuckin's campaign, which started after the publication of the 2009 Ryan Report detailed abuse in residential homes in the Republic, helped to lead to the announcement of an inquiry in the north.

It was headed by Sir Anthony Hart and made recommendations in 2017.

The chairman of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, Sir Anthony Hart, died suddenly earlier this year
The chairman of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, Sir Anthony Hart, died suddenly earlier this year

Ms McGuckin led the organisation, Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (SAVIA).

Legislation was passed by Westminster to make sure the recommendations made following the Hart inquiry were introduced.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith (Aaron Chown/PA
Former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith (Aaron Chown/PA

Ms McGuckin's memoir, I Did This for You, tells the story of her life and the enduring impact that abuse she suffered as a child has had over six decades, according to the publishers.

It details her early years in Nazareth House in Belfast where she suffered abuse at the hands of the nuns.