Nearly £200,000 in damages is to be paid out to seven victims of historical institutional abuse (HIA) who were exposed in a major data breach, the High Court in Belfast has heard.
The settlements were announced in the latest claims against a body set up to champion their cause and the Executive Office at Stormont.
A lawyer for the group said the outcome represented vindication for “grave breaches of their privacy”.
Proceedings were issued after a newsletter circulated in an email by the HIA Interim Advocate’s Office in May 2020 mistakenly revealed the identities of around 250 survivors of abuse.
At the time Interim Advocate Brendan McAllister issued an apology for the disclosure of their details.
He said measures were immediately taken to recall the email, with the incident also reported to the Information Commissioner.
In one one of the largest class actions in Northern Ireland’s legal history, more than 80 litigants sued for breaches of privacy, negligence and personal injury.
Last November, three initial test cases against the Interim Advocate and the Executive Office were settled for £30,000 each.
In court on Wednesday it was confirmed that a further seven claims have also now been resolved, with the plaintiffs receiving damages of between £20,000 and £30,000 plus legal costs.
A total of £192,500 will be paid out to them under the agreed terms.
All of the victims have been granted anonymity, but speaking outside court their solicitor, Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law said: “Our clients are vindicated with these settlements arising out of the grave breaches of their privacy.
“The office tasked to help and support the survivors and victims of historical abuse in childhood let them down again, this time as adults.”
Ms McKeegan added: “Further harm was done to our clients who trusted the Interim Advocate.
“The gold standard of protections ought to have been in place when handling matters of such sensitivity.”
Margaret McGuckin, who spearheads the campaign group Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (SAVIA), insisted the payouts were fully justified.
The activist said: “These settlements show they were not settling for anything less than what was agreed today.
“They deserve it and much more, (including) a public apology from those in government.”