In March 2021 the Northern Ireland Executive appointed a three-person Panel of experts; Ms Deirdre Mahon as Chair and members Dr Maeve O’Rourke and Prof Phil Scraton. Their role was to work alongside victims and survivors of the institutions and their families to explore options for an investigation/inquiry. This ‘co-design’ process was to be completed by the end of September 2021 and on the 27 September 2021 ‘A Human Rights Framework: The Background Research for the Truth Recovery Design Process’ was published.

The full Report was published on 05 October 2021; Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses in Northern Ireland – Truth, Acknowledgement and Accountability Report.

The Truth, Acknowledgement and Accountability’ on 5 October 2021 set out five core recommendations:

Recommendation 1: Adoption of Guiding Principles;
Recommendation 2: Responsibilities of The Executive Office;
Recommendation 3: An Integrated Truth Investigation;
Recommendation 4: Access to Records; and,
Recommendation 5: Redress, Reparation and Compensation.