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The Stormont talks were held to allow those who suffered abuse while in church or state-run institutions in Northern Ireland to voice their concerns over what they call "a lack of progress" in dealing with their cases.

Representatives of the Survivors/Victims of Institutional Abuse Group are calling for a full investigation to be carried out by the government. They also want a compensation fund to be set up and to receive an apology for what happened to them.

In a statement prior to the meeting, the group said: "We do now hope that this is an open door with which to bring these issues to the top table, for them to be dealt with accordingly and with compassion."

Margaret McGuckin, who was abused during her time at a Sisters of Nazareth orphanage in south Belfast, told UTV that victims wanted "a genuine apology - a heartfelt apology".

"We also would like to tell our stories so people know where we're coming from," she added.

Fellow abuse victim John McCourt said that he is "convinced the First and Deputy First Ministers are genuine in their will to see a way forward".

After the meeting the ministers said they had been "deeply moved" by the victim's stories, and described the talks at Stormont as "significant and positive".

A statement from the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers spoke of how the political leaders are "determined to help victims in their quest for answers".

"Victims are entitled to a fulsome apology from those responsible and we have assured them that we will take the lead in moving these issues forward," it read.

"Everyone appreciates that this is a highly complex and sensitive issue that must be resolved."

SDLP MLA Conal McDevitt - who also attended the meeting which he called "constructive and positive" - said victims deserve an investigation to provide them with answers and closure.

"Where the buck stops is with the Northern Ireland State and that today is the Northern Ireland Executive," he said.

"We can do something as an assembly to try and draw a line in the sand for the people who have survived, and the way we can do it is by establishing a process which is capable of getting to the bottom of what happened, who did it and why they did it."

He added: "The other thing that can be done is that the First and Deputy First Minister can acknowledge that children were failed."

The calls for a public enquiry come after the publication of the Ryan and Murphy reports which claimed abuse was endemic in church and state-run institutions.

© UTV News