The provincial government has served notice it will apologize to victims of abuse at three youth centres in the 1970s and ’80s.

Government lawyers made the statement Wednesday morning in Supreme Court during a settlement hearing in the matter.

The apology will also come with a $12.5 million payout for at least 100 former residents of the Whitbourne Boys’ home and two youth centres in St. John’s.

The settlement must still be approved by the court, which should be a fait accompli since both the government and lawyers for the victims have agreed to all terms of the package.

One of the victims, now 73, was in court Wednesday morning and told VOCM News that the abuse was nothing short of sadistic, adding staff “got off on beating you.”

The class-action suit was filed by the firm Morris Martin Moore on behalf of former residents of the Boys’ and Girls’ homes in Pleasantville, Whitbourne and on Waterford Bridge Road in St. John’s.

The settlement acknowledges sexual abuse committed by staff, priests, older children, and even visitors to the centres, including molestation, rape, beatings and detention while the residents were naked.

Court approval is anticipated within a week.