The province’s Supreme Court has approved a $12.5-million settlement for victims of abuse at provincially-run youth homes in the 1970s and ’80s.

It comes following a settlement hearing in June where lawyers for the province and victims agreed on the terms of the deal and the amount, which is capped at $500,000 for any one complainant.

Seventy-four people are members of the class-action, but others abused at the so-called training schools between 1973 and 1989 can still join and receive compensation.

Lawyer fees and other court costs must still be deducted from the 12.5-million-dollar total.

The provincial government has also served notice that it will issue an apology for what happened.

The class-action suit was filed by the firm Morris Martin Moore on behalf of former residents of the boys’ and girls’ homes in Whitbourne and in Pleasantville 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.