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Angry clashes delay Troubles report
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Michelle Willianson, who lost her mother and father in the Shankill Bomb, 1993, confronts Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams
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Victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles were involved in angry clashes in Belfast today before the launch of a report on dealing with three decades of violence.
Bereaved relatives stood head-to-head pointing fingers at one another, trading accusations over the deaths of their loved ones.
The heated exchanges took place within feet of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, who was among dignitaries and hundreds of relatives gathered for the launch of the report in the city's Europa Hotel.
Read the full report here [pdf 640 KB]
There were appeals for calm after protesters, including hard-line Unionist MEP Jim Allister, held placards condemning the authors of the report on dealing with the Troubles for recommending a £12,000 payment to the families of all victims, including dead paramilitaries.
There were appeals for calm before the arrival of the document's authors, Lord Eames and Dennis Bradley.
Also in the audience was former Metropolitan chief John Stevens, who led inquiries into the allegations of collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.
Relatives whose loved ones were killed by republicans shouted accusations as the families of Catholics shot dead by security forces retaliated with stories of their own loss.
At one stage the situation in the Europa Hotel threatened to turn really ugly as people clashed with each other, jabbing fingers and trading insults.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, who was sitting in the hall, was among those targeted by the protesters.
One screamed: "This is the man who was in charge of the IRA on the day of Bloody Friday."
Others hit back and shouted: "You should be arrested. Leave him alone. Why don't you get out?"
Organisers of the press launch threatened to have some of the protesters removed before proceedings eventually got under way.
The start of the event was delayed by around 15 minutes amid efforts to restore order.
Mr Adams sat impassively as protesters stood within feet of him hurling allegations and insults.
Former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Cedric Wilson was one of the most vocal of the demonstrators and sat down only after being threatened with arrest.
Mr Allister, leader of hard-line unionist party the Traditional Unionist Voice, and well-known victims' campaigner Willie Frazer were also among a group of people who interrupted the start of proceedings by holding aloft placards denouncing the group's proposals.
Relatives of Catholic and Protestant victims directed abuse at each other across the packed grand ballroom of the hotel before calm was finally restored.
The event got under way with an introduction from South African mediator Brian Currin, who was involved in the truce recovery process in that country and advised the consultative group during their work.
"The peace process, as we well know, has a long, long journey to go," he said, admitting that dealing with the legacy of the past would be one of the most difficult issues to overcome before Northern Ireland could secure a shared future.
One of the protesters was the brother of an RUC officer shot dead with two colleagues by the IRA in June 1977.
Hazlett Lynch, from Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, who heads a victims' support group, said he was disgusted by the report.
Holding up a photograph of his younger brother Kenneth, 22, he said: "It is another cynical attempt to rewrite history.
"This report dovetails with the Government's policy in Northern Ireland.
"It's a disgrace."
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said: "The very essence of the peace process has been that there is no issue that the people of Northern Ireland will not bravely deal with when the time is right.
"Northern Ireland has constantly demonstrated how it is possible to resolve issues which may seem impossible.
"The report by the Consultative Group on the Past puts these complex issues firmly into the public arena and encourages all of us to seek ways to find a consensus on how to deal with the past.
"The report makes a number of recommendations which we need to give very detailed and careful consideration.
"These are important issues and we all need to reflect carefully on the proposals but we must never forget the thousands of families who have lost loved ones during the many years when violence cast a dark shadow over Northern Ireland."
He said each tragedy was an intensely personal one and could scar families for generations.
"While we must never forget the past, we all want to find a way to help the people of Northern Ireland continue to build a better future for everyone."
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Patterson welcomed the report.
"I look forward to reading it in detail but I could not support the particular proposal to reward all victims indiscriminately," he said.
"Those people who carried out vicious acts of violence against innocent civilians and members of the legally established security forces cannot be put on the same level as their victims - any attempt to do so would be repugnant."
In the Commons, Mr Brown acknowledged that the proposal to include the families of dead terrorists in the payments was controversial.
Challenged by Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds at Prime Minister's Questions, he said the Government would consider the report with "great care" before making its response.
"I understand why one of the recommendations has provoked such controversy in Northern Ireland," he said.
"I will never forget the innocent victims in Northern Ireland. I know that he speaks for the whole community in Northern Ireland when he says that we must respect the fact that innocent people lost their lives and that should be something that is never forgotten."
Sir Hugh said he would welcome a move to transfer work on historical murder cases away from his force to a new Review and Investigation Unit - as long as it provided the same service.
"We are very proud of what we have achieved in the form of bringing some form of greater understanding and resolution to families who knew very little of what happened during the murder investigations," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One of the present Historical Enquiries Team (HET).
"Providing the quality of the service is not diminished, I would support a proposal just as that.
"We need to break free of the past and what I do think is a good idea is that the issues that need to be addressed, however complicated and however difficult, are taken away from modern policing so I can continue and look forward and deliver an even safer Northern Ireland than it presently is.
"My current pressures - bearing in mind my budget, bearing in mind the current dissident republican threat which is extremely high - that's what I have to focus on.
"If someone can take the pressure off me and deliver an equal service, then I am all in support of it."
There had been 14 "determined" efforts to kill his officers in as many months, he noted.
The question of payments was "very much a matter for the commission", he said, but he backed the right of officers to express concerns.
"I fully understand that some of my officers are deeply concerned and have a right to express that concern and I think the Commission would support that right," he said.
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Comments
98 Comments
It is wrong to include Paramilitaries of any creed or denomination in this plan. Terrorists killed opposing terrorists. Should their families receive compensation? Terrorists killed their own members in internal feuds. Should their families receive compensation.OK the police and the Army represented the British Government but other than that what were they guilty of? Trying to catch criminals and keep the peace for the majority. If a gang attacked a police station and gang members were killed in the process should they be paid compensation? (Loughall comes to mind). Are bomber who blew themselves up with teir own bomb to be consated as well? There have been a lot of concessions made to bring about peace but this is going too far. The whole thing mocks decent law abiding citizens.
Posted by Tommy | 30.01.09, 09:47 GMT
I for one am GLAD that this has brought so much outrage. It has shown that the people of Ulster CAN agree on somethings namely that terrorists and their families will NEVER be awarded for their cowardice.
Posted by Stuart | 30.01.09, 02:44 GMT
why cant everyone just move on? leave the past were it belongs, in the past, i am sick and tired of all the whining.
Posted by karen | 29.01.09, 22:06 GMT
As the son of one of the dead “scum” who has moved on and far far away. I welcome the money! If RUC,UDR, British army victims deserver cash then so do relatives of the PIRA and then so do UDA,LVF, all the alphabet soup holders. Still truly innocent victim should get more…seems wrong .. but how to you separate the groups..?
Posted by Fitz | 29.01.09, 20:31 GMT
no-one should get any money.there are wars/conflicts all over the world,and the innocent people,soldiers or terrorists killed dont get money.the money should be invested in what matters in life such as health or education.im tired of hearing people in n.i. blaming "the other side" both sides suffered and both sides were as bad as the other.
Posted by stephen | 29.01.09, 18:59 GMT
The vast majority of these comments are risible. Anyone using our hateful history (ancient or recent) as the core of their argument is condemning themselves to perpetuate the argument and the division it creates. If you don't know what "whataboutery" is, google it.
I'm beginning to think that this whole consultative group is doomed to failure. The main problem stems from the fact that, while many (even most?) of the victims were entirely innocent, some were not. Furthermore, for anyone who did not know the victim personally and is merely viewing from the outside, it is impossible to reliably distinguish one from the other. Hence we have this repugnant situation where everyone is lumped together, where the innocent bystander is treated the same as the armed combatant. This whole reconciliation apparatus should be dismantled. There is no logical solution that I can see, except for a collective agreement to move forward (not backwards into our history) in the absence of violence.
Posted by JLM | 29.01.09, 16:49 GMT
A lot of people have the misconception that terrorists are getting the money. It's their relatives. If a son or a brother dies while comitting terrorist acts the grief and pain is just the same and as legitimate as the grief and pain felt by the relatives of innocent bystanders that are killed. Anyone who thinks otherwise should rethink if they are worthy of the label "christian"!
Reading about the reactions and scenes at the Europa makes me think that in NI there is too much religion and not enough christianity!
Posted by Jan | 29.01.09, 16:45 GMT
im hearing that Baron Stefan von Heinrich!!
Posted by Dave | 29.01.09, 15:55 GMT
The island of Ireland has done some good catching up with the rest of civilised Europe over the past 15 years or so. Why cant we just appreciate each other for what we are and enjoy and recognise all the great things we have in common (and I also include those living in Britain). I was brought up in the Republic during some of the worst of the troubles, listening every morning , noon and night to all the horrible things that happened in the North. It slowly but surely brainwashed me to such an extent I couldn´t wait to leave the country. At times i was ashamed to admit that i came from that Island. I´ve settled down in a European country where religion plays no leading role in social life. I´m happy. I love it. I love it for my family (myself, ex-catholic, my wife and kids, protestant). Never will I put my kids through what I went through. Please, pleae move on. If not now then when?
Posted by Robin | 29.01.09, 14:59 GMT
Pat, when you refer to the "Indigenous population", do you mean those on the island of Ireland before the Gaels arrived?
Posted by mickey | 29.01.09, 14:18 GMT
Dave....from reading your posts I find it very funny to see you talk of a poor "standard of eduction".....mind you this entire post is risible and just goes to remind us all of the extremists we still have at both ends of the northern ireland spectrum!
Posted by Baron Stefan von Heinrich | 29.01.09, 14:15 GMT
so do you not think Pat that it's about time to stop harking on about 1921 and move on!
Posted by Tap | 29.01.09, 14:11 GMT
Ne have Marty McFly number by ne chance???? with out him are plan will be well and turly foiled!!
Posted by Dave | 29.01.09, 14:07 GMT
Aoife makes a very valid point. It all boils down to a very simple equation. Indigenous population displaced + their language outlawed + tens of thousands slaughtered over six centuries + tens of thousands starved + catholics must recant or lose their land + no right to vote + not allowed employment with Guinness, Harland and Wolff etc = rather annoyed indigenous population.
For the British folk living in Ireland history begins in 1921 - all that nasty business beforehand is completely irrelevant, with the exception of 1690 et al when popery was put in its place
Posted by Pat | 29.01.09, 13:46 GMT
Why not take the £300 Million and invest it into the communities who have sufrered. For example Build a few community areas in North Belfast. The whole community suffered some more than others. Instead of this row just invest the money into those areas.
Posted by martin | 29.01.09, 12:54 GMT
I totally agree with you HC. I cannot believe that 16 years since the Ceasefire, people cant move on.
It will not be long now until I'm moving away to the Europe countryside. My Daughter lives there & there is no way I would ever expose her to this.
Posted by Dave | 29.01.09, 12:31 GMT
Millar, great comment. I hope you meant it as a joke! I almost split my sides. Thanks, you made my day!
Posted by Robin | 29.01.09, 12:15 GMT
After watching the dismal scenes of dissent during the Eames- Bradley discussion I believe that everyone should be given 12000 pounds to enable them to leave this sick, sordid and sectarian statelet.
No amount of money can bring back loved ones but I dont think that this was the intention.
I personally know 23 people who were killed by Loyalists? and also know that the time has come to move on and get a life. Some people just love to wallow in their outdated opinions, especially those with elections on their minds.
Ther will always be a strong undercurrent of Sectarianism that allows the numbskulls to feel good about themselves.
Grow up, move forward or just move out. The twentyfirst, century awaits, especially for those currently in the 17th. century.
Posted by HC | 29.01.09, 12:11 GMT
Aoife, listen to yourself. In Ireland we have two nations; he unionists of NI use the argument: "we are different from the rest of ireland and thus should have our own government." this is the same argument the IRA/SF used in 1918-1923 within the context of the UK. Taking it from that perspective the IRA of the 1970s and 1980s onwards was NOT defending their country, but ignoring the democratic wish of a nation (NI)....obviously contradictory as they used the same argument against the British after the 1918 elections. The IRA were not defending their country; if they were they would have attacked the so called 'invaders'- the British army. But they didn't always to this. Instead the IRA terrorised the province with bombs and killed many Irishmen and women whom they are supposedly defending. Similarly so did loyalist paramilitaries who were just as bad. To think Lenny Murphy's family will get the money too is appalling. Nobody with terrorist links should get the money.
Posted by Chris | 29.01.09, 12:08 GMT
I cannot beleive that out of the 71 comments posted not one person has relaised that the answer to all this is, and has staring eveyyone in the face since 1981!! I mean the level the level of standard eduction between you girls and boys is way below the mark! So heres a bit of back round so please, read and take in!!
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car that was manufactured by the DeLorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981 and 1982 in Northern Ireland. It is most commonly known simply as the DeLorean. In 1985 Doc modified into a time machine. All we need is this money to be invested in rebuilding Doc orgainal plan. Then we simply go back in time and prevent Bif from ever noticing the sports almanac displayed in that shop window!! we may have to go through a long and complicated series of events, but ital be mildly intertaining. Like that movie............space balls!!
Then eveything will go back to being fine and there will no trouble in the world again!!!!
Posted by Dave | 29.01.09, 11:56 GMT
98 Comments