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£12,000 even if families have been compensated
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Families of victims of the Troubles should receive a £12,000 payment even if they have already received compensation, the report of the Consultative Group on the Past made clear today.
The Eames/Bradley team also said it decided on the £12,000 “recognition” payment rather than recommend another review of compensation.
Read the full report here [pdf 640 KB]
The Group said it is painfully aware it cannot fully address the loss of relatives and that no amount of compensation will ever make things right.
The payment by the British Government would be divided between eligible applicants and should also be tax-free and not affect any social security benefits or pensions, the Group said.
To allow the payments to be made quickly, the report recommended an existing, though unnamed, organisation should take on the task of processing the money.
“Concerns about compensation, expressed during the consultation, largely relate to the amounts paid in the 1970s and 1980s to the families of people killed as a result of the conflict,” it said.
“There was almost unanimous agreement that many payments were inadequate, not least because compensation was primarily based on loss of earnings and did not take into account the loss felt by the family.
“Although many families continue to need financial assistance, the call for compensation was not primarily about money, but rather a need for recognition of the loss of injury they endured.”
The Group said that it had therefore decided not to recommend a review of compensation paid to families during the conflict. “Instead the Group believes that all families of those who died should receive recognition of their suffering, regardless of past compensation payments.”
The nearest relative who would receive the payment could be a grandchild, uncle or aunt, nephew or niece and where more than one member of a family was killed, there would be a payment for each.
The money would be distributed evenly: for example, if the nearest living relatives were two brothers, each would receive £6,000.
The 190-page report concluded that Northern Ireland as a society had failed to develop a context in which people could grow and flourish rather than “sow divisions and inflict injuries”.
“Victims and survivors are, therefore, painful reminders of society’s failure, but the on-going pain of the bereaved and injured should spur on the building of a share and reconciled future,” it continued.
“Yet the difficulties in making pragmatic recommendations are complicated because when the needs and concerns of one group of victims are addressed, another group is likely to be offended.
“Yet this approach...is ultimately important for the health and well-being of society.” Calls on victims and survivors to ‘move on’ can be simplistic and facile.
Eames/Bradley back the report of the former interim Victims’ Commissioner Bertha McDougall, now one of the four commissioners, that the chief criticism of victims’ groups over funding is the “piecemeal and short term approach” which hit attempts to secure and retain good staff and ignored the fact that often the needs of victims and survivors do not emerge for a long time.
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Colm "How about the British letting the Irish rule Ireland instead"
But the Stormont Government contains many a Northern IRISH man/women. Our wee country is very much in our hands thank you very much.
Posted by mickey | 29.01.09, 10:10 GMT
Peter, I think it's a little naive to state that Unionist parties have no ties to terrorist parties. The links may not be as direct or as obvious, but they are there. Frankly, I can't see any logic behind this decision. It's an odd sort of handout that will not compensate victims' families and somehow equates the loss of innocent and evildoer alike, to the disdain of families such as yours. May your father rest in peace.
Posted by Big Jake | 29.01.09, 03:55 GMT
Just a thought; as N.Ireland has become a showcase for conflict resolution throughout the world. Perhaps the first mininster could convey the Eames/Bradley compensation proposal to Barack Obama so that the families of the 9/11 suicide bombers can be taken care of in a similar financial manner. Eames and Bradley could have spent the last 18 months more productiveley i.e. auditioning for Star Trek, in my opinion they belong in another planet.
Posted by Paul | 28.01.09, 21:55 GMT
well said Peter,if colm n armagh bhoy cant accept the Royal Rule they,along with any1 else with the same views should move on.It was people with the same bitter views that ended with so many "INNOCENT"men,women and children losing their lives, including my own father.Murdered by republican cowards in 1985.
Posted by RODZ | 28.01.09, 20:50 GMT
My sister was murdered by nationalist paramilitaries in 1984. I would prefer not to receive any money thank you. I think all protestants should refuse this money. It all should be given to the poor, victimised, hard done by Nationalists. After all these poor souls have suffered the most. God forbid anyone else should mention their loss.
Posted by William | 28.01.09, 18:29 GMT
Excatly Colm..
Although £12000 is a nice sum of money for anyone, there would be nothing better than to have OUR on Country back in OUR hands.
Posted by Armagh Bhoy | 28.01.09, 14:03 GMT
My Father was shot dead by the UFF in 1972. On hearing the news of the £12K compo I was deeply disappointed to hear the cost of my fathers life was so little, however now that I understand the £12K is to be shared between my mother and brothers I think the brits should hang they're heads in shame with such offers!!!
Posted by Conor | 28.01.09, 13:57 GMT
Colm, If that happens you will more than 12000 worse off.
Posted by Jon | 28.01.09, 13:47 GMT
I think Colm should learn to use comments and terms properly, it was attitudes like this that got us here in the first place.
UNIONIST parties have no ties to terrorist parties, unlike NATIONALIST parties who actively sit on IRA army councils. I am sorry about your loss but your bitterness and ignorace of the facts are the common opinion of the Northern Ireland masses. Why not accept that the country is ruled by who it is ruled by and if you are unhappy with it move to the south or refuse to take your share of the £12,000 and donate it to charity?
I lost a brother to an IRA bomb purely because he done his job as a policeman, the moment the money hits my account it will go to charity, alongside my sister's share as well.
Posted by peter | 28.01.09, 12:47 GMT
My brother was murdered by unionist terrorists in 1975. Whoopee! We will share 12000 quid among a family of 8 thirty years later. How about the British letting the Irish rule Ireland instead?
Posted by Colm | 28.01.09, 11:21 GMT