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£12,000 for victims was a mistake, says Eames
Saturday, 11 July 2009
The proposer of controversial payments for victims of terrorism has said it might have been a mistake to put a value on lives lost.
Lord Robin Eames added the £12,000 recognition sum was based on an equivalent grant which had already been paid out by the Irish government, but admitted matters could have been handled differently.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward ruled out compensation earlier this year after it prompted a fierce backlash from unionists and some victims’ groups because it would include republican and loyalist paramilitaries.
Lord Eames said: “We knew that after a very heated period of debate this recommendation might overshadow all the other proposals and be very hurtful within the victim family for those who felt that there was an equivalence being advanced between perpetrator and victim.
“With the benefit of hindsight we might have chosen a different way or different words, we might not even have mentioned a figure,” he added.
The report was published in January by the Consultative Group on the Past, an independent group chaired by former Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and ex-Catholic priest Denis Bradley.
It was established to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
The proposals included a legacy commission which would be led by an international figure.
Lord Eames was writing in the newsletter of lobby group the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ).
He added: “We followed the current law, the Victims and Survivors' Order 2006.
“This makes no attempt to draw any distinction in victimhood, it applies across the board irrespective of who the victim was.
“So when we adhered to the frequent request to give recognition to victims, that recognition could not propose a hierarchy of victims.”
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has begun consulting on the report.
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The issue of whether this is a mistake or not has got clouded in the violent events that surrounded the announciation. The issue is the definition of a victim. If the families of both victim and perpetrator get £12K then it can lead to some small minded people like ex MLA Allister thinking there is equivalence in the action. However on thinking about the issue for longer than 2 minutes one can see that was not Eame's inntention.
Posted by Andrew | 12.07.09, 23:26 GMT
them oney should go to childrens hospitals, health service nurses
Posted by mike | 12.07.09, 16:19 GMT
Lord Eames propsal was just stupid.
Posted by James | 12.07.09, 01:12 GMT
I dont know there, Cliff...it isnt just Lord eames, but there are dark and sinister forces behind him...or do we still call it the NIO?
Posted by Malachy Mulligan | 11.07.09, 20:20 GMT
I interviewed Lord Eames once. He seemed pompous and arrogant and appeared to think that I thought he was God. Why anyone listens to him on any subject, Christianity included, is beyond me.
Posted by Walter Ellis | 11.07.09, 16:16 GMT
Malachy, I think that`s too cynical. Lord Eames is a man of principle who is big enough to admit he got it wrong. He has done a lot of work behind the scenes over the years which have helped bring about a relatively peaceful period.
Posted by Cliff | 11.07.09, 14:47 GMT
As usual, it is impossible to understand what Lord Eames said.
Posted by John B | 11.07.09, 10:59 GMT
A mistake.....? unless it was a clever ruse to ensure the report would never receive support...that way at least you could say your task was done without having to accept responsibility for anything...or is that too cynical?
Posted by Malachy Mulligan | 11.07.09, 10:02 GMT
in plain laymans terms ,,a idiot could have come to the conclusion that this was a very poor discision ,,,,when this quango was set up (another carrage in the post troubles gravy train ) and after a massive amount of money spend on expenses and wages,,,,what did they come up with ,,the same conclusion as the republic on the amount of compensation paid to victims and their familys,,,,only for the circumstances involved this would be considered a bad joke,,,and for church men shamefull,,,,
Posted by HG | 11.07.09, 08:10 GMT
Well said Lord Eames ! It is extremely nice to have someone of your standing admit to an error. Good on you ! Pity some of our politicians had not similiar gumption.
Posted by Ulsterman | 11.07.09, 08:01 GMT