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There’s no going back
Blueprint for tackling our violent history
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
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A road map for tackling the legacy of Northern Ireland’s 30 years of violence and moving towards a more peaceful future was unveiled today.
The comprehensive blueprint of the Consultative Group on the Past – chaired by ex-Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and former Policing Board vice chairman Denis Bradley – attempted to demonstrate how the past can be dealt with but appealed for people not to rush to judgment.
As the political controversy over proposed payments to the families of victims gathered momentum, co-author Lord Eames urged people to take weeks and months to reflect and said: “This is too important an issue for instant responses.”
The Group warned, however, that to continue the already highly-politicised debate on defining victims and the hierarchy of victims is “both fruitless and self-defeating”.
The true hierarchy it said was the level of loss and suffering experienced – the difference between having a family member killed or severely injured against a car destroyed or a house damaged.
But they also warned some victims groups are contributing to divisions and some “are little more than mini political parties”.
On the single most controversial proposal – the one-off £12,000 recognition payment – the report suggests the only alternative would have been to recommend a further review of compensation.
But the Group said it was painfully aware no amount of recompense “will ever make things right” so decided against a review and believed “all families of those who died should receive recognition of their suffering regardless of past compensation payments.”
They then recommend the payments, funded by the British Government, are given to the nearest relative of those who died as a result of the confict from January 1966.
The nearest relative extends from spouses, through children and siblings to grandparents, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces and would be evenly divided between eligible applicants.
The Group said to allow the money to be made quickly, an existing organisation – which it does not name – should process the ex-gratia payments which would be tax free and not affect social security benefits or pensions.
Those eligible would include the closest relatives of people killed as a direct result of either paramilitary group or security force action, or accidental death from the same sources but the report says the list “is not exhaustive” and the administrator of the scheme “should be able to show flexibility in deciding on payments”.
The 190-page report said concerns about compensation related to the amounts paid to families in the 1970s and 1980s and there was almost unani
mous agreement in the consultations 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”.
The Group recommends a £160m Legacy Commission, headed by an international figure, which would take over the work of the Historical Enquiries Team and conduct “a process of information recovery” which would often be in private.
At the end of its five-year mandate, a Reconciliation Forum would take the lead in iniatiating a cermony remem
bering the past and the Commission would challenge political parties and remnant paramilitary groups to sign a declaration they will never again kill or injure others.
It would also, for example, engage with the Christian churches which the report said had “failed to make a sustained united impact during the conflict” to encourage them to consider and re-think their contribution to a non-sectarian future.
The Group fully supports an annual day of reflection, possibly June 21, when the First Ministers would together give an address but also said a shared memorial cannot be agreed “at this time”.
The report concluded some serious questions remain on the issue of collusion, comments there were many more people recruited as informers than was imagined at the time and suggests those with conflict-related convictions should be given equal access to jobs and services.
“Any society moving forward from conflict has no choice but to address the separations that exist between its people,” the report said.“Responsibility for the future lies not only with those who were directly involved in the conflict, but with every sector of society.”
Secretary of State Shaun Woodward was due to be in Dublin this morning for a pre-arranged meeting on a wide-range of issues, including the Eames/Bradley report, with the Republic’s foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin. It was expected to be the first chance for both governments to respond formally to the report.
Mr Woodward will also release a written statement to parliament on the controversial recommendations, although the Government will not make any substantive report for some months.
It is understood, however, that the London government is keen to reinforce its view that Northern Ireland’s future success is not just dependent on political stability but on dealing with the legacy of its past and the reaching of a genuine consensus.
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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