A TWO-THIRDS majority in Northern Ireland believes it is important to deal successfully with the legacy of the Troubles.
Research commissioned by the Commission for Victims and Survivors points to strong public support for measures designed to achieve “closure” on the conflict. Many respondents tended to agree that dealing effectively with the legacy of conflict was essential for Northern Ireland to “move on”.
They also expressed a belief that issues relating to the past needed to be handled in a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.
The findings, issued today, follow publication of a report by an influential Westminster committee of MPs which cast doubt on proposals from the Eames-Bradley consultative group on the past, including a legacy commission.
The MPs reported that Northern Ireland “had not yet reached a consensus on how to move on from its recent past”.
The opinion poll found that respondents knew little if anything about proposals drawn up earlier this year by the former Church of Ireland primate, Lord Eames, and former policing board vice-chairman Denis Bradley.
Commission chair Michael Nesbitt said the consultative group on the past made 31 recommendations, but 90 per cent either could not recall or thought there were no other proposals beyond the £12,000 recognition payment.
“Eames-Bradley saw progress coming across four major themes. Three were built around broad justice issues, continuing investigations [and] a non-judicial process of information recovery,” Mr Nesbitt said. “The fourth strand of activity they recommended was addressing societal issues. This is an area CVSNI had already identified as crucial, so we are pleased that the public have identified these societal issues are the most important aspects of dealing with the past.
“People want this society to work with young people so they have the necessary skills to ensure no repeat of the past . . . improved services for conflict-related health issues . . . an even and equitable spread of economic benefits, and they want sectarianism tackled.”
The research also found that many were sceptical of the value of judicial inquiries into unresolved controversies during the conflict.