A £36 million (€45 million) strategy to address the needs of victims of Northern Ireland's Troubles was outlined today.
The document represents a blueprint for how the Stormont administration intends to deal with related issues in the future. Victims’ and survivors’ issues dealt with by three bodies - a Victims’ Commission, a Victims’ Forum and a Victims’ Service.
The draft proposals have already been discussed at committee level at Stormont and will now go out for a 12-week public consultation.
Stormont junior ministers Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP and Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly today unveiled the strategy at the Wave Trauma Centre in Belfast.
Mr Donaldson said: “Today marks another important step forward for the Executive. We have said since the restoration of devolution that we would make victims and survivors a priority for this administration.
“We hope that this document will help to move us on the road to making a real difference to the lives of those who have been most affected by the events here over the last 40 years.”
Mr Kelly said: “We want to ensure that future support and services are shaped by victims and survivors. It is important that everyone with an interest in victims’ and survivors’ issues read this draft document carefully and gives us their views."
Earlier this year, former Democratic Unionist First Minister Ian Paisley and current Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness appointed four Victims’ Commissioners to represent the thousands of people affected by 30 years of conflict.
However, the appointments of police widow Bertha McDougal; Patricia MacBride, whose brother was an IRA man shot dead by the SAS; former Ulster TV anchorman Mike Nesbitt; and Brendan McAllister, the director of Mediation Northern Ireland, were not universally accepted and are currently subject to legal challenge.
Despite that, the Commissioners have begun their work and have already met numerous groups.
The Victims’ Service will provide practical support to victims and survivors such as funding and advice.
PA