Truth commission for NI urged

The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Rev John Paterson, has called for a South African-style Truth and Reconciliation…

The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Rev John Paterson, has called for a South African-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Northern Ireland.

Dean Paterson was speaking at a Mass in honour of the victims of the Troubles over the past 30 years at the Adam and Eve Franciscan church at Merchant's Quay, Dublin.

He said the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission realised that "a blanket amnesty would never have healed the pains of past atrocities. It would simply victimise the victims a second time round and leave their wounds still festering. "A carrot had to be offered. Those who had perpetrated violence had to accept responsibility for their deeds. The carrot was acknowledgment and pardon - or face prison, or stay in prison if already there. The victims in turn had to forgo restitution or civil claims."

Dean Paterson said "amnesties in the style we've seen here in recent months just won't work". Unionists would see republican amnesties, and nationalists would see amnesties for convicted soldiers and loyalists as "equal travesties".

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He said there had also been examples of "dubious civil response" by public officials in both Irish jurisdictions, which had sometimes undermined people's respect for government and the law.