Innocent Victims United
Presentation to Dail GFA Implementation Committee: 24/09/2015
Innocent Victims United is an umbrella organisation for 23 groups which have collective memberships in excess of 11,500 individual victims/survivors. The organisation was formed in 2012 as a movement to offer a cohesive voice to the innocent victims and survivors of terrorism and ‘other Troubles related violence.’
The organisation’s status is voluntary and its’ membership spans Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Mainland Europe.
The organisation has a clear position on terrorism and violence. It stands on the solid legal and moral foundation that in the context of Northern Ireland that there was not and is not a justification for the taking of life in either the advancement of or defence of a ‘political objective.’
IVU is non-sectarian and non-political however it offers a robust challenge and independent voice in holding accountable Governments, policymakers and other stakeholders who engage with victim/survivor issues.
Overview:
‘Dealing with the Past’ is terrorist centric language, we ask Government and wider Society to ‘Deal with our Present.’
Innocent Victims and Survivors of Terrorism have been used as ‘collateral damage’ for too long and this dreadful wrong must now cease.
What more can we be expected to tolerate in the overall quest to hold together morally defunct Peace and Political processes?
Definition of ‘victim’is unsustainable
The current definition of ‘victim’ is at the root heart of the abyss to which these issues have descended. IVU has engaged with victims groups, individual victims and survivors, Church leaders, political leaders, academics, the GAA, Orange Order and a plethora of other community and voluntary sector based organisations and in those discussions there was universal recognition that the current definition of ‘victim’ as laid out in the N.I 2006 Order is morally defunct.
The definition of ‘victim’ is at the root heart of the failed policies which have been developed on victims and survivors issues.
IVU insists that there is a need for a Public Referendum on this issue. Society needs re-calibrating if there is any possibility of genuine Reconciliation - not phoney Reconciliation being embedded.
Within the drafting of such a Referendum question there must be reference that Society would understand and accept thatthe carrying out of any unlawful act in the advancement or defence of a political objective in the context of 'The Troubles' was never and will never be justified.
IVU has confidence that Society and basic moralitydefines what a 'victim' is, it was not the people who changed the definition,the peopledidn't even have a chance to express their view onthe matter. The N.I 2006 Orderhas had the consequence of changing the very narrative and cause of the 'Troubles' which was the political objective of those responsible for implementing the definition. It was a politicallymotivated decision taken to appease terrorism, its' apologists and the associated agenda.
IVU expects the political parties, Churches, the Victims Commission and other stakeholderorganisations and individuals who have a role in dealing with the legacy of the 'Troubles' to back our call for a Public Referendum. We cannot as a Society continue to allow the political system to subvert the will of the people at the expense of those who have already endured harrowing loss and suffering to their lives.
IVU is not asking anyoneat this pointto support our envisaged definition wording of 'victim' rather what we are asking is for democracy to prevail and for the people to determine this most fundamental of issue. The mater was not settled in 2006 - it was ushered through in Westminster without consultation being carried out involving those most hurt by the last 40 years of murder and mayhem. It was and is a politically expedient definition which debases basic morality.
On the Run Assurance letters and Royal Prerogatives of Mercy for terrorists are examples of how the political system has bastardised the Criminal Justice system.
In 1998 when the Prison gates were opened individuals were released as terrorist son license, 17 years later they are now ‘victims’ in law on a parallel with those whom they were incarcerated for having wronged. If ever there was a clear example of how this Society has lost the run of itself then this is it.
What is morally wrongwill never be politically right.
Formal Acknowledgement by R.O.I State
The government of the Republic of Ireland should take steps to acknowledge its’ role in enabling the IRA campaign of violence through inept security and extradition policies.
- Arms crisis and formation of PIRA (financing, training and securing weaponry)
- Failures in ROI extradition policies at judicial level and other junctures beyond 1969/1970 which actively facilitated terrorism and which failed to protect life in border areas which meant that serial killers were free to roam committing ‘hit and run’ otherwise referred to as ‘shoot and scoot’ murders.
- Ethnic cleansing of part-time farmers/part time UDR+RUC and other protestant civilians from their home farms near the border to other areas.
- Collusive acts involving individual members of An Garda Siochonna and Irish Defence Forces who were overtly or covertly supporting the aims and objectives of the Provisional IRA and other Republican terrorist organisations.
Reparations: Pension for the Injured
A private member’s bill is said to be in the process of being soon brought before the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly concerning the provision of a special pension for the seriously injured.
Terrorist organisations took the decision to go out and murder and maim and also destroy commerce, in-so-doing they inflicted serious disablements to members of this community.
Now through their political voices they are seeking to prevent the innocent from receiving ‘lifeline financial support and stability’ because they continue to be rooted to a selfish ideology rooted in the philosophy ‘ourselves alone.’
Politically the contentious issue of terrorists receiving the Pension needs to be taken off the table either through politicians having the courage to rule it out outright or through the development of an Appeals mechanism not dissimilar to what was done around the SPAD Bill for which those who hold a conviction for crimes perpetrated would be required to go through.
Reparations also require resolving for the following groups:
- The immediately bereaved (next of kin)
- Those displaced/ethnically cleansed.
- Victims of Gaddafi/PIRA terrorism.
**Additional work is also needed around examination a reparation case for those psychologically injured.
Equitable services for victims and survivors - End postcode discrimination
We stand in solidaritywith victims and survivors located in R.O.I, GB and beyond these borders, those who were physically and psychologically impacted by terrorism. These individuals never asked to be victims or survivors - it was a circumstance foisted upon them through others' criminal actions. IVU are clear that no innocent victim/survivor of Terrorism or 'other Troubles related violence' should be discriminated upon on the basis of where they happen to live.
The current individual support schemes operated by The Victims and Survivors Service around support for the injured which are in place and the Disability Living Allowancequalifying criteriameansthat victims/survivors living in The Republic of Ireland are effectively debarred from applying. Furthermore the lack of knowledge and awareness of the support schemes in Great Britain means thathundreds of directly affected victims/survivors are overlooked.
In layperson's terms this means thata victim/survivorliving in Northern Ireland and who receives DLA high rate care component may benefit from £1,500 of assistance via the support for the injured 1 scheme, an automatic payment of £820 viaa financial assistance scheme and their carer would also be eligible for £500 - a total of £2,820 coming into that household on an annual basis. Those living in Republic of Ireland cannot benefit from this support because there is deemed to be "no comparable benefit" in the Republic of Ireland with Disability Living Allowance.
Going forward we have been very clear that Disability Living Allowance is an unfair tool to use in provision of services for the injured. We know of individuals who sustained very serious injuries but who presently receive no support because they are not in receipt of DLA middle or high rate care benefit. It is imperative that a fair system of graduated need is introduced whichpicks up those who have to date; fallen through the cracks.
IVU hascampaignedfor Governments to collectively work together around the provision of services for victims/survivors of 'The Troubles.'The Stormont, UK and R.O.I Governments need to come together and cough up the resources needed as well as put in place the necessary political and practical frameworks to enable it to happen.This is particularly pertinent where the support for the seriously injuredPension is concerned.
Weekly IVU is being contacted by victims/survivors based in GB and R.O.I who are struggling emotionally, physically and financially and who have nowhere to go. The legacy of terrorism in GreatBritain andthe Republic of Irelandis significant and Governments need to waken up once and for all and do right by theircitizens who are suffering in silence.
We stand shoulder to shoulder with GB and R.O.I-based victims and survivors of terrorismand 'other Troubles related violence' - they must be given a standing and acknowledgement that has not been forthcoming to date.
Other key positions
No Amnesty for terrorists or expunging of records
There cannot and must not be any attempt to bring in a ‘political Amnesty’ nor should terrorist records be wiped. Murder is a crime and must be dealt with accordingly.
A Truth Commission is unworkable
There cannot be any diminishing of the evidential requirements under our Criminal Justice system. Terrorists and their apologists have consistently proven their inability to tell the Truth.
Mechanisms which facilitate genuine criminal investigations into unsolved terrorist murders and attempted murders.
The current arrangements are UK State Centric. Terrorism must come under the spotlight and innocent victims/survivors afforded equality of treatment in their pursuance of Truth and Justice.
Glorification of Terrorism
A review of the legislation is required to ensure terrorism cannot be glorified anywhere in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.
Commission of Historical Clarification
Development of a process which examines ‘Troubles’ related events critically and which distinguishesbetween events proven on anevidential basis and those relying upon intelligence, rumour and supposition reasoning.
Conclusion
In conclusion IVU demands that the Governments responsible for stewardship of the Peace and Political processes re-commit themselves to the principles of Justice, Truth and Accountability and that they will without fear or fervour support the innocent victims and survivors of terrorism and ‘other Troubles related violence’ in their quest to obtain answers.
Society must be embedded with a mind-set that when one neighbour wrongs another that they are required to engage in a process of ‘3 R’s’
Demonstrate Remorse
Show Repentance
Engage in Restitutive acts
Following these processes being worked through, individual and societal Reconciliation is then possible.
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