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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Anger over Troubles payment plan | Anger over Troubles payment plan |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Controversial proposals to pay compensation to the families of all those killed during the Troubles have come in for widespread criticism. | |
| The families of paramilitary victims, members of the security forces and civilians who were killed will all be entitled to the same amount - £12,000. | The families of paramilitary victims, members of the security forces and civilians who were killed will all be entitled to the same amount - £12,000. |
| The Consultative Group on the Past is set to recommend the idea on Wednesday. | The Consultative Group on the Past is set to recommend the idea on Wednesday. |
| Former first minister of Northern Ireland Lord Trimble told the BBC there was a lot of anger over the idea. | Former first minister of Northern Ireland Lord Trimble told the BBC there was a lot of anger over the idea. |
| The Consultative Group on the Past is an independent group established to try to lay to rest some of the ghosts of Northern Ireland's Troubles. | The Consultative Group on the Past is an independent group established to try to lay to rest some of the ghosts of Northern Ireland's Troubles. |
| Lord Trimble, the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he did not believe the idea will get much support. | Lord Trimble, the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he did not believe the idea will get much support. |
| He said he had not yet seen the report but added: "What the victims of the troubles want is first of all to be remembered and then secondly they want to feel that what they suffered was not in vain, that their sacrifice helped to build a better, more safer, more democratic future for people in Northern Ireland and to come forward first with money is offensive." | He said he had not yet seen the report but added: "What the victims of the troubles want is first of all to be remembered and then secondly they want to feel that what they suffered was not in vain, that their sacrifice helped to build a better, more safer, more democratic future for people in Northern Ireland and to come forward first with money is offensive." |
| He said there was already a compensation scheme and a memorial fund in place and this proposal was not going to go down well. They're thinking there should be no hierarchy - a mother's tears are a mother's tears if you like Mark Simpson class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/7848704.stm">Widow's hurt at Troubles proposal | |
| However, he added he could understand how the group, which is co-chaired by Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, came up with the scheme and said families of paramilitaries had also lost loved ones and some were innocent. | However, he added he could understand how the group, which is co-chaired by Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, came up with the scheme and said families of paramilitaries had also lost loved ones and some were innocent. |
| BBC correspondent Mark Simpson said the problem of how to deal with Northern Ireland's brutal past had cast a shadow on the peace process. | |
| Speculating on the advisory group's reasoning, our correspondent said: "They're thinking there should be no hierarchy - a mother's tears are a mother's tears if you like but that's not how the unionists see it. | |
| "They view the Troubles largely as the goodies against the baddies - the good security forces against the bad terrorists. | |
| "Obviously Sinn Fein take a very different view and squaring that circle will not be easy." | |
| He said the final decision would be up to the prime minister and he would have to consider the issue in not just financial terms but also political ones. | |
| 'No hierarchy' | |
| If the recommendation is accepted by the government, the cost would be an estimated £40m. | If the recommendation is accepted by the government, the cost would be an estimated £40m. |
| Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb left in a litter bin in Warrington in 1993, said he was disgusted that the families of paramilitaries could receive a payment. | |
| "The idea that [somebody who sets out to kill] is a victim as much as I am, using my example, I think for many people is offensive." | "The idea that [somebody who sets out to kill] is a victim as much as I am, using my example, I think for many people is offensive." |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Peter Robinson, said while he had not seen a copy of the report, he was "disturbed" by media reports of its contents. | Northern Ireland's First Minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Peter Robinson, said while he had not seen a copy of the report, he was "disturbed" by media reports of its contents. |
| "The DUP has consistently opposed any equation between the perpetrator of crimes during the Troubles and the innocent victim," he said. | "The DUP has consistently opposed any equation between the perpetrator of crimes during the Troubles and the innocent victim," he said. |
| A payment of £12,000 is to be recommended | |
| "Terrorists died carrying out their evil and wicked deeds while innocent men, women and children were wiped out by merciless gangsters." | "Terrorists died carrying out their evil and wicked deeds while innocent men, women and children were wiped out by merciless gangsters." |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin's position "all along has been that this report has to be an independent report". | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin's position "all along has been that this report has to be an independent report". |
| "I think that obviously dealing with the past is something which is of tremendous importance and significance for all, but I think that once the report is published for all to see, it should be studied and I think we can make more definitive comments after that." | "I think that obviously dealing with the past is something which is of tremendous importance and significance for all, but I think that once the report is published for all to see, it should be studied and I think we can make more definitive comments after that." |
| The SDLP's Alex Attwood said: "What has been reported today may be true or may be malicious but until we know, people should reserve judgement." | The SDLP's Alex Attwood said: "What has been reported today may be true or may be malicious but until we know, people should reserve judgement." |
| Alliance justice spokesman Stephen Farry said there was a "danger that the proposal for compensation could overshadow the Consultative Group on the Past's other good work." | Alliance justice spokesman Stephen Farry said there was a "danger that the proposal for compensation could overshadow the Consultative Group on the Past's other good work." |
| The Consultative Group on the Past is also expected to recommend the creation of a five year legacy commission, appointed by the British and Irish governments, to deal with the past - and to say there should be no further public inquiries. | The Consultative Group on the Past is also expected to recommend the creation of a five year legacy commission, appointed by the British and Irish governments, to deal with the past - and to say there should be no further public inquiries. |
| The total cost of the proposals would be £300m, and the Irish government will be asked to make a significant contribution. | The total cost of the proposals would be £300m, and the Irish government will be asked to make a significant contribution. |
| More than 3,000 people died during the Northern Ireland Troubles and the group was set up to find ways forward in dealing with that legacy. | More than 3,000 people died during the Northern Ireland Troubles and the group was set up to find ways forward in dealing with that legacy. |