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Authors defend Troubles cash plan Troubles legacy plan published
(about 3 hours later)
The authors of a report on how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles have defended their suggestion that families of all those killed should get £12,000. Proposals on how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, including a payment for families of all those killed, have been published.
Unionists and some victims' groups have criticised the plan as it would include payments to the families of IRA and loyalist groups. The authors of the report, Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, are giving details of the report at a news conference.
One of the authors, Lord Eames, described the money as a "recognition payment" on behalf of society. Unionists and some victims' groups have rejected the payment suggestion as it would include families of members of republican and loyalist paramilitaries.
The 190-page report published later contains more than 30 recommendations. Lord Eames described the money as a "recognition payment".
The 190-page report contains more than 30 recommendations.
It has been compiled by the Consultative Group on the Past, an independent group set up to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles, during which more than 3,000 people died.It has been compiled by the Consultative Group on the Past, an independent group set up to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland's Troubles, during which more than 3,000 people died.
The proposals are thought to include a £160m legacy commission which would be led by an international figure. The proposals include a legacy commission which would be led by an international figure.
This commission would take over the work currently carried out by the Police Ombudsman - which investigates complaints against the police and the Historical Enquiries Team - a specialist police unit set up to investigate unsolved killings throughout the Troubles. This commission would take over the work currently carried out by the police ombudsman, which investigates complaints against the police, and the Historical Enquiries Team, a specialist police unit set up to investigate unsolved killings throughout the Troubles.
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One of the main critics of the plan to pay victims' families was Northern Ireland's First Minister, the DUP leader Peter Robinson.One of the main critics of the plan to pay victims' families was Northern Ireland's First Minister, the DUP leader Peter Robinson.
He told Secretary of State Shaun Woodward on Tuesday that the suggestion had "irreparably damaged" the group's report.He told Secretary of State Shaun Woodward on Tuesday that the suggestion had "irreparably damaged" the group's report.
The two men, who lead the Consultative Group on the Past, said the money was "a small gesture by our society to acknowledge the grief of the families left devastated by the last 40 years". Earlier on Wednesday, the two men who lead the Consultative Group on the Past said the money was "a small gesture by our society to acknowledge the grief of the families left devastated by the last 40 years".
Denis Bradley said the recognition payments were "not about compensation nor financial reward".Denis Bradley said the recognition payments were "not about compensation nor financial reward".
When we undertook this work, we were under no illusions that it would be extremely difficult for our society to escape the dark shadows of the past Lord EamesConsultative Group on the Past Lives lost to the TroublesWhen we undertook this work, we were under no illusions that it would be extremely difficult for our society to escape the dark shadows of the past Lord EamesConsultative Group on the Past Lives lost to the Troubles
"Over the past number of days we have heard some victims' groups saying we don't want money, we want justice. Others have said we don't want money, we want truth."Over the past number of days we have heard some victims' groups saying we don't want money, we want justice. Others have said we don't want money, we want truth.
"They are right to say that and our report will reflect both points of view."They are right to say that and our report will reflect both points of view.
"Equally they have to respect those who told us that they wanted neither justice nor truth. Others that we met want recognition by our society of their loss and suffering.""Equally they have to respect those who told us that they wanted neither justice nor truth. Others that we met want recognition by our society of their loss and suffering."
Former Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames said it was a "challenging and complex report" on what was "too important an issue for instant responses".Former Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames said it was a "challenging and complex report" on what was "too important an issue for instant responses".
"When we undertook this work, we were under no illusions that it would be extremely difficult for our society to escape the dark shadows of the past," he said."When we undertook this work, we were under no illusions that it would be extremely difficult for our society to escape the dark shadows of the past," he said.
"Today we will set out a whole range of issues that will have to be addressed if we are to build the shared and reconciled future that we all want to see."
Has your family been affected by the Troubles? What do you think about compensation? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Has your family been affected by the Troubles? What do you think about compensation? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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