Public reject Troubles legacy report

Published Monday, 19 July 2010
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The controversial Eames/ Bradley report, which cost almost £1.3m is in tatters, after the majority of people who responded to the public consultation rejected its recommendations.

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    ‘No’ to Eames / Bradley
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    Public reaction to Eames/Bradley

The Northern Ireland Office released the public response to the Consultative Group on the Past's document, which was published in January 2009.

The report made a total of 31 recommendations, which included a £12,000 reconciliation payment to families of those killed in the Troubles, including relatives of dead paramilitaries.

Another proposal was the development of an independent legacy commission to investigate unsolved killings and a reconciliation forum to tackle social issues arising from the conflict.

The report was put out for public consultation in June 2009 by Secretary of State Sean Woodward.

There were a total of 246 respondents to the report, 72 of which were organisations, parties or professionals. The remaining 174 were individuals, the majority of whom rejected the whole document.

Current Secretary Of State Owen Paterson will now carry out a review of the responses gathered through the public consultation.

In a statement he said he is committed to listening to the views of people from across the community and hopes releasing the findings demonstrates the transparent and measured approach he intends to take.

'Disgrace'

Raymond Elliott, who has been on medication ever since he pulled bodies from the rubble of the Shankill bombing sixteen years ago, is highly critical of the report.

"Money can never bring back what's happened. Plus Eames and Bradley have never seen the mess that a bomb can cause. You have to be there to understand.

"It's a disgrace - two men trying to wipe the slate clean and offer people money. The money they're using now could have been used to help young victims."

Victims campaigner Raymond McCord has said there needs to be a new approach to dealing with the past.

"A group should be set up made up of victims and ask the victims what is the way forward for us. Until victims are represented on these groups, as far as I'm concerned, it's a complete waste of time and money."

© UTV News
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6 Comments
maggie in north west wrote (674 days ago):
It is dishonest of any terrorist to claim to be a victim when clearly they made persons become victims. If they had family killed and went on to plant bombs or shoot they can't say they were provoked when many who lost loved ones never went out to take life. Two wrong don't make a right. There is no dignity among the terrorist community.
paul in belfast wrote (675 days ago):
It has to be up to the families of those who lost their lives , no matter by RUC , IRA , UDA , INLA . UVF . UFF , IPLO, BRITISH ARMY, every single one of those families deserve the truth , i cannot tell the difference between those who died , every single person killed where killed by an armed group , now that is what we as a community have to understand my fathers death is no different than anybody else . let us all work out a way forward , i don,t want money i want to go asleep , i want my childre to grow up looking forward because we have dealt with the past , don,t forget it .
stevie in belfast wrote (675 days ago):
@ lorna, i agree totally that innocent victims on both sides should be distinguished from people setting out to commit murder/harm.
lorna in limavady wrote (675 days ago):
There is NO way forward when the persons involved could not distinguish between those who were out to take life and those who were innocent victims who have NO blood on their hands..It's a very sick joke to say all are victims,. The person killed with a bomb, unless going out to plant it. deserves recognition and their needs should be met. So many victim's groups have both sides in them and it doesn't help when they are expected to meet and accocate with the would be murderers. THERE CAN BE NO TRUST
JCL in Larne wrote (675 days ago):
Public services are about to be cut back to the bone or disbanded all together but these two fools want the families of murderers to receive a £12k patronizing pat on the head. It's disgusting that these two Old men are so out of touch with todays economic reality.
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