APPLAUSE FOR POLICE MOVE
Applause for police move
I APPLAUD the decision of the Omagh RUC officers to attend the launch of the new Victims' Support group voice in the town rather than take tea with the Secretary of State in Hillsborough Castle.
Dr Mowlam may be regarded as the 'uncrowned queen of hearts' in many parts of the British mainland and around the world, but she is not generally regarded as the flavour of the month in large sections of the Unionist community and I would venture to suggest among a high proportion of police officers as well.
It is good to know that police widows and the relatives of older victims of terrorism are at last being given a voice to articulate their pent-up feelings of resentment at longtime government inaction to provide adequate compensation for the loss of relatives and also the trauma they have sustained since the start of the troubles.
Little wonder the Omagh victims who have had to endure the worst atrocity of the troubles felt they had waited long enough for the Northern Ireland Office, over which Mo Mowlam presides, to make its presence felt and to inform each of them of the amount of compensation they could expect to receive over and above the initial remuneration.
It is patently obvious to all that Dr Mowlam and her security minister Adam Ingram seem to be for more interested in keeping released prisoners sweet by providing each of them with the necessary resources to facilitate their re-integration into the community.
As Victims' Minister as well, Mr Ingram would do well to listen to the cry of despair from widows and other relatives, not to mention the largely forgotten victims of the terror campaign eg disabled RUC and UDR officers who rightly believe they are just as deserving of financial support to assist their re-habilitation and retraining as those prisoners from the Maze, Maghaberry or Magilligan.
Many of these prisoners have had ample opportunity to study for degrees or learn a trade while they served their time.
Wilfred Breen, Georgian Villas, Omagh.
I APPLAUD the decision of the Omagh RUC officers to attend the launch of the new Victims' Support group voice in the town rather than take tea with the Secretary of State in Hillsborough Castle.
Dr Mowlam may be regarded as the 'uncrowned queen of hearts' in many parts of the British mainland and around the world, but she is not generally regarded as the flavour of the month in large sections of the Unionist community and I would venture to suggest among a high proportion of police officers as well.
It is good to know that police widows and the relatives of older victims of terrorism are at last being given a voice to articulate their pent-up feelings of resentment at longtime government inaction to provide adequate compensation for the loss of relatives and also the trauma they have sustained since the start of the troubles.
Little wonder the Omagh victims who have had to endure the worst atrocity of the troubles felt they had waited long enough for the Northern Ireland Office, over which Mo Mowlam presides, to make its presence felt and to inform each of them of the amount of compensation they could expect to receive over and above the initial remuneration.
It is patently obvious to all that Dr Mowlam and her security minister Adam Ingram seem to be for more interested in keeping released prisoners sweet by providing each of them with the necessary resources to facilitate their re-integration into the community.
As Victims' Minister as well, Mr Ingram would do well to listen to the cry of despair from widows and other relatives, not to mention the largely forgotten victims of the terror campaign eg disabled RUC and UDR officers who rightly believe they are just as deserving of financial support to assist their re-habilitation and retraining as those prisoners from the Maze, Maghaberry or Magilligan.
Many of these prisoners have had ample opportunity to study for degrees or learn a trade while they served their time.
Wilfred Breen, Georgian Villas, Omagh.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/208
Published Date: 26-Feb-99
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