BOMB PAYMENT DELAYS SLAMMED
Bomb payment delays slammed
By IAN STARRETT
ULSTER'S bomb-battered businesses have called on the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency to speed up the processing of their claims.
After a wave of bombings over the past year in Markethill, Banbridge, Newtownhamilton, Moira and most devastating Omagh, business men and women have pleaded with the agency for urgent financial assistance to help to get them return to trading as soon as possible.
As well as terrorist explosions Northern Ireland's many beleagured businesses were also damaged by firebomb and petrol bomb attacks.
Yesterday Newry and Mourne councillor Danny Kennedy, whose constituency contains Markethill, claimed: "There's no doubt about it that there are cases where the Compensation Agency is dragging its heels.
"I have a case which I am dealing with at this moment regarding damage to property in Markethill last September. It still has not been settled."
He said that businesses suffering bomb damage needed help as swiftly as possible.
Mr Kennedy said that one of the major businesses claiming for compensation for damage alter that bombing was still seeking satisfaction from the agency.
"The business was a major casualty of the explosion and they are very unhappy indeed with the Compensation Agency.
"The damage in Markethill ran into millions of pounds and it happened way back last September," added Mr Kennedy.
Craigavon DUP Mayor and Upper Bann Assembly member Mervyn Carrick yesterday accused the Compensation Agency of being slow in compensating bombed-out businesses.
"I have certainly found this to be the case in Portadown.
"My own wife is one of those affected. She has her own millinery shop in Edward Street which was damaged in the bomb explosion here.
"She is now back in business in the premises and has received an interim payment for loss of stock and another small payment.
"But she has received nothing from the Compensation Agency in relation to the damaged building itself.
"I think that the Compensation Agency now are much slower in helping out than they were five years ago," said the Mayor.
Even since the Omagh tragedy brought an end to renegade republican terror bombing campaigns Northern Ireland's business owners have continued to feel the brunt of sectarian violence in the Province.
Inside the past 10 days three Portadown shops -Knox's butchers and Morgan's fruit shop at West Street and Slumbertime Town Mill at William Street - were all seriously fire damaged as sectarian violence erupted in the tense Co Armagh town. All three premises are owned by Roman Catholics.
The Compensation Agency said that it strives to pay interim payments to businesses as quickly as possible.
The greater majority of claims they deal with result in interim payments with final settlements at a later date.
Some claims can take two to three years to pay out, a spokesman pointed out.
He said that every claim was different and that it wouldn't discuss any individual claims because of confidentiality.
By IAN STARRETT
ULSTER'S bomb-battered businesses have called on the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency to speed up the processing of their claims.
After a wave of bombings over the past year in Markethill, Banbridge, Newtownhamilton, Moira and most devastating Omagh, business men and women have pleaded with the agency for urgent financial assistance to help to get them return to trading as soon as possible.
As well as terrorist explosions Northern Ireland's many beleagured businesses were also damaged by firebomb and petrol bomb attacks.
Yesterday Newry and Mourne councillor Danny Kennedy, whose constituency contains Markethill, claimed: "There's no doubt about it that there are cases where the Compensation Agency is dragging its heels.
"I have a case which I am dealing with at this moment regarding damage to property in Markethill last September. It still has not been settled."
He said that businesses suffering bomb damage needed help as swiftly as possible.
Mr Kennedy said that one of the major businesses claiming for compensation for damage alter that bombing was still seeking satisfaction from the agency.
"The business was a major casualty of the explosion and they are very unhappy indeed with the Compensation Agency.
"The damage in Markethill ran into millions of pounds and it happened way back last September," added Mr Kennedy.
Craigavon DUP Mayor and Upper Bann Assembly member Mervyn Carrick yesterday accused the Compensation Agency of being slow in compensating bombed-out businesses.
"I have certainly found this to be the case in Portadown.
"My own wife is one of those affected. She has her own millinery shop in Edward Street which was damaged in the bomb explosion here.
"She is now back in business in the premises and has received an interim payment for loss of stock and another small payment.
"But she has received nothing from the Compensation Agency in relation to the damaged building itself.
"I think that the Compensation Agency now are much slower in helping out than they were five years ago," said the Mayor.
Even since the Omagh tragedy brought an end to renegade republican terror bombing campaigns Northern Ireland's business owners have continued to feel the brunt of sectarian violence in the Province.
Inside the past 10 days three Portadown shops -Knox's butchers and Morgan's fruit shop at West Street and Slumbertime Town Mill at William Street - were all seriously fire damaged as sectarian violence erupted in the tense Co Armagh town. All three premises are owned by Roman Catholics.
The Compensation Agency said that it strives to pay interim payments to businesses as quickly as possible.
The greater majority of claims they deal with result in interim payments with final settlements at a later date.
Some claims can take two to three years to pay out, a spokesman pointed out.
He said that every claim was different and that it wouldn't discuss any individual claims because of confidentiality.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/302
Published Date: 16-Sep-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.