PRIORITY FOR THE VICTIMS OUT OF THE QUESTION
Priority for victims 'out of the question'
Omagh father slams Minister's response to housing plea
By ALAN ERWIN
AN outraged father whose son was killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity yesterday accused the Government of abandoning relatives of the dead.
Michael Gallagher hit out at new Northern Ireland Victims' Minister Angela Smith after she rejected a plea to help move his traumatised daughter closer to the family home.
He said: "It's time those bereaved in the Troubles realised this Government will do absolutely nothing for them."
Mr Gallagher has been trying to secure the tenancy on a vacant Housing Executive property for his daughter Sharon, 30, near to where he lives in the Co Tyrone town.
She has suffered from severe depression since her brother Aiden, 21, was murdered along with 28 others in the Real IRA bomb five years ago.
After victims' issues were transferred to her portfolio during the Cabinet reshuffle in June, Mr Gallagher wrote to Ms Smith seeking her help.
Setting out the need for his daughter to receive the full family support she so badly needs, he urged the minister to use her influence.
But he was shocked by the manner in which Ms Smith turned down his plea.
All houses are allocated on the basis of a point system due to legal requirements, she told him in a response.
The Minister said: "It would be out of the question for me to intervene to ask for preferential treatment for victims."
According to Mr Gallagher, that is exactly what she should have done.
"The Minister is the person sent here from London to fight victims' corner," he said.
"She's supposed to be in there battling for us and yet she has fallen at the first hurdle.
"What is she here for if she won't help victims?"
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman insisted it would have been impossible for Ms Smith to do more.
"The minister cannot intervene to ask for preferential treatment for victims," he said.
"Her role is to ensure that victims are treated fairly and equitably and have access to the services to which they are entitled."
But even though Ms Smith informed Mr Gallagher that Victims Unit staff contacted the Housing Executive on his behalf and were told the property has still to be allocated, he remained dismissive.
Other relatives of those killed in Omagh were equally horrified by the Government response, he added.
"It just shows how indifferent these people really are."
Omagh father slams Minister's response to housing plea
By ALAN ERWIN
AN outraged father whose son was killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity yesterday accused the Government of abandoning relatives of the dead.
Michael Gallagher hit out at new Northern Ireland Victims' Minister Angela Smith after she rejected a plea to help move his traumatised daughter closer to the family home.
He said: "It's time those bereaved in the Troubles realised this Government will do absolutely nothing for them."
Mr Gallagher has been trying to secure the tenancy on a vacant Housing Executive property for his daughter Sharon, 30, near to where he lives in the Co Tyrone town.
She has suffered from severe depression since her brother Aiden, 21, was murdered along with 28 others in the Real IRA bomb five years ago.
After victims' issues were transferred to her portfolio during the Cabinet reshuffle in June, Mr Gallagher wrote to Ms Smith seeking her help.
Setting out the need for his daughter to receive the full family support she so badly needs, he urged the minister to use her influence.
But he was shocked by the manner in which Ms Smith turned down his plea.
All houses are allocated on the basis of a point system due to legal requirements, she told him in a response.
The Minister said: "It would be out of the question for me to intervene to ask for preferential treatment for victims."
According to Mr Gallagher, that is exactly what she should have done.
"The Minister is the person sent here from London to fight victims' corner," he said.
"She's supposed to be in there battling for us and yet she has fallen at the first hurdle.
"What is she here for if she won't help victims?"
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman insisted it would have been impossible for Ms Smith to do more.
"The minister cannot intervene to ask for preferential treatment for victims," he said.
"Her role is to ensure that victims are treated fairly and equitably and have access to the services to which they are entitled."
But even though Ms Smith informed Mr Gallagher that Victims Unit staff contacted the Housing Executive on his behalf and were told the property has still to be allocated, he remained dismissive.
Other relatives of those killed in Omagh were equally horrified by the Government response, he added.
"It just shows how indifferent these people really are."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/464
Published Date: 04-Aug-03
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