OMAGH FAMILIES FEEL LET DOWN OVER EXCLUSION FROM VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS FORUM
Omagh families feel 'let down' over exclusion from Victims and Survivors forum
by Robert Pollock
Omagh Self Help and Support Group stalwart, Michael Gallagher, has expressed his anger at the lack of any representation from the town on the new 25-strong panel of the Victims
and Survivors Forum.
The forum hit the headlines last week when it was revealed that Eibhlin Glenholmes, once dubbed Britain's 'most wanted' IRA suspect, had been appointed to the group. The group, which consists of men and women who have been injured, bereaved or experienced trauma during the Troubles, acts in a consultative role to the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.
Mr Gallagher says he bears no grudge against the individuals appointed to the panel, but cannot understand why a local representative has not been considered for a place.
"We do now feel disengaged from the process and fight for victims. I am in no way doubting the capability of the individuals, some of whom I know, to act on the forum, but we have been leading the fight for victims for 14 years now and have dealt with each and every government body you can think of. Just last week we met with the Secretary of State (Owen Paterson) and soon we will meet with the Taoiseach (Enda Kenny).
"I feel that the forum panel was compiled in an undemocratic fashion, in that it was selected and not elected. I have spoken with the victims commissioners and they know how I feel on the matter, but we do feel let down. I am not just referring to the 1998 bombing, there have been many tragedies in this area and it is very disappointing to see nobody from here," said Mr Gallagher.
The composition of the group breaks down as 13 members broadly from the unionist community and 12 broadly from the nationalist community.
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution, Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, Brendan McAllister, defended both the composition of the group and its mode of appointment.
"We did pilot this model and although there were doubts at the initial stages we felt, as did the participants, that selecting a wide range of individuals was the most efficient method of appointment. Had we advertised the positions we would have been inundated with applications and ultimately a lot more people would have been disappointed. A fall from 38 to 23 also had to be taken into account and we feel we now have a more manageable number of people, who can all get their views across.
"We have not constituted the forum around particular groups and we also felt that many of those who have now been appointed have not been as prominent in the process as others, like the Omagh families. It is also to be remembered that the forum is a vehicle we use to gauge the thoughts of victims, but it is not the sole one. The forum will also be holding four public meetings outside of Belfast and we will be holding caucus meetings when addressing specific issues. There is certainly the capacity for groups like those in Omagh to engage with the forum and we
West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan, described the decision to omit an Omagh representative as "regrettable" and hit out at the presence of Eibhlin Glenholmes on the forum.
"It is regrettable that the newly formed victims forum does not fairly and accurately represent the people of the west and in particular the people of Omagh who suffered so much in the biggest single atrocity during the troubles; yet no one who is a victim as a result of that atrocity is represented on the new forum.
"Furthermore, the presence of Eibhlin Glenhomes on the Forum is a backward step for victims in our province. So many who lost loved ones in the troubles are rightly called victims because they did not go out and advocate violence or murder, rather, they were upholding the laws of the land and protecting our country from terrorist violence. Eibhlin Glenholmes is well known in republican circles and was active in the republican movement that caused heartache to so many homes across the country. I cannot see what someone like her can add to the forum and think her position on it is flawed - it is wrong that she should have been included in the definition of a victim. Iam calling on the OFMDFM (Office of First and Deputy First Minister) to properly address this unbalance and look at ensuring that those who are real victims are represented on this forum," said mr Buchanan.
The Victims and Survivors Forum will meet on a monthly basis over the next two years and will hold a series of public meetings for the wider constituency of victims and survivors
across Northern Ireland.
by Robert Pollock
Omagh Self Help and Support Group stalwart, Michael Gallagher, has expressed his anger at the lack of any representation from the town on the new 25-strong panel of the Victims
and Survivors Forum.
The forum hit the headlines last week when it was revealed that Eibhlin Glenholmes, once dubbed Britain's 'most wanted' IRA suspect, had been appointed to the group. The group, which consists of men and women who have been injured, bereaved or experienced trauma during the Troubles, acts in a consultative role to the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.
Mr Gallagher says he bears no grudge against the individuals appointed to the panel, but cannot understand why a local representative has not been considered for a place.
"We do now feel disengaged from the process and fight for victims. I am in no way doubting the capability of the individuals, some of whom I know, to act on the forum, but we have been leading the fight for victims for 14 years now and have dealt with each and every government body you can think of. Just last week we met with the Secretary of State (Owen Paterson) and soon we will meet with the Taoiseach (Enda Kenny).
"I feel that the forum panel was compiled in an undemocratic fashion, in that it was selected and not elected. I have spoken with the victims commissioners and they know how I feel on the matter, but we do feel let down. I am not just referring to the 1998 bombing, there have been many tragedies in this area and it is very disappointing to see nobody from here," said Mr Gallagher.
The composition of the group breaks down as 13 members broadly from the unionist community and 12 broadly from the nationalist community.
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution, Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, Brendan McAllister, defended both the composition of the group and its mode of appointment.
"We did pilot this model and although there were doubts at the initial stages we felt, as did the participants, that selecting a wide range of individuals was the most efficient method of appointment. Had we advertised the positions we would have been inundated with applications and ultimately a lot more people would have been disappointed. A fall from 38 to 23 also had to be taken into account and we feel we now have a more manageable number of people, who can all get their views across.
"We have not constituted the forum around particular groups and we also felt that many of those who have now been appointed have not been as prominent in the process as others, like the Omagh families. It is also to be remembered that the forum is a vehicle we use to gauge the thoughts of victims, but it is not the sole one. The forum will also be holding four public meetings outside of Belfast and we will be holding caucus meetings when addressing specific issues. There is certainly the capacity for groups like those in Omagh to engage with the forum and we
West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan, described the decision to omit an Omagh representative as "regrettable" and hit out at the presence of Eibhlin Glenholmes on the forum.
"It is regrettable that the newly formed victims forum does not fairly and accurately represent the people of the west and in particular the people of Omagh who suffered so much in the biggest single atrocity during the troubles; yet no one who is a victim as a result of that atrocity is represented on the new forum.
"Furthermore, the presence of Eibhlin Glenhomes on the Forum is a backward step for victims in our province. So many who lost loved ones in the troubles are rightly called victims because they did not go out and advocate violence or murder, rather, they were upholding the laws of the land and protecting our country from terrorist violence. Eibhlin Glenholmes is well known in republican circles and was active in the republican movement that caused heartache to so many homes across the country. I cannot see what someone like her can add to the forum and think her position on it is flawed - it is wrong that she should have been included in the definition of a victim. Iam calling on the OFMDFM (Office of First and Deputy First Minister) to properly address this unbalance and look at ensuring that those who are real victims are represented on this forum," said mr Buchanan.
The Victims and Survivors Forum will meet on a monthly basis over the next two years and will hold a series of public meetings for the wider constituency of victims and survivors
across Northern Ireland.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/2021
Published Date: 28-Jun-12
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