SHADOW NI SPOKESMAN MEETS RELATIVES DURING VISIT TO OMAGH
Shadow NI spokesman meets relatives during visit to Omagh
BY: MICHELE CANNING
Compensation needs looked at again he says but agency claims reports are misleading
Legislation determining compensation payments to the bereaved relatives of the Omagh bomb victims needs to be looked at again, according to the Shadow Spokesman for Northern Ireland.
Conservative MP, Andrew McKay, was speaking during a visit to Omagh on Monday where he met with relatives of those killed in the August atrocity.
Relatives have slammed the �7,500 compensation payment as 'derisory and a bloody disgrace'.
Mr McKay met with members of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group which intends to fight the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency's
decision.
Among the relatives at Monday's 'closed' meeting were Lawrence Rushe, Michael Gallagher, Mandy Walker, Godfrey Wilson and Gerald McFarland.
They voiced their concern on the compensation payments and the future of acute hospital services at the Tyrone County Hospital. Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21 year old son, Adrian, did not receive compensation because his son was an adult but not contributing to the household income.
Speaking moments after meeting the families, the Shadow Spokesman said there is clearly a real worry by relatives.
"They feel upset and let down that their loved ones have been valued in a way that they think is derisory.
"It is part of the legal system that was set up by Parliament and it needs to be looked at again.
"There was a slight feeling when the Prime Minister and Bill Clinton visited the town immediately after the bomb that Omagh would be made a special case and there might be more generosity.
"That all needs to be reflected on and will be reflected on by Sir Kenneth -Bloomfield and the Victims Commission."
Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the Omagh bomb, said the �7,500 payment he received was a 'bloody disgrace'.
"Nobody could compensate me for losing Anne. But to get just �7,500, which wouldn't even cover Ann's annual salary is a downright insult.
"I haven't been able work since the bomb. I am living on �55.70 per week sickness benefit and Disability Living Allowance. I am a law abiding citizen, worked all my life."
Chief Executive of the Compensation Agency, Dennis Stanley, reacting to reports said they were misleading.
Mr Stanley said 'The government recognises that no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a human life.
"The legislation does not seek to place a value on life. The Agency can only make payments as a gesture to the bereaved family,
"But misleading reports like those this morning (Sunday) help no-one."
He said the payment of �7,500 that has been paid out to each family is not necessarily a final payment, but the first of three possible stages of payment.
The �7,500 is a standard Bereavement Grant, payable to parents of children under 18 or to the spouse of a person over 18. The second stage payment is the reimbursement of Reasonable Funeral Costs.
The third and final payment is compensation for Pecuniary Loss, which must be claimed by the bereaved. It normally takes several months for families to finalise their claims.
Mr Stanley said to date very little has been received by the Compensation Agency.
Pecuniary Loss is assessed on potential earnings of those killed and is designed to compensate for the loss of that income to the next of kin.
The Chief Executive said his staff are determined to process claims for the families of the Omagh bombing as quickly as possible.
West Tyrone assemblyman, Joe Byrne, has called for the Compensation Agency to adopt a more sensitive approach.
"Some particular cases relating to the victims of the Omagh bomb, I believe, merit compensation given that so much was promised by senior politicians in the immediate aftermath of the bomb.
"The Compensation Agency should show due sensitivity and regard towards their circumstances, and the victims' families should not have to go to the media to explain their sense of grievance and annoyance with these payments."
Mr Byrne said this is one instance where the authorities should be able to demonstrate a sensitive and practical approach towards dealing with the victims families.
"In the past the families of victims were only supported by words but not with the due financial support which is now needed to ease their burden of pain and allow them to rebuild their shattered lives," he added.
BY: MICHELE CANNING
Compensation needs looked at again he says but agency claims reports are misleading
Legislation determining compensation payments to the bereaved relatives of the Omagh bomb victims needs to be looked at again, according to the Shadow Spokesman for Northern Ireland.
Conservative MP, Andrew McKay, was speaking during a visit to Omagh on Monday where he met with relatives of those killed in the August atrocity.
Relatives have slammed the �7,500 compensation payment as 'derisory and a bloody disgrace'.
Mr McKay met with members of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group which intends to fight the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency's
decision.
Among the relatives at Monday's 'closed' meeting were Lawrence Rushe, Michael Gallagher, Mandy Walker, Godfrey Wilson and Gerald McFarland.
They voiced their concern on the compensation payments and the future of acute hospital services at the Tyrone County Hospital. Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21 year old son, Adrian, did not receive compensation because his son was an adult but not contributing to the household income.
Speaking moments after meeting the families, the Shadow Spokesman said there is clearly a real worry by relatives.
"They feel upset and let down that their loved ones have been valued in a way that they think is derisory.
"It is part of the legal system that was set up by Parliament and it needs to be looked at again.
"There was a slight feeling when the Prime Minister and Bill Clinton visited the town immediately after the bomb that Omagh would be made a special case and there might be more generosity.
"That all needs to be reflected on and will be reflected on by Sir Kenneth -Bloomfield and the Victims Commission."
Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the Omagh bomb, said the �7,500 payment he received was a 'bloody disgrace'.
"Nobody could compensate me for losing Anne. But to get just �7,500, which wouldn't even cover Ann's annual salary is a downright insult.
"I haven't been able work since the bomb. I am living on �55.70 per week sickness benefit and Disability Living Allowance. I am a law abiding citizen, worked all my life."
Chief Executive of the Compensation Agency, Dennis Stanley, reacting to reports said they were misleading.
Mr Stanley said 'The government recognises that no amount of money can compensate for the loss of a human life.
"The legislation does not seek to place a value on life. The Agency can only make payments as a gesture to the bereaved family,
"But misleading reports like those this morning (Sunday) help no-one."
He said the payment of �7,500 that has been paid out to each family is not necessarily a final payment, but the first of three possible stages of payment.
The �7,500 is a standard Bereavement Grant, payable to parents of children under 18 or to the spouse of a person over 18. The second stage payment is the reimbursement of Reasonable Funeral Costs.
The third and final payment is compensation for Pecuniary Loss, which must be claimed by the bereaved. It normally takes several months for families to finalise their claims.
Mr Stanley said to date very little has been received by the Compensation Agency.
Pecuniary Loss is assessed on potential earnings of those killed and is designed to compensate for the loss of that income to the next of kin.
The Chief Executive said his staff are determined to process claims for the families of the Omagh bombing as quickly as possible.
West Tyrone assemblyman, Joe Byrne, has called for the Compensation Agency to adopt a more sensitive approach.
"Some particular cases relating to the victims of the Omagh bomb, I believe, merit compensation given that so much was promised by senior politicians in the immediate aftermath of the bomb.
"The Compensation Agency should show due sensitivity and regard towards their circumstances, and the victims' families should not have to go to the media to explain their sense of grievance and annoyance with these payments."
Mr Byrne said this is one instance where the authorities should be able to demonstrate a sensitive and practical approach towards dealing with the victims families.
"In the past the families of victims were only supported by words but not with the due financial support which is now needed to ease their burden of pain and allow them to rebuild their shattered lives," he added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1217
Published Date: 25-Feb-99
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