RELATIVES HAVE FRANK MEETING WITH MINISTER
Relatives have frank meeting with Minister
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
DURING a visit to Omagh on Monday, government Minister, Adam Ingram, held a lengthy meeting with families bereaved in the Omagh bomb.
In a meeting described by the self Help Group's Chairman, Michael Gallagher, as 'constructive and frank', relatives raised, amongst other matters, the issue of compensation for the victims.
Mr Gallagher said that the Minister had given the group a good hearing, and though planned for one hour, the meeting lasted almost two hours. It is understood that the Self Help Group asked Mr Ingram to make a special case for Omagh in terms of compensation on the grounds that the atrocity had occurred during what should have been 'a time of peace.' The group made the point that all the normal trappings of security were dismantled and society was being policed as it would be in a time of peace.
Mr Gallagher said victims were not leaning on the trauma group because they felt it was not strong enough for the people most directly involved. Though he recognised that it was doing some good work. Rather, Mr Gallagher suggested that the government should have reached outside of Northern Ireland to find specialist help. Other factors such as the make-up of the trauma team, in terms of the traditions from which members are drawn, was a problem, in that one section of the community was under-represented. The point was made to the Minister, it was easier to pour one's heart out to someone from the same tradition.
In this instance, Mr Ingram said that this was the first time that such a matter had been brought to his attention and he could see that it might lead to problems. It was also stressed by the group's Chairman that localising everything was a bad idea, and that the town needed access to acute services.
HOPES FOR PEACE
Following the meeting he paid tribute to the victims of the bomb and all of those engaged in helping to reconstruct the community in its aftermath.
It is understood that he told a group of victims who he met at the Trauma Centre that their strength and courage was an inspiration to everyone in Northern Ireland.
He commented that the government had put in place a range of measures to try to give practical help where it is needed and he recognised that the issue of compensation was particularly sensitive. "One of the first things I did as Victims Minister was to ask Kenneth Bloomfield to carry out a review of the current arrangements for criminal injuries compensation. I look forward to receiving his report."
In the afternoon, Mr Ingram visited the recently refurbished Physiotherapy Department (rehabilitation unit) and spoke to some of the young people injured in the August 15th blast. He surveyed the recently acquired equipment said he was impressed with the facilities that the department had to offer.
He had not specifically been lobbied by the Save Omagh Hospital campaign but said he was aware of the issues surrounding the campaign. Nevertheless, he was unwilling to express an opinion as to what shape the future provision of acute services in Omagh should take.
Rather, he said, "There is a review taking place and I would not like to prejudge that. I do understand that we have to get an effective health service in the Omagh area in other areas. As we move toward devolved power it will be a matter for the Assembly".
As to the possibility of Omagh attracting inward investment, he said it was essential that the right political climate was created in which confidence in the economy could grow and from which areas like Omagh would benefit.
He recognised that the peace process had encountered difficulties and had reached something of an impasse, however, he expressed confidence that a resolution could be found especially since he believed that all of the 'players were taking their responsibilities seriously.
"I arrived in Northern Ireland as a government Minister being optimistic, my optimism has certainly been on an upward trend ever since. The Good Friday Agreement was the platform upon which that could be built. That doesn't mean to say we don't have difficulties, we do. But what the government wants to see is what the vast majority of people North and South want to see, that is the Executive being formed and a start and an ultimate conclusion to the decommissioning of illegally held weapons. Those two things must happen and that is what we are all trying to achieve."
Asked if he was of the view that decommissioning had to take place before the Executive was formed he replied "Both have to happen, it is clear that one is dependent on the other, and we are giving all the support we can through the mechanisms that are available to us to encourage decommissioning and to give support to those who want to see the Executive formed. They are, in a sense, parallel processes."
He went on to recognise the role of the international community, especially the US, in trying to overcome the present problems and said that the Northern Ireland peace process was one of the big issues on the world stage and that it would have implications for conflict resolution on a world wide basis.
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
DURING a visit to Omagh on Monday, government Minister, Adam Ingram, held a lengthy meeting with families bereaved in the Omagh bomb.
In a meeting described by the self Help Group's Chairman, Michael Gallagher, as 'constructive and frank', relatives raised, amongst other matters, the issue of compensation for the victims.
Mr Gallagher said that the Minister had given the group a good hearing, and though planned for one hour, the meeting lasted almost two hours. It is understood that the Self Help Group asked Mr Ingram to make a special case for Omagh in terms of compensation on the grounds that the atrocity had occurred during what should have been 'a time of peace.' The group made the point that all the normal trappings of security were dismantled and society was being policed as it would be in a time of peace.
Mr Gallagher said victims were not leaning on the trauma group because they felt it was not strong enough for the people most directly involved. Though he recognised that it was doing some good work. Rather, Mr Gallagher suggested that the government should have reached outside of Northern Ireland to find specialist help. Other factors such as the make-up of the trauma team, in terms of the traditions from which members are drawn, was a problem, in that one section of the community was under-represented. The point was made to the Minister, it was easier to pour one's heart out to someone from the same tradition.
In this instance, Mr Ingram said that this was the first time that such a matter had been brought to his attention and he could see that it might lead to problems. It was also stressed by the group's Chairman that localising everything was a bad idea, and that the town needed access to acute services.
HOPES FOR PEACE
Following the meeting he paid tribute to the victims of the bomb and all of those engaged in helping to reconstruct the community in its aftermath.
It is understood that he told a group of victims who he met at the Trauma Centre that their strength and courage was an inspiration to everyone in Northern Ireland.
He commented that the government had put in place a range of measures to try to give practical help where it is needed and he recognised that the issue of compensation was particularly sensitive. "One of the first things I did as Victims Minister was to ask Kenneth Bloomfield to carry out a review of the current arrangements for criminal injuries compensation. I look forward to receiving his report."
In the afternoon, Mr Ingram visited the recently refurbished Physiotherapy Department (rehabilitation unit) and spoke to some of the young people injured in the August 15th blast. He surveyed the recently acquired equipment said he was impressed with the facilities that the department had to offer.
He had not specifically been lobbied by the Save Omagh Hospital campaign but said he was aware of the issues surrounding the campaign. Nevertheless, he was unwilling to express an opinion as to what shape the future provision of acute services in Omagh should take.
Rather, he said, "There is a review taking place and I would not like to prejudge that. I do understand that we have to get an effective health service in the Omagh area in other areas. As we move toward devolved power it will be a matter for the Assembly".
As to the possibility of Omagh attracting inward investment, he said it was essential that the right political climate was created in which confidence in the economy could grow and from which areas like Omagh would benefit.
He recognised that the peace process had encountered difficulties and had reached something of an impasse, however, he expressed confidence that a resolution could be found especially since he believed that all of the 'players were taking their responsibilities seriously.
"I arrived in Northern Ireland as a government Minister being optimistic, my optimism has certainly been on an upward trend ever since. The Good Friday Agreement was the platform upon which that could be built. That doesn't mean to say we don't have difficulties, we do. But what the government wants to see is what the vast majority of people North and South want to see, that is the Executive being formed and a start and an ultimate conclusion to the decommissioning of illegally held weapons. Those two things must happen and that is what we are all trying to achieve."
Asked if he was of the view that decommissioning had to take place before the Executive was formed he replied "Both have to happen, it is clear that one is dependent on the other, and we are giving all the support we can through the mechanisms that are available to us to encourage decommissioning and to give support to those who want to see the Executive formed. They are, in a sense, parallel processes."
He went on to recognise the role of the international community, especially the US, in trying to overcome the present problems and said that the Northern Ireland peace process was one of the big issues on the world stage and that it would have implications for conflict resolution on a world wide basis.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1231
Published Date: 11-Mar-99
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