BLOOMFIELD COMPENSATION REPORT SHARPLY CRITICISED
Bloomfield Compensation Report sharply criticised
No allowance made for Omagh bomb victims' claims father
GOVERNMENT plans to overhaul the way compensation is paid to victims of violence have been sharply criticised this week for excluding those affected by the Omagh bombing.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Adrian was one of those who died in the Market Street atrocity, said he "draws no comfort" from recommendations contained in the Review of Criminal Injuries Compensation report.
And he has also denounced its findings, which, he claims, shows no regard for those who have suffered throughout 30 years of violence in the North.
Copies of the report which were compiled by a team including Head of Victims' Commission, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield are currently with the Secretary of State for consideration.
As chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, Mr Gallagher was one of those asked to advise on drawing up the document. But he feels views expressed by group members during a meeting late last year in Omagh have been totally overlooked.
He told the 'Herald': "During that meeting we put forward points and recommendations on how the criminal injuries issue affected the victims and how we in particular had been affected and how we felt we had been treated.
"But although this report recognises how shabbily and unfairly victims have been treated to date, it makes no allowance for victims of the Omagh bombing.
"The Government had a perfect opportunity here to right the wrongs of Omagh, but they have failed to do that."
Mr Gallagher added that, as a result of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, allowances were made, in the early release scheme, for those who carried out earlier crimes.
TURNED BACK
But the Government had now turned its back when it came to making allowance for victims from that period.
"The people, hand chosen, to draw up this report have highlighted the inadequacies of how victims have been treated to date.
"But with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there was a line drawn in the sand, and I believe the Government should have gone back to at least that signing and preferably to when the first person was killed, in order to fully treat the issue of the victims.
"By way of compensation, people got more for damage to their car that day in Omagh than I got for my son, and that highlights the injustices of the system."
Mr Gallagher also fiercely attacked the Compensation Agency, which he accused of being simply "loss adjusters for the Treasury," and which was more intent on saving the Government money than helping victims of terrorism.
"If the Government had to pay the real cost of those who have suffered, I don't believe the troubles would have lasted 30 years" he added.
Among recommendations contained in Sir Kenneth's review are plans to form a 'fast-track' procedure whereby those with queries could have their claims resolved without the need to appeal to the courts.
The report also suggests compensation be paid to people who suffer a recognised psychiatric illness as a result of the death or injury of a loved one - regardless of whether they were present at the scene of the incident.
It also proposed that payment be made to those involved in rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of incidents such as the Omagh bombing.
And those who take part in such incidents, fearing that someone with whom they had close ties had been injured or killed, will also be considered for payment.
Compensation payments to those who lost loved ones as a result of criminal activities have also been substantially increased.
Commenting on the report, Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam said its recommendations would be carefully considered over the next few months.
"I would hope to be able to respond to the report in the autumn" she added.
No allowance made for Omagh bomb victims' claims father
GOVERNMENT plans to overhaul the way compensation is paid to victims of violence have been sharply criticised this week for excluding those affected by the Omagh bombing.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Adrian was one of those who died in the Market Street atrocity, said he "draws no comfort" from recommendations contained in the Review of Criminal Injuries Compensation report.
And he has also denounced its findings, which, he claims, shows no regard for those who have suffered throughout 30 years of violence in the North.
Copies of the report which were compiled by a team including Head of Victims' Commission, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield are currently with the Secretary of State for consideration.
As chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, Mr Gallagher was one of those asked to advise on drawing up the document. But he feels views expressed by group members during a meeting late last year in Omagh have been totally overlooked.
He told the 'Herald': "During that meeting we put forward points and recommendations on how the criminal injuries issue affected the victims and how we in particular had been affected and how we felt we had been treated.
"But although this report recognises how shabbily and unfairly victims have been treated to date, it makes no allowance for victims of the Omagh bombing.
"The Government had a perfect opportunity here to right the wrongs of Omagh, but they have failed to do that."
Mr Gallagher added that, as a result of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, allowances were made, in the early release scheme, for those who carried out earlier crimes.
TURNED BACK
But the Government had now turned its back when it came to making allowance for victims from that period.
"The people, hand chosen, to draw up this report have highlighted the inadequacies of how victims have been treated to date.
"But with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there was a line drawn in the sand, and I believe the Government should have gone back to at least that signing and preferably to when the first person was killed, in order to fully treat the issue of the victims.
"By way of compensation, people got more for damage to their car that day in Omagh than I got for my son, and that highlights the injustices of the system."
Mr Gallagher also fiercely attacked the Compensation Agency, which he accused of being simply "loss adjusters for the Treasury," and which was more intent on saving the Government money than helping victims of terrorism.
"If the Government had to pay the real cost of those who have suffered, I don't believe the troubles would have lasted 30 years" he added.
Among recommendations contained in Sir Kenneth's review are plans to form a 'fast-track' procedure whereby those with queries could have their claims resolved without the need to appeal to the courts.
The report also suggests compensation be paid to people who suffer a recognised psychiatric illness as a result of the death or injury of a loved one - regardless of whether they were present at the scene of the incident.
It also proposed that payment be made to those involved in rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of incidents such as the Omagh bombing.
And those who take part in such incidents, fearing that someone with whom they had close ties had been injured or killed, will also be considered for payment.
Compensation payments to those who lost loved ones as a result of criminal activities have also been substantially increased.
Commenting on the report, Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam said its recommendations would be carefully considered over the next few months.
"I would hope to be able to respond to the report in the autumn" she added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1280
Published Date: 08-Jul-99
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.