OMAGH GROUP ANGRY AT COMMUNITY RELATIONS SNUB
Omagh group angry at Community Relations snub
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
THE Omagh Self-help and Victims group was furious this week after being snubbed in a bid for Government funding.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the horrific 1998 atrocity, told the UlsterHerald yesterday morning that he was totally galled by the Community Relations Council's decision to refuse the group funding.
"We have been discriminated against simply because we asked difficult questions of Government. We are a thorn in their side," said an angry Mr Gallagher.
"We have been established as a group for nearly five years, longer that some of the other NI victims groups that qualified for funds," he added.
But he is determined not to let the controversial decision go by without being questioned. He is now going to ask politicians to step into the issue and monitor funding for victims' groups.
He is also calling on the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Spending to launch an inquiry into how Peace and Reconciliation money is spent in Northern Ireland and how a recent US allocation of �31m will be utilised.
"All this money is pouring into NI and if it is not going directly to the victims and their self help groups where is it being used? asked Mr Gallagher
He admitted being stunned by the Community Relations Council's decision to reject their application.
"We are a cross community victims group, representing both sections of the community not just one.
"As a group we have done a lot of work but there is still a lot more to be done. We are working out of temporary premises with only the very basic of facilities which just isn't an ideal situation," he said.
The group had applied for funding to rent and run a permanent office to co-ordinate its work and employ a full-time manager and secretary.
"This has nothing to do with the civil action. This is a total separate issue," explained Mr Gallagher.
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
THE Omagh Self-help and Victims group was furious this week after being snubbed in a bid for Government funding.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the horrific 1998 atrocity, told the UlsterHerald yesterday morning that he was totally galled by the Community Relations Council's decision to refuse the group funding.
"We have been discriminated against simply because we asked difficult questions of Government. We are a thorn in their side," said an angry Mr Gallagher.
"We have been established as a group for nearly five years, longer that some of the other NI victims groups that qualified for funds," he added.
But he is determined not to let the controversial decision go by without being questioned. He is now going to ask politicians to step into the issue and monitor funding for victims' groups.
He is also calling on the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Spending to launch an inquiry into how Peace and Reconciliation money is spent in Northern Ireland and how a recent US allocation of �31m will be utilised.
"All this money is pouring into NI and if it is not going directly to the victims and their self help groups where is it being used? asked Mr Gallagher
He admitted being stunned by the Community Relations Council's decision to reject their application.
"We are a cross community victims group, representing both sections of the community not just one.
"As a group we have done a lot of work but there is still a lot more to be done. We are working out of temporary premises with only the very basic of facilities which just isn't an ideal situation," he said.
The group had applied for funding to rent and run a permanent office to co-ordinate its work and employ a full-time manager and secretary.
"This has nothing to do with the civil action. This is a total separate issue," explained Mr Gallagher.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1545
Published Date: 10-Apr-03
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