Personally speaking by Marie Smyth
From: Fortnight May 1999
Fortnight's (May 1999) leader article referred to the fast-growing victims industry growing out of the compost of the Bloomfield report. If it is an industry, then there are a few industrial relations problems, and some major issues about cash flow and the general state of the market. It is a constituency within which expectations have been raised - first by the cease-fires, and subsequently by the attention paid to the situation of those bereaved and injured in the Bloomfield report.
At that time, over a year ago now, those of us concerned with the provision of humanitarian assistance to individuals, families and communities affected by the Troubles felt the fresh air of possibility for the first time. It seemed as if there was, at last, the political will to deliver recognition, acknowledgement and help to the people who had paid most dearly during the Troubles. The Victims Liaison Unit was established, and the down-payment of £5m was announced by the Secretary of State. Then the Compensation Review body was established, and a few funds were set up with what seemed rather small amounts - such as £200,000 for the Educational Bursar Scheme. A family trauma centre established by Health and Social Services was financed out of this money, and located in South Belfast. This last development led to some disquiet on the part of those aware of the level of need in Troubles-riven North and West Belfast about the amount of time and thought going in to the location of such provision.
Over a year later, I wonder if those who lost their health or their family member have noticed much improvement in the quality of their lives. Indeed for many, the attention given to those they associate with their attackers has made life harder than before. There has been no further allocation of government funding. Some funding that was allocated to victims by various agencies lies unspent in bank accounts, whilst some voluntary groups struggle to survive.
Each of the political parties have nominated a spokesperson on victims and whilst some political parties seem interested in understanding the needs and what might be appropriate intervention, others seem keen to work up the political aspects of the issue.
Those who have been bereaved and injured identify their own needs as including
issues of justice, acknowledgement of their suffering and loss, as well
as social support and in some cases counselling and help with pain management.
For some, certain aspects of the Good Friday Agreement are problematic in
this regard. The issues of justice and the unresolved anger that many have
that justice is not seen to be done has been taken up by certain political
parties, and some of the victim groups are actively pursuing these issues
through political channels. The emergence of such anger at this stage is
understandable, given the sense that little has been delivered to those
who have suffered most. However, the prominence achieved by the more political
demands of some of those bereaved and injured may have another unanticipated
effect.
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