Victims' group hits streets in fund row.
From IRISH NEWS January 25th, 2001
By Simon Doyle
ACO ARMAGH victims' group has embarked on a three day walk to Stormont to
raise money for their charity. Members of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
(Fair) started on their sponsored walk from Markethill early yesterday morning.
Fair spokesman Willie Frazer said the group had been denied funding for
staff by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT). However, the NIVT
said Fair had simply not received the amount of money they had requested
initially. A spokesman said negotiations with Fair were ongoing and the
victims' group had made a new application for funding. Mr Frazer said the
sponsored walk was only the beginning of their fundraising campaign. "Why should we have to do this to get a bit of funding?" he asked. "We told the NIVT we had set up an umbrella group but they told us there was no need for workers in that organisation." "Only a month later they funded a prisoners' group." "We do not care what is given or is not given to prisoners but there has to be justice for victims, " he added. Mr Frazer said his group would
lay a wreath at Stormont upon their arrival on Friday. "As far as we are concerned, democracy is buried at Stormont. It has become a tomb and we will be laying a wreath at the tomb, " he said. However, an NIVT spokesman said funding was still available for the group and dismissed claims that
priority was given to prisoners' groups. "The doors are still open and monies are available. NIVT staff met committee members from Fair up until last week, " he said. "We fund right across the spectrum, from Bloody Sunday groups to Fair, regardless of political background."
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