Annual Report 2007

Relatives for Justice

Working for Truth and Justice

Annual Report

February 2007

Chairperson’s Report – Clara Reilly 

I want to express our sincere hope that we as an organisation can continue to provide practical support, legal advice, and befriending and emotional support to all those families and individuals who have suffered so much as a result of the conflict.

Our organisation continues to grow and with that growth comes extra responsibility and extra workload. Government bodies, individuals, the media call upon RFJ constantly, and by other organisations to articulate their views on how we manage to move forward in conflict resolution.

Central to anything we say publicly is the welfare and well being of the many families who look to us for guidance in providing recognition, truth, and justice and healing. We have been to the forefront in exposing collusion, which has affected many of our membership.

During St Patrick’s week we head for Washington and New York with a group of families from across the community to present a petition requesting a congressional fact finding visit to Ireland to examine state sponsored killings.

We have kept the pressure up on the plastic bullet issue and despite the Chief Constable’s recent acknowledgement that innocent people died and that plastic bullets will not be used in crowd control situations, we will continue to fight for a total ban on these weapons. The people who died, and the hundreds injured, deserve no less. 

The Remembering Quilt continues to grow and only last November the eighth panel was launched in the Belfast Castle by the South African Ambassador to Ireland, Priscilla Jana.  

I can’t say it often enough how RFJ is blessed by the wonderful staff and volunteers who make up our organisation. Louisa Mc Kee and Declan McAleer along with Siobhan Nugent run our Fermanagh & Tyrone office with such dedication and strength. Just recently I had the pleasure to address a packed hall in Carrickmore where the quilt was on display.

Pauline Fitzpatrick is responsible for Belfast, South Derry, and North Antrim as the regional training and support officer. She is committed 110% to the families and individuals she works with.

This year we welcomed Mark Sykes to our staff. Mark is a great asset with much experience and shares a heavy workload with Pauline.  Geraldine Harte continues to be the professional Complimentary Therapist, creating a healing space and raising holistic health awareness and encouraging positive change. Many thanks to Orla for endeavouring to keep us out of debt by managing the books and to Roisin and Áine for their courtesy and professionalism in dealing with our many callers and visitors. 

The amount of work that Mark and Andrée have had to deal with over the past few years working for truth and justice and exposing the corrupt practices and human rights abuses such as collusion, shoot to kill, plastic bullets, cover ups and many more issues has been monumental. His expertise on publishing documents and pamphlets on many human rights issues in second to none. Their dedication to working for a better future for all is recognised across the religious divide and is an indication of the high esteem in which they are both held.

The year ahead will pose many challenges for families as they engage in processes of transition which impact directly on their experience of violent loss. Families and the RFJ team will work together to ensure that these processes deliver to individuals and benefit society as a whole. As someone once said, a lot done – more to do. 

Clara Reilly

Director – Mark Thompson

The capacity of Relatives for Justice – the staff, volunteers and in particular the families who are the organisation – never ceases to amaze me.  The levels of energy and commitment in approaching issues that would ordinarily pose intractable barriers to others are oftentimes overcome with great sensitivity, resolution and dedication to achievement. As one relative recently put it ‘equality, rights and justice always triumph - they are our guiding principles’.

Equally the services, support and outreach delivered through our centres by far exceed that which would ordinarily be dictated by the available financial resources. Yet this fact continues. Ingenuity, networking and the finite balancing of both financial and human resources underline internal skills that enable this support. And this is also because of the high esteem in which Relatives for Justice is held throughout the community – we are a unique organisation unlike other community-based groups.

To work, volunteer and be a part of this organisation is to understate the terms. It is both humbling and a privilege to be part of this organisation.

In addition to ongoing support and services to families and individuals at an organisational level we have continued our work on the broader transitional issues within the peace process that have a direct bearing on our membership and those bereaved and injured overall. 

This past year has seen major breakthroughs for families. The Ombudsman’s report ‘Operation Ballast’, once again puts the spotlight on State collusion which affected so many of our families. Collusion is now irrefutable and has become an accepted fact even by those who for so long denied it. No more so was this demonstrated than last month when British Secretary of State Peter Hain, in early morning media interviews prior to the publication of the Ombudsman’s report, attempted to spin the few bad apples theory. By mid afternoon he conceded that the issue was not just limited to one UVF unit in one part of North Belfast but in all likelihood could be replicated right across the country. This follows the Irish government Oireachtas Committee Report - the Barron Inquiry into Dublin/Monaghan bombings – and the excellent work of the Pat Finucane Centre on the Glenane Report into collusion in Mid-Ulster’s murder triangle throughout the 1970’s - this aside from the almost monthly occurrence of collusion now being evidenced by families.  

These events have been led by families supported by groups like RFJ, the PFC and Justice for the Forgotten. And that is why in recent times we have collaborated our collective energies to maximise the overall outcome on behalf of families.  

We have equally responded to calls for assistance and reached out to those families within the unionist community also affected by collusion and State violence. Indeed until recently much of this work remained private, and deliberately so given the sensitivity and level of threat from within that community to those families. Much of that work is still private.

In saying that some of those families publicly joined with us in an initiative that saw the three major papers, The Belfast Telegraph, Irish News, and Newsletter all join forces to coordinate the human stories and issues in order to maximise victims issues coinciding with the political talks at St Andrews. Talks to which we attended and proactively lobbied. We have had contact from families whose loved ones were members of the British army and RUC who fear their loved ones were victims of official collusion.

Although challenging for many of our members these are issues with which we must endeavour to meet and resolve in the same way we must continue our engagements with other victims with different experiences of the conflict in creating understanding and a shared experience as well as a level playing field for all victims. Equality and respect underpin this work. 

Equality of treatment and equal rights for all victims formed the basis of the judicial review that saw Brenda Downes and RFJ successfully challenge the illegal and political appointment of a Victims Commissioner by Peter Hain. The ruling in this case goes way beyond that of just victims’ rights, setting a legal precedent around disclosure and discovery of material regarding future judicial review, and making history in that an investigation has been initiated by the British Attorney General into how the court was deliberately misled in such a manner to block our attempts to legally challenge the appointment. The politicking of these issues by the British Government is expected and we will remain vigilant when concerning matters that relate to our rights and we will exercise the necessary response when and where appropriate. 

In addition we continue to monitor the numerous cases in which inquests have yet to commence into controversial killings involving collusion and shoot-to-kill and are in contact with the Coroners Office. Some of these cases were recently heard at the House of Lords as legal challenges were again brought by families in the aftermath of the Article 2 ruling re the State’s failure to comply with its international obligations around investigate procedures. We await the outcome from the House of Lords, which will hopefully have a positive effect on how inquests into all of these incidents will be conducted. Similarly we have been in contact with the Committee for the Council of Ministers of Europe monitoring the responses by the British Government to the original ruling by the European Court in May 2001 involving some of these cases and to which full compliance by the British Government is yet to be fulfilled. This has included making our own, and some joint, submissions with the PFC. 

We have also been in correspondence with, including monitoring, the role of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in cases referred to them and in particular the 25 files forwarded onto them in respect of the Stevens Report in April 2003 in which they have yet to make any decisions. In the wake of the Ombudsman’s report, and aside from supporting families, both named and unnamed in the report, we have once again been centrally involved in developing legal strategies for the families responding to the findings. Part of this was to assist in initiating civil proceedings within the past fortnight and to inform the wider debate resulting from the report.

In the aftermath we have been approached by upwards of 40 families seeking to engage the Police Ombudsman regarding the killings of their loved ones. Prior to the report we have been engaged in extensive work with families cataloguing and documenting killings throughout the late 1980’s to mid 1990’s in which collusion is evidenced and which clearly falls within the remit of the Ombudsman. 

However, we also need to be realistic in terms of what can be delivered in the absence of an agreed truth process to deal with the past in an independent and transparent way that gains the confidence of victims. Recently Nuala O’ Loan cautioned about the capacity of her office to undertake the enormity of these issues in the absence of such a process.

For us this highlights the necessity for an inclusive truth process indicating that our strategic approach on this issue is right. In addition outstanding historic cases involving RUC killings are now to be examined by the Ombudsman’s office after a lengthy delay by the British Government in providing resources. A new team – the Sapphire Team - has been established and we have met to discuss its remit, timeframe, and possible outcomes and to address any existing concerns. This is ongoing work. 

Andrée Murphy has taken on the responsibility for supporting and monitoring families engaging with the PSNI’s Historic Enquiries Team (HET), which is tasked with examining non-RUC killings. This process too involves those families being contacted by the HET and who wish not to cooperate yet may wish for information and their rights to access this material. Organisationally we have decided not to cooperate with the HET and our information setting out this position is available. 

Andrée and Clara have equally played a pivotal role, in partnership with numerous NGOs, in monitoring the role of the Policing Board regarding their human rights obligations in respect of the work around ‘less lethal’ weapons. It is in this context that I would like to commend everyone involved, especially the families affected by the use of rubber and plastic bullets, in terms of creating the circumstances whereby they participated in lobbying that realised a statement by Hugh Orde acknowledging that innocent people, including children, were killed and injured by plastic and rubber bullets. Although much more work needs to be done this was nonetheless an important step for a number of the families. 

The issue of truth recovery – dealing with the legacy of the past - is still an organisational priority. This year alone we have lobbied both governments and political parties on the matter ensuring that the views and proposals of those most adversely affected by the conflict informs and shapes of any emerging process that must be victim-centred. Our persistent lobbying in no small measure led to the Transitional Assembly including truth recovery as part of the preparation for the programme for government. Every family received a copy of our submission, which is also on our website.

The independence of any process is a key pre-requisite to which we continue to engage and our planned trip to the US with families this month will see this as a central part of that agenda. In giving ownership to this initiative families personally received petitions which they can sign calling on the US Congress to send a fact-finding delegation to examine all the issues and to use its influence in ensuring that any truth recovery process is independent. 

A result of all of these endeavours is that the organisation is consistently engaged in conferences, fora, and is a touchstone reference point. This too includes the media with contacts from across the globe regularly interviewing members; staff and volunteers in addition to locally based media. Recently the Basque and Spanish Governments visited the offices to learn, as did other official delegations from Eastern Europe. Other visitors included representatives of the South African Government, and members of the US Congress. In conclusion it is imperative that partnerships continue around the various dimensions of our work and that continued, and extra, resources are realised to maintain and meet the expanding needs.

To all and everyone involved with and associated with RFJ - Go Raibh Maith Agaibh.

Mark Thompson

Deputy Director – Andrée Murphy 

The families Relatives for Justice work with are in a position where they are forced to meet the challenges of transition with a wider perspective than their own personal feelings or experience.

These individuals often meet the challenges on behalf of others. On behalf of the victim whose life was taken violently, and whose rights were not protected in the aftermath with ineffective investigations and cover-up. On behalf of other close family members who lived and died with broken hearts without ever having truth or acknowledgement. On behalf of their children and grandchildren who do not remember the incident, but live daily with its consequences. And they meet the challenges of transition with the perspective that the lives they lead now are so different to the lives they could have lived had the terrible things they have survived not visited them.

Our families have courageously invested their talents in meeting the challenges posed by transition in many different ways this year. Whether it is by challenging themselves to make positive changes in their lives and their relationships, which allow them to recognise the impact of their trauma and courageously develop new healthier ways of dealing with it. Whether it is taking part in classes and discussions aimed at developing their confidence and understanding of the processes of transition. Whether it is by engaging with the bodies and individuals with power and authority. Or if it is by engaging with people from different backgrounds and experiences of the conflict. Everyone who participates is making transition from conflict to peace happen.  

We endeavour to make sure that every penny that we receive is spent in a meaningful way. If we put in place an activity we must see people progressing, better able to participate in their families, their communities and within society. This means drawing up new programmes, revisiting old ones and developing from current programmes. Our Complementary Therapy Programme now sets the standard for training within the Complementary Health Industry. We also draw on the best practice of other organisations, working co-operatively with our colleagues in partnerships across the region. 

The families currently engaged in the courts, in the soul destroying processes which lift the lid on the corrupt practices of the state, are an example to us all. Our partnerships with solicitors and other NGOs – in particular our friends in the Pat Finucane Centre - ensure that this is a process which empowers families and is maximised in terms of informing both governments and international bodies. This is difficult work that sometimes does not see fruit for a long time, and the gains made are not always readily visible. This is also an area of work for which there is huge and growing demand and there is little funding available. It is a huge challenge to effectively meet demand on limited resources.  

At the beginning of this year the republican movement changed its position regarding policing. In the months leading up to this decision families engaged in a process of understanding what the implications might be for them as people who have suffered the worst of RUC abuses. This engagement was one of the most important processes this period of transition has witnessed and it was achieved by those most hurt and isolated during the conflict. These families deserve credit and recognition for this engagement. Raw emotions were identified, issues and experiences were explained and journeys of transition were identified.

It is no exaggeration to say that it was a privilege to be involved in this process. Jackie McMullan and Tom Holland were central to ensuring that this process, which involved over 200 individuals throughout the region, was achieved. Their vision and commitment to families must be acknowledged. However it is vital that this is not left as a moment that has passed. Those who were brave enough to face this process must now be involved in the processes of accountability and oversight. They must also be assured of the development of a victim-centred process of acknowledgement and truth recovery. Just as there was a “peace dividend” following the ceasefires, there must be a policing dividend for those worst affected by human rights abuses. There must be a parallel process of truth recovery accompanying development in the political process. 

Last January the PSNI’s Chief Constable established a Historical Enquiries Team to examine all killings from 1969-1999, and the Police Ombudsman took all cases relating to people killed as result of the actions of the RUC. This poses immense challenges organisationally and for families themselves. The HET does not meet international standards for investigation and is still the state investigating itself. The Ombudsman’s office was not designed for this work and is under-resourced and under constant political attack.  

As a result of the introduction of these initiatives RFJ’s workload has increased and our commitment to families to support them in making the right choices for them has meant that this work is very intensive, involving much discussion with every family. However there are no additional resources for this work available to RFJ.  

As awareness of state-sponsored initiatives developed so did the demands from families across the region to examine each of their cases. Casework is growing daily, particularly in the wake of the report on the Police Ombudsman’s Operation Ballast.  With every new “case” which walks through the door, the support needs for the individuals and families also grow. Our team is made up of dedicated and resourceful individuals who work together with the best interests of the families at the forefront of their minds. We are always trying to be imaginative about responding to emerging and constant support needs. However long-term and sustainable resources are vital in making this happen. Any new programme for government must make long-term and sustained support for groups a priority.  

This year RFJ’s Programme for Transition will reap the rewards of a year of foundation building and planning. We will be engaging in more dialogue with groups from different backgrounds, developing our understanding and challenging our positions.

We have no doubt that 2007 is likely to see more state initiatives around the issues of truth recovery. It will be our duty to ensure that these are victim centred and focussed and deliver to their needs rather then the needs of actors to the conflict.  Partnerships with organisations like the Quakers, Glencree, Transition Training and Epilogues will assist us in delivering on this much needed work. 

The Remembering Quilt continues to grow providing families with a vital access point to recovering memory and building confidence. During the summer bringing two quilts from Peru together with our quilt during Féile an Phobail with the assistance of Roberta Bacic was well received and provided new avenues for discussion and development. A quilting project with WAVE on a similar theme promises to be an exciting programme. 

What we do is difficult and challenging work. It is also vital work at a vital time. The staff team is made up of front line workers who face constant demands for time, expertise and support and who give it without reservation, often to great personal cost. We also have the members of the team who work more quietly but equally effective and professional and on whom we rely. It is vital to provide support to all of our staff that bear witness to the worst of the conflict through the stories and records recalled by our membership in the course of providing support.

 It is impossible to state the privilege it is to be part of RFJ, to work with these colleagues and to work on behalf of our families. On a personal note I want to thank Clara Reilly for her unwavering strength and friendship, Paddy Kelly for her constant vision and foresight, Jim Clinton for his much needed support, and of course Mark Thompson, who I do not thank nearly enough.

Andrée Murphy

Complementary Therapy Co-ordinator - Geraldine Hart

The main provision of delivering complementary therapies at RFJ in Belfast continues, with clients receiving a one hour session once a fortnight for 6 sessions.

Complementary therapy has also been delivered to relatives in Lurgan and the Short Strand. In 2006 we were able to use our own newly trained therapists to deliver Indian Head Massage in Gulladuff. Testimonials from clients who have completed their 6 sessions are all in agreement as to the relaxing benefits they have experienced.

The major change since the last report has been the accreditation of Relatives For Justice in 2004 as a V.T.C.T. (Vocational Training Charitable Trust) training centre for complementary therapies. This is a follow on from delivering complementary therapy to relatives, to them requesting training in therapies for themselves.

V.T.C.T. is the largest accrediting body in the British Isles for complementary therapies. Centres are closely monitored by an Internal and an External Verifier who make several visits to access the standard and quality of the courses being delivered.

The External Verifier’s report to V.T.C.T. determines the continuation of the centre as a training facility.

To support professional practice RFJ stipulated from the onset of the project that the V52, Use Interpersonal Skills With Therapy Clients, was to be a pre-requisite for all students undertaking studies in complementary therapies. This certificate was delivered to a total of 25 students since the start of the project.  All who undertook the course found it very challenging. Trauma training was included as an extra to give students an understanding of the effects, both of their own and future client’s trauma.

The module was taught over 14 weeks with a total of 42 guided learning hours.

Of the 25 students who completed the course, 21 have completed the V.T.C.T. level 3 Diploma in Indian Head Massage, 4 the Diploma for Reiki Practitioners with another 5 at present half way through their Reiki diploma.

Courses in First Aid, Dru Yoga and Capacitar training have also been offered to both students and relatives who are interested in learning more about holistic stress management.

To support professional practice RFJ feels it is important to support the therapists we have already trained to obtain further qualifications and to offer them the opportunity to use their new skills as volunteers in a supervised clinical environment rather than continually deliver the V52 and IHM to new students every year. This has been a great boost to the confidence of new therapists. It has also meant that more relatives have been able to receive complementary therapy.

As a small centre we are limited in how many classes we can deliver in a year. Classes range from 6 – 8 students in order to facilitate an environment conducive to meet the learning needs of trauma survivors.

Due to the generosity of volunteer therapists, Loreto McCann, Sandra Loughran and Sonia Campbell we have been able to offer several complementary therapies to relatives over the last 3 years.  

The V52 which RFJ made a pre-requisite for all complementary therapies has now been seen as good practice by V.T.C.T.  It is encouraging all colleges who deliver complementary therapy and hair and beauty courses to include it in their training.

We may be a small centre but that does not mean we cannot influence good professional practice both in the colleges here and in England.

Geraldine Hart

Regional Training and Support Worker – Pauline Fitzpatrick 

It has been a busy year indeed.  With all classes now running consistently over a period of two years it is evident to see how relatives have progressed in their own personal journeys.

‘Small steps’ are crucial when working with those who have suffered deep trauma and loss, in nurturing and assisting relatives in taking those small steps a strong trusting relationship has developed between our users and Relatives for Justice. All participants in the classes have formed strong bonds and an empathy with each other. A strong pool of volunteers has been created which is crucial when the ‘Remembering Quilt’ is on display and mail outs are required.

Through networking with other agencies and providers a strong ‘signposting’ programme has been established, relatives/families can avail of such services as

Welfare Rights/ Citizen Advice/ Counselling/ Complementary Therapies/ Legal Advice/ Quilt Project/ Duchas Project/ Memorial Fund.

In September of this year the families assisted by funding from the Arts Council created two special pieces of artwork. The finished pieces were testament to all those who participated in the project, a lot of thought, care and attention was paid to these pieces which are on display in our offices, providing all our users and visitors with a warm and inviting theme.

Working in South Derry/North Antrim, classes such as Personal Development/ Computers/ History/ Welfare Rights have proved very successful. Two local volunteers have successfully completed Welfare Rights Programmes which has enabled them to give back to their communities much needed advice and assistance.  Literally thousands of pounds have been claimed back in unclaimed benefits in these areas.

Rapid changes in the political arena recently cannot be ignored.  Families who depend on Relatives for Justice for support have expressed feelings of isolation and disempowerment.  With the establishment of the HET and the recent report on collusion from the Ombudsman, it has been a busy time ensuring families are supported to deal with their feeling of anxiety and frustration at unanswered questions.   The process of empowerment, ownership and participation are vital to moving forward positively. There has never been a more appropriate time at present to ensure that such processes are adhered to.

Pauline Fitzpatrick

Regional Training and Support Worker – Louisa McKee 

Our Tyrone office opened in January 2004, with EU support, and since then we have been working in the Sperrin Lakeland Trust area.  Special mention needs to be made of Siobhan and Declan, without whom this substantial work would’ve been impossible.

We have developed partnerships with other organisations, regionally and locally.  These include the Western Health & Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel, and NOVA and the NI Centre for Trauma & Transformation, who accept counselling & psychotherapeutic referrals; the Southern Board Trauma Advisory Panel, and Sperrin Lakeland Trust. A particularly exciting partnership is the Consolidating Positive Relationships (CPR) project. This partnership with the Koram Centre, Omagh Support & Self Help Group, the UDR Association (Coleraine) and United Services Club Victim Support Group, has drawn down significant funding from CFNI (Peace II+).  

Funding

Over the last year we have accessed funding from the Community Development & Health Network for creative programmes with young people, the production of the Galbally play and music workshops for all the family.  We built on the success of the three previous Complementary/Holistic health programmes through a CRC Development grant for family support.  We also accessed CRC funding to support the identity work with young people and some cultural visits, the most recent being to Kilmainham Gaol. Separate funding from the CRC Cultural Diversity Grants, Omagh & Dungannon councils will support new history courses.

We provide one to one support through home visits, drop-ins, and guidance with Memorial Fund or Benefit applications, Complementary/Holistic health and referrals to counselling or psychotherapy. We offer support and advocacy in the search for truth or justice.

Creative Activities

The eighth panel of The Relatives for Justice Remembering Quilt was launched in Tyrone this month.  Families continue to make squares for the ninth panel. Sons & Brothers was a play written and produced by a group of women from East Tyrone. This process took almost two years and an amazing journey of sharing and transforming stories to tell the story of a small rural community’s experience of the conflict. It was performed on Mother’s Day last year to a packed audience and we hope to produce it again this May.  Meanwhile, the women who wrote the play performed extracts themselves and answered questions from international delegates at the Community Arts Forum’s Cultures & Conflict conference last November. Over the summer young people from Clonoe/Coalisland & Galbally studied photography and their exhibition was opened by the Children’s Commissioner.  It will be formally launched along with a DVD they are currently working on at Dungannon Leisure Centre on Thursday 19th April.  Another group of families are currently doing a series of music workshops and producing a CD.  This work is supported by the Arts Council, through the Community Development & Health Network and the Community Relations Council.

Development/Education & Social

Building on cultural visits to Long Kesh, Kilmainham & Arbour Hill, and a series of plays and exhibitions, we will be offering programmes in Complementary/Holistic Health Care, Befriending, History and IT after Easter across East & West Tyrone. We frequently arrange social activities, including fishing, dancing, and even weekends away, the most successful of which were two sea fishing trips and a structured weekend in Donegal, called A Bit of Peace.

Louisa McKee

Family Advisor - Mark Sykes

In October 2005 I started working in Relatives for Justice on a sessional basis.  Initially my role was to advise and assist relatives who were having problems with the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund and to assist with the family drop in the Belfast office.

In July 2006 I was began part-time employment. Relatives had a number of concerns regarding the Memorial Fund.  With regards to the Education and Training applications, some relatives were asked to get letters from schools to prove that their children were returning to school.  This in fact proved very difficult as the schools in question could only provide the proof when the children actually returned in September. This left the payment of uniform grants running into November/December, this was just an example of the strict, unreasonable boundaries put in place by the Fund. The Memorial Fund insisted that relatives provide certain documents to prove ‘relationship to the deceased’ such as, long birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates and sometimes all three. After long consultation with the Fund, regarding the production of ‘death certificates’ I was able to have the Fund acknowledge that this was a harrowing experience for relatives to have to produce such documentation. An alternative was to write to their GP or clergy and this lessened the burden on the relatives and alleviated putting them through unnecessary stress and trauma.   

There were also problems in the South Derry area regarding driving lessons i.e. the driving instructors, test routes and the amount of lessons that relatives were entitled to and also the school of motoring that the Memorial Fund was using to provide the lessons. Since then Relatives for Justice have met with the Memorial Fund Secretary a number of times and most of these issues have now been resolved. It has now been agreed to allow relatives in South Derry to use their own instructors. This is invaluable in allowing relatives to have a choice and to feel safe when taking their lessons.  

However things aren’t perfect. We still have concerns, in particular the discretionary hardship grant. For this grant the Memorial Fund are required to visit your home, look around and check benefit books, a practice the DHSS ended in the 1980s. 

It must be noted that injured relatives face greater problems when applying to the Memorial Fund. When they have applied, the Memorial Fund contacts the PSNI to confirm the injury. If this cannot be confirmed by the PSNI, the injured relative then has to contact the Compensation Agency, check newspapers and/or hospital records. This process can prove very difficult, particularly for those who have suffered post-traumatic stress or serious injuries as a result of the conflict. 

Since beginning employment with Relatives for Justice started dealing with the Memorial Fund we in excess of 500 applications have been processed, with each family applying for at least one or more of the available grants. I have also worked with Louisa and Pauline in dealing with applications and queries from both our Dungannon Office and South Derry area. This is an invaluable service to relatives, especially in rural areas as even to date there are many people who do not know what they are entitled to and how to access help.   

We have met with and continue to meet with the Memorial Fund on a number of occasions and raise other issues of concern including the accountability and representative nature of the Board of Directors. The NIMF must be made a matter of public accountability and come under the remit of the new executive. Currently the NIO retain control and housing of this body. This undermines its independence and effectiveness to deal with all victims from all backgrounds equally. We have made recommendations on this to the Programme for Transitional Government.

Since June I have also begun working on cases on behalf of families and working with the RFJ team to research and analyse patterns and policies of state abuse and areas for transitional change. This work is growing weekly and the year ahead promises much hard work in areas of legacy, truth and reparations.

Mark Sykes

Relative