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Ulster Human Rights Watch has called on the Irish Government to develop mechanisms for dealing with the past that mirror those already in place in Northern Ireland.

UHRW made the call following publication of the Government’s response to the Interim Report by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on dealing with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past.

UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “We welcome the willingness of the Government to engage with civic society including with organisations such as Ulster Human Rights Watch which represents victims of terrorism.

“The Government notes that the Irish Government needs to maintain a collaborative approach, which has not always been the case in the past.

“What is also required is for the Irish Government to create and develop mechanisms for dealing with the past that mirror those already implemented in Northern Ireland. Right now, they are out of step and some considerable way off the pace.

“We view as positive the Government desire to address the needs of veterans alongside those of victims of terrorism.

“The Government believes it is right to focus on information recovery but this cannot be dissociated from the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism.

“The Government says it wants to move on towards reconciliation but what is meant by reconciliation has yet to be defined.

“UHRW has already requested a meeting with the Secretary of State and looks forward to discussing arrangements for dealing with all aspects of legacy.”

When 2020 started, who would have thought it was going to be such a strange year.  Covid-19 has dominated our lives and also the news over the past 10 months or so.

It certainly has made us think about how we do business and how we interact with each other and particularly our loved ones.

However, while we have to deal with the immediacy of the pandemic, for many of the victims we represent, and their families, their lives have been very different for some time. Losing a loved one or suffering from mental and physical injuries through no fault of their own is an everyday issue for them and has been, for some, for many years.

Throughout 2020 the issues that have faced Ulster Human Rights Watch and those they represent have included dealing with individual cases, writing narratives, addressing legacy of the past proposals, supporting the Victims’ Pension Scheme and calling for a public inquiry into the La Mon House atrocity.

July this year saw our campaign in the News Letter share the stories of some victims, highlighting the never-ending effect of the past on their day-to-day lives. It did not make for easy listening and viewing.

As the Christmas break approaches, we wish to thank you all for your contribution, support, help and encouragement over the past year and assure you of our continued support for victims of terrorism in the coming 12 months.

Let’s hope that the much-delayed Victims’ Pension Scheme will finally be implemented in 2021 and that life will be eased somewhat for those who receive it.

We wish you and your families a very happy and peaceful Christmas and best wishes for 2021.

From all at Ulster Human Rights Watch

Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) confirms that it was not informed about secret talks on legacy at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury in Lambeth Palace.

UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “It is most surprising, to say the least, that secret talks should take place to deal with the legacy of the past –  if such has indeed been the case.

“UHRW has received assurances from the Government that the consultation process that was initiated by Karen Bradley in relation to dealing with the past would be an open one, giving everyone in Northern Ireland and particularly victims of terrorism the opportunity to be involved in defining what would be the best way forward to address the past while pursuing truth, justice and acknowledgement.

“It would be interesting to know who took the initiative to organise these secret talks, why they were kept secret, what criteria were used to choose those invited to take part, what the agenda was, what the aim pursued by these talks was and whether these talks are part of a new process – in which case what is this new process about?

“UHRW has made substantial representations with the Government in relation to addressing issues concerning the past and will continue to do so. On behalf of victims of terrorism, I will be writing to Mr Brandon Lewis, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to ask him for clarification as to what these secret talks were about.”