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Ulster Human Rights Watch, which champions the cause of innocent victims of terrorism, has labelled the latest legacy report produced by academics and the Committee on the Administration for Justice as ‘hollow and unbalanced.’

The Lurgan-based human rights charity says the report is a desperate, last-ditch attempt to alter the course of a debate that is already a lost cause.

Ulster Human Rights Watch Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “Much to the disappointment of certain politicians and academics, the Government has rightly accepted the case made for a different approach, than the one proposed in the stalled Stormont House Agreement, to dealing with the past.

“This latest paper is hollow and unbalanced. It overlooks the life sentence that is endured by hundreds of relatives of murdered loved ones and the physical and mental anguish experienced by survivors of terrorist actions.

“This is a last, desperate throw of the dice that doesn’t deserve to be treated seriously. The authors have gone back on their previous position. Having lost the argument, they are now attempting to remain relevant with this latest effort.

“Our position remains unchanged. A new Historical Investigations Unit would be a colossal burden for the taxpayer to bear and deliver negligible results. It would be used to demonise those men and women who served in the police and military, allowing some equivalence between them and the terrorists who claimed so many lives and caused untold destruction.

“In truth, it is a source of sadness and disappointment that this organisation, Ulster Human Rights Watch, and others, along with some politicians locally and nationally, had to conduct a focused campaign to convince the Government that it was on the wrong course. Without significant amendment, the Stormont House Agreement would deliver further anguish and pain for survivors and victims of terrorist actions.

“Hundreds of these long-suffering people would be re-traumatised for the sake of a grubby political agreement to placate and satisfy republican demands. Mixed messages from the Government left survivors and victims feeling bewildered and abandoned. Their anger was justified.

“At this, the eleventh hour, the Government has accepted this case and the advice I would now offer Ministers is to give this latest report short shrift and hold to its current course. That’s what relatives and survivors of terrorism want, and that is what should be delivered.”

Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) recognises that the decision by the Chief Constable to suspend the work of the PSNI Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB) is a sad consequence of the Covid-19 crisis.

The human rights organisation, which champions the cause of innocent victims of terrorism, also recognises that placing the investigations in ‘cold storage’ will inevitably and understandably cause dismay and upset amongst its clients.

UHRW Advocacy Support Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “We understand that the PSNI will redeploy officers from the LIB to other areas of the organisation to provide effective policing cover during this health crisis of monumental proportions.

“In announcing the suspension the Chief Constable has given the assurance that the move is a temporary suspension and we must hope that the people redeployed to policing the present will not have long to wait before they can return to the very important work of policing the past.

“Innocent victims of terrorism, from whatever source, have already waited too long for information about the circumstances that led to the needless murders of their loved ones and the injuries they themselves sustained in terrorist attacks and whenever possible the pursuit of justice. It is inevitable that this delay will exacerbate their dilemma even further.

“The UHRW Advocacy Service supports the work carried out by the LIB, since its procedures have been reviewed in accordance with the recommendations issued by Her Majesty‘s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in compliance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We also value the professional service LIB provides and therefore we must insist that suspension of the Legacy Investigation Branch will not turn out to be suppression.

Clearly, suspending the caseload was a decision that wasn’t taken lightly by the Chief Constable and we would seek his reassurance that the work will resume as soon as this lethal disease has been successfully tackled.”

In line with Government policy on Covid-19, Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) is postponing their Victims of Terrorism Council (VTC) meeting planned for 26 March 2020 and advise its clients when it will be rescheduled.

However, victims will continue to be supported by UHRW during the health crisis. These measures are being put in place to protect victims, many of whom already suffer from health issues as a result of the ‘Troubles’

Axel Schmidt, UHRW Advocacy Manager said “During these unprecedented times, it is vital that we observe Government policy in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19. While we cannot visit our clients, I wish to assure them that we are at the end of the phone if they require any assistance.”

Although individual visits to victims’ homes and meetings at UHRW offices in Brownlow House, Lurgan, are temporarily suspended, UHRW will still offer advocacy and support services to those who need it.

UHRW will still represent victims and keep in touch by phone on 028 3834 4500, text, email, mail and twitter. Any updates will be posted on the UHRW website.