Republican News · Thursday 18 April 2002

Sinn Féin response to victims' strategy

Sinn Féin Equality spokesperson, Newry Armagh Assembly member Conor Murphy, responding on Thursday, 11 April, to the Victims' Strategy launched by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, has said that it is vital that we do not reinforce a hierarchy of victims.

Conor Murphy said:

"We very much welcome the fact that we finally have a Victims' Strategy coming from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

"However, it is fundamentally important they we do not reinforce the 'hierarchy of victims' that has existed in the past here. Grief is grief and everyone who has suffered as a result of the conflict needs to be fully supported. This most definitely means that republican victims and victims of state violence must be recognised on an equal basis to, for example, the RUC injured and bereaved.

"If we are to build a truly inclusive response to all victims and survivors of the conflict, then there is an onus on statutory agencies to work with all victims' groups. Moreover, all departments need to be bound by a Code of Conduct that will give meaning to the concept of 'inclusive value' when they are dealing with victims of the conflict.

"Meeting the needs of victims and survivors of the conflict cannot look to disproportionately apportion blame. We need community-based research to identify the true impact of the conflict.

"The issue of criminal justice and compensation currently lies with the NIO - Sinn Féin believes that bringing this forward will enable a even handed approach to compensation to be developed."