Republican News · Thursday 17 April 2003

Campaign for truth in North Belfast

Ardoyne, Ligoniel, and the Bone districts of north Belfast have seen some of the worst violence of the troubles. Now a new campaign has been launched in an effort to gain recognition and justice for victims of state violence.

On Saturday 12 April, the Campaign for Truth held an information and awareness session in the Brookfield Mill on the Crumlin Road. Several speakers discussed the traumatic legacy of state killings by crown forces, including those carried out by proxy by unionist paramilitaries.

Sinn Féin's Kathy Staunton, Father Des Wilson, journalist Anne Cadwallader, University of Ulster lecturer Peter Shirlow, Tom Holland and Gerard McGuigan, addressed a large and supportive audience.

Kathy Staunton spoke of the shared experiences of many nationalist families as they attempted to have the injuries and deaths of their loved ones recognised and acknowledged.

"For years, the state and its agencies have lied, covered up and attempted to frustrate efforts by victims families to find out the truth regarding the murder of their loved ones," she said. "The Campaign for Truth will be dealing over the coming weeks with instances of state killings and collusion for the Ardoyne, Bone and Ligoniel areas. The idea is to facilitate those families and victims ignored, vilified and marginalised by the state and its actions.

"I would appeal to anyone who has relevent information or an interesting account to join in and support this worthy campaign."