Memoranda submitted by Omagh Support and
Self Help Group
I am writing in my capacity as Project Co-ordinator
on behalf of Omagh Support and Self Help Group (Omagh Bomb Victims
Group).
In response to your Press Notice detailing your
decision to embark upon an inquiry investigating possible ways
of dealing with Northern Ireland's troubled past, Omagh Support
and Self Help Group have a number of areas of concerns.
The primary concern relates to the cost of retrieving
the truth, ie granting terrorists immunity from conviction if
they come forward and tell the truth. Omagh Support and Self Help
Group Members feel that this approach to truth recovery would
simply facilitate terrorists in easing their conscious, and would
only serve victims in a detrimental manner through opening wounds.
The group also feel very sceptical as to the
extent to which such a process will incorporate actual consultation
with victims.
Finally, concerns were expressed by the Group
regarding the adoption of other jurisdiction's models of dealing
with conflict. Northern Ireland is totally unique and therefore
must have, if any, an individual model of dealing with the past
30 years.
2 December 2004
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