VIEW

An independent social affairs magazine www.viewdigital.org Issue 51, 2019 £2.95

Jennifer McNern, who lost both her legs in the Abercorn bomb, , in 1972. Read Jennifer’s story on page seven

Neil Harrison 2018: copyright: WAVE Trauma Centre; Injured On That Day Photograpic Exhibition An in-depth look at victims, survivors and legacy issues from VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 2 Victims’ story must be top of the news agenda

overnment disregard for victims that the CAIN (Conflict Archive on the and survivors cannot be tolerated. Internet) archive on the Troubles should be GIt will be judged on its actions kept open and fully funded. following the public consultation on the Peter Heathwood, an injured group proposed new Troubles legacy institutions. member of the WAVE Trauma Centre – The media must make sure this is top of the grassroots charity offering care and the news agenda. support to people bereaved, injured and VIEW welcomes the new media traumatised as a result of the Troubles – guidelines on reporting conflict-related has diligently contributed to the issues. Paul Gallagher, chairman of the CAIN archive. Victims and Survivors Trust said that Journalists, along with film and theatre journalists have an “important part to play practitioners like Cahal McLaughlin and Jo in calling out injustice and have the power Egan can all contribute by working with to shine a bright light into the dark parts victims and survivors, to ensure their of our past”. By Una Murphy voices are heard. We back the Amnesty campaign to VIEWdigital co-founder And that Government inaction ends support journalists Trevor Birney and once and for all. [email protected] Barry McCaffrey, arrested under the Official Secrets Act after working colleague Martin O’Hagan was murdered • On behalf of VIEWdigital, I on the award-winning documentary for doing his job; other journalists were would also like to thank guest ‘No Stone Unturned’ which looked at the injured, physically and mentally, while editor Alan McBride and the 1994 massacre. covering the Troubles. Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Journalists were among those at the The first rough draft of history is whose support immensely helped scene following atrocities and one produced by journalists and we believe the production of this issue.

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Making a complaint to VIEWdigital – www.viewdigital.org/2018/08/08/making-a-complaint-to-viewdigital/ VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 3 VIEW, an independent social affairs Editorial magazine in Northern

By guest editor Alan McBride, Manager, Wave Trauma Centre

lost my wife 25 years ago at the hands over and invited me and Zoe to a of the IRA. At the time I worked as a barbeque at their house. I explained that Ibutcher on the in Belfast, we could go for a while but since it was just a block down from where she and the Eleventh Night I would have to leave nine others lost their lives. Despite the early to go round to the fires. trauma of that day I have tried to remain What happened next has stayed with optimistic about and the Imagine how me for a long time and has served as a moves by some to bring the violence to reminder of the kind of Northern Ireland an end. society could be which I want to live in. When we arrived There have been undoubted highs, like ‘’ at their house they had built a small the IRA decommissioning their weapons, bonfire in their back garden, just for me. Sinn Fein signing up to policing and age-old transformed if There were no flags on this fire and no adversaries like and Martin effigy to be burned. I sat around the fire, McGuinness sharing power. Sadly, there we tried to drinking beer and eating a burger. We have also been lows, like the 158 people talked about everything and anything as that have been murdered, the growing our kids laughed and played together in polarisation of politics and the collapse of please our the garden. the Northern Ireland Assembly. Later on as I stood watching an Irish It would appear to many that we are neighbours and Tricolour burn on another loyalist bonfire I going backwards with an apparent inability thought about what had just happened in by even the most forward-thinking make them feel my neighbours’ house and wondered why politicians to stop the slide. That said, the it couldn’t be like that all the time. That’s thing that bothers me the most is that the kind of Northern Ireland I voted for in those who could really make a difference, welcome rather 1998. It’s still the kind of Northern Ireland perhaps the only ones who could make a I want to be part of in 2019. difference, don’t seem to care. than please Imagine how society could be This thought came home to me as I transformed if we tried to please our listened to a radio show a few weeks ago. neighbours and make them feel welcome The Assembly being down was thrashed ourselves? rather than please ourselves? An Irish about by politicians from the two big Language act? No problem. An act that parties, but rather than trying to fix the unmoved by it, but it is my view that the protects the culture of Unionists and problem this morning’s guests were once mechanisms for dealing with the past, Loyalists? No problem. These things don’t again playing the blame game. contained in the Stormont House have to be contradictory or cost the earth It didn’t matter what the issue was as Agreement, have the potential to bring and be delivered at the cost of education they smugly argued the size of their much needed redress to victims and or health. mandates as justification for the stance survivors. Society owes them nothing less, The cost of not doing it is costing us they have taken and the resulting and (if implemented) could lead to so much more in terms of missed stalemate. How long will the electorate let the fresh start so many of them are opportunities and the ability to steer our them get away with this? looking for. own course. How long will those in power I would like to appeal for a different I made my own fresh start when continue to play hardball before the penny kind of politics. It’s time to put the past Sharon died by moving out of my Loyalist drops? We need all our politicians working behind us and to start and deliver the kind estate into a mixed area. I wanted my together to deliver the kind of Northern of Northern Ireland I and so many people daughter to grow up with friends from Ireland envisaged in the Belfast Agreement. like me voted for in the Good Friday all sides of the community and it The agreement didn’t have much to Agreement. That said, the past won’t worked. Zoe got to be friends with a say on victims, but it did say that ‘the simply disappear. It’s for this reason that a couple of little Catholic girls from across achievement of a peaceful and just society process has been put forward to allow the street and I got to be friends with would be the true memorial to the victims society to deal with the past in a their parents. of violence’. way that doesn’t cast a shadow over One Eleventh Night I was getting I believe that’s still the goal and this the future. ready to go round the bonfires, something year I want those that could be in power It isn’t perfect and there will always be I had done since I was a child. My Catholic to climb down off their high horses and those who have suffered that will remain neighbours from across the street called deliver it. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 4 the BIG interview VIEW editor Brian Pelan talks to Judith Thompson, the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland, about the work of her post, the lack of a pension scheme for the most severely disabled victims of the Troubles and other outstanding legacy issues

uestion: When do you expect to a victim doing anything. Qthe findings from The Northern Ireland Office Q: What's your definition of a consultation ‘Addressing the victim? Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past’ to be released? A: I work absolutely within the law. The law I work absolutely says a victim is anybody who has been Answer: The consultation closed last injured, anybody who has been bereaved, October with 18,000 responses. We would within the law. The anyone who has been traumatised with expect to know what the findings are in significant attention to first responders the next few weeks. law says a victim is (medics, fire and rescue), anyone who is a carer. Q: Are you hopeful the anybody‘ who’ has consultation will significantly help Q: Do you think people who were to address what you have been injured, anybody injured whilst engaged in violent previously described as “a lack activities can considered to be a of progress”? who has been ‘victim’?

A: The outcome of the consultation has to bereaved, anyone A: Under our law they clearly are. Under be legislation. Nothing is going to address our law in respect of any type of action our lack of progress other than new who has been you’ve always got people who will both be legislation. victims and responsible for causing harm traumatised, anyone to others because that’s how it is. Q: The Commissioner for Victims and Survivors (CVSNI) was first who is a carer Q: In 2016, the Wave Trauma established on October 24, 2005. Centre urged politicians and Since then numerous church leaders to back a pension commissioners have held the for those severely injured during position including yourself when health legacy here. The things we have not the conflict. The group is believed you were appointed in August done and I think they are incredibly to number about 500 people who 2015. Has it been public money significant ones, such as dealing with the were so badly injured they were being well spent and what are the backlog in our justice sector, which are unable to work and could not main achievements of costing us credibility here and payment build up pensions. Will the the office, including your time in around £30 million a year of public pension scheme they have called the post? expenditure, according to the Criminal for be set up and when? Justice Inspectorate, on institutions which A: If you look in the round of the history can’t deliver what they are meant to A: I would be absolutely delighted to see of it, this is a piece of the Good Friday deliver. It is costing us in terms of the scheme set up. In 2015 this office Agreement that 20 years later we have international judgements against us delivered advice to the then First and done very little, within many respects, with for failure to comply with human Deputy First ministers which set out how victims issues. In the Good Friday rights legislation. we thought the pension could be Agreement there was reference to victims, established, who it would be for, what it there was a statement that in order to Q: Should a victim of The would cost, how we thought it should achieve reconciliation you needed to Troubles ever be appointed as a work, how it should pass to people’s address the suffering of victims. The only Commissioner for Victims relatives in the event of their passing on. significant development that actually hit the and Survivors? The political agreement around it has held ground and is working is funding through up that happening. It’s a scandal that you’ve the Victims and Survivors Service for A: I think holding this office or any other got people like Paul Gallagher (who was groups and individuals on the ground. office is down to the competence of the shot and left paralysed during the Troubles) We have the beginnings of work on a new individual to hold it. But neither on its own people like Jennifer McNern and Peter regional trauma network to address would it form a good enough basis to do Heathwood, who have all campaigned for what is a significant and lasting mental the job. I wouldn’t in principle be opposed this pension and who were injured in a life- VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 5

Judith Thompson at her office in Belfast changing way and who were given A: I guess that we have been slow to learn. compensation that in no way ever I don’t know how we once thought that was going to help them life long with people had been remarkably resilient those injuries. during the Troubles. Over the years research has emerged which shows the Q: Who or what is the roadblock We need to have a effects of trauma. The Regional Trauma to this pension being set up? Network is now in existence. It just needs conversation not more money. We need a big injection of A: In Northern Ireland there is political funding, amounting to millions of pounds. disagreement between our parties. It about blame but hinges around the fact that a small number Q: Your current position ends in of people who may have been responsible understanding‘’ and 2019 with a provision to extend it for the harm that befell themselves might for another four years. Would you also get that pension. At the moment we moving forward. We like to remain in the post? have no Assembly to deal with it even though the pension scheme is regarded as can’t draw a A: Yes. Absolutely a devolved matter. The only place to take it now is Westminster. I believe now that is line under the Q: What have been the highs and where it should go. lows of your job? past until we Q: Would you regard it as a failure A One has been getting the new Victims if this pension scheme has still not have addressed the and Survivors forum together. I also think been set up in five years time? we are a step nearer to getting the pension outstanding issues scheme delivered. We have also delivered A: I would see it as a failure of our research and policy advice. The most government, our society and our people. disappointing moment was that when I was appointed on September 1, 2015, there Q: Would you include your office A: There are significant issues. One is peace was an expectation that consultation on in this ‘failure’? funding. We are being reassured that new legislation would start in November regardless of the EU exit that peace of that year. We had the Fresh Start A: Of course. But this is an issue that funding will continue to help victims and Agreement at the same time where the depends on political support. It’s the job of survivors but it’s not an indefinite promise. politicians agreed on everything except the Commission to give our advice and to The other really significant issue is the EU legacy. And they published an agreement on absolutely push the issue in every possible directive on the rights of victims. It says everything except legacy. I remember way. I believe the only way to do it is to that all victims, including historical ones, talking then to a victims and survivors bring this issue to Westminster. These are have a right to support, the right to forum when it was the one thing where people who have been let down many protection if they need it, the right to they all said that nobody is prioritising us times and I’m not in the business of making know the progress of their case. We’re over anything. They all said that this is promises that I do not personally have in talking about 1,150 cases. There is completely unacceptable. That was a real my gift to keep. no guarantee of this continuing with an low point. We need to have a conversation EU exit. not about blame but understanding and Question: Would a hard Brexit moving forward. We can’t draw a line affect the work of the Victims and Q: Why has the Regional Trauma under the past until we have addressed the Survivors Commission? Network not been established? outstanding issues. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 6 Shooting victim still lives with constant pain

Paul Gallagher who is doing a PhD at Queen’s University Paul Gallagher, who was left paralysed after being shot by loyalists in January 1993, tells VIEW editor Brian Pelan why he is a strong advocate for the setting up of a pension fund aul Gallagher was 21 years of age his sister and younger brother. later. They and my wife are now my carers.” when UFF gunmen burst into his “I’m told they were specifically aiming Paul did receive some compensation Phome on the Stewartstown Road in at me. I was hit six times. I was basically for his injuries but had to wait for about west Belfast in January 1994. They were dying in front of my family and could start 10 years until it came through. apparently looking for former Republican to feel myself fading away. I could hear my He is now a strong advocate for a prisoners who lived nearby. family phoning the ambulance and my pension disability fund along with others at In a room at Queen’s University, brother was slapping me in an attempt to the Wave Trauma Centre who were Belfast, Paul recalled the horrific events keep me awake. severely injured during the Troubles. which were to dramatically alter his life. “Towels were shoved into the bullet “We feel that we have been forgotten “I had just come home from a day’s holes. A wooden spoon was also pushed about. I personally thought that the Eames- work. My family and I had just sat down for into my mouth to stop me biting my Bradley proposals could have worked for a our dinner around 6pm. The TV was on tongue. I can also remember being brought lot of victims. and The Crystal Maze was about to start. into the hospital but nothing else until I “When you have become severely There was a knock on the front door and awoke a few days later in intensive care.” injured it as if you are a new person. You my sister opened it. Paul, who was left paralysed, described have to learn how to walk again, how to “Four men entered the room. They how he still lives in constant pain. “I am dress yourself. You need people to help you were all wearing balaclavas and carrying sitting with you now and from my waist go to the toilet. automatic weapons. They claimed to be down it feels like I am burning and my feet “I was shot because I was an easy members of the IRA. They held us in the are getting crushed in a vice. It feels like target and I was a Catholic. The pension house for around an hour. I’m sitting in a pool of lava. You have to fund is required for people who were left Paul said he done his best to try and learn to live with it.: with life-changing injuries. The keep calm in a “very tense situation”. He talked about the effects of the compensation that was paid was totally One of the gang then said ‘operation shooting on his family and how they had to inadequate to victims’ needs. over’ but as they left the house they became his “doctors and nurses” when he “I want the pension fund to be as opened fire at Paul, his mum and dad and was released from hospital six months inclusive as it can. It needs to be set up.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 7

Determined: Jennifer McNern in the garden at her Belfast home ‘We’ll carry on our fight until special pension fund is set up’ Jennifer McNern, who lost both her legs in a bomb explosion, tells VIEW editor Brian Pelan that severely injured victims have been ignored for too long

he sun is shining through the from the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund for a while she has never worked since the windows of Jennifer McNern’s in 2009. explosion and tries to survive on her Tkitchen at her home in Belfast as she “It was Christmas time and this disability pension. She admitted that she takes me back to that awful day in 1972 envelope arrived through the door. There had suffered financial pressures. when a no-warning bomb exploded in the was a Christmas card in it and everybody Getting involved with the WAVE Abercorn restaurant. Two people were had signed it. It was from the Memorial Trauma Centre was a huge turning point killed and many others were injured. Fund and there was a cheque for £50 in it,” for her in terms of combating depression Jennifer, now in her sixties, was 21 said Jennifer. and how she was feeling about herself.. years of age when she lost her legs in the “I lost it. I absolutely lost it. I don't “I remember feeling so elated after my explosion in Belfast city centre. Her sister, think I've ever been so angry. I made a first visit to WAVE. I felt as if I now had Rosaleen, was also horrifically injured. number of phone calls and insisted that two homes. One where I could talk about She is a strong supporter of the someone should come and take the what had happened to me and the other WAVE Trauma Centre’s campaign for a cheque out of my house. where I didn’t need to. special pension fund for people severely “Eventually a man did arrive at my “At the moment the pension fund is injured in the Troubles. home. He said: ‘Jennifer, I'll take it back. It'll pretty high on the political agenda but that Jennifer received compensation after just go into the coffers though’. ” could all fall apart again. the explosion but described it as He also added “that a lot of people “We’ve had our downtimes when we inadequate. She believes that severely would be happy to get a cheque for £50 wonder is it worth carrying on our fight injured victims deserve a pension fund to at Christmas”. but then you reboot and go on.” be set up for them to help them I said to him: “If you were someone My final question to Jennifer was did cope with ongoing financial. physical and who was injured in a bomb explosion and she feel optimistic that the fund would be emotional needs, you had lost both your legs and you eventually set up? I felt her deep frustration when she needed £50 at Christmas then there is “We’ll carry on until it is set up. It is spoke about experiencing a wave of deep something desperately wrong.” something that should be done. The State anger when she received a cheque for £50 Apart from going back to education should look after us.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 8

Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was shot dead by the IRA in 1984 ‘I will never give up on justice. It is the identity of the gunman who shot Mary that I'm interested in as well as who gave the order for it to be carried out’

By Jonny McCambridge chilling accuracy every raised five children and I have to be detail of what happened when her sister a good example to them. n 1984 Mary Travers, a gifted young was killed. “I had been to 11 o'clock Mass, “But traumatic grief can be triggered musician from Belfast, had recently then I came home and was listening to by anything. It could be fireworks at Istarted work in her dream job as a Radio 1 in my bedroom when my brother Halloween or maybe just hearing a piece of teacher. With one of her first pay packets Paul came running in and said mum, dad music.” she treated her 14-year-old sister Ann to and Mary had been shot.” One such trigger was when Sinn Fein lunch in the city centre. Ann ran to the scene which was just appointed Mary McArdle, the only person Ann recalls: “People today take that 200 yards from her front door. convicted over the Mary Travers murder, as for granted but it was a rare treat in the “I just didn't know what to do. I a Ministerial Special Advisor in 2011. 1980s. I had chicken in a basket, which I remember Mary was being put into an Ann says: “Just hearing that name after thought was very exotic, and Mary had a ambulance, there was a doctor who was all that time triggered something inside me. scone. It was the only time I ever helping her. Paul said to her ‘She's going to I hadn't realised how badly I would be got to go for coffee or lunch with be alright, isn’t she?’ and the doctor shook affected. Sinn Fein didn't know it at the my sister.” her head. time but what they did gave me the voice Just a few months later 22-year-old “It’s a day that remains vivid in my to be able to speak up and I found that Mary was murdered by the IRA. She had memory, I can remember every quite cathartic, quite healing. been walking home from Mass at Saint moment in minute detail. It just never, ever “All the grief that I had been burying Brigid's Catholic Church in the south of leaves me. for all those years came out and I had to the city with her mother and father, “Mary was a lovely person and we had deal with it.” Catholic magistrate Tom Travers, when great fun. All my memories of her before Today Ann Travers works as an they were targeted. Mary was shot through that day are happy ones. She was a good advocate for other victims of paramilitary the back. Her father was shot six times but and kind person.” violence. She doesn’t expect anyone survived. When asked how a teenager deals else to be brought to justice for the He was later to tell how the same with such sudden and traumatic pain Ann death of her sister but will not give up gunman who shot Mary also is uncertain in her answer. hope altogether. pointed a gun at his wife's head but it “I don't know how any of us really got “I will never give up on justice. It is misfired twice. over it, we all still carry those scars with us the identity of the gunman who shot Mary The significance of recalling the lunch today. Grief is a funny thing because you that I’m interested in as well as who gave trip into the city for Ann, now 49, is to never forget the person, they are always the order for it to be carried out. Someday illustrate how the years cannot dim the there with you, but the healthy thing is to perhaps someone might find it in their memories of her sister. get through life and live heart to tell the truth about Mary's She is also is able to recall with as best you can. I have got married and murder." VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 9 COMMENT

Voices that have been hidden for too long George Larmour’s brother John, an off duty RUC officer, was shot dead by the IRA on October 11, 1988, while helping out in George’s family ice cream parlour – Barnam’s World of Ice Cream in Belfast. Now almost 70 years of age, George, left, remembers all victims and survivors who should never be forgotten

wo years after the end of World War unbearable phantom pain in their missing Two, a heartbroken father published limb long after the event. Mothers staring Ta story based on what his young at the last photo of a son or daughter who daughter wrote in her diary during her had so many hopes and dreams cruelly years in hiding with her family in stolen from them. Amsterdam during 1942 to 1944. His In each and every home that was cherished daughter died aged 15 in Bergen touched by the evil of our ‘Troubles’ past, Belsen Concentration Camp in early 1945. Our stories there are loved ones who are still in pain Had it not been for the words she and others who stare at an empty chair wrote, millions of people worldwide would and the very sound of their loved one’s never have known her name or story – must be heard name evokes lingering, aching grief and ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’. unending memories of loss. Her innermost feelings and anxieties – if we‘’ don’t The Victims and Survivors of the would have remained hidden. She would ‘Troubles’ have been deplorably treated for have been just a memory for her dad and too long. We deserve better. her surviving close family members. speak up for We can all learn so much from little Little did she realise that her story Anne Frank – we have been silent and would not only touch the hearts of our dead and sidelined for far too long. millions but that, even in death, they would Our stories must be heard – if we ensure she would never be forgotten. She injured – the don’t speak up for our dead and injured – would not be just a statistic on a long list the victims and survivors – who will? of the forgotten. I wrote my own story for a number of In thousands of homes throughout victims and reasons. Mainly to ensure that, having this beautiful piece of land we call home reluctantly realised that I will probably there are names and voices that have survivors – never get proper justice for the unsolved remained hidden and silent for too long. murder of my brother, and that the truth Names considered to be simply will probably never be fully revealed, that statistics of our casually referred to who will? his name – John Larmour – will not ‘Troubles’ – easily forgotten by some who be forgotten. would prefer the past and what we did to I’m reminded of one of the many each other remains hidden. observations young Anne Frank wrote in In many homes there are anonymous her diary: names of people who died, not from direct “What is done cannot be undone, but violence, but from the after-effects of one can prevent it happening again.” losing a loved one. A father who died of We can’t bring our loved ones back, shock at hearing about his son’s murder. A to hold them just one more time. wife who died broken-hearted after her But maybe we can ensure that they husband was killed. A teenager who are never forgotten. committed suicide years after his sister In doing so not only will we be was killed. Too many to name. honouring our loved ones but maybe our In others there are names not even children and grandchildren will never have deemed important enough to be put on a to tell such stories of loss and heartache list. The forgotten names suffering in ever again. silence the mental and physical scars of • ‘They Killed the Ice Cream Man’ – the pain of loss inflicted by By George Larmour – revenge-inspired predators. www.amazon.co.uk/They-Killed- Amputees who can still feel the Ice-Cream-Man/dp/1780731043 VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 10

Briege Voyle sitting in her home under a painting of her mother Joan Connolly who was shot dead in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, in 1972

Image: Brian Pelan VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 11

There is no justice, there will never be justice for us because‘’ the only way you’ll get proper justice is if you get them back and you aren’t going to get them back

By Kelly McAllister standing there her mother appeared and eight of us, there was nobody to look after told them that a curfew had been issued us. We didn’t have very much but we had n August 9, 1971, Joan Connolly due to suspected trouble later that night. each other. (44) was killed as she stood “Next thing the loyalists came down “When she left, we had nothing, my Oopposite a base from the back of the houses and the whole daddy had taken a heart attack two in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, during a crowd just seemed to run in that direction. months before that and was out of military operation. Gas was thrown and when I looked round, work. All we had was his sickness The mother-of-eight was one of 10 I couldn’t see my mummy.” benefit, there were days that there was people fatally shot in the area over a three- Briege returned home without her no food.” day period following the introduction of mother and as time passed, she recalls her In her pursuit for the truth Briege has internment. father growing more concerned. met many other victims and survivors, she Although the British Army have long The following day her father used a believes that all pain is the same and that been held responsible for the shootings, neighbour’s phone to call the nearest all victims are equal. the victim’s families have never discovered hospital and ask if a female with red hair “I was on the Victims Forum and I met the truth concerning what happened. had been admitted. loads of people. I tell my story to anybody For over two decades Mrs Connolly’s “When he came back, he was literally who wants to listen, I’ve no problems with daughter Briege has campaigned for the carried in, he said there was only one meeting anybody.” truth and now fresh inquests have started woman brought in and she was in the In the aftermath of her death, Mrs into the death of her mother and the morgue. Connolly was branded a gunwoman, other victims. “As far as we knew my mummy was something that her family have always On the morning of August 9, Briege out looking for us and she got caught up in claimed to be untrue. woke to the sound of bin lids banging – in the shooting. Eyewitnesses heard her “I want it acknowledged that my those days a warning that a British Army screaming she was blind, she couldn’t see. mummy was an innocent person, my main patrol was nearby. Then they heard more shooting and then aim is to get her name cleared. Later that day as tensions heightened, never heard her again.” “Everybody wants different things, she watched alongside her sister and friend Life without their mother proved personally, I just want them as some local youths fought against the difficult for Briege and her seven siblings, declared innocent and the truth to Army’s internment campaign. especially in the early years. be told. “I remember I was up at the Henry “Growing up was horrendous for us “There is no justice, there will never Taggart actually standing watching the because my mummy did everything in our be justice for us because the only way rioting, it was all kids, ten, twelve, house. She cooked the dinners, cleaned the you’ll get proper justice is if you get them fourteen,” she recalls. house, she kept a very clean home. back and you aren’t going to get them As Briege and the others were “She couldn’t work because there was back.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 12

Kenny Donaldson: “How can you forgive if there is no acknowledgement that a wrong has been done” NIO legacy consultation ‘won’t advance the needs of the victims of terrorism’ Journalist Lisa Smyth talks to Kenny Donaldson, director of services at the South East Fermanagh Foundation wo decades on from the Good clear about the definition of a victim. agenda over the last 20 years. Friday Agreement and the “A victim is not someone who has “With issues such as the OTR letters Tgovernment is still working to carried out their own act of violence or and politicians putting their own political address the legacy of the Troubles. been involved in a serious criminal act agenda in front of achieving justice for The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is themselves,” he said. victims, there is a sense of victims asking currently examining more than 18,000 This issue, Kenny said, is a major what justice is there for me and there is a responses to its consultation to give sticking point for many victims of lot of frustration. everyone a chance to have their say on the terrorism in Northern Ireland. “When it comes to forgiveness, I best way to address the violence that “When you have an organisation believe it is important that there is marred the province for generations. which purports to represent victims remorse. However, Kenny Donaldson is scathing including those who have committed “I know there are those who come to in his assessment of the consultation. terrorist acts, it stops innocent victims a point where they are able to forgive but As director of services at the South from getting involved,” he said. from my own perspective, there has to be East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), he “The very act of trying to be some element of remorse. represents the views of innocent victims inclusive means that real victims are “How else can you forgive if there is and survivors of terrorism and works to being excluded.” no acknowledgement that a wrong has effect positive change in areas such as As for the definition of justice, Kenny been done?” justice, truth and acknowledgement. believes this is much more fluid and should Kenny also believes it is crucial that He has branded the NIO legacy be interpreted by the people who have people move away from what he regards as consultation “unworkable” and said it suffered harm. a harmful mindset that victims of terrorist will not advance the needs of victims “Justice takes a number of different violence should “move on”. of terrorism. forms, there is justice that comes from “We never tell people to move on, it’s Victims are the very heart of the truth and also accountability, so basically a shameful attitude, and we do a lot of work being done by SEFF, which was set up someone is made responsible for their work is working with them to put in place on August 15, 1998, the day of the actions,” he said. the structures they need to be able to bomb atrocity. “This can in itself take different forms move forward,” he said. This was by chance rather than design, – for some people there is a desire to have “Everyone has lost a loved one, but the events of that bloody day hardened someone imprisoned for the activities they whether that is through cancer, ill health or the resolve of the founding members that have committed, although the numbers of a car accident, but a death caused by action was required to support victims. those are going to be very small. another human being, in a pre-meditated To this end, Kenny (38), who is also “Undoubtedly the criminal justice deliberate act, there is no death quite Spokesman for Innocent Victims United, is system has been usurped by the political like it.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 13

Justice to me would‘ be’ the people who murdered my son standing in court and being convicted of murder Victims campaigner Raymond McCord

By Lisa Smyth term, that’s justice.” the , but they didn’t invite Given the harrowing reality of the my family to Westminster. aymond McCord is one of the best- circumstances of Raymond McCord Jr’s “There’s been a total failure as a result known victims of the Troubles. Over death, it is little wonder that Mr McCord of the lack of representation of victims.” Rthe years, he has campaigned has not yet achieved his goal. Mr McCord said this has also been an tirelessly for justice for his son, Raymond He lays a large proportion of the issue with successive Commissioners for McCord Jr, who was beaten to death in blame at the feet of Northern Ireland’s Victims and Survivors. November 1997 by a UVF gang based n political parties. “I always remember the former the Mount Vernon area of north Belfast. “I feel as though we have had no commissioner, Kathryn Stone, saying to me As someone who had always refused justice whatsoever,” he continued. that she didn’t always agree with what I to be cowed down by paramilitaries, his “There has been no support from the was saying but it was her job to represent reaction to his eldest son’s murder was no political parties who are supposed to me,” he said. different. support victims right across the board. “She said she didn’t understand how I He now lives under a constant threat “I’m not political at all, when I was felt as she hadn’t lost a child, but her to his life as a result of his unrelenting growing up I had friends who were priority was to represent victims, so she quest for justice. Catholics and their houses were being was the best commissioner we’ve had. His efforts resulted in an explosive attacked after the Troubles started. “I also believe that any victims’ groups report by former Police Ombudsman “I would have argued with the loyalist that receive government funding should Nuala O'Loan, which found collusion paramilitaries because of this, I wouldn’t have a 50:50 policy for staff, or they lose between his son’s terrorist killers and their stand for any kind of sectarianism but it their funding.” Special Branch handlers. still remains in politics. While Mr McCord said he remains Yet, more than two decades on and in “You don’t hear the main parties talk dedicated to his campaign, he will not spite of huge personal suffering, the justice about their policies, they don’t get voted in allow the challenges he has faced destroy that 65-year-old Mr McCord craves, for their policies or what they’re going to him. remains elusive. do for our children and our grandchildren, “There isn’t a day goes by where I “Justice to me would be the people for what they’re going to do to fix our don’t think about Raymond,” he said. who murdered my son standing in court roads or our hospitals. “The truth is I’ve never been able to and being convicted of murder,” he said. “They get voted in to keep the other grieve for him. “It would mean the people who side out and I don’t feel like they represent “People ask me why I do what I do covered up his murder standing beside victims. and the reason is that I know he would do them in the dock, being convicted of “When Nuala O’Loan’s report came it for me, we were so close, but I can’t let murder. out, the politicians took senior police what happened ruin me otherwise two “I would expect them to get a full-life officers to the House of Commons and lives will be lost.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 14

There is this pain inside.‘’ It’s almost like a heartache – a bereavement for yourself

Miami Showband massacre survivor Stephen Travers

By Kelly McAllister on the Southern side of the border. They it isn’t always simple to do so. felt that they should be more stringent and “I think that you’ve got to understand he story of the Miami Showband they came up with a plan to force the Irish that truth can be very, very dangerous. Yet massacre will reach a wider audience authorities to stop and search everybody. you can’t reconcile without the truth. Tthan any other story from the “The British came up with – from “If you think that somebody next Troubles this March, survivor Stephen their point of view – this excellent plan. door killed your dog, then you can’t really Travers has told VIEW. ‘Let’s frame somebody that everybody be that friendly with them until you find It is to feature as part of Netflix does trust. If we can frame them as being out ‘did they actually do this?’ But the truth docu-series ReMastered, an investigative terrorists, then the Irish government can’t in a lot of the cases from the conflict is so series focusing on the history behind some refuse to stop and search everybody’. toxic that it’s a responsibility knowing of the most significant events in music. “They picked us, the Miami, because these things. According to Stephen it is a huge we were accepted by everybody. We were “What definitely has to happen is that opportunity to educate people on what Catholics and Protestants and from North there must be an acknowledgement by happened during the Troubles. and South.” people who committed these crimes. On July 31, 1975 the Miami were Stephen and fellow band member Des “Whether it’s loyalist or republican or travelling home after a performance in Lee survived the attack but were both left state crimes, there must be an when their minibus was stopped deeply traumatised by the experience. acknowledgement that they did it and at a false UDR checkpoint at Bushkill in “I’ve often compared it to a baby that there must be help and when warranted . has a pain but can’t tell the parents where there must be compensation by the people Three of Stephen’s bandmates were the pain is. It’s a bit like that with victims. that were impacted by this. killed when members of the “There is this pain inside, it’s almost “There must be an acknowledgement Volunteer Force opened fire on them after like a heartache, a bereavement for and not just an acknowledgement by the a bomb they had attempted to plant on yourself. You can’t quite articulate because state but an acknowledgement by both the minibus exploded prematurely. The you don’t fully understand. You won’t societies that terrible, terrible things were two men planting the bomb were killed in understand something unless you accept it. done either in their name or that they the blast. “You’ve got to resolve these things, turned a blind eye to. If we’ve learnt Afterwards Stephen believed that it most victims will tell you that a lot of us nothing from the past 50 years then it will was a random act of sectarian violence, but don’t understand why, what or any of the happen again.” later discovered that much more sinister reasons that these things happen.” The ReMastered episode on the forces were at play. Although Stephen feels that the truth Miami Showband massacre will be available “At that time the British authorities must be told regarding atrocities carried to over half a billion viewers worldwide weren’t too happy about the arrangements out during the Troubles he recognises that this March. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 15 COMMENT

Allowing patients to tell their own story Brendan O’Hara, a programme manager at the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Dublin, examines the impact of the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland in the provision of palative care

hile there has been significant identify perpetrators. And for perpetrators research into the mental health who are troubled and confused and would Wimpact of ‘the Troubles’, there like to be able to talk more about this but has been little, if any, research on the don’t have the space to do that”. She impact of the legacy of the Northern remembered a man, when he became very Ireland conflict in palliative care. ill, alluding to his involvement in events When a person living with a life- which had led him to leave the country, limiting condition is suffering, could the It would and regrets, but “there was never any open cause of pain be related to a legacy issue disclosure about that”. from the conflict? Could the cause of pain appear that the The complementary practitioner be missed, and a person’s quality of life recalled, from 2007–2008, a young man diminished, because the professional care silencing and with lung cancer ‘silencing himself’ when giver, and/or the patient, are unable to ‘’ they talked about what he thought might address the issue causing the suffering? have been the cause of his disease: Recognised as a speciality of medicine denial, which “Exploring a little bit more with me, he in the UK in 1987, palliative care aims to told me that he was involved in [a] improve the quality of life of patients and predominated paramilitary organisation at that time, and their families facing life-threatening illness. he was fighting for ‘the cause’, in inverted This care encompasses the treatment of commas. And I said, is there anything that pain and other problems, physical, throughout the he felt that he needed support around that, psychosocial and spiritual. and he says, we’ll just leave it there.” With a professional interest in Troubles, It would appear that the silencing and palliative care, and a personal interest in denial, which predominated throughout peace-building, I wanted to find out if and the Troubles, remains a feature of how the legacy of the Troubles may be remains a Northern Ireland life. This has implications encountered in palliative care and what for palliative care practice. The sensitivities potential impact this could have for feature of about the Catholic and Protestant divide, palliative care practice. the silencing, and restricting opportunities As part of postgraduate studies in Northern to talk about Troubles-related trauma 2016, I had the opportunity to interview could prevent people from having the right nine professionals with experience in care, if the reason for their suffering is palliative care - three nurses, two doctors, Ireland life hidden. a welfare officer, a social worker, a The importance of personal histories complementary therapist and a chaplain. father being shot dead when she was in of people receiving palliative and end of life Those interviewed were from across her late teens. The conversation with the care is summed up by a palliative care the region and all had lived through the complementary practitioner was the first consultant interviewed who said that in Troubles. None of them had any specific time this woman had talked about her her first meeting with a patient “the most training referencing the context of working father. important thing that I do is to get them to in the Northern Ireland conflict These professionals were working in a tell their story in their words”. The environment. The social worker’s comment context where people still “have a kind of language of legacy, narrative, life story and that the Troubles is “something you just antennae”, as one of the doctors described peace-building is one which the palliative didn’t talk about … and don’t really talk it, and work out what “it might not be safe care community understands. about” was representative across a range to say” due to perceived religious or An increased awareness of the of interviews. political background. The healthcare potential for suffering at end of life, arising Patient histories recalled during professionals also acknowledged the from the legacy of the Troubles, both interviews gave an insight into the working difficulty of managing potential disclosure among healthcare professionals and wider environment. A complementary (or non-disclosure) of things not officially society, could help ensure that such issues practitioner spoke of a conversation about known. The same doctor said people are are addressed. A failure to address these “unfinished business” she had with a client living with knowledge that they can’t share issues could diminish the quality of life for coming to the end of her life. This client - a which is “painful for victims who can those being cared for, and for those woman in her 50s - vividly recalled her identify perpetrators but can’t openly bereaved by their deaths. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 16

Memorial to the five victims who were gunned down at Sean Graham Bookmakers on the Ormeau Road in 1992 ‘We still hope that the truth will come out’

By Jonny McCambridge points the finger at the State. “We are not interested in convictions he families of those killed and injured or money, we are only interested in the in the Sean Graham bookmakers truth, an admission that there were agents Tmassacre had hoped that 2019 involved and that there was prior was the year when they would finally knowledge that this was going to get closure. happen. Someone has to be held Five Catholic men were murdered responsible for this.” when UFF gunmen opened fire in the Tommy tells how his father had south Belfast shop in February 1992 in recently retired from his work as a stone one of the most notorious incidents of mason in 1992 and was looking forward to the Troubles. a quieter pace of life. The victims’ relatives have long been “My dad was a happy-go-lucky man. convinced that the security forces colluded He hadn't been out for a few weeks and with the killers. In 2015 PSNI Chief had just decided to do a bet that day. He Constable George Hamilton apologised was looking forward to the rest of his life after an assault rifle used in the atrocity with my mother and was just in the wrong was found on display at the Imperial War Justice campaign: Tommy Duffin place at the wrong time. My dad and I went Museum, after police had previously whose father Jack was shot dead everywhere together, Gaelic matches, for a claimed it had been disposed of. in the Loyalist gun attack drink together, we were so close. Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire “Initially, just after it happened, it was had been due to publish his long-awaited father Jack was gunned down in the shop, very hard to cope. But then my second son report into the bookies’ murders this is an explanation he cannot accept. was born and I called him Jack after my before his retirement this summer, “We have dealt with this for years, father and you have to move on, to get on giving the families fresh hope that every time it looks like we are getting with things. their search for the truth could finally close to some closure in this case there is “But when the families all sat down be over. a new obstacle put in front of us, another together and started to ask questions But in February they were dealt a attempt to knock it back. Dr Maguire is about what happened we knew that devastating blow. Dr Maguire revealed that due to retire in July and we don’t know something wasn't right. We’ve had the PSNI had failed to reveal “significant who we will get after him or how long this help from solicitor Niall Murphy information” found on police computers will take. This has infuriated the families, and Families for Justice and we won’t about the loyalist gun attack to his there was an element of disgust and give up. investigators. Some of the files relate to dismay, not knowing what is going “Innocent people from both sides information on covert policing. It means to happen. We were very angry and were killed for no reason because of the Ombudsman report into the loyalist very despondent. collusion. That is why we keep fighting, we murders will now be delayed while he “But we still live in hope that the are hopeful that our case will bring up a assesses the new material. Senior police truth will come out. We already know the new law or lead to something that means blamed “human error” for the mistake. facts and when we say there was collusion that this can never be allowed to happen But for Tommy Duffin (57), whose we know that there was. All the evidence again.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 17 COMMENT

Relatives call on to resign Mark Thompson, Chief Executive of Relatives for Justice, says that recent remarks by the Secretary of State represent “a consistent mindset within the British cabinet that is all pervasive, which is to protect their own no matter what they did”

n Wednesday, March 6, the carried out or were involved in as victims Northern ireland Secretary for is as equally odious as Karen Bradley’s OState Karen Bradley stood up in remarks. And that is precisely why the the British parliament and made an primacy of the rule of law must be applied appalling statement that all killings at the concerning every aspect of legacy when hands of the RUC and British army addressing egregious violations no matter during the conflict were “not crimes” The primacy of who the perpetrator. and that those responsible had “acted It is the application of rights and law under orders” and “in a dignified and the rule of law driven by families, NGOs and lawyers appropriate way”. around past abuses that has exposed Three hours later Ms Bradley made a official state impunity. slight “clarification” without retracting her must be Political agreements and promises are remarks in full or making an ‘’ either regularly broken or rarely apology despite the inaccuracy and hurt applied implemented and this past few weeks have they caused. demonstrated that it is the rule of law that The “on the record clarification” was matters. There must be no amnesty – self-serving as she could justifiably be concerning general – or otherwise. accused of exceeding her reach as a We were humbled last week when cabinet minister to influence imminent every aspect of Relatives for Justice and the Pat Finucane decisions concerning prosecutions for Centre accompanied four ordinary . Her apology, much later, legacy when relatives whose loved ones were killed by was not on the official Hansard record but state forces to confront Karen Bradley in more an attempt to assuage public opinion, an appropriate and dignified way regarding which it most certainly has not. addressing her comments. It is true that in many instances state Emmett McConomy, Collette forces were, as Karen Bradley said, acting egregious Devenney, Patricia Burns, and Frances under orders and instructions to carry out Meehan were extraordinary as they each killings – political instructions. And therein recounted the deaths of loved ones at the lies the conundrum for the UK violations hands of state forces. government when it comes to Emmett presented three pictures of accountability especially around collusion. no matter his brother, Stephen who was only That is why the remarks represent a 11-years-old when shot dead by soldiers in consistent mindset within the British who the ; the first showed Stephen in a cabinet that is all pervasive, which is to school picture, the second only a few protect their own no matter what they did weeks later as he lay in hospital on a life including who ordered such wrongdoing. perpetrator support machine, and the final picture in It is about minimising reputational his coffin. damage. For the DUP it is more about Stephen was one of over 80 children protecting a warped and equally self- killed by state forces; 367 people were serving narrative of the conflict that is killed directly by the British army and the threatened by truth, hence the resistance RUC. All four relatives looked Karen to rights while all the time retreating Bradley in the eye and told her she needed behind what republicans did when to resign. challenged by logic. Though the often The remarks she made have heralded and offensive numbers game demonstrated beyond those affected by “we’re only responsible for 90 percent state violence and collusion that the British of killings” doesn’t stack up when we government are incapable of being examine collusion. impartial concerning legacy. Defending the indefensible and They also demonstrate that it is only presenting British soldiers or other state by upholding rights and by applying the actors who are asked as voluntary rule of law that justice and accountability attenders to account for killings they can be achieved. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 18

It’s an absolute disgrace‘’ that people who were severely injured in the Troubles are still not getting a pension

Former Policing Board vice-chairman Denis Bradley talks to VIEW editor Brian Pelan about the ongoing dispute over the definition of a victim Denis Bradley at an event in the Guildhall, Derry

n 2009, when the two leading figures of take this on and do it are the Government. we dealt with those who were killed but the Consultative Group on the Past, “Because it is too raw and there is not those who were injured. That’s not IDenis Bradley and former Church of too much at stake for our local politicians true. Also the definition of who is a victim Ireland head Robin Eames, unveiled a to do it. That has proven to be true.” is blocking everything. report which made more than 30 He argued that all measures which “When you deal with the totality of recommendations about how to deal were implemented in “sensitive areas” such this situation you have to work within the with the legacy of decades of violence – as policing and decommissioning came law. And if the law is not good enough then only one of them was to capture the about because of the work of the British you have to change the law. And the only news headlines. and Irish governments. law available to us is the one which defines It was the recommendation to pay Mr Bradley said: “The people who what a victim is. This law was passed by the £12,000 to all families, including the were suppose to implement the Westminster parties. relatives of paramilitaries, who suffered Consultative Group on the Past were the “It says that anybody who was killed bereavement during the Northern Ireland two governments and both governments in the Troubles is a victim. There is no Troubles. It produced a furious reaction ran away from it. definition which says if you blew yourself from some victims’ groups, Unionists and “The core problem about all of this is up then you are not a victim. the Conservative Party, and the proposal the definition of a victim and that issue is “There is no definition which says if was never implemented. being fought today as it was then. It hasn’t you’re a terrorist then you are not a victim. I recently met Denis Bradley in the been solved.” If the DUP have problems with this law City Hotel in Derry and asked him did he After our meeting, Mr Bradley further then let them change the law. have any regrets about the reaction. addressed the issue when he addressed “I’m challenging anyone within the “I would actually stand over it severely injured victims of the Troubles at unionist community who wants to keep stronger now. I have very little tolerance an event in the Guildhall in Derry, blocking this to change the law or to for the on-the-surface, shallow organised by the WAVE Trauma Centre. take on board that every mother’s tears interpretation of the £12,000 proposal. “There is a way in which our past can are the same. “In the report there were a number swallow you up. And it can be impossible “It’s an absolute disgrace that these of suggestions. The report said that it was to get away from,” he told those present. people here who were severely injured the group’s opinion that our politicians in “The Consultative Group on the Past are still not getting a pension. Please stop the north of Ireland are not capable of report was an incredible report. this fighting about the definition of doing it. The only people who can really “There were a few insinuations that a victim.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 19 COMMENT Why we deserve to have a better future Kate Turner, Director of Healing Through Remembering, argues that we must educate our children about the conflict in Northern Ireland to ensure that they never have to endure what so many in our society have

hen we speak about the conflict in healing and collectively moving towards in and about Northern Ireland, a viable and peaceful future. Wthe term ‘The Past’ is almost Third, we must acknowledge the euphemistic – it collapses the complexity, individuals that have carried the greater weight, and importance of the different burden of pain, silence, and trauma issues at stake into a neat label. This associated with the Conflict. We must happens in normal conversation; however, We must agree and deliver outstanding reparations it has a distancing effect – it enables us to to meet their needs – whether via financial, become removed from the gravity and symbolic or by other means. life-changing seriousness of the events. It acknowledge Our society today comprises the softens the impact of the reality of the people, places, events, beliefs, institutions, immense pain and hurt involved. And it the individuals and material culture that originated in and blurs the detail of the very complicated ‘’ have risen up through our past. We are issues at stake – such as truth, justice, that have building our future with and amongst acknowledgement, commemoration, ourselves, for our children and for the new reparations, storytelling, education for the society that is constantly emerging as new future, and so on. carried the people and ideas take root in our In 2001 Healing Through communities. That future must be better Remembering (HTR) carried out a public greater burden than the destructive, divided, secretive, consultation on “How to remember events painful, and traumatic past we have connected with the Conflict in such a way survived. as to contribute to healing the wounds of of pain, silence, We must consider how trust has been society”. There were 108 responses to eroded, and the extent to which this consultation (which in those early days and trauma restorative actions and justice might repair of the internet was regarded as a vital connections and important significant number even by the associated with relationships. We must ask ourselves and governments). From 2007-2009 the each other what we need, and consider Consultative Group on the Past looked at honestly what can be offered to meet that how “Northern Ireland society can best the conflict need. We must reflect and locate our own approach the legacy of the events of the actions, inaction, and responsibilities in the last 40 years”. Its consultation received landscape of both our previous and 290 written submissions and over 2,000 Those principles are divided into current relationships with one another. standardised letters. The Northern Ireland three key areas – society, process, and the We must do this for ourselves, to know Office Consultation on Addressing the individual. All three of these layers are what it means to be part of this society, Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past carried important, and all three are interlinked and past, present, and future. And above all, we out last year is reported to have had over interdependent. This is what we have must do this for the sake of coming 14,000 responses. This is evidence of learned: generations. It is not their responsibility to demand that exists, and grows, across First, while ‘dealing with the past’ may resolve our conflict. We have survived, society for a better way for dealing with be daunting and uncertain, it holds positive therefore we must educate our children the past. For communities, the seriousness potential for restoration, growth, and about what has happened, how it may be of this issue and the urgent importance of better relationships. While there is a resolved, and how to ensure they never finding satisfactory ways to meet this moral duty to consider and respond to have to endure what so many in our demand cannot be overstated. survivors’ needs, dealing with the past is society have. Over this whole period, HTR has not restricted to specific groups of people, conducted extensive consultation, or only those most affected or involved – • Kate Turner is the Director of research, and engagement, including it is a moral, ethical, and social Healing Through Remembering conferences, exhibitions, site visits, and responsibility that we share as members of (HTR) an independent initiative other local, regional, and international this society. and organisation which comprises networking. Based on this learning, the Second, the processes that we a diverse membership with organisation has developed a considered develop and put in place to tackle the different political perspectives, all framework of Core Values and Principles challenges we face must work working on a common goal of for Dealing with the Past – these have constructively and with an integrity of “how to deal with the legacy of been carefully developed to inform, purpose. It is only on this basis that we will the past relating to the conflict in deepen, broaden, and revitalise public develop approaches to dealing with the and about Northern Ireland, and engagement with the challenge of dealing past that can truly support and meet the in so doing, build a better future with the past. needs of society, both in remembering and for all.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 20

CAIN archive‘’ on Troubles needs to be kept open and fully funded

VIEW deputy editor Kathryn Johnston talks to Peter Heathwood who was left paralysed after being shot by loyalists in 1979

eter Heathwood pointed to a quote campaign for the pension is a really big news I could for posterity.” from George Santayana which is thing for us. Peter’s archive is available for Ppinned to a board on his kitchen wall. “There are 500 people left seriously consultation at CAIN (Conflict Archive on It reads: ‘Those who cannot remember the injured and the state must recognise our the Internet) which is based at the past are condemned to repeat it.’ campaign for a pension to keep us living University of Ulster, Magee). He was paralysed in a loyalist shooting independently into old age. I see it as However, funding to transfer or in his home in north Belfast in 1979. His recognition. People say the Troubles are transcribe his material has been frozen for father arrived at the house just as over, but we live with our injuries every some years, although Peter has kept paramedics were carrying him in a body single day. For us it doesn’t go away. cataloguing and recording the news. bag to the ambulance. They couldn’t get a “The Northern Ireland Office is well “That was the start of it”, he said, trolley into the house. When his father, aware of this and recognise the pensions “letting it wither on the vine.” Herbert, saw the body bag, he cried out issue, but our worry is if something gets Peter, who is a CAIN stakeholder, said “Oh, my poor Peter” and dropped dead started this spring to come into force in he was told earlier this year by the Ulster from a heart attack beside the ambulance. autumn, what effect might Brexit have University that there is now a consultation “I was the lucky one that night – two on it all? It could be Groundhog Day all on the future of the CAIN archive. The seconds and I was out of it. My wife, Anne, over again.” university claim that CAIN is financially was pulled screaming down the hall by her Peter was originally a history teacher unsustainable in its current form. hair, saw her husband shot, her and has a lifelong fascination with Irish “The consultation closes on May 2, , father-in-law dying and the kids screaming. history. so there isn’t much time left to fight for Patrick was six, he kicked one of the “When I got out of hospital and got CAIN’s survival. gunmen in the leg in the hall, Anne Marie my criminal injuries claim in 1981, there “I had a Chinese student in touch with was four-and-a-half. was this new invention - the videocassette me recently. She hadn’t heard of the Good “Poor Anne, she died in 2006 at the recorder. I thought right, I’ll have one of Friday Agreement, but she had heard of the age of 51. She never recovered from the them. It was the size of a suitcase, and the CAIN archive. trauma. tapes cost around £10 each.” “CAIN must be kept open and fully “I used to ask her why we can’t just So, on May 7, 1981, Peter made his funded. Not just for all the international get past all this. She would always repeat first recording. victims of communal violence, not just for the same thing, ‘It was me who opened the “There it was, ’ funeral. all victims and survivors here, but for door to the gunmen’. He had died on May 4. generations to come, so they can all “I joined the WAVE Trauma Centre in “I remember thinking this could lead remember the past – but will never 2008 and I’m now on the board. The to civil war so I decided to record all the repeat it.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 21 COMMENT Legacy of the past must be dealt with Margaret Bateson, Chief Executive of the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS), says we must make sure that the needs of the many forgotten victims and survivors of the conflict in Northern Ireland are addressed

ow we address the legacy of our wellbeing of all affected to this day. past has long been debated and • Among the more than 40,000 physically Hthere will never be a singular injured, and many more psychologically agreed way of doing this. injured, more than 4 out of 5 carers are The job of the VSS is not to try and women. There are over 600 long terms shape any sort of narrative around the carers with VSS today. We have witnessed past, but to make sure in the most how, with the focus on ‘holding it all practical ways possible, that the needs of Tragically, together’ at the time, women and other the many forgotten victims and survivors care givers within families often did not are addressed. dozens have prioritise their own health and wellbeing, In the past year, we have provided and became disconnected from statutory support directly to over 6,000 victims and already died support and services. As a result, poor survivors alongside a broad range of health ‘’ physical and mental health, and frequently a and wellbeing services to over 12,000 reliance on prescription medication, are victims and survivors through our network without the reported today as systemic issues by of 55 community partners. carers and the bereaved. We focus on practical things that opportunity of • The direct financial consequences of make a day-to-day difference in the lives of bereavement and serious injury over the victims and survivors. This includes things period 1969-1998 (and beyond) have like psychological therapies, persistent pain, a properly included loss of income and loss of disability aids, educational opportunities pensions. The affected children, siblings, and befriending in addition to advocacy supported and parents, and spouses – overwhelmingly support in the areas of welfare reform and women – have had to adjust their life plans truth, justice and acknowledgement. and aspirations to accommodate these We are often asked – do we still need dignified quality financial impacts. services for victims and survivors for • A pension for the seriously injured events which happened more than 30 or of life remains outstanding. Many of those 40 years ago? injured have far outlived the lifespan that The answer to this straightforward. was projected for them at that time on the We do. Many victims and survivors are focus on health and wellbeing outcomes basis of their injuries in calculating living today with the ongoing effects of for victims and survivors and enhanced compensation and medical needs. Their physical and psychological injuries, post- monitoring and learning. Alongside suffering has been compounded by traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and academic research, this practical deteriorating mobility, health, and addiction. There is a large part of our knowledge has allowed us to better wellbeing, becoming more serious as they population who haven’t healed or are still understand the transgenerational impact age. Many are in severely declining health, in a healing process. They need support and the wider impact on families, suffer persistent pain, and require daily and services. communities and society today. care and support. The impact on family and The establishment of a comprehensive The statistics speak for themselves. carers has been significant. Tragically, range of legacy mechanisms and • More than 3,720 people lost their lives as dozens have already died without the institutions remains outstanding. This a result of the Troubles/Conflict. 91% were opportunity of a properly supported and means health and wellbeing needs today men. dignified quality of life. cannot be disentangled from the wider • The burden of pursuing truth and justice Talking about our past is difficult and needs of truth, justice and is often carried by widows into old age, many would prefer that we leave it there acknowledgement about our past. and is now frequently passing on to the and ‘move on’. However victims are not Dealing with the past has been a long next generation to children, siblings, and living in the past. Their needs are real and process. It has taken time for trust to be grandchildren, with a rippling impact remain here in the present. There is much built post-1998 and for people to come throughout the whole family and we can learn from them to bring healing to forward and seek help. We must respect community. our society. the pace set by individual victims and • 52 legacy inquests into 93 of these survivors and adapt our services to deaths remain outstanding at this late date. ongoing and changing needs. Bereaved families have a right to this due • To find out more about the We have recently changed how we process, and the delays involved continue Victims and Survivors Service, deliver services away from a grant-led to have a negative impact on the please visit system to a needs-based approach, with a psychological and physical health and www.victimsservice.org VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 22 COMMENT

Lives affected by the search for truth Anne Cadwallader from the Pat Finucance Centre in Derry says that many families have been fed so many half-truths that they need to see the evidence for themselves, to touch and feel the truth

he burden of grief carried by all inquiry into the Dublin bereaved families who lost loved Bombings of May 1974. Tones in the conflict is endless. But They were only possible because of those with unanswered questions carry a whistle-blowers like former RUC Sergeant second burden – trying to get answers. and former British Army press The last thing that any bereaved officer, . And because of the relative needs is a half-truth or speculation integrity of individual retired police officers – least of all propaganda-inspired claim Until in the Historical Enquiries Team (HET). of collusion. It was, in short, because of our The Pat Finucane Centre, which offers comparative good luck and because of the advocacy services to anyone bereaved in transitional hard work of many volunteers over a the conflict, does all it can to get the decade of determination. Others have not evidence-based answers that families are justice been so lucky. desperately seeking. ‘’ Along the way, we were forced to tell Our investigations are strictly fact- mechanisms one family that the man who killed their based. We start from the premise that a beloved father was, secretly, a serving half-truth is as bad as a lie. RUC officer. Another that the man who Many families have been fed so many are in place, killed both their parents was a serving half-truths that they need to see the UDR man. evidence for themselves, to touch organisations Three sons were told the RUC could and feel the truth. And who would have saved their mother by the stroke of a blame them? pen and another family that the gun which Yet so much of the truth they need is like ourselves killed their father was taken from a British kept under lock and key in archives and Army arsenal in a raid where there was vaults – places from where people like us seeking truths evidence of collusion that was never are locked out. followed-up. Until transitional justice mechanisms are forced into All of that was hard to hear. But not are in place, organisations like ourselves one family has ever told us they wished seeking truths are forced into the arcane they had been kept in the dark. precincts of the courts, the dust of the the arcane The truth confers a modicum of archives, the shadowy world of the respect to families whose lives have been whistle-blower. precincts of torn apart. The families are left waiting, waiting, Occasionally, you hear people waiting for inquests, for their day in court, descending into a bottomless well of for the answers they hope, fear and trust the courts, the cynicism in saying that the people of are out there somewhere. Northern Ireland can have either peace or Their anger grows as they grow dust of the justice – but not both. older and realise just how much of We turn that on its head and say that their short span on this earth has been archives, the neither peace nor justice is possible, one affected, even dominated, by their search without the other. That reconciliation, for truth. without an honest attempt to get to the When the Pat Finucane Centre’s shadowy world truth about the past, is impossible. Lethal Allies was first published in Since lawyers acting for the Glenanne 2013, we fulfilled at least part of of the families began seeking to force the state to our obligation to the families of the abide by its obligation to conclude the 120-plus people killed by the so-called thematic report that the HET begun, “”. whistle-blower no fewer than 17 close relatives have died. We told at least part of their story. Is that the kind of legacy that London The film now screening throughout Ireland wishes to leave to those who lost their – and beyond – tells the loved ones? Is ‘Deny, Delay and Death’ the same story in documentary form. only answers the State have to those it But both these were only possible wronged so egregiously? because of ten years work in the Perhaps, but they will have to newspaper libraries of Ireland, of working fight us, and those who come after us, to alongside Mr. Justice in his do so. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 23 Guides to dealing with the past The Victims and the Past project team at Queen’s University Belfast recently launched new guidelines for reporting on conflict-related issues. Paul Gallagher, chairman of the Victims’ And Survivors Trust, explains why he welcomes them spoke at a conference recently organised by Queen's University's I'Victims and Dealing with the Past' project team to launch a new set of media guidelines. Following extensive consultation with victims and survivors and journalists and editors, two sets of guidelines – one for victims and survivors on media engagement and one for journalists, editors and educators on how to engage with victims and survivors and report on legacy issues – were produced. I fully welcome these new guidelines for both victims and survivors and for those who represent the media. by helping the public to understand and been harmed in the past. They should be They are a long time coming and empathise with those most affected. They focusing on the needs of the little old lady we need to thank everyone involved in should challenge the police who had whose child was killed in the 1970s with their production. earlier and are even now currently failing the same vigour as they do for the little There is an inherent need for such to investigate the crimes of the past in an old lady who faces eviction from their guidelines because for many decades there effective human rights compliant fashion. nursing home. was, is, and will be an interaction between They should shine a light on how the They should be asking the questions those affected by the violence and courts meted out further injustice upon of government as to why they have not those who seek to discuss and disseminate those who sought accountability. They brought forward measures to deal with all these effects. should give voice to those who feel that a victims instead of asking those victims who We only need to pick up our daily peace process has left them behind. have seen movement in the courts to newspapers, stick on the radio or watch In effect the journalist of today and comment upon the actions of the various our local news bulletins and political the future should seek to remedy those actors in the conflict; and what should be programmes to see the past in our who had been badly treated by the media done about them. There is no present. And realistically we know that this in the past. whataboutery when they are dealing with will continue into our future. I am not seeking to pin blame or the concerns of the little old lady in the What runs through these guidelines is condemn those who came before and may nursing home. They don’t ask her to the necessity to treat victims of the still work in the media today but I am empathise with the worries of a CEO in conflict with respect and dignity. To ensure asking that with these guidelines comes a the local Health and Social Care Trust as that we do no further harm to those who new and more appropriate way of dealing they try to balance their budgets, do they? have been harmed in the most grievous with our fractured society. I am asking that This is the challenge for the ways in the past. our media draws its line in the sand and journalists of today and the future. Are you These guidelines warn against moves on from its past. willing to throw off the practices of the unscrupulous and unskilled reporters I am asking that they do their job as past and help rebuild a future we can all be inflicting further wounds on those affected the Fourth Estate and to really be the proud of? You all have an important part to by (and I quote) “inappropriate earlier advocates for those without voice against play in calling out injustice and have the media coverage, public indifference, failure the dominant systems of government and power to shine a bright light into the dark to investigate by the police, perceived bureaucracy. They need to utilise their parts of our past. injustice in the courts or perceived ability to frame political issues for victims With the help of your stories, told in rewarding of perpetrators through a and not for the governments. They need to an open and honest way, free of political peace process.” embrace their indirect but powerful social interference, we as a society can better The concept of doing no harm should influence and hold government to account. understand the harms of the past. You can be priority of all ethical journalists and is Now this comes natural to many of show us how it still affects those who quite frankly, a no-brainer. So, if we take our current journalists. Investigations into were there, those who were left behind this responsibility as a given, what else are political corruption, incompetence and and those who are still yet to be born. we to make of these guidelines? Are they duplicity are tackled with the vigour it Now is the time to embrace this asking journalists and those in the media deserves. Journalist win all sorts of awards opportunity. to consider something more? Should they and platitudes for shining their light on inspire journalists and our media to not these issues and rightly so but when it just do no harm but to also do some comes to some of the reporting good? I say yes. on the legacy of our conflict many are I believe that they should counter the left wanting. effects of “inappropriate earlier media They run for cover under the security coverage” that I just mentioned with blankets of media neutrality and media coverage more suited to the needs impartiality when instead they should be • Download media guidelines at of victims and survivors. They should tackle partial when they see continuing injustice https://victimsandthepast.org/lau the aforementioned “public indifference” being meted out against those who have nch-of-media-guidelines/ VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 24

Pat Magee and Jo Berry in Belfast An unlikely friendship

VIEW editor Brian Pelan talks to Jo Berry, whose father, Conservative MP Sir Anthony Berry, was killed in the IRA Brighton Hotel bomb attack in 1984 and Pat Magee, the man responsible for causing the explosion. The two of them discuss their unusual friendship and why they have travelled the globe to deliver a message of reconcilation VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 25

I am never going to forget that Pat planted‘ ’the bomb that killed my father. But he is also the man who has travelled with me to Rwanda and to Palestine to talk about conflict resolution Five people were killed in the Brighton bomb attack in. 1984. They were Conservative MP, Sir Anthony Berry; Eric Taylor (North-West Area Chairman of the Conservative Party); Lady Jeanne Shattock; Lady Muriel Maclean and Roberta Wakeham t is the most unusual interview I’ve ever achievement of a peaceful and just society Berry admitted it was ‘unusual’. Magee carried out in more than 30 years of would be the true memorial to the victims added: “There isn’t a word that fits it.” Ijournalism. I’m sitting in a private room of violence.” I said to both of them that many at a Belfast hotel. Directly opposite me is Magee replied: “I have been involved in people would have a difficulty in accepting Jo Berry. And sitting beside her is Pat politics for most of my adult life. The aim their ‘friendship’. Magee – the man responsible for causing was always to achieve such a society. We “I’m not expecting anybody to her father’s death in the Brighton Hotel felt that this was lacking and it had caused understand it,” said Berry. bomb attack in 1984. the conflict. To achieve justice and rights Magee added that their relationship is Coffee, tea and cups have been laid would be a victory. Anything short of that strained at times. “You are meeting out in the room along with little tins of means that the struggle continues. someone you hurt. There have been times mint sweets. Everything seems ordinary “I see my work with Jo and others as when both of us have said we can’t do this and yet all three of us are aware that it is a a way of addressing the legacy of the anymore. But there is a deep value to very strange scenario and one that Troubles and the pain that the Republican knowing each other.” many people would grapple to get their movement caused. Berry, who has set up her own charity heads around. “On a personal level I could never see called Building Bridges for Peace, added: “I After the IRA bombing which killed myself as a victim. If you were involved in completely understand that people find five people, Berry said she has dedicated any way of fighting back it’s hard to wear our relationship to be challenging. I am her life to conflict resolution. She met the mantle of a victim.” never going to forget that Pat planted the Magee for the first time in 2000, a year Berry added that her life has been bomb that killed my father. But he is also after he was released from jail under the shaped because of what happened to her. the man who has travelled with me to terms of the . “It opened me to the effects of violence. I Rwanda and to Palestine to talk about The two of them have since engaged care deeply about hurt and trauma. We conflict resolution. in a number of speaking tours about the need to support the needs of victims.” Magee said: “Before I went to meet Jo themes of reconciliation and conflict I asked both of them about the for the first time I did ask myself how resolution at a number of venues concept of ‘forgiveness’ and what did the would I react if someone had killed throughout the world, including Belfast. word mean to them? somebody close to me. I am very careful Berry is calm and composed as she Magee said: “If you feel guilt there is a to try and maintain my relationship with Jo explained how they first met and the work part of you that would like to be forgiven. because it matters to me. that they have undertaken. “It was only My involvement in the conflict was very “You can’t undo the impact on your two days after I lost my dad I thought conscious and I knew what I was getting own life of being involved in conflict.” if I can bring something positive out involved in. How can I seek forgiveness As our interview drew to a close. of this, if I can bring some peace, I can for that?” Berry spoke warmly about her relationship change the future because you can’t Berry said she no longer knows what with her father. “A few months before he change the past. forgiveness means. “The most important was killed he told me that he understood “Part of the work that I do with Pat is thing to me is that Pat has listened to me my unconventional views on life. The about what can we learn from the past in about the impact of what he did. He has memory of those words are very special order to move on.” always listened and cared about the effects to me.” I asked Magee what he thought about on me.” They both then left the hotel room to Alan McBride’s remarks as guest editor in Both of them laughed when I continue their very unconventional this issue when he wrote: “The described their relationship as ‘strange’. journey. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 26 Forget your perfect offering Playwright Jo Egan writes about the daunting challenge she faced when writing her drama The Crack In Everything which deals with the stories of six children who were killed in the Troubles

arch 8 2018 is a quiet rainy shaping the stories and interweaving afternoon. The phone rings, its testimonies. MElaine Forde offering me the As the project continues, I meet position of International Theatre Artist in The children people who ask, “What are you working Residence with the Playhouse, Derry. I’m The stories being shared are on?” And their faces immediately grimace over the moon. At the first meeting, those of: or they step back as I tell them. There’s a Artistic Director, Pauline Ross mentions a pain that consumes us when we lose possible theme; that of children who’ve • Damien Harkin, eight years old, people we love. Something that’s even been killed in the Troubles – and my soul was killed by a British Army lorry in more unbearable when associated with sinks. the Bogside, Derry, on July 24, 1971; children. Something we perceive as so Often plays created with communities overwhelmingly destructive to the human have at their heart a mission to connect to • Annette McGavigan, 14 years spirit we don’t want to call it to our door. a wider public – a mission: to connect old, fatally wounded when the British Each day there are points where I am meaningfully, to be understood. Something Army fired into a crowd of upset by the interviews. When I return unseen is recognised, heard, witnessed, bystanders at a riot in the Bogside on home, I am brought to tears by the news. I valued. The playwright is expected to mine September 6, 1971; devour a rubbishy TV box set obsessively the subterranean core of the issue and on my days off. I sob watching it. Towards create a work of art encapsulating multiple • Julie Livingstone, 14 years old, the end of the three months I refrain from narratives. I’m not confident I can deliver died on May 13, 1981 from injuries visiting my small grandsons for fear I’ll on this but a series of unbelievable sustained after she was shot by a bring death to their door. But I know this coincidences, (that often happen when a plastic bullet fired by the British for what it is. I’ve been here before. Nearly play is coming into existence), convinces Army; every community theatre process has me that Pauline is right in her belief that brought me to my knees. At least now is a good time to try. It’s at this stage • Kathryn Eakin, eight years old, now I know this is just a consequence the line from the Leonard Cohan song, died in the Claudy bombings, carried of the work. I welcome the tears as a Anthem reminds me to: “forget your out by the IRA, on July 31, 1972; tension diffuser and I observe my perfect offering”. And so I do. It’s the only responses as merely a manifestation way to approach the project without fear • Kathleen Feeney, 14 years old, of fear and exhaustion: the enemy of consuming me. From the minute I signed shot and killed on November 14, any artistic process. Also and the contract, fear keeps me awake at 1973 when an IRA sniper fired at a most importantly, I regularly attend night. Anxiety is my constant companion – British Army checkpoint and killed a psychotherapist. and driver. Kathleen by mistake; Without a structured truth and By June we identify six families who recovery process the arts in all genres are want to be part of the story-gathering Henry Cunningham, 16 years bringing human experience and hard-won process. I interview over 20 people. All of old, a passenger in a van fired on by insights to light. In the past stories of them detail the events leading to the child’s three UVF gunmen on August 9, paramilitaries or state forces took death, details of the impacts of trauma on 1973. precedence in the narrative but now the family members. The stories are stories of those who were randomly gathered in Castlerock, Carndonagh, Derry, caught up in the maw of the “Troubles” Drumahoe, Belfast and the West of Ireland.. the fight for justice unravels like a detective monster are crucial to moving forward. During the interviews, apart from the story. How these families deal with their tragedy grimness, the stories electrify – they’re At the start of July, I sit at the laptop goes beyond words such as courage, intensely moving and heartstoppingly real. with the transcriptions and the interview bravery and endurance. We might not be Yes, they’re desperately sad but there are recordings. I play them over and over as I able to change past events but we can insights never spoken aloud before. And read through the transcriptions, editing and change how we see them. VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 27 COMMENT

Addressing the legacy of the past Cahal McLaughlin, Professor of Film Studies at Queen’s University Belfast, looks at the work of the Prisons Memory Archive and why oral history can play a vital role in examining the legacy of our violent past

he Prisons Memory Archive is a and an oral history archive. Of course, collection of filmed recordings back vacuums are filled and many community Tinside the Maze and Long Kesh groups and NGOs have stepped into the Prison and Gaol, with up to 180 breach, including WAVE, Healing Through people recorded, including prison staff, Remembering, and Accounts of the prisoners, teachers, chaplains and Conflict. The PMA is one such group, probation officers. focusing on the prisons which were iconic Filmed in 2006 and 2007, the project As one prison – both influenced by and influencing the used three protocols to address the outside political world. Telling this story is political and psychic sensitivities of the an important, but not necessarily the most Troubles period. Firstly, co-ownership officer said to important, story. shared authorship with the participants so us, ‘I once did an We have organised several screenings that they retained a strong sense of agency ’ and workshops and have concluded that in their own stories; secondly, inclusivity ‘ for oral history to play a role in addressing ensured that as wide a cross-section of the interview for the legacy of our violent past such work people who passed through the prison’s must be collaborative with survivors of gates were included; thirdly, we used life- violence who wish to tell their story. storytelling, which avoided leading television, but I Because there is a risk of retraumatising questions and encouraged participants to storytellers, it is important to share set their own agenda of what to talk didn’t recognise authorship with them – it is well known about and, just as importantly, what not to that trauma fragments your sense of talk about. wholeness, e.g. memory and identity, so it The project has been primarily funded myself on is important to help restore the sense of by the Heritage Lottery Fund, both in its authorship over one’s story, of who you initial stages and more recently when an the tele’. are and where you have come from. Given agreement was reached to preserve and the current production model of broadcast make accessible over 300 hours of audio Participants radio and television, which, because of its visual material, as well as thousands of political economy, tends to rush in and out photographs and documents, from the with an immediate consent form handing archive at the Public Records Office should be over copyright to the producer, an oral Northern Ireland. This is a three year history archive should establish the project, with some material already co-authors of principle of collaboration, so that no-one available at PRONI. There are also two should sign off on their consent form until documentary films, edited from the they have seen the final edit before being archive, that are available for public their own story, made public. As one prison officer said to screenings and libraries. us, ‘I once did an interview for television, Addressing the legacy of the past has at least up to but I didn’t recognise myself on the tele’. been a difficult journey for many, including Participants should be co-authors of their the political parties at Stormont, who have the point of own story, at least up to the point of so far failed to implement the Stormont public exhibition. House Agreement, which included three strands – judicial enquiry, truth recovery public exhibition www.prisonsmemoryarchive.com VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 28

Trauma invaded‘’ our very marrow and bones while healing has remained desperately elusive Eamonn Baker, a community activist in Derry working with the Towards Understanding and Healing project, believes the legacy of ‘The Troubles’ continues to haunt Northern Ireland

n our time, political speech and writing lamenting that none of us were up to that relatively recently re-developed streets of are largely the defence of the task, always and only him those early the Bogside where I had kicked football in Iindefensible. Political language has to January mornings. He would soon be the old Joseph’s Place using the width of consist largely of euphemism, question- tempted to chalk arrows pointing towards the Cattle Marketgate for one goal, the begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Such the coal shed in case any of his four sons width of the entry into St. Joseph’s Close phraseology is needed if one wants to had actually lost their bearings. for the other. name things without calling up mental Orwell’s trenchant analysis of how I can remember waking up in our back pictures of them. (George Orwell, Politics language can be debased to serve politics Creggan bedroom to glimpse an IRA and the English Language,1946). was mulled over with Mr. Donaghy – gunman laid out on the roof of that same Almost immediately after the dubbed “Cheyenne” behind his back – and coal shed from where my daddy ferreted firebomb outside Bishop Street that dialogue must have seeped deep down coal, the shooter’s rifle trained on any Courthouse on January 19, the media, in its into my core. Now, I wonder, how come British Army movement in the cemetery various manifestations, appeared in we so readily reach for those relatively dull behind that grey perimeter wall. The numbers to drain every drop from this phrases – “the dark days”, the “bad old abnormal, daily, was becoming the normal. emergent story. A familiar refrain sounded days” – almost as if those days weren’t Khaki-clad visitors would knock us about, in diverse broadcast interviews: “We really that “dark” at all or those “bad old jack up our floorboards, kick us in the don’t want to go back/be taken back to the days” were a kind of country and western testicles, shoot dead Annette McGavigan, dark days.” soap opera that didn’t cause us too much Kathleen Thompson. Neighbours in I remember the late Willie Donaghy harm, really. Many of us, or, at the very Creggan would themselves become teaching O Level English Language at St. least, some of us, prefer that shooters, bombers, killers. Death-laden Columb’s College and encouraging shorthand“bland-speak” to considering the ideologies flourished almost whichever discussion arising from our reading of awful, bloody grotesque reality of what way we turned. Orwell’s essay, Politics and the English happened here over the period referred to As all of us of that generation know Language. We were 16 years of age. It was so universally and so euphemistically as “the dark days” meant atrocity after 1967, years after that essay was published “The Troubles.” atrocity, whether it was 14 killed on and and a year before the Duke Street civil I remember the shocking sight of a after Bloody Sunday (January, 1972), two rights march. bloodied Jackie Duddy laid out in the killed in the no-warning bombing of the For me, then, “the dark days” were courtyard behind the Roseville Flats on Abercorn Restaurant and Bar (March, rising early, my daddy getting the fire set another January day. What would have 1972), five killed in the Miami Showband ahead of us stirring, him already out at the prepared that innocent enough 20-years- massacre (July, 1975), 10 killed in the coal shed drawing in a bucket of coal, old me for screaming gunfire on the Kingsmill massacre (January, 1976), 12 VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 29

Nationalist youths throwing stones at British troops in 1969 killed in the La Mon firebomb (February, “I who have stood dumb experienced some sort of traumatic event 1978), or eight killed at Loughgall (May, when your betraying sisters, during the period 1968 until now and 1987). cauled in tar, research has demonstrated the magnitude Total fatalities in this horrific but short wept by the railings, of the mental health needs of the list was 51. population here. And then there were the killings who would connive However, progress on meeting those where individuals were gunned to death in in civilised outrage needs and providing the effective evidence- their kitchens; on their doorsteps; yet understand the exact based treatments for complex dandering home; shot dead in their cars and tribal, intimate revenge.” trauma-related illnesses has been slow.” and literally thousands more really terribly Professor O’Neill continues: “There are injured, maimed,disfigured and, without Maybe what happens with us now is increasing concerns about the exaggeration, so many families and that our words fail us in the face of the intergenerational transmission of trauma communities terribly traumatised. horror. Maybe what happens with us is that and mental illness and more needs to be Atrocity followed by howling pain we need a convenient shorthand to enable done to mitigate against the effects of this. was too often met and murked in lies, us to hold that horror at bay. Maybe, for This means providing resilience and mental deceit, denial and, savagely, further some, these phrases – “the dark days”,“the health programmes in schools and youth atrocity, languaged as “tit for tat bad old days” – are convenient verbal centres.” killings.” The civilising quest for truth props enabling the speakers, either Meanwhile recently, in our city, in and justice was (and is) most often consciously or unconsciously, to mystify Ballymagroarty, the “dark days” continued stamped upon. what actually happened and, so, deny with two men shot in so-called Trauma invaded our very marrow and accountability. punishment-style shootings. bones while healing has remained Is it possible that our euphemisms and The PSNI said it was“treating both desperately elusive. “bland speak,” in deflecting from an incidents as paramilitary-style attacks; “The dark days” were dark, utterly unbearable reality, could serve to re-ignite attacks that were brutal and vicious and dark, without light, unless the curiously the very horror they appear to cloud over? will leave these two men with both flecked light of black humour.Was it left to For some, could there even be a hint of physical and psychological scars;”some our poets and artists to hold up their intrigue and glamour in the use of such people malingering in the shadows might mirror to what occurred here? phrases? murmur, “Good enough for them, they I recall Seamus Heaney’s words from Professor Siobhan O’Neill, of Ulster didn’t get it for nothing” and feel justified. the poem, Punishment, reflecting here on a University, reports that “39 per cent of the Not all of us, however, “connive in civilised “tarring and feathering”. population of Northern Ireland outrage.” VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 30 Addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past

Ulster University professors Siobhan O’Neill, left, and Brandon Hamber argue that understanding the effect of the Troubles related trauma, including transgenerational trauma, is vital for fostering peace building in Northern Ireland

he conflict was a significant and distinctive stressor in the life of the Tcommunity in Northern Ireland for Six key recommendations over 40 years. The world mental health survey found • The institutions should adopt a victim and survivor-centred that whilst around 71.5 percent of the perspective. The process should be scrutinised from the population have minimal levels of mental perspective of the victim, and their journey through illness, the mental health difficulties of at engagement with one or more of the structures. least half of the remaining 28.5 percent (approx. 213,000 adults) appear to be • Support for victims through the process should be directly related to the Troubles (Bolton, standardised and offered on an equal basis to all survivors 2017; McLafferty et al., 2016; O’Neill et al., across the legacy institutions. 2015). The same study showed that 39 percent of the population experienced • A process of demand profiling and impact assessment should a traumatic event that was related to be undertaken prior to the commencement of the work of the Troubles. the institutions. Such events included bombings, shootings, and witnessing killings and •. The institutions should adopt a trauma-informed approach mutilations. that: Realises the impact of trauma and understands potential The research demonstrated the depth paths for recovery; Recognises the signs and symptoms of and scale of the mental health needs of the trauma, responds by integrating knowledge about trauma Northern Ireland population, however into policies, procedures, and practices; and seeks to actively progress on meeting those needs and resist re-traumatisation. (SAMSHA, 2018). This particularly providing the evidence-based means that the legacy structures and processes should screen treatments for complex trauma-related people for trauma-related conditions and facilitate them in illnesses has been slow. In the receiving treatment. meantime, the consequences are manifest in the form of social unrest and • We recommend that a Mental Health Advisory Group with high rates of suicide (O’Neill et al., 2014) an expert chair, is convened to oversee and monitor the and prescribed medication implementation of all four institutions. (Benson et al., 2018). Mental illness stifles healing and • We need to protect the mental wellbeing of those who work empathy. Psychological therapies can help within the institutions particularly those who witness the individuals make meaning from their testimonies of the victims and survivors and those tasked experiences, which not only reduces their with delivering justice and establishing a level of need. suffering, but also allows them to place the VIEW, Issue 51, 2019 www.viewdigital.org Page 31

Research: Thirty nine percent of the population in Northern Ireland have experienced a traumatic event that was related to the Troubles the consultation on the proposed legacy F., Bunting B. (2016). Suicidality LEGACY INSTITUTIONS institutions (O’Neill and Hamber, 2018), and profiles of childhood and also noted that the institutions will adversities, conflict related The consultation – ‘Addressing have a profound impact on the mental trauma and psychopathology in the legacy of Northern Ireland’s health of the individuals who engage with the Northern Ireland population. J past’ – includes proposals to them, those who for whatever reason Affect Disord, 200, 97-102. implement the four new legacy choose not to, and those with existing https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016 institutions set out in the 2014 trauma-related conditions who either .04.031 Stormont House Agreement participate, or hear about them from the O'Neill, S., Ferry, F., Murphy, S.D., (SHA) and the Government’s media and other sources. It is vital that the et al. (2014). Patterns of suicidal manifesto for Northern Ireland mental health of those affected is ideation and behaviour in 2017. protected through this process. Northern Ireland and associations with conflict-related trauma. A key element of the Stormont References PLoSOne, House Agreement is that all of https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.p these bodies will be under Benson, T., Corry, C., O’Neill, S., one.0091532 statutory obligations to act in Murphy, S., Bunting, B. (2018). ways that are balanced, Use of prescription medication by ]O’Neill, S., Armour, C., Bolton, B. proportionate, transparent, fair individuals who died by suicide in et al., (2015). Towards a Better and equitable. Northern Ireland. Arch Suicide Future: The Transgenerational Res, 22, 1, 139-152. Impact of the Troubles on Mental https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118 Health. Belfast, CVSNI. Retrieved experience in context, to foster recovery. .2017.1289870 from: Such processes at both a personal, Bolton, D. (2017). Conflict, peace https://www.cvsni.org/media/117 and community level can promote peace- and mental health: Addressing the 1/towards-a-better-future- building, and potentially create the consequences of conflict and march-2015.pdf environment for peace. trauma in Northern Ireland. For victims and survivors of trauma, Manchester: Manchester O’Neill, S. and Hamber, B. (2018). the issues of truth, justice, accepting University Press. CONSULTATION RESPONSE responsibility, compensation and official “ADDRESSING THE LEGACY OF acknowledgement are also part of this Hamber, B. (2009). Transforming NORTHERN IRELAND'S PAST” “meaning making” and are interwoven with Societies After Political Violence: The need for a victim and healing (Hamber, 2009). Truth, Reconciliation and Mental survivor centred, trauma- In fact, healing, often promoted by Health. New York: Springer. informed approach. Retrieved addressing wider victim issues such as from: truth and justice, in such circumstances Joseph, S. (2015). A person- https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/1 may provide the conditions for post- centred perspective on working 98ed6_26add44b82674b4a8796d35 traumatic growth (Joseph, 2015). with people who have f135f038d.pdf 25th Feb 2019. The opposite is also true, that experienced psychological trauma failing to address the wider needs of and helping them move forward SAMHSA (2018). Trauma- survivors (such as a desire for justice toward post-traumatic growth. Informed Approach and or truth) can have negative psychological Person-Centered and Experiential Trauma-Specific Interventions. consequences into the long term Psychotherapies, 14(3), 178-190 Retrieved from: (Hamber, 2009). McLafferty, M., Armour, https://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/tr We made these points in response to C., O'Neill, S., Murphy, S., Ferry, auma-interventions VIEW magazine / ezines & digital news site We Independentlyneed yourproduced and support published HIGH QUALITY JOURNALISM on social affairs and community issues

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