£300m legacy commission proposal
A FIVE-year-plan to deal with the unresolved issues and hurt surrounding the Troubles is being proposed by the Eames – Bradley group, it is understood.
As first exclusively revealed in a leak to the News Letter last October, Lord Eames and Denis Bradley are expected to suggest the creation of a legacy commission.
It would have a five-year lifetime and probably begin its work at the tail end of 2010.
The commission would require a 160 million budget, plus 40 million for a compensation scheme and another 100 million to set up a bursary to which groups dealing with trauma and reconciliation could apply for funds.
Eames – Bradley is expected to argue this 300 million would, however, be value for money as their plans would bring an end to vastly expensive public inquiries and other law suits.
The two governments would both be expected to contribute to the financial needs of the commission and its associated work as the legacy proposals have a cross-border dimension.
The commission would have three members: an independent international commissioner as chairperson and two other commissioners.
It is envisaged their appointment would be by the British and Irish governments in consultation with the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.
It is thought the commission would then look after a complex structure for dealing with the past, broken down into four strands.
n Strand one: a reconciliation forum, overseen by three appointees: the chair of the legacy commission and a member each from the Victims and Survivors Commission and Community Relations Council.
The forum would be tasked with addressing a wide range of underlying and often hidden issues relating to victimhood and the legacy of the past, including health care and provision, trauma and stress and sectarianism.
It is also proposed the forum would have control of a 100 million bursary; a pot of money to which groups can apply for funding to work on projects related to dealing with legacy issues in society.
n Strand two will be the investigation process involving the continuation of work on inquiries into unsolved murders with a view to establishing if people can be brought to trial.
It is believed this strand will take on and take over the role of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), the Police Ombudsman's historic inquiry role.
Investigators would have full police powers.
n Strand three would be an information recovery unit: the part of the process akin to a truth commission but in a completely private and confidential setting.
It would be envisaged that if it was decided at strand two that no prosecution is possible or likely, because of a lack of evidence or other factors, the family of a murder victim will be given the choice to bring a close to an investigation element and move to information recovery.
The idea at this stage is that loved ones have the chance to find out more about the killing and details of the case in a forum which will give immunity to any statement made by anyone who was involved.
However, the News Letter understands this will not be an amnesty, as the immunity will only apply to the statement and should new evidence emerge later – outside and after information recovery – which could facilitate a case going to court, this could still result in a prosecution.
It is believed the legacy commission would be asked to make a final recommendation on whether or not an amnesty – after its five-year-term – is advisable.
Also, the News Letter understands, the issue of on-the-runs is not settled in the Eames – Bradley Report, and it too will be dealt with later by the commission.
n Strand four relates to thematic studies – which will involve in-depth research into understanding issues of the Troubles such as the role of paramilitary groups and allegations that security forces colluded with loyalist killers.
It is hoped such work would help identify mistakes in the past and ensure they are not repeated.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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