'Hierarchy of Troubles victims' protecting British army veterans, claim groups representing families of people killed by security forces
Families of people who died at the hands of the British security forces during the Troubles have called on the Secretary of State to tackle a “morally wrong hierarchy of victims” that they claim protects army veterans and former policemen.
A letter to Sir Chris Bryant issued by groups Relatives for Justice and the Pat Finucane Centre, which they said represents the views of almost 200 families, states they have “great concern and growing anger” about discussions on dealing with Troubles legacy cases.
“It is as if we don’t exist and the only ‘real victims’ are veterans,” the letter states, adding that the families are those of people “killed by the British army of the RUC during the conflict”.
States the letter: “None of us has ever had justice through the criminal justice system. No successful prosecutions have ever resulted from the deaths of our children, parents or siblings.
“The tone of the ‘debate’ to date – in parliament and in the media – has been depressing and retraumatising for us as immediate relatives.
“There has been a de facto amnesty for state forces to date, as evidenced by the lack of investigations, prosecutions or even official acknowledgement that the state also caused great harm and suffering over decades.”
A resulting hierarchy of victims, they add, is “morally wrong” and must be tackled by the secretary of state.
Adds the letter: “Any future legacy mechanism which is biased towards veterans and enforces this hierarchy of victims will not be lawful and will fail. Any such mechanism will not command our support or confidence.”