First payments of new pension for those severely injured in Troubles made

It is understood that around two of hundreds of applicants have started to receive monthly payments under the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme.

By last October some 700 applications had been made and are being processed.

Eligible recipients will be in line for payments ranging from between £2,000 and £10,000 a year.

Victims group Wave gathered yesterday in Belfast to mark the long battle to secure pensions for the most severely injured.

Justice Minister Naomi Long, whose department in administering the scheme, sent her apologies for not being able to attend.

In a message read to those assembled, she congratulated the campaigners who secured the scheme described an “important milestone for Wave”.

Former secretary of state Lord Hain sent a video message applauding the campaign, adding: “Let’s hope they get them (payments) sooner rather than later.”

Paul Gallagher from the group within WAVE which led the campaign for the pension from 2009 to 2021 said he understands payments have started to be made to two applicants.

The north Belfast man, who was paralysed after being shot by loyalists in 1994, said they were “close to the finishing line”.

Mr Gallagher described how having become involved with Wave had changed his life, and allowed his voice to be heard before becoming involved with the campaign that “got injured victims on the map”.

“We had to do it for all the people out there who couldn’t speak for themselves,” he said.

Jennifer McNern, who lost both legs in a bomb blast at the Abercorn restaurant in 1972, took a successful legal challenge against the Stormont Executive for delays in setting up the scheme which opened for applications last August.

She is also among those still waiting to receive payments.

Looking back to when she was injured, she said she was well looked after in hospital but after discharge, things were difficult as her mother became both hers and her sisters’ carer, and they lost their house.

She said at the start of the campaign they believed gathering 12,000 signatures and bringing them to Stormont would have made things happen and was shocked when nothing happened.

Alex Bunting, who was injured in a car bomb in 1991, described losing both his home and his business in the aftermath.

He said the campaign went to the Irish Parliament as well as Downing Street and Stormont asking for the disabled pension but said it became a “political football”.

He said all they want to do is help all the victims and survivors of the Troubles, noting that many of the older campaigners have died without seeing the payments,

“We have fought for this pension, hopefully we will get it as soon as we possibly can,” he said.

Des McAlea, an original member of the Miami Showband who survived the loyalist roadside attack in 1975 in which three members were killed, performed for those gathered, including a performance of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ for the people of Ukraine.

He urged those seeking justice not to give up.

“We got there, we got convictions, we got them to say it was collusion.

“We didn’t get an apology which I believe we never will. But life is life, you have to get on with it,” he said.

“All I wish for now is people like yourselves and all other seeking justice, I pray to God that you get it because you deserve it.

“Please keep fighting, you will get there, we got there.”

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