Victims’ group: Any terrorist who went out and caused harm must be excluded from this scheme — no ifs, no buts, no exceptions

First, we wanted to re-state our position in clear and unambiguous language that there could be no change in the definition of a victim entitled to the Victims’ Payment Scheme.

Any terrorist who went out and caused harm must be excluded from this scheme. No ifs, no buts, no exceptions. If they planted bombs or pulled a trigger or were injured ‘by their own hand’, they would be barred from getting any financial benefit.

It would be perverse, immoral and unacceptable to see former terrorists who bombed and murdered treated on a par with innocent people who were handed an arbitrary ‘life sentence’ of appalling physical and psychological injuries.

Second, we wanted to highlight victims’ stories, to give a voice to those who feel abandoned and forgotten. They recall, during the campaign, with chilling clarity the barbaric act that has altered their lives forever.

The Victims’ Payment Scheme isn’t just about easing financial pressures; it’s also giving long overdue recognition to victims that they have for so long been denied.

Third, the campaign focused on removing political obstacles to the scheme. With paralysis at The Executive Office, we argued that the scheme should be taken out of the hands of the devolved administration and given to the UK government in Westminster to administer.

We have written to all 650 MPs appealing to them to bring pressure on the government to take control of this long overdue scheme.

From an Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) perspective, these past fourteen days have been intense. We are pleased to have been able to highlight, on behalf of innocent victims, what continues to be a glaring deficiency and an obvious scandal.

We are pragmatic and realistic about the impact of our campaign. We are aware of the difficulty of getting the UK government to decide to take control of the scheme. However, we do expect that victims of terrorism would be given something more than tea and sympathy.

They want a solid indication that action, not the playing out of the political ‘blame game’, would be forthcoming. We are disappointed but not surprised that from that source the needle has barely moved so far.

The victims who spoke out during the campaign were eloquent, heart-rendering and forthright. What they have to say cannot be ignored, although it does appear that is precisely what is tending to happen at provincial and national governmental levels.

Their messages make uncomfortable reading. To many innocent victims, the suspicion is that officialdom would prefer them to return their harrowing stories to a seldom seen or heard archive, lock the box and throw away the key.

That is something that will not be allowed to happen. Victims of terrorism will continue to have their voices heard and will continue to shame those who fail them.

As I write, many hundreds will continue to seek what is rightfully owed to them, and we will not be deterred or deflected. The fight for what is right will and must go on.

• Axel Schmidt is advocacy manager, UHRW

• See Morning View: London must speak up about the ongoing victories for republicans over the legacy of the Troubles

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