Better to invest in the next generation than seek a non existent universal truth on the legacy of our troubled past

Currently the debate is about the role of the intended historical investigation unit proposed in the Stormont House Agreement and deal to re-establish Stormont.

This current proposal will require an initial investment of some £300 to £400 million.

There is a further legacy that requires much more and for which no allowance has been made.

We know that Northern Ireland suffers from a higher level of mental health issues than other parts of the UK.

It is now accepted that trauma in mental health terms can be inter-generational, our children and future generations are more susceptible to having mental health issues because of the mental health trauma that previous generations suffered over the last 50 years.

Reversing that trend requires significant investment, not only in mental health services but in creating a peaceful society where conflict and trauma are no longer threats.

In real terms resources are limited, there is a choice to be made, do we invest in a fruitless search for a universal truth which does not exist, seeking justice that cannot be delivered or do we invest our limited resources in the next generation. We have a choice between the past and the future, my generation carries the burdens of the past, we should do so on the basis that the next generation don’t have to.

Stephen Nicholl, Antrim