The delay in the pension for Troubles victims is shameful, appalling and cruel

Pick up any local newspaper or listen to any radio, television or political debate about the failure to pay the Victims’ Pension that has been promised and you will read and hear words expressed by people of all persuasions attempting to describe their differing opinions and thoughts on the matter.
By George Larmour
Published 17th Aug 2020, 12:00 BST
Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Having personally met some of the most severely injured victims over the years such as wheel-chair bound people like Peter Heathwood, Alex Bunting, Paul Gallagher to name just a few, I’ve even taken the opportunity myself to write and express my own thoughts about it in a number of articles in local newspapers in recent months.

Appreciating the complexities that appear to be associated with such a contentious subject and not wishing to exacerbate the issue I have chosen my words carefully.

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I have tried to delicately articulate that supposedly intelligent people in government should be able to sit around a table and sort out the problem and find it in their hearts to somehow pay the pension without any further delay.

George Larmour says he has watched the lack of progress for wheel-chair bound victims: "I would ask yet again for those in authority - do you want to see these people reduced to sitting outside Stormont in their wheelchairs with cardboard signs strung around their necks like beggars?"George Larmour says he has watched the lack of progress for wheel-chair bound victims: "I would ask yet again for those in authority - do you want to see these people reduced to sitting outside Stormont in their wheelchairs with cardboard signs strung around their necks like beggars?"
George Larmour says he has watched the lack of progress for wheel-chair bound victims: "I would ask yet again for those in authority - do you want to see these people reduced to sitting outside Stormont in their wheelchairs with cardboard signs strung around their necks like beggars?"

But as I continually watch the lack of progress and those wheel-chair bound decent human beings being wheeled out in vain for smiling photo opportunities with those same politicians and others responsible for sorting out this situation my search for the right words fails me.

So in a further attempt at supporting all those deserving victims, I will not waste time searching for the right words to appeal to the supposedly caring nature of our politicians for their inability to pay this Victims’ Pension.

Instead I will use the appropriate words to articulate how I feel and which I believe sum up the truth.

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The failure to find a solution to pay this long-overdue Victims’ Pension now is simply :

Shameful, Scandalous, Dreadful, Appalling, Disgraceful, Cruel, Unfeeling, Heartless.

I would ask yet again for those in authority and government to search their own hearts. Do you want to see these people reduced to sitting outside Stormont in their wheelchairs with cardboard signs strung around their necks like beggars?

Swallow your petty political pride and do the right thing.

George Larmour, Author of ‘They Killed the Ice Cream Man’

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A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

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Related topics:Paul Gallagher