Loyalist and Republican terrorism victims bring 'message of unity and hope' to Westminster with Memorial Quilts

The quilts are made up of specially designed individual patches which feature the name and key details of hundreds of Troubles victims.

The launch of the exhibition will feature contributions from a number of victims and survivors, and those who produced the quilts.

SEFF Director Kenny Donaldson said: "Among the speakers will be Pam Morrison, whose three brothers were murdered by Provisional IRA in south Fermanagh and Marie O'Reilly whose sister-in-law was murdered by Loyalists in the Belturbet bomb in County Cavan.

"These two women have developed a very close friendship as a consequence of the Quilts project and will provide a message of unity and hope."

His group supports Troubles victims from all political backgrounds, he added.

"SEFF's doors are open and welcoming to all innocents; whether victimised by republican or loyalist terrorism or through criminal-based actions committed by individual members of the security forces," he said.

"SEFF is not defined by constitutional politics or denominational religion - its' our values that unite us, consistent opposition to violence.

"We feel it is very important that the message of the quilts is seen and also heard at the heart of our nation's legislative system, and we hope for high levels of engagement over the coming week," Kenny added.

"Legacy will of course feature strongly in discussions and we will be making a robust argument of the need for a fair and balanced approach to these issues so that all innocents have access to justice, truth and accountability pathways which deliver maximum outcomes for them - moving beyond a minimalist and begrudging culture.”

The victims group supports Troubles victims across the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and further afield.

Many GB-based atrocities are represented on the group's 'Terrorism knows NO Borders' quilt, such as bomb attacks at Harrods, Hyde and Regents Parks, Deal Barracks, Birmingham, Warrington and many others.

"Across the memorial quilts which will be displayed, innocents are remembered, ordinary yet extraordinary men, women and children from across the community and who were murdered in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain," he said.

The key messages of the memorial quilts, he said, are:

· “Violence was futile and totally unjustified

· “Those remembered are wholly innocent

· “The legacy of those represented will live on amongst those left behind.”

SEFF group is "so pleased" that the Palace of Westminster is facilitating the display of four of their Memorial Quilts.

The quilts on display are titled, ‘Your Legacy Lives On’, ‘Terrorism knows No Borders’, ‘Lives that Mattered and ‘Diversity in Life’ and ‘Remembered in Unity’.

They were developed by a team of special volunteers within SEFF under the guidance of a project facilitator with the aim of humanising those being remembered.

"A warm invitation is extended to individuals and groups to visit the Exhibition and there will be SEFF personnel present throughout the week to engage with people".

He paid tribute to DUP MP Carla Lockhart for sponsoring the Exhibition and its Information event, which opens tonight (Monday) and runs 15-18 December.