Former Commissioner recommends victims fund

The families of people killed or injured before 1988 during 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland, should receive around £2000 per year to compensate for their distress – a new report released today has recommended.

Former Interim Victims' Commissioner, Bertha McDougall, has proposed that a fund of around £8 million should be equally divided up among families of victims during the time.

As part of her 140-page document, Mrs McDougall also recommended that a fund should be set up for families of members of Ulster Defence Regiment members who were killed and under the new proposals, payments to spouses of UDR soldiers who died or were injured would be similar to the Northern Ireland Police Fund, which helps injured police, retired officers, widows and families.

This however is likely to cause controversy among republicans who accused the UDR of sectarian behaviour.

In addition, the document suggested that a forum should be set up, highlighting issues of concern and a role for their representatives on bodies responsible for community planning when local government reforms come into effect in 2009.

During her report, Mrs McDougall criticised the government's “fragmented” approach to assisting people suffering trauma and said that the methods of delivering services were too complex.

Commenting on her report, which contained 36 recommendations, Mrs McDougall said that it is neither “fair nor accurate” to measure the cost of the 'Troubles' in monetary terms whether it be the through funding or the provision of service.

She added: "The real cost needs to be considered within the context of human suffering and the physical, emotional and psychological trauma inflicted on individuals and society as a whole.

"Better definition and identification of need coupled with co-ordinated implementation of services and appropriate funding is at the core of my recommendations."

Mrs McDougall's year-long term in office ended in December 2006 following controversy over the Secretary of State, Peter Hain's decision to appoint her.

A High Court Judge later ruled that her appointment had been unlawful, however permitted Mrs McDougall to publish her report in a personal capacity.

Mrs McDougall's husband, a police reservist, was murdered by the INLA in 1981.

(EF/SP)