NIMF receive cash boost for victims

NIO Victims Minister Des Browne yesterday announced a further allocation of £1.3 million to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund (NIMF).

Mr Brown said that the NIMF will be able to use the money to reach those early victims of the Troubles it has not yet helped. He added: "I know it (NIMF) wants to concentrate on drawing in those who have not previously applied. I hope this money will help do just that."

Dennis Licence, Chairman of the Memorial Fund expressed his gratitude to the Minister on behalf of the Board of Directors, saying: "This further generous donation from Government is very welcome. The Memorial Fund has helped some 4,000 individuals but we know that this represents less than 10% of the bereaved and injured. We now want to concentrate on reaching the remaining 90%."

The Board has decided that from October 14 it will limit its Small Grants and Short Breaks to first time applicants. At the same time the fund will continue to offer help through its other schemes to existing applicants, Mr Licence said.

The NIMF is an independent charitable fund that seeks to promote peace and reconciliation by ensuring that those individuals and families that have suffered as a result of the Troubles are remembered by providing them with help and support in a meaningful and practical way. Almost 7,000 grants amounting to over £2.6 million have been paid to some 4,000 individual victims and their households since November 1999.

Since 1998 government has secured £18.25 million for victims' initiatives. This latest allocation brings to £6.3 million the total amount allocated to NIMF and brings to more than £18.1 million the total amount now spent or earmarked for specific victims' initiatives.

Further details on the schemes and application forms are available from the Memorial Fund's Grants Office on 028 9052 5949.

Elsewhere, the UUP have tabled a motion calling for the setting up a memorial garden dedicated to victims of the troubles. The move follows on from the news that Westminster is to donate £1 million towards a similar memorial in the US in memory of the victims of September 11.

The UUP's Fermanagh and South Tyrone assembly member Sam Foster said: "It is only right and proper that the victims of the dreadful attack on the US are fittingly remembered but equally the government should be prepared to recognise the intense pain and suffering of those who have lost loved ones at the hands of terrorists over 30 bloody years of violence."

The motion is expected to be debated at Stormont within the next few weeks.

(GMcG)