Support group for homicide victims’ families denied vital funds

A SUPPORT group helping the grieving families of murder victims says it won’t be able to expand services after vital funding was denied.

Support after Homicide (SAH) will be unable to recruit and train additional volunteers because of the lack of funding.

Some 12 years in existence, the group applied this year for around €100,000 in Department of Justice funds. This was rejected and just €10,000 was offered to SAH by the Commission for Victims of Crime, the independent body charged with allotting Department grants.

Despite a priority meeting with Commission authorities last month, SAH have now been told only another €25,000 is available.

Charity director Rita O’Quigley explained: “Our main concern is to keep the service going on a reduced amount, but it’s not fair to expect someone, like our volunteers, to keep going with so many cases.

“It’s going to be tight, to be difficult, but we’re going to try and make sure families don’t suffer. Every organisation needs new blood, new recruits. We can’t afford them. And we don’t want our volunteers to feel negative about their work.”

SAH gave counselling, advice and 4,500 hours of help to friends and relatives of murdered people last year

The group needs new volunteers, rooms for helping clients, research, legal and accounting fees, travel expenses for over 20 volunteers nationwide, as well as a dedicated phone number for victims and a website.

It plans to supply garda liaison officers with information packs for bereaving families and incorporate training with new recruits at the Garda Training College. It also wants to advise the clergy of its services.

However, the move to cut funds (it received €54,000 for 2006) is “a slap in the face”, its directors have said.

Training new volunteers is now out of the question, added Ms O’Quigley.

“We’re trying to see what we can do about that. That is one thing though that is going to get a hit.

Extra funds were donated recently to SAH by the Barry family, who lost their son, Fergal, in 2005 after he was mugged and viciously assaulted while holidaying in Prague. He died of serious head injuries.

His young brother, John, raised €1,300 for the charity after running a 10km race.