North’s parties called to heal old wounds

THE North’s political parties were last night challenged to back unprecedented proposals aimed at healing the sectarian wounds left after decades of violence.

The British and Irish governments promised to carefully consider the £300 million (€325m) plan to tackle the legacy of the Troubles, investigate its murders and battle sectarianism.

But last night the men behind the blueprint pressed political parties in Belfast to support their plan, despite angry protests from victims opposed to the controversial proposal that all those bereaved — including the relatives of dead paramilitaries — receive a £12,000 (€12,977) payment.