Bomb victims back independent truth commission

Survivors of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings today backed moves towards an independent truth commission into the North's recent conflict.

A coalition of victims’ organisations on both sides of the border are pushing for a process that they say will help heal the emotional impact of the Troubles.

Margaret Urwin, of the 'Justice for the Forgotten' group which campaigns for victims of the Republic’s worst ever atrocity, said a full commission was necessary.

“The past has to be dealt with in a positive way because if it’s not dealt with it’s going to raise its head again in the future,” she said.

The organisation has joined with the 'Pat Finucane Centre', 'Relatives for Justice', the 'Ardoyne Commemoration Project', 'An Fhirinne' and 'Firinne' to demand a non-judicial process of mostly private hearings.

The coalition, representing more than 1,000 victims, envisages a body of commissioners drawn from Ireland, Britain and the international community that would chair the hearings which would then be reported on.

They have ruled out any commission based on the confrontational South African-style model because of legal implications and popular feeling among survivors and victims’ families.

Paul O’Connor, of the human rights group, the 'Pat Finucane Centre', admitted that the mainly nationalist make-up of the coalition so far is standing in the way of progress.

“Probably the largest blockage that does exist is within loyalism and unionism. There is massive opposition to a truth commission and we need to be honest about that,” he said.

“Our job is... to convince people that what we’re talking about is not a witch hunt. What we’re talking about is not going after people, pinning blame on them and the retributive process. That’s why we expressly rule out the South African model of public confrontations and hearings.

“The challenge for us is to convince loyalism this is not a witch hunt, but an honest facing up to the past, an honest facing up to the fact that all of us carry the responsibility for what happened.”

Mark Thompson, of 'Relatives for Justice', said that his organisation has been contacted by people directly involved in the conflict who are crying out for such a process.

“We have been approached by people who were former members of the security forces.... looking for a process that guarantees they can provide information in private, where they won’t be prosecuted.”

A number of survivors and relatives of the victims of the Dublin bombings in 1974 said they backed the idea of a truth and recovery commission as way to bring some closure to their experience.

Bernie McNally, who lost her eye when the car bomb ripped through Talbot Street, said the truth must take first preference over everything else.

“I realise at this stage we’re not going to get prosecution, there’s nobody going to be held accountable for what happened,” she said.

“What is vital is that truth comes out to help people to deal with it. I think everybody wants the truth.”

Derek Byrne, who was just 14 when he was blown up in Parnell Street, while working as petrol pump attendant, still attends hospital for his injuries which mean he has difficulty walking and can’t use his left hand properly.

“The only time we’ll have peace is through truth and justice,” he said.

“There has to be truth and justice on all sides. The British side, the Irish side, nationalists, unionists, loyalists and republicans. They’re all going to have to tell the truth about what they did.”