Opinion

Allison Morris: Victims suffering most in continuing legacy setbacks

Emma Rogan, John Teggart and Lisa McNally announce plans for a 'Time for Truth' march for victims in Belfast on February 25. Picture by AnnMcManus
Emma Rogan, John Teggart and Lisa McNally announce plans for a 'Time for Truth' march for victims in Belfast on February 25. Picture by AnnMcManus Emma Rogan, John Teggart and Lisa McNally announce plans for a 'Time for Truth' march for victims in Belfast on February 25. Picture by AnnMcManus

WITH proposed mechanisms for dealing with the past stuck in stalemate and no sign of a political settlement, victims' families have few options in the way of redress.

Such is the level of frustration that some groups came together yesterday under the banner 'Time for Truth' and urged people to join a protest march in Belfast on February 25 to demand action.

Inquests remain one of the only avenues open to those who have spent in some cases more than 40 years in the pursuit of answers, and strict guidelines are in place in relation to the disclosure of material to coroners.

That an MoD database - handed over to the PSNI in 2007 - was not searched for relevant documents is a serious and worrying development.

What impact this may have had on legacy inquests already completed is not yet known.

Those cases are all now subject to civil litigation and lawyers will be demanding disclosure of any previously unseen material to assess any impact it may have.

This is just the latest in a long line of legacy setbacks that have made it obvious the current ad hoc method of dealing with the past is unsustainable.

As politicians continue their latest round of negotiations at Stormont, it must be remembered that those who are suffering most are the families of victims who have already endured decades of trauma.