Northern Ireland

Church leaders meet with paramilitary monitoring panel

Secretary of State Theresa Villiers with panel members Monica McWilliams, John McBurney and Lord Alderdice.
Secretary of State Theresa Villiers with panel members Monica McWilliams, John McBurney and Lord Alderdice. Secretary of State Theresa Villiers with panel members Monica McWilliams, John McBurney and Lord Alderdice.

CHURCH leaders have said a group set up as part of the Fresh Start deal to help bring an end to paramilitary activity must "bring a sense of hope" to communities.

Rev Brian Anderson of the Methodist Church, Archbishop Richard Clarke of the Church of Ireland, the Right Rev Ian McNie from the Presbyterian Church and Catholic Bishop Noel Treanor met the Panel on Disbanding Paramilitary Groups yesterday.

Made up of former Women's Coalition MLA Monica McWilliams, former Stormont speaker Lord Alderdice and solicitor John McBurney, the panel has also been meeting with representatives of paramilitary organisations over the last week.

In a statement following their meeting, the Church leaders said: "Nearly 20 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, paramilitary violence and criminality remains an oppressive reality that pervades everyday life in many of our communities, particularly those in some of the most disadvantaged parts of Northern Ireland.

"We also discussed the many challenges that any strategy would need to address. We pray for openness, co-operation and engagement on all sides.

“We also stressed that any strategy for dealing with this issue has to have its focus on people, because it is ultimately people that matter to God.

"There genuinely needs to be a fresh start – bringing a sense of hope to those who have suffered through paramilitary activity in their communities and also pointing to a better way for those who have been involved in paramilitary organisations."

The panel is expected to report back with recommendations later in the year.