Northern Ireland

Almost £10,000 a year pension proposed for the most severely disabled victims of the Troubles

Secretary of State Julian Smith, said the British government "has and continues to be clear that those injured by their own hand should not in any way benefit". Picture by Mal McCann
Secretary of State Julian Smith, said the British government "has and continues to be clear that those injured by their own hand should not in any way benefit". Picture by Mal McCann Secretary of State Julian Smith, said the British government "has and continues to be clear that those injured by their own hand should not in any way benefit". Picture by Mal McCann

A SPECIAL pension of almost £10,000 a year has been proposed for the most severely disabled victims of the Troubles in a new Northern Ireland Office (NIO) consultation.

Payment levels are proposed for victims injured "through no fault of their own", with lower pensions suggested for victims with less severe disabilities.

The consultation was triggered at midnight yesterday after MPs voted in July to legislate for a Troubles pension, alongside abortion and same-sex marriage, if there was no devolution by October 21.

The NIO last night began the process as part of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.

In a foreword to the consultation, Secretary of State Julian Smith, said the British government "has and continues to be clear that those injured by their own hand should not in any way benefit from any proposals to provide acknowledgement and recognition to victims injured through no fault of their own".

His words are in reference to ongoing controversy over potential payments to injured paramilitaries.

Sinn Féin victims and legacy spokesman Linda Dillon said the exclusion of those groups was "concerning" and "has moved away from the legal definition of a victim".

"It remains Sinn Féin’s view that all victims should be able to access the pension on the basis of need," she said.

According to the schedule laid down, regulations allowing payments must be finalised by January 31.

Consultation will be close on November 26, "shorter than our standard period of consultation" due to the pressures exerted by the Westminster legislation

Following a public consultation, the first payments are due to be made by the end of May next year.

The proposed payment levels are based on the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and War Pension Scheme and range from £1,974 per year for those assessed as 20 per cent disability - such as the loss of fingers or toes - to £9,870 after blindness, deafness or the loss of more than one limb.

Mr Smith puts the number or people injured during the Troubles at an estimated 40,000, who are living with "a constant reminder of those dark days in our history".

He referenced the "significant number of survivors (who) continue to suffer from deep psychological trauma".

The consultation document singled out the WAVE support and campaigning group, which it "commended for having fought bravely, tirelessly and passionately for a scheme of regular payments to be made to the injured".