Victims and survivors of violence in Northern Ireland have been “betrayed and forgotten” by the UK Government’s Legacy Act, a remembrance service has been told.
The South East Fermanagh Foundation victims group held its 11th annual service of remembrance and thanksgiving at Ballinamallard Methodist Church.
It came as the Northern Ireland Secretary described the Government’s Legacy Act as a “genuine help” to Troubles victims.
Reading a reflection at the Co Fermanagh service, David Hallawell told the gathered victims and survivors that his father, RUC Constable John Hallawell, had “fully embraced” his posting to the community relations branch before he was killed by the Provisional IRA in 1983.
Mr Hallawell said his father had been killed while trying to arrange a cross-community disco in a nationalist area. “He was in his own vehicle and he was unarmed. He was in the house for less than 15 minutes, it was that time that the IRA had four gunmen waiting.
“Upon leaving the house and getting into his car, the terrorists opened fire.”
He went on to tell the service: “Remembrance is vital. No person has ever been convicted of dad’s murder and with the imposition of the Legacy Bill into law, it is now unlikely he will ever see justice.
“What sort of civilised society do we live in where murder is forgiven and murderers remain unpunished?”
Mr Hallawell added: “For the sake of the Government and votes on the mainland, innocent victims and survivors have been betrayed and forgotten.”
Reverend John Beacom told the service that politics in Northern Ireland is “toxic”.
“Many of the politicians have let us down. They argue their case on party lines. They ignore the needs of the people.”
He added: “Those who suffered at the hands of terrorism are leaning on a Government that doesn’t care, they’re crying out for justice to a Government that doesn’t care.”
SEFF chairman Eric Brown said: “Justice is bigger than any politics and when this ceases to be the case, then society is the poorer.”
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received royal assent last month despite widespread opposition from political parties, victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland and the Irish government.
Aspects of the laws include a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences to those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. It will also halt future civil cases and inquests.
SEFF director of services Kenny Donaldson appealed for accountability as he said Northern Ireland is “facing into a difficult future”.
“You have a Bill which united opposition – rarely do we get unity in anything in this place – but we’re still pressing ahead. Parliament has given it sanction and it has received royal assent.”
He called on those gathered to be “battle ready” to defend the legacy of the past.
Mr Donaldson questioned if there was a different divide in Northern Ireland than the traditional “Catholic, nationalist, republican” and “Protestant, unionist, loyalist”.
He said: “Is that the way we truly divide or do we divide on the basis of our value system and where we stand on the issue of violence?
“That transcends a cross-section of people and we need to start building alliances and friendships across all of that if we are to be truly successful in maintaining the integrity of the past.”
He also said there would be “rank hypocrisy” in the Republic of Ireland government taking an interstate case against the Bill, “given that the Republic of Ireland has done absolutely nothing to deal with its legacy of the past”.
He said: “In many ways, they already operate an amnesty in practice.”
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris-Heaton Harris told the Tory conference in Manchester that the Bill is a “genuine help” to those affected by the Troubles.
Speaking in Manchester on Sunday, he said: “It is the 25th anniversary year of the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
“Since then Northern Ireland has come a tremendously long way.
“But for those 25 years victims, families, survivors, some of them, have been left without answers about what happened during the 30 years of the Troubles.
“This Conservative Government recently passed the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.
“And whilst it delivers on a manifesto commitment we made to our veterans, it’s also of genuine help to all those affected by the Troubles.
“It sets up a body that aims to provide answers and accountability to those who want it and is open to all victims of the Troubles.”
