Northern Ireland

Legacy meeting postponed following victims' group criticism

Reverend Harold Good helped organise the Lambeth Palace discussions on legacy
Reverend Harold Good helped organise the Lambeth Palace discussions on legacy Reverend Harold Good helped organise the Lambeth Palace discussions on legacy

CRITICISM from a victims' group has led to the rescheduling of a second planned meeting on Troubles' legacy issues hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury's office.

The meeting involving British and Irish government officials, alongside republican and loyalist representatives, was due to be held yesterday in London.

The organisers said the meeting's postponement was "in recognition of criticism" but they said they were "committed" to continuing the discussions, which were initiated by Derry city centre manager Jim Roddy and a former president of Ireland's Methodist Church Rev Harold Good.

Described by the organisers as a "seminar" involving government officials, academics, senior republican Sean Murray and loyalist Winston Irvine, the first event took place at Lambeth Palace on November 2.

But when details of the meeting emerged lobby group Innocent Victims United branded it "a secret talks process which ignored victims".

In a joint statement, Mr Roddy and Rev Good said the follow-up meeting was being delayed following consultations with those involved.

The pair acknowledged they "should have done more to include a broader range of victims' voices in the conversation".

"We have decided to reschedule our follow-up discussions," the statement said.

"In the time remaining between now and Christmas and immediately after, we and our other stakeholders plan to engage in wider discussions with the victims' sector and others."