Justice for the Forgotten fights for survival

Fianna Fáil/Green Government axes funding

to only victims’ group in 26 Counties

Scene of the Dublin bombings, May 1974

THE work of the only group representing conflict survivors and bereaved in the 26 Counties is being wound up after the Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government refused to restore its funding. Justice for the Forgotten’s funding was axed last year and the group’s repeated appeals to the Irish Government have been rebuffed by Brian Cowen and John Gormley.
Stephen Travers, survivor of the 1975 massacre of three of his fellow musicians in the Miami Showband, expressed disbelief that the Irish Government was refusing to support the work of Justice for the Forgotten.
The Miami Showband members were murdered by members of the British Army’s Ulster Defence Regiment who were also in the UVF and linked to the bombing of Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974 in which 33 people were killed.
Justice for the Forgotten applied for funding in the Six Counties but were also refused there.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on victims’ issues Francie Molloy MLA pointed out that the legislation in the North recognises victims and survivors regardless of the jurisdiction in which they reside. He revealed:
“Efforts to secure money from victims funding streams in the Six Counties were blocked by the DUP. This was disgraceful and the DUP need to explain publicly why they are so opposed to a group set up to campaign for the truth around UVF bombings, a group that provides support to those injured or bereaved from throughout Ireland.”
Confirmation of the Fianna Fáil/Green Government refusal to restore funding came after the second anniversary of the July 10th 2008 unanimous Dáil motion calling on the British Government “to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents held by the British government relating to the atrocities inquired into by Judge Barron” (i.e. fatal attacks in the 26 Counties involving collusion).
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin challenged Taoiseach Brian Cowen to say what action he had taken on this motion. Cowen admitted that he has not even raised it with either former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown or the new Tory/Lib Dem PM, David Cameron. Speaking in the Dáil debate on the Saville Report on Bloody Sunday, Ó Caoláin was scathing of Cowen:
“It is a disgrace that the Irish Government has cut funding for the only victims’ group in this state, Justice for the Forgotten. It is equally disgraceful the Taoiseach has failed to raise with the British Prime Minister this Dáil’s unanimous call for the British Government to furnish to an international judicial figure all files in its possession relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the other fatal acts of collusion in this jurisdiction. I call again on the Taoiseach to act.
“He could not wait for the ink to dry on the Saville Report before inviting the English queen to visit but he made no effort to progress that unanimous Dáil resolution by pressing the issue with the British Government.
“We know from the history of the Bloody Sunday relatives’ campaign how the British system works so assiduously to conceal the information in its possession. Persistence has paid off before and it is required again to vindicate the families who have been campaigning so long and hard under the banner of Justice for the Forgotten.”