Family Research and Policy Unit meet in Clough

Family Research and Policy Unit meet in Clough

1 August 2018

REPRESENTATIVES from the Co Armagh-based Family Research and Policy Unit were in Clough last week.

Billed as a legacy consultation outreach event, the panel included victims’ campaigner William Frazer, Ulster Unionist justice spokesman Doug Beattie MLA, the DUP’s Maynard Hanna and victims’ advocate, Alan Lewis.

Panel members discussed the proposed legacy institutions which the Northern Ireland Office currently have out to public consultation, with Mr Lewis highlighting the importance of finding what he described as an “agreed and suitable way in dealing with the past”. He argued what is currently being proposed is not acceptable to unionists.

Mr Lewis continued: “The Historical Investigations Unit would be the equivalent of setting up a parallel police force, with a self-defined definition of collusion, paving the way for republicans to further their re-write agenda.

“The message in Clough last week was clear — no matter how it’s dressed up, coloured or sold, the Historical Investigations Unit will not work, nor will it be accepted.”

During his address, Mr Lewis suggested the current head of the police ombudsman’s office should resign “to reinstate confidence within unionism”. He argued there needs to be an acceptable and agreed mechanism to secure not only truth, but justice and closure.

“The investigation and review of historic troubles-related murders currently sits with the PSNI legacy branch and the police ombudsman, the first of whom regards it as a burden, the second an opportunity to facilitate a particular narrative,” he claimed.

Mr Lewis argued unionism must have a conversation within itself to prepare to not only participate in the proposed legacy institutions, but to “derail the so-called republican rewrite.”

Concluding his address, the victims’ advocate added: “Where was the equality for Clough man, Charles Watson, murdered by terrorists in front of his young children and where was truth, justice and closure for John Moreland, who was murdered by terrorists while working in Downpatrick.”