Families of terror victims feel ‘ignored’
FAMILIES bereaved in the Republic during the Troubles have called for more State recognition of their loss as they attended a service for ‘hidden’ victims of the conflict.
Victims’ organisation South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) hosted its 10th annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving yesterday at St Tighernach’s Church in Clones, Co. Monaghan. It selected a venue south of the border this year, as the theme of the service was acknowledging ‘hidden victims of the Troubles in the Republic of Ireland’.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys attended the service, as did former justice minister Charlie Flanagan, and a senior Garda officer.
DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Deborah Erskine was among those who attended from north of the border.
Michael Donegan, whose Garda inspector father Samuel was murdered by the IRA at Butlersbridge on the Cavan/ Fermanagh border in 1972, said he and fellow victims felt they had been ‘ignored by the authorities’ and criticised what he said was a failure by the authorities in the Republic to offer therapy, counselling and other services that might help victims.
Anthony O’Reilly, whose 15-year-old sister Geraldine was one of two teenagers killed by a loyalist bomb in Belturbet, Co. Cavan, in 1972, also attended the service.
‘It’s been completely forgotten about,’ he said. ‘Nobody wanted to talk about it. It makes me feel, why was it forgotten about?’
Edward O’Neill’s father died and he was left with lifelong injuries after the 1974 Dublin bombings. He said the service was a chance to remember ‘forgotten’ victims of terrorism in Ireland.
Mr O’Neill was just four when he was caught up in the blast on Parnell Street, Dublin, part of the Dublin/Monaghan series of bombs that killed 35 people, including two unborn babies, in 1974.
SEFF director of services Kenny Donaldson said: ‘On legacy, both the UK and Irish states need to step up their responses. They need to cease burying their heads in the sand and respond to the legitimate needs of victims.’