Urgent Need for Bereavement Payment Scheme
A senior judge has called on Stormont politicians to urgently develop a payment scheme for individuals bereaved as a result of the Troubles.
Mr Justice McAlinden, president of the Victims' Payments Board, expressed his deep concern that many bereaved individuals remain ineligible for support under current arrangements.
The board is responsible for assessing applications to a Troubles pension scheme designed for those who sustained physical or psychological injuries through no fault of their own.
Addressing an assembly committee on Wednesday, the judge emphasized that
"something has to be done for the bereaved".
He cautioned that bereaved individuals are being
"retraumatised"by the process of applying to extend the scope of the existing scheme.
"It does me great upset to think that there are a whole category of individuals, namely the bereaved, that I can't do anything for,"he said.
Describing the issue as
"a nettle that has to be grasped by the politicians,"he addressed The Executive Office scrutiny committee, urging collaboration:
"We need a scheme for the bereaved. Let's work together and construct a scheme for the bereaved,"he stated.
Mr Justice McAlinden added that resolving this matter was
"not beyond the wit and wisdom of the combined resources in this room"and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Thousands of Applications Under Review
The judge made these remarks during a committee session focused on the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, which will close to new applications in August.
This scheme provides payments to individuals who suffered physical or psychological injuries during the Troubles through no fault of their own.
Since its inception, approximately £139 million has been disbursed to eligible applicants, the committee was informed.
More than 13,200 applications have been received, including about 950 from applicants outside Northern Ireland.
To date, nearly 4,800 determinations have been completed, with roughly 3,000 applicants deemed eligible and the remainder ineligible.
Paul Bullick, representing the Victims' Payment Board, informed assembly members that processing all applications could take up to five years.
"Most of the applications still have not been through the full process and they have to be determined,"he said.
Prolonged Trauma Due to Delays
Mr Justice McAlinden remarked that the administration of the scheme
"will go on probably beyond my lifetime".
He stressed the importance of expediting application processing:
"Because delay is an enemy of healing. Delay gives the potential to prolong trauma,"he added.
The concept of a Troubles bereavement payment was initially proposed over two years ago by the Commission for Victims and Survivors.
According to an advice paper, such a scheme could benefit approximately 13,000 individuals and incur costs exceeding £130 million.
This would involve one-off payments of £10,000, applicable regardless of the circumstances surrounding the death.
