Commissioner for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles
Encyclopedia
The Commissioner for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles was a Northern Ireland
political appointee responsible for coordinating the delivery and coordination of services for victims and survivors of the political violence
of the Troubles.
The office was established on 24 October 2005 by Peter Hain
, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
, who named Bertha McDougall
as the first (interim) commissioner http://www.nio.gov.uk/media-detail.htm?newsID=10962.
The Government had a public consultation on its proposals to enact legislation to establish the post of Commissioner for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland. This finished on 15 September 2006.
In January 2008 amid much controversy OFMDFM NI announced that the Commissioner was to be replaced by a cross-community four-person Victims Commission. This was seen as an attempt to be fair to all sections of the community, but some victims' groups were still unhappy at this new development
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
political appointee responsible for coordinating the delivery and coordination of services for victims and survivors of the political violence
Political violence
Political violence is a common means used by people and governments around the world to achieve political goals. Many groups and individuals believe that their political systems will never respond to their political demands. As a result they believe that violence is not only justified but also...
of the Troubles.
The office was established on 24 October 2005 by Peter Hain
Peter Hain
Peter Gerald Hain is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for the Welsh constituency of Neath since 1991, and has served in the Cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, firstly as Leader of the House of Commons under Blair and both Secretary of State for...
, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
, who named Bertha McDougall
Bertha McDougall
Bertha McDougall, OBE is the interim Commissioner for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles. She was appointed in October 2005 by Peter Hain to look at key areas relating to services for victims, funding arrangements in relation to services and grants paid to victims and survivors groups and...
as the first (interim) commissioner http://www.nio.gov.uk/media-detail.htm?newsID=10962.
The Government had a public consultation on its proposals to enact legislation to establish the post of Commissioner for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland. This finished on 15 September 2006.
In January 2008 amid much controversy OFMDFM NI announced that the Commissioner was to be replaced by a cross-community four-person Victims Commission. This was seen as an attempt to be fair to all sections of the community, but some victims' groups were still unhappy at this new development