Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
Encyclopedia
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1998 in South Armagh
, Northern Ireland
. It describes itself as a "non-sectarian, non-political organisation" that works "in the interests of the innocent victims of terrorism in South Armagh."
, a South Armagh man who lost five members of his close family to Provisional IRA
violence during the Troubles
.
Frazer claims to represent those who feel marginalised by concessions granted to Irish republicans
during the Northern Ireland peace process
and by the inclusion of Sinn Féin
in its government
; a party regarded by many as the political wing of the Provisional IRA.
following the 1998 Belfast Agreement
and has called for full public inquiries into alleged collusion
between Irish authorities and republicans in the deaths of Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) officers, loyalist paramilitaries and Northern Protestant civilians. Representatives of FAIR met with the Smithwick Tribunal
for this reason.
However, Frazer has stated that loyalist paramilitaries
– who were also released – "should never have been locked up in the first place."
organisation) attempted to hold a protest march in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland
. Their expressed goal was to bring attention to their view of the plight of unionist victims of IRA violence. A riot by protestors against the march resulted in violence against the Gardaí
and damage to property and therefore, the march itself did not take place. The Love Ulster supporters withdrew under police cover and were ferried by bus to meet with Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell
. Though Republican Sinn Féin
and others were initially accused of orchestrating the riot, these allegations were later dismissed after investigation.
In 2007, FAIR and Love Ulster announced their intention to hold another march in Dublin. These plans were subsequently cancelled after a meeting with Irish government officials was offered.
, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment
, as a victim of IRA violence. McConnell was implicated in both the killing of the brothers of Eugene Reavey on January 4, 1976, and in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings
of 1974.
FAIR has also been criticised for supporting Ian Paisley
's 1999 allegation that Eugene Reavey was involved in the killing of ten Protestant civilians in the Kingsmill massacre
on January 5, 1976. FAIR rejected the Police Service of Northern Ireland
's dismissal of the allegation against Reavey by Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan
.
Controversy surrounded FAIR once more in May 2010 when its head researcher William Wilkinson was convicted of rape and attempted rape. Wilkinson was also a local councillor in Ballymena
for the United Unionist Coalition
. His appeal against conviction was rejected in July 2011.
In September 2010 the Special EU Programmes Body withdrew funding, totalling £880,000, from FAIR. The SEUPB said that this was due to "major failures in the organisation's ability to adhere to the conditions associated with its funding allocation" uncovered following a "thorough audit" of the tendering and administration procedures used by FAIR. It said: "The SEUPB is charged with ensuring the proper use of public money and as such has no option but to revoke all financial assistance, (amounting to approximately £880,000), that has been offered to the organisation. ... FAIR has been given every opportunity to respond to and address these issues. The decision to revoke and recover all financial assistance given to the project has not been taken lightly, however, given the seriousness of the issues no other recourse is available."
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Northern Ireland
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...
. It describes itself as a "non-sectarian, non-political organisation" that works "in the interests of the innocent victims of terrorism in South Armagh."
Leadership
FAIR is led by Willie FrazerWillie Frazer
William "Willie" Frazer is the founder and leader of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives in Northern Ireland. He was also a leader of the Love Ulster campaign.-Background:...
, a South Armagh man who lost five members of his close family to Provisional IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
violence during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
.
Frazer claims to represent those who feel marginalised by concessions granted to Irish republicans
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
during the Northern Ireland peace process
Northern Ireland peace process
The peace process, when discussing the history of Northern Ireland, is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments.-Towards a...
and by the inclusion of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
in its government
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
; a party regarded by many as the political wing of the Provisional IRA.
Political action
FAIR opposed the early conditional release of republican militantsPhysical force Irish republicanism
Physical force Irish republicanism, is a term used to describe the recurring appearance of non-parliamentary violent insurrection in Ireland between 1798 and the present...
following the 1998 Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
and has called for full public inquiries into alleged collusion
Collusion
Collusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage...
between Irish authorities and republicans in the deaths of Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) officers, loyalist paramilitaries and Northern Protestant civilians. Representatives of FAIR met with the Smithwick Tribunal
Smithwick Tribunal
The Smithwick Tribunal is a judicial inquiry being held in Blackhall Place, Dublin, Ireland, into the events surrounding the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan of the Royal Ulster Constabulary...
for this reason.
However, Frazer has stated that loyalist paramilitaries
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
– who were also released – "should never have been locked up in the first place."
Marches in Dublin
In February 2006, FAIR (as part of the Love UlsterLove Ulster
Love Ulster was a campaign conducted in Northern Ireland in 2005-08 on behalf of unionist victims of the Troubles, organised by the County Armagh Protestant victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives , led by Willie Frazer.-History:...
organisation) attempted to hold a protest march in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Their expressed goal was to bring attention to their view of the plight of unionist victims of IRA violence. A riot by protestors against the march resulted in violence against the Gardaí
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
and damage to property and therefore, the march itself did not take place. The Love Ulster supporters withdrew under police cover and were ferried by bus to meet with Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell is a Senior Counsel in the Bar Council of Ireland and a former politician. A grandson of Irish revolutionary Eoin MacNeill, McDowell was a founding member of the Progressive Democrats political party in the mid-1980s...
. Though Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin or RSF is an unregisteredAlthough an active movement, RSF is not registered as a political party in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. minor political party operating in Ireland. It emerged in 1986 as a result of a split in Sinn Féin...
and others were initially accused of orchestrating the riot, these allegations were later dismissed after investigation.
In 2007, FAIR and Love Ulster announced their intention to hold another march in Dublin. These plans were subsequently cancelled after a meeting with Irish government officials was offered.
Controversies
Critics have noted that FAIR has named Robert McConnellRobert McConnell (loyalist)
Robert William McConnell , was a Northern Irish loyalist who allegedly carried out or was an accomplice to a number of sectarian attacks and killings, although he never faced any charges or convictions...
, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
, as a victim of IRA violence. McConnell was implicated in both the killing of the brothers of Eugene Reavey on January 4, 1976, and in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings
Dublin and Monaghan Bombings
The Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 were a series of car bombings in Dublin and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. The attacks killed 33 civilians and wounded almost 300 – the highest number of casualties in any single day during the conflict known as The Troubles.A loyalist...
of 1974.
FAIR has also been criticised for supporting Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
's 1999 allegation that Eugene Reavey was involved in the killing of ten Protestant civilians in the Kingsmill massacre
Kingsmill massacre
The Kingsmill massacre took place on 5 January 1976 near the village of Kingsmill in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Ten Protestant men were taken from a minibus and shot dead by a group calling itself the South Armagh Republican Action Force...
on January 5, 1976. FAIR rejected the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
's dismissal of the allegation against Reavey by Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan
Ronnie Flanagan
Sir Ronald Flanagan, GBE, QPM, was the Home Office Chief Inspector of Constabulary for the United Kingdom excluding Scotland...
.
Controversy surrounded FAIR once more in May 2010 when its head researcher William Wilkinson was convicted of rape and attempted rape. Wilkinson was also a local councillor in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
for the United Unionist Coalition
United Unionist Coalition
The United Unionist Coalition, formerly known as the United Unionist Assembly Party, was formed by three unionist members of the Northern Ireland Assembly who were elected as "independent unionists" in 1998. They were Fraser Agnew, Boyd Douglas and Denis Watson...
. His appeal against conviction was rejected in July 2011.
In September 2010 the Special EU Programmes Body withdrew funding, totalling £880,000, from FAIR. The SEUPB said that this was due to "major failures in the organisation's ability to adhere to the conditions associated with its funding allocation" uncovered following a "thorough audit" of the tendering and administration procedures used by FAIR. It said: "The SEUPB is charged with ensuring the proper use of public money and as such has no option but to revoke all financial assistance, (amounting to approximately £880,000), that has been offered to the organisation. ... FAIR has been given every opportunity to respond to and address these issues. The decision to revoke and recover all financial assistance given to the project has not been taken lightly, however, given the seriousness of the issues no other recourse is available."