Much has been written and spoken about the victims and survivors of the NI Troubles/conflict but rarely are they given the opportunity to publicly speak out themselves about their experiences. They have been consistently told what’s best for them. Imagine being told your father or brother or sister or mother had been murdered and due to finance no proper investigation can take place. Then 20 years later politicians will not release the funds to even have an inquest. 20 years and the truth hidden and buried and you die before your murdered family member has had an inquest. That’s part of being a victim. Would you draw a line in the sand? Would you see yourself as the problem? While official reports, commissions and academic publications have their place, this event is an opportunity to hear what it’s like and the stigma attached to being a victim directly, rather than second hand, from some victims and survivors themselves. This event will be of interest to anyone studying the NI conflict or just interested in NI politics, and ‘legacy issues’ in particular. This event will give a different perspective of the life of a victim and the hell and trauma victims live with. Nothing in life is easy yet society tells us “to move on and draw a line in the sand", with no thought on truth and justice. Come and listen and then maybe judge us and how the "troubles" have been dealt with rather than how politicians, academics, civil servants and the perpetrators portray it all.
Speakers include: Raymond McCord Michael Gallagher, Cathy McIlvenny, John Taggart, and Kate Nash. Victims of the paramilitaries and the security forces from different parts of the country sitting together. Something our politicians could learn from.