10% of people in Republic say they meet legal definition of victim or survivor of Troubles
Executive Summary
The Commission for Victims and Survivors (CVS) commissioned Social Market Research (SMR) to undertake a survey of adults (aged 18+) in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) to assess issues relating to victims and / or survivors of the Troubles/Conflict in Northern Ireland. The survey is based on a sample of 1010 adults (aged 18+) using an online panel methodology. The survey was conducted in accordance with the ISO20252 Standard and fieldwork was carried out in March 2023.
Key Findings
Meeting the legal definition of a victim and / or survivor of the Troubles / Conflict
▪ 10% say they meet the legal definition of a victim and / or survivor of the Troubles / Conflict in N Ireland
Being affected in some way by the Troubles / Conflict
▪ 19% say they have a distant relative, neighbour, colleague, or friend affected by a Troubles/Conflict related incident
▪ 7% say their mental health has been affected by a Troubles/Conflict related incident
▪ 7% say they have been present at, or witnessed, a conflict-related incident or the consequences of such an incident
▪ 4% say they have been bereaved as a result of a Troubles / Conflict related incident and 3% say they have provided medical or other emergency assistance to an individual in connection with a conflict related incident
▪ 62% of those who said their mental or physical health has been affected by the Troubles / Conflict, say their mental or physical health continues to be affected
Addressing the legacy of the Troubles / Conflict, accessing services, a ‘Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme’ and the Irish Government paying regard to the needs of victims and survivors of the Troubles/Conflict
▪ 82% believe it is important to address the legacy of the Troubles/Conflict in the Republic of Ireland
▪ 79% support the view that victims and survivors of the Troubles/Conflict living in the Republic of Ireland should be able to access the same services and support as those living in Northern Ireland
▪ 75% support the establishment of a ‘Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme’ that awards payments to permanently physically and psychologically injured victims and survivors of the Troubles living in the Republic of Ireland
▪ 69% believe Irish Government Departments and their strategies and initiatives should pay regard to the needs of victims and survivors of the Troubles/Conflict
Teaching the history of the Troubles / Conflict in schools and familiarity with terms relating to Troubles / Conflict
▪ 43% believe teaching of the history of the Troubles/Conflict should be compulsory in all schools and for all ages (5-18) in the Republic of Ireland, with 22% saying it should be compulsory at secondary school level only (with 3% unsupportive of the history of the Troubles/Conflict being taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland)
▪ 58% say they have some familiarity with the terms ‘trans-generational’ and/or ‘inter-generational’ as they relate to the Troubles/Conflict
Commission for Victims and Survivors: ROI Population Survey (2023) www.socialmarketresearch.co.uk 4
Perception of how different events, institutions and organisations have impacted on victims and / or survivors of Troubles / Conflict
▪ 41% believe that community groups and organisations have positively impacted victims and / or survivors, with similar numbers supporting the view that the Irish Government (23%), and media coverage of victims and survivors issues (22%), have positively impacted victims and/or survivors
▪ 50% believe that Brexit issues (e.g. NI Protocol) have negatively impacted victims and/or survivors, with similar numbers saying that the UK Government (44%), and paramilitaries (46%), have negatively impacted victims and/or survivors
Conclusions
This survey shows that one in ten adults in the Republic of Ireland believe they meet the legal definition of a victim and / or survivor of the Troubles / Conflict in Northern Ireland.
A significant number say they have been affected in some way by a Troubles/Conflict related incident, with this more common among particular groups including men, younger age groups, those living in close proximity to the border, and those living in Ulster.
Having a distant relative, neighbour, colleague, or friend affected by a Troubles/Conflict related incident, is the most common way that people have been affected.
The survey estimates that 13% of those who either meet the legal definition of a victim and / or survivor, or who have been affected by a Troubles / Conflict related incident, currently access services. However, a significant number of those impacted by the Troubles / Conflict don’t currently access support or services but would like to.
The survey also shows that most (62%) of those who said their mental and physical has been affected by a Troubles / Conflict related incident, say that their mental or physical health continues to be affected.
Most (82%) adults in the Republic of Ireland believe it is important to address the legacy of the Troubles/Conflict in the Republic of Ireland, with strong support (79%) for the view that victims and survivors of the Troubles/Conflict living in the Republic of Ireland should be able to access the same services and support as those living in Northern Ireland.
There is also strong support (75%) for a ‘Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme’ (similar to that operated in Northern Ireland) for permanently disabled victims and survivors born in the Republic of Ireland, with a majority (69%) of adults also supporting the view that Irish Government Departments and their strategies and initiatives should pay regard to the needs of victims and survivors of the Troubles/Conflict.
Just 3% believe that the history of the Troubles / Conflict should not be taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland, with 43% of the view that teaching of the history of the Troubles/Conflict should be compulsory in all schools and for all ages (5-18). Almost six out of ten adults (58%) have some familiarity with the terms ‘trans-generational’ and/or ‘inter-generational’ as they relate to the Troubles/Conflict.
Most (63%) adults believe there should be some form of a permanent memorial relating to the Troubles in the Republic of Ireland, with community groups and organisations perceived to be most likely (41%) to have positively impacted victims and / or survivors. In contrast, Brexit issues (e.g. NI Protocol) are perceived by 50% of adults in the Republic of Ireland as having negatively impacted victims and/or survivors (50%).
To read the full details of the Survey go to: https://www.cvsni.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SMR-CVS-Report-FINAL-1-1.pdf
