Fear of upsetting the 'consensus' does nothing to aid reconciliation

Belfast Telegraph, January 8th, 2024. LETTER OF THE DAY: LEGACY

Sam McBride is as perceptive as usual in his article on 'The dangers of consensus' (Jan 6). He demonstrates how the understandable desire to achieve this in a deeply divided society such as NI can lead to disastrous results. In this instance, he cites decisions relating to the environment that put everyone's future health and wellbeing at risk.

We would argue that the same, uncritical approach applies to legacy issues. Universal condemnation of the deeply flawed Legacy Act has not, unfortunately, led to any meaningful discussion of a viable alternative. Instead, all of the parties repeat the mantra that the only acceptable alternative is “truth and justice” through the courts, even though the judicial system has failed to address the needs of more than a tiny fraction of Troubles victims and survivors. As well as doing little for reconciliation, the present system disenfranchises huge numbers of victims who know their story will not be heard in the courts.

The Truth Recovery Process CLG has been proposing that an alternative to the courts should be available for people who wish to pursue it based on a system of mediation. While several public figures have privately told us they believe this is an option that should be considered, none has so far been willing to join the public debate for fear of upsetting the 'consensus'.

In this instance, 'consensus' means perpetuating a system that keeps society deeply divided over its past and does nothing to aid reconciliation.

For those not familiar with our proposal, it provides for conditional amnesties where: victims and survivors choose to exercise such an option to the courts; the system would be subject to judicial oversight but would operate through a mediation process; victims and survivors would be compensated by the state; former combatants commit to engaging with victims and survivors, if the latter so wish; former combatants' testimony would be subject to verification; former combatants could not incriminate others.

Padraig Yeates

Secretary, Truth Recovery Process CLG