Reconciliation - What does it mean?

Raymond McCord, veteran Victims and Survivors Campaigner comments on the Truth Recovery Process

Reconciliation is a much used word relating to the Troubles. What does it mean? Does it mean we reconcile ourselves with the murderers of our family members or with the government agencies which were fellow "activists/combatants" in many of these murders?

‘Combatants’ is now used instead of murderers and paramilitaries, and to me that is legitimising the murderers and terrorists. Political correctness should not be part of truth and justice.

Just listen to some spokespersons who clearly adopt different attitudes towards murders carried out by some organisations compared to others, including the security forces. It seems some murders aren’t considered as bad as others, depending on who carried them out.

Murder is murder. I believe there should be no amnesties for murderers. I believe in the due process of the law. Prosecutions, investigations, inquests and civil actions must be conducted within the framework of truth and justice. I certainly do not want to be "reconciled " with my son Raymond Jr's murderers, I want them prosecuted.

Why is it that it’s only victims who keep raising these issues? Why are our politicians not consistent in their support for victims and why have we, the victims, to push them constantly to even mention the victims of the Troubles?

Wouldn't it be remarkable if our political parties had it in their election mandates that truth and justice for all victims is their aim. Or is that taboo in terms of political correctness?

I believe victims,  and victims only, should decide if the murderers of their family members should be prosecuted: Not politicians, not the churches, not the spokespersons of victims groups, not academics, and not human rights organisations, no matter how good their intentions are.

It’s us victims that have to live with the consequences.

Finally would someone explain what reconciliation is, with whom and why it should take place?

Raymond McCord Victims campaigner North Belfast

Our Response:

Reconciliation is a difficult concept to define. In the Truth Recovery Process we start with the need to reconcile the facts first; the better to facilitate reconciliation between those involved. The Corrymeela Community, describes Reconciliation as “living well with and for others”.

The meaning will ultimately depend on the mutual understanding of those concerned. But to have any meaning it will need to include at the very least a meeting of minds, if not hearts.

‘Former combatants’ is a term we use because it is not judgemental and in some cases, even when it has been proven that one person has killed another, they may be found in a court of law not to be guilty of murder. This can also be the outcome in case where someone has been injured because of the actions of others.

We don’t agree that victims, and victims only should decide on whether prosecutions take place. The justice system is there to act on behalf of society. But we do want to give voice to the many Victims and Survivors who feel excluded, including the Silent Majority whose needs are so poorly addressed .

The Truth Recovery Process is not advocating blanket amnesties. It is proposing that where people come forward with verifiable information on events that caused death or serious injuries to others there should be a process, based on mediation for providing this information to victims and survivors.

Our proposal clearly states that the decision on whether to initiate this option must rest with victims and survivors.

It is primarily meant to address the vast majority of cases where there is no realistic possibility of a successful prosecution because of a lack of evidence. The Kenova Inquiry has shown how even well resourced, well led, very experienced investigative teams find it impossible to achieve the levels of proof required to launch a prosecution with a reasonable prospect of success.

We believe that when there are large scale communal conflicts there is a role for amnesties if we are to create the space within which society can heal and, hopefully, at least some of those most directly affected. This has been a standard practice under international customary law in the past because it has been acknowledged that the criminal justice system is not equipped to deal with the consequences of such conflicts.

Consequently, the vast majority of cases never reach the courts and many of those that do never achieve an outcome that satisfies the victims, survivors or any of the other parties. In many cases it results in further trauma and suffering.

We believe that where there is no realistic prospect of mounting a successful prosecution because of lack of evidence, or even basic information of who was involved - and where victims and survivors wish to opt for an alternative process, that opportunity should not be denied to them.

Full details of the Truth Recovery Process can be found on this website under ‘Documents’, the ‘Truth Recovery Submission’. This was made to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of the House of Commons in May 2020.