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This week the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) have announced that they are carrying out an investigation into the murder of 18 members of the Parachute Regiment by Provisional IRA terrorists, at Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, on 27 August 1979. This was the highest death toll suffered by the British Army during the Troubles. UHRW has welcomed the announcement of this development and has expressed confidence in the competence and motivation of ICRIR to deal with an atrocity of such significance in an effective and thorough manner.

UHRW Advocacy Officer Jonathan Larner said, ‘Many questions about Narrow Water remain unanswered. Central to progress with an investigation will be the extent to which the Republic of Ireland are willing to engage with ICRIR, bearing in mind that the murder was perpetrated from their territory and that suspects were arrested by Gardaí. Unfortunately, we would be concerned that assistance is unlikely to be forthcoming, despite the rhetoric of the Irish Government on Legacy issues and their clear obligations as signatory to the Belfast Agreement.’

Ulster Human Rights Watch is calling on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to give the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) a chance to prove itself before rushing to pre-judge its work and handing out brickbats.

UHRW Advocacy Manager Axel Schmidt said: “The assertions made by the Chief Commissioner of the NI Human Rights Commission lack even the flimsiest of evidence.

“The comments seek to undermine the ICRIR are paint a picture of it lacking independence. This flies in the face of High Court and Appeal Court rulings as well as UK Supreme Court determination, which is conveniently overlooked or ignored by Chief Commissioner.

“It would be far better, and certainly a more productive route to take, if the Human Rights body adopted a more constructive position before rushing to pre-judge the work of the ICRIR and handing out brickbats.

“Calling into question those who lead the ICRIR is akin to doing it down before it properly gets off the starting line.

“UHRW has a productive and business-like relationship with the ICRIR and in all dealings, we have found it to be open, transparent and willing to do its best. At no point, or in any case, did we see it seeking to obfuscate or frustrate.

“We will judge the ICRIR on the work it does for victims of terrorism – all victims of crime. Sadly, the Human Rights Commission doesn’t appear willing to give it the same opportunity which reflects poorly on that body and the people who are charged with ensuring human rights are upheld.”

Ulster Human Rights Watch, which supports innocent victims of terrorism, is urging a High Court Judge to re-consider his views that would put a terrorist on the same footing as their victims.

Mr Justice McAlinden, told a Stormont Committee recently that he would support a change in the Victims’ Payments Scheme that included everyone injured in a terrorist incident.

Reacting, Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “It is surprising for a senior judge to advocate publicly for a change in legislation that would appear to favour anybody claiming and obtaining compensation even if they are the author of a terrorist incident in which they were injured, or because they were bereaved after losing a loved one who was killed while in the act of committing a terrorist crime.

“The Westminster scheme rightly excludes those who were involved in terrorist activities and are not innocent victims and this should remain the case.

“However, what has been made clear is that the narrow interpretation given by the Victims’ Payments Board of being ‘present at the incident or in the immediate aftermath of the incident’ has resulted in excluding widows and children who lost their loved ones as victims of terrorist activities.

“Without fundamentally amending the legislation, it would be better if Judge McAlinden favoured and promoted an interpretation of the legislation that would enable innocent victims, like widows and orphans, to receive the payments they deserve for the trauma they suffered.

“Given the possible interpretation of the legislation, taking into account what is possible to be done, the Ulster Human Rights Watch would urge Judge McAlinden to reconsider his approach so as to deliver for those in our society who have suffered the most during the Troubles, in particular the innocent widows, widowers and children of victims of terrorism.”