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Ulster Human Rights Watch, which campaigns on behalf of innocent victims of terrorism, is reminding victims that the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme opens for applications in just six days.

UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, says victims must not lose out on the payments which can be as much as £10,000 per year.

Mr Schmidt said: “Ulster Human Rights Watch is here with our partners to help innocent victims with the application process. Already, we have seen significant interest in the scheme with people contacting us directly for support.

“What we must avoid at all cost is genuine victims of terrorist violence slipping through the net because they find the process a bit bureaucratic or daunting.

There is considerable detail on the Victims’ Payment Board website (victimspaymentsboard.org.uk) but we appreciate that not everyone will be used to navigating online and will require some assistance.

“This scheme is long overdue, but at least it’s now up and running and our job will be to maximise the numbers of legitimate applicants who seek to avail of the financial help.

“The money paid under the scheme will help ease the financial burden faced by victims although it will never extinguish the pain and anguish many thousands still suffer.”

The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (TPDPS), which is due to open for applications on 31 August 2021, is providing informations sessions about the scheme. These will be held online at the following times:

Thursday 5th August – 2:30 pm
Tuesday 10th August – 7:00 pm
Thursday 12th August – 10:30 am
Thursday 12th August – 2:30 pm

Information about accessing these sessions is available through the following link:

https://www.uhrw.org.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Information-Sessions.pdf

If you wish to access support from UHRW in applying to the scheme click here for our registration form.

Ulster Human Rights Watch (UHRW) is calling on the Republic of Ireland Government to admit its own dark past in the continuing legacy debate.

UHRW Advocacy Manager, Axel Schmidt, said: “Dublin has some nerve lecturing anyone about the past and their own failings and misdeeds.

“Dublin should commit itself to being an honest broker in this debate. The Republic of Ireland has questions to answer about murders that took place on their own soil and alleged collusion that took place between agents of their State and republican terrorists.

“The Dublin Government should endeavour to have a positive input. Soldiers and others were abducted and taken across the border to be brutally interrogated and murdered. Then their bodies were transported back and dumped across the border.

“Where were the investigations by the Gardai? Why was extradition blocked at every turn? Why is Dublin not ready to admit to its grubby past with a view to delivering for victims of terrorism?

“Now, of course, we have Ministers lecturing the British Government on legacy matters when their own track-record is stained and kept under lock and key.

“UHRW request that Dublin open its records and do what Belfast has already done by making information freely available about terrorist attacks launched from the Republic of Ireland and the cloak of secrecy that was thrown over its ‘blind eye’ support for republican terrorists.

“It is time for Dublin to stop lecturing, to shine a light on its own dark past and fulfil its human rights obligations in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.”