Families of Bloody Sunday victims are among almost 200 who have signed an open letter to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant.
They identify themselves as relatives of people killed by the British Army or RUC during the Troubles, whose deaths have not resulted in anyone being held accountable.
The letter expresses concern and anger at the tone of recent discussions on how to address the legacy of the conflict, saying their lived experiences have not been given sufficient consideration, with the focus instead on veterans.
They are calling on Mr Bryant to address what they describe as a hierarchy of victims.
Letter in full:
Dear Mr Bryant,
We are writing to you as families whose loved ones were killed by the British Army or the RUC during the conflict.
None of us has ever had justice through the criminal justice system.
No successful prosecutions have ever resulted from the deaths of our children, parents or siblings.
We have listened with great concern and growing anger to the tone of recent discussions about how to resolve the legacy of the conflict.
We have read government statements and press releases and followed debates in parliament and recent media interventions made on the legacy – our legacy. It is as if we don’t exist and the only ‘real victims’ are veterans.
We are entitled to lawful legacy mechanisms that serve all victims of the conflict and are human rights compliant.
The tone of the ‘debate’ to date – in parliament and in the media – has been depressing and retraumatising for us as immediate relatives.
There has been a de facto amnesty for state forces to date, as evidenced by the lack of investigations, prosecutions or even official acknowledgement that the state also caused great harm and suffering over decades.
You are creating a hierarchy of victims which gives preference to those who killed our loved ones, which is morally wrong and cannot be justified. You must redress this.
Any future legacy mechanism which is biased towards veterans and enforces this hierarchy of victims will not be lawful and will fail. Any such mechanism will not command our support or confidence.
