18 June 2002

NI Memorial Fund appoint new Chairman

The Managing Director of First Trust Bank, Dennis Licence, has been appointed Chairman of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, the charity that provides support to victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

A Director of the Fund since its inception in 1999, Mr Licence will chair a board of 14 members including Daphne Trimble, wife of First Minister David, and musician Phil Coulter.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Licence said: "I am very honoured to continue working with the Fund. For many survivors of the Troubles it has now become the only source of financial and practical help.

"To date it has helped 4,000 victims with small grants of up to £500, provided over 603 people with short breaks and granted some £54,000 towards education or training programmes.

"The Fund has also provided financial assistance towards private treatment to individuals who are suffering chronic physical pain and the first state-of-the-art wheelchairs and artificial limbs for those men and women who received horrific injuries in the Troubles are now beginning to be provided."

Mr Licence added that much had been achieved since the Fund began but there were still many victims of the Troubles, particularly those individuals not involved in organised groups, who were unaware of all the assistance available to them.

(MB)