Call For Troubles Victims To Receive Special Pension Payments

Victims who have not been able to build up workplace pensions due to injuries sustained during the Troubles should receive special pension payments, according to campaigners.

The Injured Group at the WAVE Trauma Centre have written to MLAs, MPs, Church leaders and other opinion formers urging them to back their campaign.

Sandra Peake the CEO of WAVE said: "It is estimated that there are around 500 people with these types of permanent life changing injuries.

"The levels of compensation paid through the adversial Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme were wholly inadequate and there was no disability discrimination legislation to protect them.

"Frankly these people were not expected to live beyond a few years.

But they have and the passage of time has compounded their problems as many suffer increasing physical distress, as a result of deteriorating health and chronic pain.

"Most of them are moving into old age without the financial security that they otherwise would have had."

Alan McBride of WAVE said: "We have had numerous meetings with all the local political parties from 2011 to the present.

"They are all on record as saying they support the idea of a pension for severely injured.

"But saying they support it is about as far as it has gone.

"Unfortunately the Injured Group have hit a brick wall with regard to the two Executive parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, who are unable to agree about who is eligible for a pension.

"Every one of the Injured Group at WAVE and the vast, vast majority of the other severely injured have suffered horrendously through no fault of their own."

(CD)