€9m fund will give help to families of victims

Bereaved family members of those killed in the Troubles, and other victims in this jurisdiction, will be able to apply for compensation…

Bereaved family members of those killed in the Troubles, and other victims in this jurisdiction, will be able to apply for compensation of up to €15,000 from a Remembrance Fund established by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.

The fund has an approved budget of €9 million over its lifetime and will be administered over its first three years by a five-person commission chaired by the former Minister, Mr David Andrews.

The commission will be empowered to make payments under several categories, including acknowledgment payments to bereaved families of people who were either killed in this jurisdiction, or resident here when they were killed.

Lump sum payments may be made to spouses or dependent children of people killed or resident here, as well as to injured victims resident here.

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Medical expenses, including home help expenses not already paid by another State agency, will also be covered, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

The Remembrance Fund and Commission have been established on the recommendation of the report of the Victims Commission.

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland

Kitty Holland is Social Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times