The South East Fermanagh Foundation, which is based in Lisnaskea and acts on behalf of those killed or injured by the IRA during the Troubles, has welcomed the setting up of the four-strong Victims' Commission.
However, Fírinne, which acts behalf of those killed or injured at the hands of the security forces, and others, sometimes as a result of collusion, described the change in the the position from one Commissioner to four as, 'astonishing?'.
" It can seem absurd', said a spokeswoman. "However, now that the green light has been given to these appointments, Firinne will work to ensure that this collective Commission will most certainly labour for those people in Fermanagh who have been directly affected and have been the most vulnerable and marginalised during the political conflict.
"Firinne will want to see the Commission fully understand and represent the many experiences of victims of State violence in Fermanagh on a level playing field with all other victims.
The four Commissioners include the interim Commissioner, Bertha McDougall who was appointed by the then Secretary of State, Peter Hain. However, her appointment was successfully challenged in the Courts by the widow of a Belfast man who was killed by a plastic bullet on the grounds that her posting was a sop to the DUP.
Now, Mrs McDougall, whose own husband, a RUC Reservist was gunned down in 1981 by the INLA in Belfast City Centre will be joined by UTV broadcaster, Mike Nesbitt, Brendan McAllister who has been involved with parades' disputes, and Patricia McBride, Derry.
BELLEEK
Ms McBride has a Fermanagh link in that her brother, Tony (he used the Irish form of the name, Antoin MacGiolla Bhride) and an SAS officer died in a gun battle as his unit was placing a bomb where the road to Belleek meets up with the roads from Pettigo and Kesh on 2nd December, 1984.
Alan Madill, the spokesman for the South East Foundation, said his organisation welcomed the announcement, 'albeit much later than we would have preferred'.
"A Commissioner would have probably have been preferable to a Commission", he went on, "but this is a positive step forward and we will be able to work with most of the Commissioners.
"The appointment of Bertha McDougall is good news. She will be able to bring continuity to the Commission and it should mean that they can work forward on the basis of her Report (made last year with recommendations on future needs of victims) and not have to start the consultative process all over again".
Referring to the extra £6m funding (to the existing £25m), Mr Madill said this was welcome, although he insisted it needed to be targeted 'in the right places where it will do the most good'.
"I would hope it will continue into the future, well past the three-year point. Funding, therefore needs flexibility, with adequate core funding and staffing levels for groups like ours, sustainability and continued small grants so activities can be targeted where they are needed".
Turning to other victims' groups, without identifying them, Mr Madill commented: "There are, though, a few groups who are funded at the moment and who do little or nothing for any members they may have except engage in political activities.
"Funding for groups such as these has to be seriously looked at as there are other groups doing good work who should be funded instead".
COMPLEX
He went on: "We can now move forward and deal with the complex issues there are out there.
" A lot of people still need support and we in the South East Fermanagh Foundation should be able to continue with the support we offer our members".
SDLP Fermanagh South Tyrone Assembly Member Tommy Gallagher said the announcements had come as a surprise and one that could pose potential difficulties.
But, he said criticism of the appointment process should not overshadow the important issue: "We have to make the most of what we have got. We need to move on for the sake of the victims.
While the Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott said there needed to be a monitoring process that ensured money approved by the Victims Commission was not swallowed up by statutory agencies and organisations.
Turning to the way the Commissioners had come into being suggested, in his mind, that the First and deputy First Minister could not agree on the appointment of a single commissioner. He wondered how an important issue such as the appointment of Commissioners is allowed to leak out.
