Victims' support plan announced

Gerry Kelly and Jeffrey Donaldson announced the plan at the Wave Trauma Centre

A draft plan on how victims and survivors of the Troubles can be helped has been published.

The proposals, which outline a strategy for the next 10 years, were announced by junior ministers Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP and Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly.

A 12-week consultation period on the plans has begun.

Mike Nesbitt of the Victims Commission said it provided the opportunity "for the first time to replace short-term anxiety with longer-term certainty".

He said the plans would help "victims groups who are grant-dependent, and therefore wonder every year whether the money is going to come through, whether they will be able to afford to keep their staff".

'Sensitive'

Mr Donaldson said: "There is no issue more sensitive or difficult to deal with for the Executive than that of how to address the needs of victims and survivors.

"We hope that this document will help to move us on the road to making a real difference to the lives of those who have been most affected by the events here over the last 40 years."

Mr Kelly said: "The Executive set aside £36m to meet the needs of victims and survivors over the next three years - however, we want to ensure that future support and services are shaped by victims and survivors.

"It is important that everyone with an interest in victims and survivors issues read this draft document carefully and gives us their views."