Victims 'pawns' in policing row

The Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) spokesman said the government is trying to implement a strategy, which doesn't reflect the views in the reports sent in by victims groups.

Mr Frazer - who lost a number of relatives through IRA violence over the past forty years - made the comments in the wake of First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness announcement of the publication of the Strategy for Victims and Survivors recently.

"The government are trying to implement their own ideas and disregard the victim's views. How many times do we have to tell government what we want and what we need?" asked Mr Frazer.

"We at FAIR feel this is merely an attempt to brush the past under the carpet.

"There appears to be a level of blackmailing going on to force the DUP into making a deal on policing and justice and we believe that the victims issue is being used as a bargaining chip.

"FAIR and other such groups have the capacity to go worldwide and set up networks, but when it comes to our own government, they will not listen due to influences from people like Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams," he said.

The Ministers said the publication of this strategy places the needs of victims and survivors at its centre and marks a step change in the way that we will provide support to victims and survivors.

"Two of the main strands of the strategy are in place, the Commission for Victims and Survivors and the recently established Forum.

"We are currently analysing all of the responses from our recent consultation on the proposed Victims and Survivors Service which will become the funding and delivery body responsible for providing support to victims," they argued.

But Mr Frazer says the victims issue is being marginalised. He said: We understand that the victims issue has been dropped down the ladder in terms of priority.

"If they think the fight is over with the victims issue or our fight for justice is over they are very much mistaken. We will not be used as a bargaining chip for policing and justice or as a trading card in a political stalemate.

"If need be we will be back on the streets again in 2010. We had hoped that 2010 would have been a more positive year for victims, but the government appear unwilling to make that happen.

"We have paid a heavy price for policing and justice throughout the years and refuse to have victim's issues toyed with in political games."

Copies of the Strategy for Victims and Survivors are available from the Victims Unit in hard copy. It has also been published on the OFMDFM website.