The father of a man murdered by loyalist paramilitaries says victims have been “betrayed” by politicians, 20 years after the Good Friday peace agreement.
By Eddie Trower
Raymond McCord remains incensed following son Raymond Jnr was beaten to death by the Ulster Volunteer Force in North Belfast in 1997 and his body left in a quarry.
He alleged those behind this week’s events marking the 1998 landmark deal which largely ended the Troubles were frightened of hearing the truth.
“I think it has been an absolute disgrace, it has really annoyed me.
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“These events have been full of political people, middle-class people and academics.”
A conference at Queen’s University Belfast on Tuesday saw the assembling of Agreement architects ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, US President Bill Clinton, former talks chairman George Mitchell, ex-Irish
premier Bertie Ahern and former political leaders in Northern Ireland.
Mr Clinton, Mr Blair and other political leaders have explicitly referred to victims of the conflict during anniversary events.
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There is a degree of accord between the DUP and Sinn Fein on how to deal with the legacy of the 30-year conflict. but efforts to restore the devolved power sharing institutions have foundered over an Irish language Act.
Mr McCord has declined an invitation to a conference at Queen’s next month.
Speaking generally he said: “These events have practically excluded victims from Northern Ireland, I am not talking about victims from the unionist community, this is all victims.
“Twenty years after the Good Friday Agreement victims have been betrayed by politicians.”
Mr.MCcord is pressing for an inquest into his son’s death, adding: “Why should we be doing this 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement?”
The victims’ campaigner voted against the Agreement in 1998 because of the early release of prisoners.
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