Appeal to Northern Ireland veterans
The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust, set up by the parents of Tim Parry who was killed by a bomb in Warrington in 1993, is appealing to GB based Northern Ireland veterans to come forward to help with a unique project.
The Legacy Project – which works with GB based victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ – aims to identify the needs of former soldiers and families of those killed and injured in the ‘Troubles’ who may be suffering trauma or have other needs many years after the event.
Funded by the Northern Ireland Office Victims’ Liaison Unit the project has been working with former soldiers, victims of other GB bombings and emergency service workers since last year but now wants to contact those affected by their service in Northern Ireland in particular. Ex-services personnel, who served in Northern Ireland during the ‘Troubles’, witnessed incidents or were injured as a result of their time in Northern Ireland or incidents elsewhere in Great Britain are being asked to help with the project. Families of those killed or injured in service are also being asked to come forward.
Their information will help inform research into the long-term needs of those affected by the ‘Troubles’ and ultimately the types of services which are offered to GB based casualties, victims or survivors.
To date there has been little work with those who have been affected by the ‘Troubles’ and although work with groups who have been affected by the conflict is commonplace in Northern Ireland, there has been very little work with those affected in Great Britain.
Colin Parry, Chairman of the Trust says “Trauma in victims of major terrorist attacks is now recognised internationally but very little has been done to assess levels and seriousness of the impact on victims after the many major IRA bomb attacks in Great Britain. The armed forces and their families have also been greatly affected by incidents both in Britain and Northern Ireland. Our research will help us to deliver services to those affected and we feel confident that our work at the Peace Centre will lead to a change in the way that social and medical services help victims and survivors who are still suffering many years after the events”.
All information given will be treated as strictly confidential and anyone interested in participating in the research should contact the Peace Centre by phoning 01925 581229 (24-hr answer phone, please leave contact details), emailing on info@childrenforpeace.org or writing to The Legacy Project, Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust, Peace Centre, Peace Drive, Warrington WA5 1HQ
