The Victims of Terrorism: An Assessment of Their Influence and ...

An International Comparison: Israel, Northern Ireland, and Terrorist Spectaculars 33claims have historically focused on Republican needs and concerns (FAIR, undated). Feelingignored by governments in both Dublin and London, the organization has staged a numberof protests and meetings to express its unease with everything from the governments’ seemingdisinterest in securing border safety to the gradual release of IRA terrorists from prison(“Group Concerned About Border,” 1998; Dee, 2000).Leveraging the support of members of Parliament Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds,FAIR has organized a number of prominent media and parliamentary opportunities. In thespring of 2002, members made statements before Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrats,voicing their outspoken opposition to the granting of blanket amnesty to terrorists whohad yet to be tried (Dempster, 2002). In March 2004, FAIR began to urge Prime MinisterTony Blair to demand that Colonel Moammar Gadhafi compensate the victims of IRA violencefor the explosives and arms the Libyan government supplied to the IRA during the1980s. Members of FAIR, as the families of terrorism victims, compare their situation to thatof the Lockerbie families, which eventually received payment from the Libyan government(Henderson, 2004). Accusing Prime Minister Blair of ignoring victims’ needs, the organizationarranged for a meeting with an American who has worked 20 years in Libya’s oil industry.Acting as Gadhafi’s intermediary, the anonymous American agreed to discuss the group members’requests for financial compensation with Libyan officials (Anderson, 2004).On the international front, members of FAIR began lobbying efforts in the United Statesas early as 1999. Group leader William Fraser successfully gained the attention of U.S. politiciansduring several trips (Walker, 1999). In later meetings with 9/11 victims and then-head ofthe U.S. Department of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, members sought to spread the truthabout sectarian violence in Northern Ireland (Dempster, 2004).Established in October 1998, Families Achieving Change Together (FACT) is anothersupport group in Northern Ireland for the innocent victims of terrorism and their families(FACT, undated). Although the Web site makes no reference to supporting either side of theconflict, cofounder Janet Hunter lost her 20-year-old brother, Joseph McIlwaine, a UDR soldier,to IRA violence in June 1987 (“Support Group to Change Its Name,” 2003). Janet, alongwith her husband David, have run the Lisburn-based victims’ group to help similarly bereftindividuals. The group’s activities have answered the need of many people in Northern Irelandwho felt lost and alone in their struggles prior to having sought assistance through FACT’s supportnetwork (Walsh, 2002). Originally Families Against Crime by Terrorists, FACT changedits name in the fall of 2003, a change that Janet Hunter considers a positive reflection of thegroup’s first few years of work (“Support Group to Change Its Name,” 2003). To reach out tothose feeling isolated or ignored by society, the government, or other agencies, the organizationoffers free support through social events, regularly scheduled meetings, a drop-in supportcenter, and therapy sessions (FACT, undated).In 1991, the families of 40 people killed by security forces in Northern Ireland cametogether and formed Relatives for Justice (RFJ) (Bowcott, 1991). A Belfast-based organization,RFJ provides support services throughout the province to help those directly affected bypolice, army, and loyalist paramilitary violence (RFJ, undated; Bowcott, 1991). Acting in thiscapacity, the organization coordinates group and individual counseling sessions. Through allof these efforts, RFJ hopes to give victims and their families the tools and strength needed