Why is NI Memorial Fund being starved of funds by OFMDFM, asks Allister
01 October 2010
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
“I am appalled to discover that the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund is being starved of funds by OFMDFM. Six months into their financial year they have only received one quarter of their annual allocation, with £3m outstanding.
“There are indications that this is because of the perpetual deadlock in OFMDFM, with Sinn Fein refusing to sign off on the funding.
“The Memorial Fund does invaluable work with victims of terrorism. Their individual grants and help to those in dire need are often a life-line. Administered by an unpaid Board of Directors, who so selflessly give of their time to oversee the good work of the Fund, it is disgraceful that Sinn Fein politicking is frustrating their efforts.
“This latest episode of Sinn Fein’s bigoted belligerence underscores the need to remove victims’ funding from OFMDFM and transfer it to DFP, something I have long advocated. Quite apart from the obscenity of McGuinness having any controlling influence on funds for victims of his IRA, the dysfunctionalism of OFMDFM makes it unfit for purpose in controlling any funding for victims.”
