Dublin hears stories of the Troubles at emotional event

SEVERAL victims of the Troubles spoke at a moving and powerful event in the Mansion House last week that was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Nial Ring, 

The special evening was organised by the Truth and Reconciliation Platform (TaRP) that was established in 2016 to give victims of the Troubles, regardless of their political, religious or cultural backgrounds, an opportunity to speak for themselves.

Among the speakers were Alan McBride, the husband of Sharon McBride, who was murdered in the Shankill Fish Bar Bombing in 1993; Joe Campbell, the son of RUC Sergeant, Joseph Campbell, who was murdered at Cushendall in 1977 and Eugene Reavey, whose three brothers were murdered at their family home in South Armagh in 1976.

Also speaking on the night was the chairman of TaRP, Stephen Travers, a survivor of The Miami Showband Massacre of July 31, 1975.

The platform offers victims the opportunity to tell their own stories – in their own words – so that the terrible consequences of political violence are never forgotten and the mistakes of the past are never repeated.

"Unfortunately, today, the politics of suspicion and division are once again gathering for the perfect storm which can quickly convert public anger to violence,” Mr Travers pointed out on the night.

Mr Travers explained that TaRP, which is supported by The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, plays an important role in defusing such anger through the testimony of people who know, from their own experiences, the real consequences of such violence.

“It is essential that their voices must be heard if we are to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past,” he insisted. “The doctrine of the use of violence as a legitimate, political expedient or as a justifiable instrument for social change must be exposed for the evil that it is.”

Mr Travers, who was the subject of my 2007 book ‘The Miami Showband Massacre – A Survivor’s Search for the Truth’, said that in the 40 years since the terrible attack that cost the lives of his fellow band members – Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy – he had travelled to various troubled parts of the world.

“Having addressed radicalisation awareness conventions and organisations across Europe that study the cause, effect and prevention of terrorism I am convinced, more then ever, that there is no more efficient deterrent to violence, a more effective antidote to racialism or a more valuable instrument of reconciliation than the testimony of the victim,” he added.

Stephen’s story features as part of the new Netflix documentary ‘Remastered’. The Miami episode will air in March 2019.