The compensation scheme for victims of the Stardust disaster has been slammed as an absolute shambles.
A number of key commitments given to victims and survivors have been reneged on by the Government.
This is utterly disgraceful according to Lynn Boylan MEP.
The Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin has long been a supporter of the Stardust families, and has insisted that the government needs to go back to the drawing board with the scheme, labelling it as not-fit-for purpose in its current format.
Consultation, Exceptionality, and issues around the Barrington tribunal are some of the major issues that have caused even more hurt to the victims, and to their families according to MEP Boylan.
“There was a commitment given to the families that a consultation process would be used to design the scheme, but there has been zero consultation.
“Many of the families first heard about this scheme when it was announced by the Minister today.
“Another key issue is around exceptionality. Simon Harris is on record in the Dáil committing to a sliding scale of compensation for the victims.
“However, the scheme announced by the government today will use a flat rate, contrary to what the government committed to.
“There is also the major issue of the compensation being paid only to those who went through the Barrington Tribunal.
“This tribunal was deeply traumatising, and divided the tightly knit community for years.
“The government was implored by the families to not repeat the mistakes of the past, but they have utterly ignored these pleas.
“This scheme feels like a box ticking exercise, that has been created with no regard or respect for the victims.
“The government needs to take it back to the drawing board and put a proper compensation scheme in place for the victims of the Stardust disaster.”
