A decade after the paramilitary ceasefires, life for ordinary people in Northern Ireland is worse now than it was in 1968, Catholic cleric Monsignor Denis Faul has said.
The prominent Co Tyrone priest painted a grim picture of areas dominated by and living in fear of armed groups, and cast doubt on the merits of a truth and reconciliation forum.
In a homily, Mgr Faul – an outspoken critic of paramilitary and state violence since the start of the Troubles – stated: "Things are worse than they were in 1968. Eight armed groups rule."
He told the Irish News last night (Monday): "How many people were killed in 1968? How many people were exiled in 1968? How many people were ordered to leave their homes?"
The eight armed groups Mgr Faul specified were:
- Provisional IRA
- Real IRA
- Continuity IRA
- INLA
- UVF
- UDA
- LVF
- Red Hand Commando.
"Then you have the druggies. They seem to carry out a private war of their own. That was not the situation in 1968," he said.
"Because we have had 30 years of conflict, the gun has entered into Irish life and it is a dominant factor in many communities.
"The use of guns, and the fallacy that power comes with guns and the fallacy we can make progress with violence has led to this," he added.
Mgr Faul said there "can be no politics in Northern Ireland without healing, without mercy".
"The adversary way politics is pursued in this community, very much on the attack, it needs to be softened, needs to be more merciful and compassionate," he said.
"This community has been through 35 years of suffering. We must not confine our sympathies to sectarian lines, we have to cross our sectarian lines with our sympathy towards the widows and orphans, the people who are hurt."
Asked if he believed the establishment of a truth and reconciliation forum to address Northern Ireland's past would help the healing process, he said: "I don't think so. I think it is a thing you can't model. This place is far too small for that – it could lead to more trouble.
"We have enough mechanisms – we have human rights groups, equality groups, political parties, religious groups.
"Victims are entitled to full justice, court cases and tribunals.
"All of us should do more than we are doing for the victims to bring them solace and consolation, hoping our efforts will bring a sense of forgiveness and mercy towards each other in the community, and that will lead to peace."
