All victims count

I'm glad the UK government has created the post of Victims Commissioner because it's the first step towards what we really need: a Truth & Reconciliation Commission à la South Africa.

But Bertha McDougall's the wrong person. She meets the primary requirement of having lost a loved one - her husband - in the guerilla war, but he was an RUC reserve policeman, and - unfortunately - that doesn't sit well among Republicans, many of whom lost loved ones who belonged to organisations like the one that murdered Mrs McDougall's husband. Couple that with the fact that her appointment is so welcomed by the DUP and frowned on by almost all non-Unionist parties, and I'm afraid the poor woman doesn't stand a chance.

Politicians have to realise that hurt exists on all sides. Therefore the person to hold this important position should be acceptable to Unionists and Republicans alike, and if that isn't possible there should be two people appointed to work together as closely as Siamese twins. In many respects that would be a far better solution as it might encourage people from both traditions to mix more, and as regular readers will know, that's one of the Big things I believe we need.