3 The Conflict and the Impact on Society
Overview - facts and figures
CHAPTER 3 | The Conflict and the Impact on Society
Overview
The conflict has had a significant impact on the lives of many in Northern Ireland and beyond. Thousands lost their lives, tens of thousands more sufered injuries which they continue to live with and few escaped unscathed either at an individual or a community level. There [...]
Understanding perspectives and defining victims
Understanding Perspectives
As Chapter 2 of this Report has pointed out, if society is to move towards reconciliation, a way should be found to enable these differing perspectives to be shared and heard. Conversations need to take place in a safe environment and need to be supported. The differing perspectives on the nature and causes of [...]
‘Ulsterising the blame’ and collusion
‘Ulsterisation’ of the Blame
Former members of the security forces and their families expressed anger arising from their belief that they are now being made scapegoats for the actions of others, when they simply did what duty required during the conflict. Some went so far as to describe this as the ‘Ulsterisation’ of the blame. Some [...]
Victimisation of Communities
There has naturally been a strong concentration on individual pain and loss, often to the neglect of whole communities who have been victimised during the conlict. These were the communities that were least equipped to deal with the added burden because they were already the most socially and economically deprived. Such communities existed and still [...]
→ Read moreSectarianism
The impact of segregation and separation, driven by sectarianism, was increasingly evident throughout our consultation. There are a greater number of so-called ‘peace’ walls now than existed throughout the conflict. The costs attached to a doubling up of services are further evidence of how the past continues to infect our public life.
For many people [...]
Other areas of impact
Socio-economic issues
The exact impact of the conflict on the economy was diicult to quantify through our consultation and research. The Group heard stories of businesses lost through bomb explosions; of people being put out of business; of people getting business from only one side of the community, or only being able to access services in [...]
The Conflict and the impact on society
Defining the Impact on Society
Each section of the community in Northern Ireland defines the legacy of the conflict in its own way and explains the conflict from its own perspective.
Throughout the consultation many presented their individual and collective perceptions about what happened.
The following paragraphs attempt to summarise the perspectives that were presented.
If we are to [...]
