21 September 2000

MINISTER WELCOMES TRUST INVESTIGATION INTO PRISONERS' AID GROUP

Mr Mark Durkan MLA, Minister of Finance and Personnel, commenting on the recent find of bomb-making components in the Shankill Road premises of the Prisoners' Aid and Post Conflict Resettlement Group, said: "I am obviously concerned by the find of terrorist equipment in premises used by the Prisoners' Aid and Post Conflict Resettlement Group, a project that has been funded by the European Union's Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

"I welcome the decision of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, (NIVT) which is responsible for the selection and management of projects under this part of the Fund, to suspend all payments to the Group and to begin an immediate investigation. Officials from the Northern Ireland Office and my Department will keep in close touch with the Trust about the progress of their investigation. We have also been in contact with officials in the European Commission to consider what further steps need to be taken."

 

NOTES TO EDITOR:

The Prisoners' Aid and Post Conflict Resettlement Group has received a number of grants through the European Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace 1).

The money has been paid from the Northern Ireland Office to the NIVT, the intermediary body involved in these projects to provide for the running costs of the premises, for the salaries of development workers, project co-ordinators and a minibus.