Alliance Party Conference: The North's political parties must campaign for a realistic healing process, the Alliance Party's deputy leader, Ms Eileen Bell, told the party's conference.
Ms Bell expressed reservations about establishing a South African style Truth and Reconciliation Commission, citing one counsellor who advised her that such a process would only "set off a further spiral of retribution" in Northern Ireland. "The one absolute truth is that too many people suffered and are suffering, too many people died and are still dying. We must seek to deal with that, rather than setting up useless tribunals, a bonanza for the legal profession and a third-rate publicity stunt for governments," she said.
"What we must concentrate on is healing; a realistic healing process giving succour to all who have been affected. Political parties must play their part by lobbying for funding to achieve this. Support must be given to all victims no matter whence they come; we must do away with the current hierarchy of victims," added Ms Bell.
During a debate on crime and disorder Mr Stewart Dickson, chairman of Carrickfergus District Policing Partnership warned of a growing problem of "unruly behaviour" and a developing "culture of lawlessness".
"Too many of our constituents are continually living under fear. Their human rights are being undermined," he said. "More and more people are growing up, or even worse being brought up, with no respect for the law, and no understanding of the value of the rule of law to their own lives."
He spoke in favour of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders which he said had been used to some positive effect in Britain since 1999. Home Office research found that they had delivered real improvements in the quality of life in numerous communities.
"There is a groundswell of support among the police, district councils and some public sector agencies for the introduction of these orders into Northern Ireland," added Mr Dickson. Alliance's justice spokesman Mr Stephen Farry warned against allowing some anti-social behaviour to "fall through the jurisdictional gap". All public bodies should be made "legally accountable" for crime reduction, he said.
Delegates also spoke against fox and deer hunting, hare-coursing, badger-baiting and called for a ban on all hunting with dogs. Ms Jayne Dunlop told the conference that such hunting was unnecessary and cruel.
