Police Sue Over NI Trauma

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http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...459542,00.html

Police Sue Over NI Trauma
Updated: 12:59, Monday November 07, 2005



More than 5,000 police officers are suing the authorities in Northern Ireland, claiming they have been traumatised by 30 years of terrorist atrocities in the province.

If the compensation claims succeed, the Government will have to pay out some £100m in damages.

The male and female officers, both serving and retired, are accusing police of negligence by failing to prepare them properly for exposure to violence during the Troubles.

It is believed to be the biggest group action case ever taken at the Northern Ireland High Court in Belfast and is expected to last until Easter.

The officers claim to have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

Trevor McIlwrath at court


They include former Royal Ulster Constabulary officer Trevor McIlwrath who was in court to hear the claims.

Some of the his former colleagues still serve in the new Police Service of Northern Ireland.

They admit accepting the risks of their job but allege that authorities failed to deal properly with predictable psychiatric and psychological consequences of harrowing duties.

A spokesman for the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which is backing the litigation, said: "This case is not about police officers complaining about trivial things.

"It is about people with real problems, in some cases suffering from serious and incapacitating psychiatric illness as a consequence of years of relentless and repeated exposure to horror, hatred, violence and death.

"They were exposed to those things in order to protect us."

[Terry]

wow, imagine being sued by 5000 people!!! well gd luck to them i say!!

[Hellfighter]

will it will not cure them at all, its sad thing will last a life time, but hope it will help with the bills to get thier life back in order.

[Dr. Bullet]

exposure to horror, hatred, violence and death.

Welcome to Earth guys...and for God's sake, don't go to the Middle East. Y'all might have a heart attack or something

EDIT: No joke, if I was the judge presiding over that, I'd tell them to suck it up. They knew what they were getting into. Certain factions in Ireland have been pissed since the 1800's. How could they not know that the Irish would have hatred and be violent towards them?

[BADDOG]

While I sympathise with the trauma some people go through in violent times it's part of the job when your a soldier, policeman or even a civilian if your unfortunate enough.

We all have bad memories from our service days, some things we'd rather forget and some we will never forget but when you put on a uniform then war, death and heartbreak are all part of the job unless your very bloody lucky!!!!

Regards

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Originally posted by Dr. Bullet
Welcome to Earth guys...and for God's sake, don't go to the Middle East. Y'all might have a heart attack or something

am.. i think they have every right to sue, i live here, ive seen it all (not the major incidents of the 70's/80's, but the 90's was bad enough,less than a mile away from me there is a row of atleast 20-30 houses that are litrally blown up from the troubles people (related to the police and army) kidnapped while they were sleeping, been shot in the knees to stop them from walking or running (this happened up until last year). i wouldnt compare N.I to the middle east.. the main problem was that the police were not given enough rights (still are not) they get fireworks, bombs, bottles, petrol bombs ect. thrown at them and they got scrutanised for firing a plastic bullet, or hitting someone in defense. one of my friends uncle used to work for the RUC (old name for the PSNI) one day he was getting into his car to drive to work and he lost both of his legs because of the bomb. from what i have witnessed i would say that N.I at time was worse than the middle east (hard to believe, but talk to soldiers/PSNI officers or even civ's to what it was like to live here (even ask me, and i havnt been around for all of it) the policing board/government didnt do enough to protect their employee's at risk.. but anyone who was involved or lives in Britain im sure didnt expect what would happen whenever the army moved in to help secure and wipe out any resistance.

most people forget that its just not about those who were killed, but those who had to move due to attacks, in Belfast an estimated 20,000 people were forced out of their homes during the troubles (mainly families related to the RUC or Army or any mainland British companies)

now the link i am posting has violence and some may be offeneded.. so dont click it if your under 18..

Click here

This video shows what the PSNI went through, 1980-2000



watch some of the videos, and then think about what they went through. i might get around sometime tomorrow to take pictures of some of the bombed out houses that former army and PSNI workers lived in.. you will see that this is worse than the middle east, in the middle east it isnt a full time battle/frued its random.. in N.I it is constant, doesnt matter what time of the day or night it is, you could be driving along a road (this has happened) and suddenly you are stopped by a group of armed terrorists (terrorists been the IRA, as thats what they are) they ask for your passport, if it was an Irish one, you could drive on, of it was British related they would attack you (even killed), then after that your family is attacked

i still do agree that they knew some of the risks, but i doubt they thought they would get bombed and shot at (they were sent in as a peacekeeping force) and they might aswell have been sent in as statues, they had no rights, and with having no rights it lead to injuries and truama that could have been avoided

biggest post i have ever made i think.

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Originally posted by Dr. Bullet
Welcome to Earth guys...and for God's sake, don't go to the Middle East. Y'all might have a heart attack or something

EDIT: No joke, if I was the judge presiding over that, I'd tell them to suck it up. They knew what they were getting into.

Operaman sings..HALLELUJAO Thatso veryo co-signable!

[Dr. Bullet]

Yes it was traumatic, but they're all grown men. They certainly weren't the first to police the area or experience the voilence. If they hadn't thought it would be that bad, then I guess the thing is they just didn't think.

I think if anything is given them, give it like a gift card- here's a doc, see him at such and such time, get well soon. They won't use the money for their treatment, I don't care how traumatized they are.