Andrée Murphy hails from Dublin but has lived in Belfast since 1994.
She is the Deputy Director of Relatives for Justice, a national victim support NGO which provides advocacy and therapeutic support for the bereaved and injured of the conflict. Holding a Masters Degree in international human rights law, Andrée's particular expertise and research on women affected by conflict trauma has seen her provide evidence to the United Nations in Geneva and to Congressional hearings in the US.
Andrée is a columnist for Belfast Media Group and is a regular contributor to broadcast media, providing political analysis and commentary.
IN less than a fortnight, almost coinciding with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, our society will be immersed in laws of impunity, disregard and denial with the Legacy Act.
NEVER in my lifetime has a Taoiseach been on Teilfís Éireann talking about the aspiration to Irish unification and put the case for its desirability. On his way out the door, Leo Varadkar managed to pull off the unlikely and the exceptional – he became the modern Irish patriot we needed in a week when small-minded begrudgers tried to reduce the national debate to the last farthing and tell us our boundaries for self-determination.
In one 24-hour period, the nature of the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people plunged to even deeper depths of inhumanity and crossed every red line of international law, with complete impunity.
THIS Easter weekend O’Connell Street will be closed off in front of the GPO as the Rising of 1916 is officially remembered by the Irish government at the site of the most remarkable moment in Irish history, where men and women, mostly working class Dubliners, knowing they would be militarily defeated and would likely die, declared an Irish republic for men, women and children.
THE introduction of the word 'reconciliation' to the debate on a United Ireland is, to say the least, interesting.
THE referendum results in the South on definition of care and family teach us much, but mainly: How not to run a referendum.
"BRIDIE Brown is the most robust woman I have ever come across."
I MAY have mentioned this before, but when I die I want my ashes sprinkled on Black Mountain, Dún Chaoin and on Hill 16.
BEFORE the Brexit vote in 2016 the internalised 'Northern Ireland plc' solution was having a day. All seemed rosy in the sunny uplands of the union.
IN a week of historic developments, the attendance of both Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly at the graduation of six PSNI officers in Garnerville was certainly worth noting.
GETTING down to the business of “government for the people” is always framed by an insinuation of constitutional bias – or maybe more than insinuation. From Day One of discussions about what is “acceptable” from devolved politicians we hear calls about “finding common ground” and working together on “bread and butter issues”.
THE nature of change on this island really could not have a more stark example than the contrast between unionism/loyalism and republicanism/nationalism this week.
APPARENTLY some unionists are affronted that nationalists believe that Stormont is not up and running because they cannot handle the republican woman from Coalisland, Michelle O’Neill, being in the position of First Minister. And apparently saying that unionism doesn’t want Michell O’Neill as First Minister might be “dangerous” because it would suggest that the DUP is sectarian.
STANDING watching the snow fall, as if to make the ground and the air we breathe clean again, I think of the 100,000 public servants forced to strike for dignity, safety and decent pay.
IAN Jeffers became Victims Commissioner in the same month the British government published their Legacy Bill. The office was predictable clunky in response while experienced advocates across Ireland engaged comprehensively with these heinous proposals. However, Mr Jeffers recovered some credibility by launching his office’s findings on the needs of the bereaved of the conflict and recommended a scheme of reparations for all bereaved. Albeit in his last week in the office.