DIXON:
Ely Advocacy & Legal Service

This service was developed in recognition of our founder Mr Jim Dixon, a seriously injured survivor of the Enniskillen Poppy Day Bomb in 1987.

 

Prior to this event and since his horrific injuries, Mr Dixon and his wife Anna have dedicated their lives to lobbying, advocating and ensuring that the truth of what happened in Northern Ireland is never forgotten and that Victims are always remembered with the dignity and the respect they deserve.

 

In recent times this has included playing an instrumental role in fundraising and garnering support for Victims Memorials, collaborating with local universities, submitting formal responses to Government Consultations impacting Victims, storytelling programmes, archiving and publication productions, representing victims and empowering other victims to take their place on multiple civic forums.

 

This has enabled many victims to engage with local, national and European Parliaments and participate at international events describing their lived experiences.

 

Mr. Dixon has always had a fervent passion on ensuring that the truth of our troubled past be told accurately and compassionately to our current and younger generation, with the overall goal of ensuring future generations are equipped with knowledge on the emotional and physical heartbreak and the moral individual and societal cost that conflict brings to a society and how such awareness can influence future actions in a more positive way.

 

As we enter a new digital era, and although this service is currently unfunded, Ely will continue to play a role in ensuring that victims will be provided with a platform where these truths can be discussed and where victims can avail of that cathartic effect of sharing their stories with others if required.

 

Ely have a wide number of initiatives and programmes currently underway including our cultural museum, digital storytelling, rolls of honour, remembrance services and larger national projects which we are keen to develop further with you our clients as we all have our part to play in ensuring that victims are provided with safe spaces and opportunities to reflect and remember and that Northern Irish society can truly honour the suffering of our past.

 

Ely partner with a number of specialist Human Rights and Advocacy organisations to support our clients through their various legacy issues.

 

If you feel you would benefit from this support also please indicate this upon your referral form.
Being victimized as a result of terrorism , and engaging in the pursuit of justice or truth recovery systems for many victims and their families can be a difficult and daunting experience.
To make sure you and your family are getting the right support, it is important that you are aware of the rights or entitlements as a victim /survivor of terrorism.
Mechanisms for pursuing Truth & Justice include:
Storytelling may have for some as a therapeutic effect for those telling their stories and (it is a very useful process for ensuring the full human impact of the Troubles is recorded and victims respected.
  • Public Inquiries
  • Historical Investigation Unit (to be implemented)
  • The Office of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, and
  • Inquests through the Coroner’s Court
  • Individual or Group Legal Cases
The Ely Centre is here to assist you in this process of truth recovery and the pursuit of Justice and Remembrance for your loved one through any or all of the above mechanisms.
The Ely Centre can support you through a referral process available for any persons seeking advocacy and legal support with a number of expert Victims Advocacy Organisations with whom we have established partnerships with and who have many years’ experience and success in providing advocacy support to victims of terrorism.
Record your Experience and Digitally Archive the impact of terrorism on your life at one of our Storytelling sessions.
The Storytelling Forum creates the opportunity for you to speak about your experience as a victim of terrorism. Victims choose to tell their story for several different reasons. Some may want others to know what happened to them in an effort to prevent it from happening to someone else. For others, telling and re-telling their story may help them to make sense of what happened Family members of victims often share their story to memorialize a loved one.
The Ely Centre believes that recording the impact of terrorism on victims is vital and we provide that opportunity for victims to express their story and encourage you to do so.
Storytelling is a fitting Legacy activity; it is also a powerful learning tool for future generations, who must be made fully aware of the horror and the devastating impact terrorism has left on the Fermanagh and South Tyrone community.
Due to logistical and recording costs incurred in the Legacy and Storytelling Service. Members are requested to inform the office and arrange a time. Storytelling Sessions can be arranged to occur in the Ely Centre, Your Home or another suitable venue.
The Ely Centre has an Archive Centre were victims and their families can view our catalogue of recorded testimonies of victims who have suffered at the hands of terrorism in Northern Ireland. Due to the sensitive nature of the information, persons seeking to view the archive must contact the office and obtain prior permission from the Management.
The Archive Centre is a Living Legacy to the “Troubles”. This essential aspect of recorded history documents the physical, emotional, social, financial, spiritual and familial impact of terrorism and is a constant reminder of why victims need are support.
If you would like to archive your story please contact the office.
If you would like to refer to this service please drop into the centre, give us a call, or fill in the which should only take a few minutes.