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Meet the VFG

Judith Thompson

Judith Thompson

Judith’s commitment to promoting the interests of victims and survivors of conflict and trauma is based on more than 30 years working within justice organisations and in communities.

Appointed by Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers, Judith served as the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors of Northern Ireland’s troubled past from 2015 to 2020.

Her willingness to listen and ability to bring people together into safe spaces for conversation has marked her tenure.  Appointing and Chairing the Forum for Victims and Survivors Judith has nurtured a culture where everyone is respected and supported and where strong relationships have been built between members. The forum’s strength draws from these different opinions and experiences, and it has played a critically important role in developing Judith’s advice to government.

During her time in office, Judith has overseen significant improvements to how victims and survivors’ needs are being addressed. The long-standing campaign for the victims’ payment has been enshrined in legislation, a new needs-based approach to services for victims and survivors has been introduced, and a regional trauma network to address the mental health legacy of the conflict has been developed.

Prior to taking up her role as Commissioner Judith led the work of Skills for Justice, the licensed Sector Skills Council for Justice across the UK. She worked closely with the Police Service for Northern Ireland to support police reform and in reviewing and developing its response to victims of crime. She has been responsible for making sure the standards and competence frameworks for policing within the community are fit for purpose in Northern Ireland. She was also responsible for setting standards for work with victims and survivors,  and led the development of a Government endorsed qualification for Community Safety in NI.

Originally from England, Judith came to Northern Ireland in 1984 as a freshly qualified social worker. Her first job was as a probation officer in north Belfast, where she worked with victims and offenders on both sides of the many ‘peace lines’. She supported people experiencing death threats, knee-capping, intimidation, domestic and sexual abuse. She also saw the hardship facing women left holding their families together after their husbands or partners were imprisoned or killed.

These experiences gave Judith a deep understanding of the complex narratives that underly conflict and the impact that violence has on families and communities.

She hopes to continue building links internationally, where she is recognised as an advocate of victims and survivors in post-conflict societies. Judith has been part of peace negotiations in Afghanistan, visited Bosnia and hosted delegations from Switzerland, Israel and Turkey.

Maria McDonald

Maria McDonald

Maria McDonald BL is an Irish barrister called to the bar in 2007. Maria has acted as a consultant on issues relating to female genital mutilation, gender-based violence, criminal legal aid, international criminal law and victims’ rights. Her work has been referenced in the Seanad (Irish Parliament) and used for the filing of an amicus curiae brief before the International Criminal Court. From 2008 to 2014 she lectured part time at Dublin City University in subjects such as international human rights law, public international law and mental health law.

Maria is a founding member of the Victims’ Rights Alliance, a group of victim rights NGOs and human rights organisations who are working together to ensure that the Victims’ Rights Directive is implemented effectively in Ireland.

Maria is frequently asked to contribute to international reports on victims’ rights and has been invited to speak at numerous events abroad, including the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Victims of Crime International Forum and the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN). Maria is liaising with stakeholders in Ireland and abroad on the implementation of the Victims Directive in Ireland. Maria is also currently working with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties on ‘Developing an EU Training Model for the Victims Directive’.
Sue O’Sullivan

Sue O’Sullivan

Throughout her career, Sue has been an advocate for safe and healthy communities and for increased services to victims.
 
Sue began her distinguished career in policing in 1981, holding numerous leadership positions throughout her 30 years service until retiring as Deputy Chief of Police (Ottawa). Continuing with her work, and drawing on her background and interest in assisting those affected by crime, she began an appointed term as Canada's Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime in August 2010. Sue completed her term as Ombudsman on November 15, 2017.
 
During her time as Ombudsman, Sue has continually placed a strong emphasis on ensuring that victims' voices are heard at the federal level and has pushed for positive change for victims of crime in Canada, including making recommendations to the Government of Canada on legislative and policy amendments.
 
Sue's passion for change and dedication to those she serves has been recognised on numerous occasions.
 
Sue has a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Sociology with a subtitle in Criminology and Corrections (Carleton University) and is a graduate of the Police Leadership Program (OACP and the University of Toronto) and the Leadership in Counter Terrorism Program.
Mary Fetchet, LCSW

Mary Fetchet, LCSW

Mary Fetchet co-founded Voices of September 11th following the death of her 24-year-old son on 9/11. Her 21 years' experience as a clinical social worker shaped VOICES innovative approach to providing long-term support services for victims' families and survivors; creating the 9/11 Living Memorial Project to commemorate the 2,977 lives lost; promoting national preparedness and assisting communities impacted by other tragedies in the United States and abroad.

Under her leadership, VOICES published best practices - Preparing for After: Helping Victims of Mass Violence, and VOICES of Experience: Helping Communities Heal After Traumatic Events – and conducted an academic research project: Investigating the Long-Term Impact of Bereavement Due to Terrorism.

A strong victims’ advocate, Ms Fetchet testified before the 9/11 Commission and United States Congress on five occasions. She has received national recognition, including ABC News Person of the Year, NBC News Making a Difference and induction into the Hall of Fame at Columbia University School of Social Work.
Levent Altan

Levent Altan

Levent began his career in the UK Ministry of Justice before spending three years in the European Commission working on European criminal law. He followed this with two years in the Cabinet Office working for Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on European Justice and Home Affairs issues before moving on to help in the development of the UK’s Border control strategy.

In 2009, Levent joined the European Commission as a national expert tasked with writing a new EU Directive on victims’ rights. Over the next three years, he developed the European Union’s policy on victims’ rights, leading the development and negotiation of EU laws in the field including the EU Directive which establishes minimum rights for victims in 27 EU Countries.
 
Following a two-year stint leading a Justice and Home Affairs team in a European Consultancy, Levent returned as Executive Directive of Victim Support Europe in 2014 – the leading European victim advocacy network. For the last two years, he has been leading the organisation in its work to establish and improve laws and policies on victims’ rights as well as to improve victims support services in Europe. Levent regularly provides lectures and presentations around Europe on victims’ rights, policies and support mechanisms, as well as supporting capacity building work around Europe.
Alan McBride

Alan McBride

Alan McBride worked as a butcher on the Shankill Road when his wife Sharon, and father-in-law Desmond, were killed in a bomb attack at the family fish shop in 1993.
 
He has been actively engaged in peace building work for the past twenty years with various agencies and is currently co-ordinator of the WAVE Trauma Centre in Belfast, an organisation that provides care and support to individuals and communities impacted by the violence in Northern Ireland. 
 
Alan is a founder member of Healing Through Remembering, a charity set up to explore imaginative ways of dealing with the past.  He is also a Commissioner for Human Rights with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. 
 
Alan has a First Class Honours Degree from the University of Ulster and an M Phil in Reconciliation Studies from Trinity College Dublin.
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