A new report on Ageing and social exclusion among former politically motivated prisoners in Northern Ireland by Ruth Jamieson, Peter Shirlow and Adrian Grounds has been published by Changing Ageing Partnership.
This report describes a study investigating the well-being and social and economic inclusion of former politically motivated prisoners in Northern Ireland. They constitute an important group of Northern Ireland‟s ageing „conflict generation‟. The research was funded by the Changing Ageing Partnership, and was carried out with the assistance of both loyalist and republican prisoner support organisations. The fieldwork included a survey of 190 former politically motivated prisoners (117 republicans, 73 loyalists), focus groups, and 25 in depth narrative interviews. Almost half those surveyed were not in paid employment; this may reflect both health related disability, and continuing structural and legal barriers associated with conflict related convictions. Over three-quarters of those surveyed had experienced financial problems since release. Fewer than half of those who were still of working age had made ten years of contributions to any kind of pension scheme and none will have built up eligibility for a full basic state pension when the reach retirement age. The lack of employment and pension entitlements have stark implications for impending poverty in old age.
To read the full report: Ageing and Social Exclusion Report
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