Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:
“I was humbled and privileged to host an event this morning to mark European Day for Victims of Terrorism. This important occasion was marked each year since the election of Jim Allister to the Assembly and I was pleased to be able to continue that tradition.
“We heard moving testimonies from Colette Murray who lost her brother in a sectarian murder carried out by loyalists, Pamela Wilson who lost her RUC officer father David Dorsett in a murderous IRA bombing, Caroline D’Eath – daughter of UVF victim Gerald D’Eath – and David McCaughey whose cousin Dougald McCaughey was one of three Scottish soldiers murdered on 10th March 1971.
“The Senate chamber was filled beyond capacity by innocent victims from the length and breadth of Northern Ireland.
“Today’s event was a welcome corrective to the attempt to airbrush victims from the record and a reminder of what innocent people suffered. At a time when the self styled First Minister for all claims that there was “no alterative” to such actions the need to mark victims’ day has never been greater.
“I would like to express my thanks to SEFF and Ulster Human Rights Watch for their help in making the event a success. I also appreciated the co-sponsorship of the SDLP’s Patsy McGlone and UUP leader Mike Nesbitt.”