TUV leader Jim Allister has written to the Prime Minister in the following terms:
Dear Prime Minister,
The recent huge settlements for families of those killed on “Bloody Sunday’ has stirred understandable questions among families of policemen and others murdered by terrorists at or about the same time.
Among those in touch with me is a police widow whose husband was murdered in 1975, leaving her with a 6 year old and a 4 year old and another child on the way. She got £1000 in criminal injury compensation plus a police pension – which she lost on remarriage (till I secured a change in the law a few years ago restoring such pensions).
When her treatment is compared with an award of £625,000 this week to a Bloody Sunday widow, then, the disparity is as obvious as it is shocking.
It is appalling how many victims and widows of terrorism were treated. Recent events must refocus attention on how the state compensated police and UDR widows in comparison with how the same state is now compensating Bloody Sunday relatives. There is a deficit to be made up to those who lost their lives serving the state.
So, what proposals have you to address this issue?
Yours sincerely,
Jim Allister