Speaking after hosting an event to mark innocent victims of terrorism day Jim Allister said:
“I was delighted and humbled to be able to host another event to mark European Day for Innocent Victims of Terrorism. Too often the experiences and ongoing needs of the victims of terrorism are overlooked by the powers that be so it was good to be able to bring this event back to Stormont after two years when, because of COVID, we had had to change our plans.
“The Senate chamber was filled beyond capacity by innocent victims from the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. It was a particularly fitting venue this year as we heard the testimony of Paul Wilson whose father, Senator Paddy Wilson, was murdered by the UFF and is commemorated by a plaque just outside the Senate chamber.
“Tanya Williams-Powell, a granddaughters of Thomas Niedermayer, gave us a moving account of the multigenerational impact of IRA terrorism while Mary Hornsey, whose son Paul was murdered alongside Lord Mountbatten at the tender age of just 15, read some very poignant poems she composed following her son’s murder.
“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 an aspiring First Minister 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 Tanya Williams-Powell, Mary Hornsey and Paul Wilson for their contributions and Kenny Donaldson and SEFF for their help in making the event a success”.