Statement by TUV Comber councillor Stephen Cooper:
“William Shawcross’s evidence to the Northern Ireland Select Committee on his report into Libyan compensation to PIRA victims was a telling insight into the corrupt nature of the “peace process”. Mr Shawcross repeatedly made reference to the “complexities” of Northern Ireland. There was no recognition of the fact that when it came to Libyan links to terrorism there was nothing particularly complex about it. The weapons and explosives were smuggled to the IRA and used by Republicans to murder and injure innocent civilians and members of the security forces. Would it create difficulties for the process to compensate victims of IRA terror? What a telling commentary on the process that such a question can even be asked!
“It was most interesting that Mr Shawcross agreed to accede to advice that he should not meet with victims of the IRA or groups representing their interests. Given the remit of his report one would have expected that this would have been a very basic starting point! It would appear that from the off the Government was, once again, working against the interests of its own citizens who demand and deserve justice.
“That this was accepted so placidly by the members of the Northern Ireland Select Committee is revealing. Even when it emerged that Mr Shawcross had met with Republicans at Stormont he wasn’t challenged as to why he could find time to meet with those Republicans but not with those made victims by Libyan arms and explosives!
“It is an absolute scandal that the billions of Libyan assents which are frozen and the millions in interest which has built up over the years will not be used to compensate innocent victims who suffered at the hands of terrorists. What a contrast with the USA where millions were paid to the Lockerbie victims!”