Statement by TUV leader, Jim Allister:-
“As the Justice Bill has made its way through the Assembly multiple amendments, including those dealing with the abortion issue, have been tabled and accepted for debate by the Speaker.
“Thus, I am disappointed that an amendment, which I tabled for the Further Consideration Stage, that would have removed terrorists from the definition of “victim and survivor”, has been rejected for debate by the Speaker.
“Since the passing of the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 one of the greatest insults to innocent victims is that the definition of victim used in the Order equates the victim-maker with his innocent victim. This is rightly the source of great resentment by innocent victims.
“As the Justice Bill contains a Part devoted to miscellaneous amendments of the law, it seemed to me an appropriate vehicle to address this long running sore by removing terrorists from the legal definition of victim.
“The blocking of the amendment means the obscenity of equating the perpetrator with their victim will continue. I believe all innocent victims will share my dismay that even debate of the issue is not possible.
“My proposed amendment was in the terms below.”
Justice Bill proposed draft amendment:
New Clause
After Clause 59 insert—
59A. In section 3 of the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, at the end insert –
“(3) Nothing in this Order enables an individual to be treated as a victim and survivor of a conflict-related incident if that individual has been convicted of an offence arising out of that conflict-related incident.”.