TUV denounces Attorney General’s amnesty call
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“I am appalled and angry that the Chief Law Officer, who should be the guardian of the rule of law, is advocating immunity for terrorists.
“What a kick in the teeth for innocent victims to have the Attorney General, no less, championing the long standing IRA demand that their ‘on the runs’ and anyone responsible for anything before 1998, should be free from the pursuit of the law. It is Amnesty.
“Moreover, by this crass proposal the Attorney General validates the terrorist claim that their crimes were different and not really criminal. Mr Larkin is not advocating amnesty for everyone, only for ‘trouble-related’ crimes; thereby endorsing the terrorist propaganda.
“Murder is murder, is murder. It has no sell-by date. It didn’t have for the Nazis, who have still been pursued. Northern Ireland’s criminals must equally never be relieved of the threat of the long arm of the law catching up with them.
“By this overtly political proposal the AG has entered the political arena. Instead of defending the immutability and sovereignty of the law, he has undermined it playing fast and loose with when it applies. He has done untold damage to public confidence that the law can and will deal with law-breakers.
“Since he put these proposals to Dr Haass, I’m glad that on Monday night I took time to deal with this very issue, when I had my meeting with Haass.”