Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“If Sinn Fein had any decency – which, of course, they don’t – they would pay the court costs for the legal action taken over the delay on a victims’ pension.
“It was Sinn Fein belligerence and bigotry that caused this case and it is, therefore, reasonable that the substantial legal costs should be paid by the party. The political wing of the IRA abused their position in government in an attempt to deny victims the pension to which they were rightly entitled.
“It adds insult to the injury already caused, both by the fact that this case had to be brought at all and Martina Anderson’s crass attempt to blacken the name of innocent victims, that the taxpayer should have to pick up this bill.
“Once again Northern Ireland has been reminded that having Sinn Fein in government comes at a high price.”