Colin Worton's Innocence Undermined - Dickson

Compensation will not be provided to Colin Worton, who was held on remand but wasn't convicted of the murder of Adrian Carroll.

Alliance Justice spokesperson, Stewart Dickson MLA, has said several of his UDR colleagues were convicted but subsequently acquitted and given compensation for the time they had served.

Mr Dickson put forward his argument in an amendment in an Assembly debate but it was not agreed.

He said: "I think most people will have real sympathy for the experience of Colin Worton; it is deeply regrettable that he was ever placed in this difficult position. My sympathy also goes out to the family of Adrian Carroll.

"I have spoken to the Minister of Justice at length on this issue; his Department has looked at this case from a number of different angles, and indeed reviewed it following the evidence of the HET. However, unfortunately it is simply outside the Department of Justice's abilities to provide compensation for Mr Worton, because he was never actually convicted of a crime.

"The Minister of Justice cannot provide compensation to Mr Worton, as no means to do this exists. The inability of the Minister to provide compensation in no way undermines Mr Worton's innocence."

Robinson Remembers Lives Lost During Titanic Construction

DUP Councillor and East Belfast General Election candidate Gavin Robinson today remembered those who lost their lives during the construction of the Titanic, on the 103rd anniversary of the ship’s sinking. Prior to attending the commemoration in the grounds of City Hall to mark the sinking Ald Robinson laid a wreath The Yardmen sculpture on the Newtownards Road.

He said: "Over one hundred years from the sinking of the Titanic, the ship is one of the icons of East Belfast and of Northern Ireland as a whole. It represented our prowess in engineering and the economic powerhouse that Belfast was at that time.

"As we mark the 103rd anniversary of its sinking it is right that we also remember the eight men who lost their lives during the construction of RMS Titanic. Their memory is kept alive in East Belfast through the plaque on the side of the Harland & Wolff Welders Club. Those names include 15 year old 'catch boy' Samuel Scott from Templemore Street, who was the first shipyard worker to die during the construction. My colleague Sammy Douglas MLA unveiled a headstone in his memory in the City Cemetery back in 2011 also."

Call For Europe To Listen To The Voices Of Innocent Victims

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed innocent victims of terrorism to the European Parliament to tell their stories and give their perspective to high-level European officials.

Senior MEPs and representatives from the European Commission were in attendance as the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) held a screening of their recently released film in the European Parliament, hosted by Mr Nicholson along with Diane Dodds.

Mr Nicholson said: "I am glad that the South East Fermanagh Foundation have had the opportunity to come to the European Parliament. At the film screening, senior MEPs and European officials listened to innocent victims and their families tell their stories of how they live with the legacy of terrorism on a daily basis.

"SEFF provide an invaluable service to innocent victims of terrorism through various initiatives including counselling, respite support and public advocacy. We need to ensure that groups who represent and assist innocent victims and survivors of terrorism are given more support as they attempt to meet the needs of those who have suffered at the hands of terrorists."

(CD)