Victims And Justice Must Be Focus Of Legacy Proposals – UUP

UUP Leader Doug Beattie has met with the Northern Ireland Office to discuss the Government's new proposals aimed at dealing with Legacy matters, and told them that the legislation must be both victim and justice focused.

Following the meeting, Mr Beattie said: "I met with NIO representatives and received a briefing on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. It is a complicated Bill and will require some time to look through it and scrutinise it in detail.

"However I have raised serious concerns regarding aspects of the Bill and told the NIO that the legislation must be both victim and justice focused.

"In particular I want to see a mechanism emerge that can successfully and effectively target those who directed terror and gave the orders for shootings and bombings even if they themselves were not present to pull a trigger or plant a device. Terrorist Godfathers must be held accountable as must those who continue to justify their actions."