PM's Failure To Apologise Over State Agents 'Indefensible' – SDLP

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's failure to apologise for the role successive governments played in running state agents involved in criminality including abduction, torture and murder has been described as "indefensible".

SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood challenged the Prime Minister during PMQs in the House of Commons to abide by the recommendations of the interim report on Operation Kenova which calls for apologies from the British Government and the Republican movement.

Mr Eastwood said: "Last month the interim Kenova report into the activities of the agent Stakeknife confirmed that the IRA internal security unit was responsible for the abduction, torture and murder of children and vulnerable adults - what some would reasonably call war crimes.

"I said at the time that the use of agents like Stakeknife raised serious questions about the influence, oversight or control that intelligence services had over the IRA campaign. That's why the report recommends an apology from both the British Government and the Republican movement for action and inaction that led to preventable murders.

"To date neither has offered a specific or sincere statement of regret. The Prime Minister was given the opportunity to contribute to reconciliation and help victims and survivors today, it is indefensible that he refused it."