No Compo For Terrorists: DUP

Victims, and not perpetrators should receive Troubles compensation.

Relatives of republican and loyalist paramilitaries killed in Northern Ireland's violent decades should be banned from seeking compensation, the DUP has said.

Referring to proposals earlier this year the Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past, MLA and MP Jeffrey Donaldson (pictured) said there could be "no moral equivalence between perpetrators and their victims".

He was speaking as he launched a public consultation on a private member's bill in the Assembly to narrow the scope of the definition of a victim.

"It is about how we deal with the past, and what we are not prepared to countenance is a rewriting of the troubles where the perpetrators, whoever they are, IRA, Ulster Defence Association whoever, who carried out acts of terrorism are placed on a par with the thousands of people they killed and maimed.

"I want to see the process moving on and a Northern Ireland that puts the past behind it but in seeking to deal with the past, it is important we clearly understand that there was wrongdoing and that wrongdoing is recognised," he said.

The Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past published proposals for a recognition payment to all victims which was dismissed by the government following very strong opposition.

The Bill's key changes would narrow the definition to exclude certain people like perpetrators of terrorism from the definition of victimhood.

It would ensure those responsible do not receive financial benefit from being defined as a victim under the current legislation.

However, Sinn Féin wants to widen the definition of perpetrators to include soldiers and policemen.

The DUP is in negotiations with other parties in the Assembly and believes it can get enough support to override Sinn Féin opposition.

DUP Leader and Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson backed the bill and said there was a difference between the families of killers and those of the innocent.

But, Sinn Féin spokesman on victims Francie Molloy said any attempt by the DUP to create a hierarchy of victims would be vigorously opposed by his party.

"Such a Bill from the DUP has nothing at all to do with the needs of victims."

See: Protest At Legacy Report Launch

(BMcC/GK)