Libya Quizzed Over 'IRA' Compensation

The DUP's campaign for compensation from Libya continued this week.

Senior DUP figures yesterday met with Libyan diplomatic representatives in London as part of their campaign on behalf of victims of IRA violence - which was in large part funded by the country's leader.

MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds, (pictured) both of whom have been campaigning on victims' issues for a long time, met with the Libyan Charges des Affairs in London for 45 minutes. In a joint statement the DUP MPs said: "There will be no let up in our campaign for justice for those who lost their lives or loved ones as a consequence of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

"Today's meeting was positive and constructive. We laid before the Libyans, the need for victims to have closure on this issue and that this requires a process involving Libya to happen as quickly as possible," the stetement said.

"We emphasised the fact that it was good that Libya was trying to cease being a pariah state, but that for the process of normalisation to be completed, the issue of justice for UK victims had to be addressed and resolved.

"We have now formally requested for a delegation including victims, to travel to Tripoli and we await developments.

"We will continue to work for justice for those who suffered as a consequence of Libyan involvement in terrorism," the two MPs stated.

The pair hope to go to Tripoli soon to meet Colonel Gaddafi to press further for compensation for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA violence.

The London meeting was the first time Libyan officials have met anyone to discuss the campaign for compensation.

Afterwards, their officials declined to comment to BBC journalists.

(BMcC/KMcA)