Libyan cash for IRA victims ‘a step closer’

VICTIMS campaigner William Frazer has said that a “major step” has been taken towards securing Libyan cash to compensate IRA victims.

The campaigner was part of a delegation that travelled to London to meet Alistair Burt, the Minister of State for the Middle East.

They are seeking £1.5bn in compensation and reconciliation packages for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi armed the IRA from the mid-1980s, supplying Semtex plastic explosive used in atrocities, such as the Enniskillen bomb in 1987 which killed 11.

Monday’s meeting comes in the aftermath of a recent Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report that slammed the Government’s lack of action to secure compensation from Libya.

Mr Frazer described the meeting with the Government as “positive” and said they are one step closer to obtaining compensation.

“I believe that they have now recognised, as have the Libyans, that there is a case to answer,” he said.

“The only thing we are disagreeing on is the timeframe. They are saying they need more time to settle things in Libya.

“It’s a major step as it has identified and recognised that there is a case to be answered and the government said they are prepared to work along with us to get this deal done.

“Now is the time to get victims compensated. We can’t wait another 10 years to get this done.”