Progress made in compensation move for Gaddafi-IRA victims

A BID to secure compensation for victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism has taken a step forward.

UK victims are among the last in the world to receive funds from Libya over Semtex supplied by the Gaddafi regime.

In the early 1970s and later in the 80s, Semtex was used as a booster for bombs used in atrocities including the 1987 Enniskillen bomb and the 1996 Docklands blast in London.

Victims of Libyan Semtex from the United States, France and Germany have already received compensation.

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey (right) has assured UK victims that efforts are ongoing.

He brought a Private Membill bers’ Bill to Westminster aimed at giving powers to the Treasury to seek access to the £9.5bn of Gaddafi assets frozen in London under UN and EU resolutions.

Yesterday Lord Empey said that the bill is now moving to its final stage in the House of Lords.

“My Asset Freezing (Compensation) Bill [HL] passed its Committee stage in the House of Lords without amendment,” he said.

“As a result of there being no amendments, there is no necessity for a report stage. Instead, the bill will now go forward soon for its third and final reading before being passed to the House of Commons.”

When the passes through the House of Lords, it will be sponsored in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell (Romford).

Lord Empey said he has full confidence in Mr Rosindell — who is the chairman of the all-party Parliamentary support group formed to help victims of Gaddafi-sponsored terrorism — to progress this legislation. “I want to see a full debate on the issues raised by the bill on the floor of the House of Commons,” he added.

Last September the Government rejected a call from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee for a UK reparations fund for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA attacks.