UUP tackles Bradley and PM May over legacy issues

THE Government has been urged to reveal its plans to address the legacy of the Troubles.

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said he raised the matter when his party met the Prime Minister and Secretary of State Karen Bradley in Stormont yesterday.

“The Secretary of State confirmed that the consultation on legacy received nearly 17,000 responses, many very personal and harrowing stories,” he said. “I understand that many of the responses showed a lack of support for many of the legacy proposals, in particular for the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU).”

Mr Beattie said it was now four months since the legacy consultation closed and a way forward must be found. But he said his party does “not support the structures of the deal that was agreed by the DUP and Sinn Fein at Stormont House, because it was not balanced, was not victim-centred and simply would not work”.

“Our position has not changed. We told the Prime Minister that the proposals were problematic for us and we could not endorse or support them,” he added.

The former soldier said it would be a “major mistake” for the Government to ignore the fact that “what was agreed at Stormont House... does not have sufficient public support”.

He added: “Without a doubt Sinn Fein will try to use legacy as yet another red line to prevent or delay the restoration of Stormont, but in doing so they will be using victims for their own political ends.

“Likewise, if the DUP try to force through what they negotiated without the support of the people through this consultation, then the Northern Ireland Office and the Conservative Government need to realise that such a course of action will not end well.”