Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Jeff: NI parties must agree on legacy plans
Unionist politicians promise victims they will oppose amnesty proposal
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NORTHERN Ireland parties must agree alternative proposals to replace the controversial plan to end Troubles prosecutions, the DUP leader has said.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson accused the Government of ignoring the opposition voiced by victims and all the main Stormont parties to its statute of limitations proposal.
He said while the local parties were set to vote against the plans at Westminster there was also an onus on them to draw up other measures that would gain the support of bereaved families.
In July, the Government published a command paper outlining its intention to prohibit future prosecutions of military veterans and ex-paramilitaries for Troubles incidents predating April 1998.
The Government has not yet published draft legislation that would give effect to the plan but Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has signalled a Bill will be tabled in Parliament this autumn.
Sir Jeffrey was attending an event in Co Tyrone yesterday for families of Ulster Defence Regiment soldiers killed during the conflict.
He said it was a “matter of concern” the Government appeared intent on pushing ahead with measures many victims have branded an amnesty.
Sir Jeffrey added: “I don’t believe the path to healing and reconciliation in Northern Ireland is made easier when you dispense with access to justice.
“I think it is incumbent upon us as political parties to put forward proposals that reflect the needs of victims across Northern Ireland.”
Jennifer Jordan, whose father, a former UDR member Clifford Lundy, is among six members of her family who were killed by terrorists, urged the Government to “get a backbone”.
She thanked Sir Jeffrey, as well as Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie and TUV chief Jim Allister, for attending the event, but urged they get together and put pressure on the Government.
Mr Beattie described soldiers as having adhered to the law, while terrorists “adhered to nothing”.
He said: “Every time they went out the door their rationale was to murder men, women and children.
“Members of the UDR proudly stood up between the terrorised and the terrorist and they stopped it and people are trying to vilify you and your loved ones in doing so and we simply cannot allow that to happen.
“We have been let down time and time again and we’re about to be let down again. This amnesty, statute of limitations. We cannot and will not be supporting that in any shape or form.”
Mr Allister described the UDR as “being vilified”, adding “that being so vilified is testament to its success”.
He slammed the “pernicious” peace process which included the release of terrorist prisoners in 1998, as well as comfort letters for on-the-run terrorists, and described the current legacy proposals as part of the “same appeasement process”.
Their rationale was to murder men, women and children DOUG BEATTIE ON TERRORISTS YESTERDAY