Terrorists excluded from Troubles payouts

TERRORISTS will be excluded from the Troubles compensation scheme, the Government has announced.

According to new guidance, anyone convicted of causing serious harm during the Troubles should not be eligible for victims’ compensation payments, while those with a recent terrorism conviction of any sort will also be unable to access the money.

The guidance make clear that it would be inappropriate to award compensation to anyone guilty of offences such as murder, attempted murder or GBH.

It also outlines the mitigating factors that may lead the board to allocate the payments to someone with a serious conviction, such as whether the individual was a juvenile at the time, whether they had a mental incapacity, and whether they have demonstrated remorse and have not engaged in further crime since the conviction.

The announcement comes amid an ongoing political standoff over the implementation of the long-delayed scheme to support those physically or psychologically injured during the Troubles. The Government insists that Stormont should fund the payments, but ministers in Belfast insist the Treasury should contribute, highlighting the scheme will be open to victims who live in Great Britain.

The scheme, which should have opened to applications at the end of May, will pay out £2,000 to £10,000 a year depending on the severity of the injury.