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Gaddafi: deal done over IRA victims

Monday, 26 October 2009

IRA victims’ trip to Libya

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Victims of IRA terrorism were given fresh hope of compensation from the Libyan government today after Colonel Gaddafi indicated that a deal had been struck with Britain.

In a rare interview, Libya’s leader Muammar al-Gaddafi said that “an agreement or a legal

agreement” had been concluded between his country and the British government — boosting hopes of official recognition for Libya’s role in arming the IRA at the height of the Troubles.

Speaking to Sky News in an exchange which was broadcast this morning, Col Gaddafi was asked by reporter Colin Brazier about the delegation of MPs who have been putting Tripoli under pressure to compensate victims of the IRA. They are due to travel to Libya next week to hold talks with Libyan officials about a possible package for victims of IRA terrorism.

Libya and IRA terror: deal is done, says GaddafiCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The delegation includes DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds.

When asked about the delegation’s mission, Col Gaddafi said: “To the best of my knowledge I am not aware there is a delegation, that is because I am not really interested. It does not concern me, these diplomatic or government delegations because I am out of it. But I believe that an agreement has been concluded between Libya and the UK.”

When pressed on whether a deal had actually been struck, the Libyan leader replied: “Yeah, yeah. So it closes the chapters of the past. There will be no chance of any pursuit of legal or previous actions, so that is it.”

Brazier then asked that, with compensation paid to the American victims of the Lockerbie bombing and now that it seemed there was a deal on Northern Ireland, what was Col Gaddafi’s message to the family police officer Yvonne Fletcher who was shot dead outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984.

He replied: “She is not an enemy to us and we are sorry all the time. She was on duty to protect the Libyan Embassy. This problem should be solved — but who did it? It is always like a persistent matter.”

Col Gaddafi supplied arms and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles and campaigners launched a class action for compensation.

The British Government has been hesitant in its support of the bid, although the group was given fresh hope of success earlier this year after a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Scotland’s decision to release Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi renewed focus on the campaign and Libyan officials have since hinted that talks between Tripoli and London are progressing.

Gaddafi’s reaction to the victims’ compensation issue will further encourage the cross-parliamentary group heading for Libya in the latest bid to extract compensation from Libya.

The group will include DUP’s Nigel Dodds and Jeffrey Donaldson as well as Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay, and others whose names are still to be revealed.

Before the transcript of the Sky News interview became available yesterday, a source close to the group told the Belfast Telegraph that a deal was imminent.

However, Mr Donaldson insisted it was still some way off.

“We spoke to the Libyans in London and as a result we have been invited to Libya to speak to officials there, but a lot of work still has to be done,” he said.

“We are encouraged by the latest moves and are hopeful, but that’s all I can say.”

Last night, Willie Frazer of the FAIR organisation said: “It’s a hopeful statement, coming as it does from Colonel Gaddafi and we give it a cautious welcome.

“It shows that he has recognised our grief which must be seen as a major step. We would need to see the details and the outworkings of such an agreement, but it gives us room for optimism. We have been working hard on this for 10 years and if it materialises it will give much comforts to the families of innocent victims.”

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said it had facilitated next week’s visit to Libya. She said the compensation issue would be discussed and that “agreement was up to the Libyans and the people involved in the campaign”.

The Sky News interview covered a wide range of topics, including the IRA issue, the Barack Obama Nobel Peace Prize (which Gaddafi said was premature, “with some sort of hypocrisy and sycophancy”), the 1984 shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, the Iran weapons of mass destruction and the Israel-Palestine situation.

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28 Comments

William, it is doubtful that Terry realises how sectarian you are.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 27.10.09, 12:49 GMT

stop the blame game its only taking us backwards.............

Posted by stewart | 26.10.09, 23:31 GMT

Surely compensation would be better used to build hospitals, roads and water infrastructure than to pay for a few holidays, cars and new kitchens? Money won't make the loss any less but it could make up for the under investment caused by diverting money to combat the provos and to rebuild what they destroyed .

Posted by Jon | 26.10.09, 22:09 GMT

Gaddafi, Kennedy et al can keep their money, just give me the names and addresses of those who murdered my brother.

Posted by tommy hall | 26.10.09, 19:26 GMT

i lost 2 family members to other sources of murder than col gaddafi. we never wanted blood money from him or any other source as money cannot give us back the lives now lost. i believe expensive enquiries and compensation claims clearly show that substantial amounts of money can override the memories of a loved one slain before their time. my family will not go down this road. anyone who takes money from libya as compensation for the death of a loved one, have sold the right to that persons memory. accepting payment for someones death is worse than the act of murder itsself in my opinion. gaddafi and all other subscribers to the 35 year slaughter can keep their money. we wont sell our loved ones out for any amount. anyone who has lost a loved one should think of the future and let the past be what it is, THE PAST!

Posted by harry | 26.10.09, 17:53 GMT

now justice for victims of British State run terrorism.

Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 26.10.09, 17:45 GMT

terry obviouslly if its not your way its no way do you realise how sectarian you sound ,also look up the word malcontent

Posted by william | 26.10.09, 17:34 GMT

To use a pun, I think the DUP have shot themselves in the foot with thier mercenary demands. State sponsered terrrorism, ie collusion, British forces, Army, FRU, RUC, PSNI, there setting a precedent. I think Republicans should sit quiteley and let the DUP dig there own hole, they must have forgot what the Brits did in Northern Ireland.

Posted by Aidan | 26.10.09, 16:55 GMT

William, still waiting on your revelations on another thread where your world-according-to-william was spewed.
And Gregg Bloody Sunday isn't about Nationalists and Republicans. It is about innocent people being murdered by the State that still refuses to acknowledge its involvement.

Posted by Ulysses32 | 26.10.09, 16:49 GMT

Mc/Mickey/Mick-y

'Whataboutery' Coming from he master? That's rich!.

P.S Have you ever thought of taking a day off the aul bigotry? Give yourself/everyone a break?

Posted by mark | 26.10.09, 15:41 GMT

Do people need to reminded that the IRA killed more catholics than the army and the loyalist paramilitaries put together.

So no doubt there will be plenty of catholic claims also!.

Posted by A Realist! | 26.10.09, 14:48 GMT

Gregg and Co, when I said enquiries ere a waste of money I meant ALL enquiries, Bloody Sunday included!! By the way, the IRA started up to defend it's communities' against the Loyalist mobs that were burning their homes and and attcking them so technically it was the Loyalists who started it but who cares now? Why talk about what happend decades ago? It's about the future and these compensation claims and enquiries are just a complete waste of time and money, whether they are for Catholics OR Protestants, it doesn't matter!!

Posted by Liam | 26.10.09, 14:40 GMT

Yep, protestant with small ps and Catholics with capital Cs! Seems like like protestants get compensation and Catholics get enquires! Nothing like a good moan, well the price of a good moan is Billions with a capital B!

Stephen

Posted by Stephen | 26.10.09, 14:34 GMT

liam two words for saint bartholumew........france everybody can go back ps it was catholic massacre of guess what

Posted by william | 26.10.09, 14:20 GMT

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that if victims receive money from Libya it will be further compensation as all, especially those in the security forces, have already received compensation? And will any of this further compensation be deducted from the original compensation?
Paul

Posted by Paul | 26.10.09, 14:00 GMT

Paulo: no comment on you. Be ashamed of your self for what you said about the Bloody Sunday!!!
History!!!

Posted by Andrea | 26.10.09, 12:46 GMT

Dear William
why should be just Libya to pay compensation and not uk, south africa and.....
from where loyalist got their arms,explosive.....????? who give them the explosive??? Who trained them on how to make bombs??

Posted by Andrea | 26.10.09, 12:43 GMT

William, who killed the first policeman in the troubles?

Posted by Jim | 26.10.09, 12:38 GMT

liam so its all right for catholics to hold inquiries but nobody else ...double standards come to mind also catholics were victims of the provos as well so they are intitled to compensation from gaddaffi ,take your sectarian glasses of and see unbigoted sense

Posted by william | 26.10.09, 12:36 GMT