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IRA victims renew calls for Libyan compensation

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

Relatives of some of the IRA's victims over the last 40 years are renewing their calls for compensation from Libya following the controversy in recent days surrounding the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

The families want Libya, which supplied weapons and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles, to publicly recognise the pain it inflicted through its support for terrorism and believe that Megrahi's return to Tripoli will help their cause.

Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed in the IRA attack in Warrington in 1993, is urging Gordon Brown to back their call for compensation.

Gaddafi has since made efforts to mend relations with the West, including accepting Libyan responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and agreeing to compensate the victims.

Relatives of some IRA victims are now renewing their calls for a similar compensation deal to recognise the pain they have suffered due to Libya's actions.

The Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who is hoping to travel to Libya with some of the relatives in the autumn, said the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi should show the same compassion as the Scottish government.

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Subtext to every comment below: "Yeah, but whatabout themuns..."

Posted by McD | 25.08.09, 20:35 GMT

For some it's not about money but about truth, have police officers and soldiers widows not got the same rights as those who suffered at Bloody Sunday, or the families of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright. I for one would like to know how much help the Provos had from the Irish Goverment, Irish Americans, Libya etc etc. Evertone suffered during those years whither they were Catholic or Protestant and all should be treated the same

Posted by mark | 25.08.09, 19:49 GMT

I believe that victims of IRA atrocities should be compensated as should all those victims of Loyalist atrocities. Perhaps N.Ireland will one day have a level playing field, but regrettably, not in my lifetime.
The sheer hypocricy of some people takes your breath away.

Posted by HC | 25.08.09, 19:10 GMT

It astonishes and disgust me that the comments made here show no compassion whatsoever for ira victims. Now any decent human being would agree that they should be compensated for the devastation, carnage and loss that was forced upon these victims families. As usual in Northern Ireland there is an "If they get, then we want" attitude. This article focuses on victims of Republican violence, NOWHERE does it claim that victims of Loyalist vilence should not be represented or be allowed compensation, they will get their turn, there are "groups" out there who are focusing on just that, let them do their jobs. It would seem that you do not want victims of Republican violence to be compensated at all, i could even go as far as saying you are trying to justify the terror, yet i am not surprised by these attitudes even now in 2009.

Posted by David Mulligan | 25.08.09, 18:40 GMT

To Flashman Your claims about Gadaffi arming the UDA are basic lies and false propoganda as well as being historically incorrect. Get a grip and think about the history of the 80s and why Gadaffi was funding and arming the Provos? He did it due to the US/UK alliance which led to the bombing of Libya and worked on the old adage that my enemy's enemy is my friend. The clue is in the term 'Loyalist'.......they are loyal to Britain which was Gadaffi's enemy.

Posted by Realist | 25.08.09, 17:32 GMT

Good luck to the victims in their campaign for justice and compensation. Unfortunately their suffering, continued existence and campaigning is an inconvenient truth to the likes of Liam and Malachy and many Republicans. They cannot be written out of history and neither will the crimes committed against their loved ones.

Posted by Cliff | 25.08.09, 15:52 GMT

What wonderfully short memories you have in Northern Ireland. When it suits you, of course.

For the record (and I was there at the time) Colonel Gadhaffi did not restrict his generosity to the IRA. He also filled UDA begging bowls. The families of UDA victims have a perfect right to equal representation in any move towards obtaining compensation from Libya.

What astonishes me is that I should have to mention this matter at all. Aren't newspapers such as the Belfast Telegraph supposed to call their readers' attention to facts as cogent and relevant as those I have just cited?

Posted by FlashMan | 25.08.09, 11:25 GMT

So, we claim damages from the people who sold the weapons...shouldnt Mr Donaldson, as a responsible parliamentarian, be pursuing the sale of British weapons and armaments to Indonesia which were subsequently deployed against the East timorese in a campaign of genocide and terror? or is he a hypocrite?

Posted by Malachy Mulligan | 25.08.09, 10:36 GMT

And where did Loyalists get their weapons from? Will that country compensate victims of the UVF, UFF, UDA? Will the state compensate the innocent people killed by the RUC and RIR?
The past is the past and we're trying to move on, no amount of money will bring any of our dead back so let's just leave it and try and move on for our future children's sake!!!

Posted by Liam | 25.08.09, 09:52 GMT