DUP's cosy relationship with Sinn Fein/IRA put before Victims' needs
15 May 2008
“Time and again when the new victims’ commission was being debated the DUP voted with Sinn Fein/IRA and against all the other parties in the Assembly."
"Specifically, the DUP joined Sinn Fein in voting against amendments which would have:
· Restricted the number of commission members to four in the future;
· Made one of the commissioners a chief commissioner;
· Allowed the commission to operate where there is agreement by two thirds of members
· Prevented the First and deputy First Minister from appointing anyone as a commissioner who has a “conflicted related” (i.e. terrorist) conviction and excluded terrorists from being employed by the commission.
"As a result of the final amendment, Jeffery Donaldson moved a counter-amendment which means that the Commission can only employ someone guilty of a “conflicted-related” offence if they have the prior agreement of the First and deputy First Minister."
"A chief commissioner may only be appointed if the deputy First Minister agrees. This is a shameful betrayal of the interests of real victims. In effect, the DUP have betrayed those groups which are currently fighting the appointment of the commission in the courts, and have given their Provo chums an absolute veto over any changes."
"Of course, the real issue is OFMDFM’s flawed definition of the term “victim” which puts the IRA terrorist injured by his own bomb on the same level as the innocent victim. Shamefully no one even saw fit to seek an amendment of this."
"Given a choice between having a proper definition of “victim” and maintaining a cosy relationship with Sinn Fein/IRA, the DUP have chosen the latter.”
ENDS
