Obscenity of equating victims with perpetrators to continue - MEP
06 August 2008
In an initial response to the supposed consultation on victims’ issues launched by joint Junior Ministers, Donaldson and Kelly, TUV Leader Jim Allister MEP has expressed his disappointment that again the wrong which equates perpetrator with genuine victim has not been rectified by necessary legislative amendment.
In a statement Mr Allister said:-
“I suppose it should be no surprise that when a convicted terrorist, Bomber Kelly, jointly launches a so called consultation on Victims’ issues, that it effectively avoids the key and foundational issue of definition of victim. Yes, there is a token reference to the Victims and Survivors Forum - which will be set up at some unspecified date and which will include terrorist representatives - looking at some point (Commission and OFMDFM permitting) at “the issues surrounding the definition of ‘victim’”, but it is crystal clear that the Commission, Forum and Victims’ Service will proceed to work on the present obscene definition which equates victim with perpetrator, which puts an innocent victim like Michelle Williamson on exactly the face footing as the Minister’s namesake who made her a victim.
Failure to deal with this obscenity makes any programme for victims deficient.
This document is called a “consultation”, but in truth all the key issues it sets out are non-negotiable – a Commission of unacceptable composition, a Forum where perpetrators will sit with genuine victims and no meaningful prospect of amending the definition of “victim” in an acceptable fashion because of the Sinn Fein veto.”
