Allister questions £75,000 for IRA getaway driver
10 October 2011
TUV Leader Jim Allister has this morning tabled the Urgent Question below, arising from the awarding of £75,000 to an IRA getaway driver. The Question is tabled under Standing Order 20A, which permits such a facility, if the Speaker agrees the matter is urgent and relates to a matter of public importance.
Commenting Jim Allister said, I trust the Speaker will see the urgency of this matter in light of the high level of public unease about the enrichment of a convicted terrorist by £75,000 through a civil court award. The point I am drawing attention to is that under criminal injury compensation law he would have been prohibited from obtaining an award and, therefore, I am asking the minister with responsibility for law reform to examine the case for bringing the civil law into line.
To ask Minister for Finance and Personnel, in light of the judgement in McKeever-v-MOD, if he will urgently review the civil law to bring it into line with the law governing criminal injury compensation so that a plaintiff with a relevant conviction will be prohibited from obtaining full compensation.
