Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has tabled questions at Westminster following yesterday’s comments by the Attorney General John Larkin, in which he outlined proposals on dealing with the past which appeared to many people to amount to a form of amnesty.
Lord Empey said:
“I was extremely concerned at yesterday’s comments by John Larkin, the Northern Ireland Attorney General, in which he appeared to me to come dangerously close to calling for an amnesty for terrorist crimes committed before the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
“I am aware that the Prime Minister commented on this matter at PMQs yesterday, but I believe it is important that the Government is afforded the opportunity to deliver a considered response to ensure clarity and certainty.
“I have therefore tabled two questions in the Lords as follows:
1) To ask HMG for their response to the suggestion, by the Northern Ireland Attorney General, that there should be no further prosecutions of persons for terrorist related crimes committed before the signing of the Belfast Agreement of 1998?
2) To ask HMG if they are considering an amnesty for persons who may be convicted of terrorist related crimes committed before the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998?”