Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has pressed the Government to pursue a vigorous and determined approach to secure compensation from the new Libyan Government for UK victims of the IRA using armaments supplied by the Gaddafi regime.
Lord Empey said;
“I was heartened to hear the Foreign Office Minister Lord Howell state that they regard this as an important bilateral issue between the UK and the new Libyan authorities, and also that both the Chairman and Prime Minister of the Libyan National Transitional Council have given assurances that they will work with the UK to resolve bilateral issues arising from the wrongs of the Gaddafi regime.”
“Everyone is well aware of the death and destruction that was visited upon the people of Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom by the IRA as a result of weaponry supplied by the Gaddafi regime. In particular semtex explosives were used to devastating effect in numerous bombings which were responsible for the death and injury of thousands of United Kingdom citizens, as well as the destruction of many properties at enormous cost to the taxpayer.
I believe that what is required now is a vigorous and determined approach by the Government to ensure that this matter is resolved, and that United Kingdom citizens who have suffered as a direct result of what was nothing short of an act of war by the then Libyan regime can be properly compensated for the suffering they have endured.”
