Tom Elliott MP has said that victims engaging with the proposed Independent Commission on Information Retrieval in the future should be clear that they will likely only hear what the perpetrators want them to.
Tom Elliott MP said:
“Since the idea of the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval emerged during the Haass process, the Ulster Unionist Party has been clear that those victims who would potentially engage with the ICIR in the future would be likely to only hear what the perpetrators wanted them to hear.
“It was, and continues to be, our view that while we are sceptical of the benefits of the process, no family should be denied the opportunity to pursue more information about the death of their loved one, but they should do so with their eyes wide open. There is no guarantee they would get the whole story, or even that the information they would receive is the truth.
“If you look at the track record of Republicans over the past number of years, in their engagement with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains or the Smithwick Inquiry, it is difficult to see why they would suddenly be more forthcoming to the ICIR.
“It is important to note that the ICIR is still subject to discussion. The needs and confidence of victims are our key priorities. If anyone thinks that the dripping of partial information into the public domain will railroad parties into giving support to institutions without proper scrutiny then they should think again.”