Tom Elliott, Ulster Unionist MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, has called for a review of the compensation which is due to be paid to eight people whose convictions for kidnapping IRA informer Sandy Lynch were overturned.
Mr Elliott said:
"From OTR letters to big compensation packages, current or former members of the Provisional IRA and their associates certainly seem to be a protected species. They get money thrown at them whilst IRA victims are sidelined and the continued existence of the IRA and its Army Council is ignored by the government and some political parties. Those who authorised these payoffs should hang their heads in shame. This decision needs to be reviewed before one penny is paid out.
"It's another smack in the mouth for IRA victims and their families. They will be disgusted at the massive financial payoffs being given to self-confessed IRA members and associates whose convictions have been overturned because the evidence used was based on information supplied from 'Stakeknife'.
"It certainly gives the impression that crime does pay. In some cases IRA members could receive over £200,000 each despite the fact that individuals have admitted being present at the scene of Sandy Lynch's kidnapping, representing the republican terror group! And others have admitted that Joe Fenton was taken to the same house in 1989 before he was murdered.
"This simply wouldn't be allowed to happen in any other country in the world. I have already written to the Secretary of State to outline my disgust."