Ulster Unionist Communities Spokesperson, Andy Allen MLA, has accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of setting the dangerous precedent of rewarding those who carried out acts of terrorist violence. Andy Allen was speaking after the Assembly voted to grant greater protections for people injured during the Troubles in the impending upheaval to disability benefits, including those individuals injured as a result of carrying out acts of terrorism.  

Andy Allen said:

“Thirty years of terrorist violence have undoubtedly been a key contributory factor to our record rates of disability. In addition to the 3,500 people who lost their lives, over 47,000 others were injured. It was therefore essential that people caught up in acts of terror and left with often life-altering disabilities were supported through the new assessment process as the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is shortly scrapped and replaced with the new Personal Independent Payment (PIP).

“Whilst my Party has repeatedly called for the needs of victims to be kept at the forefront of the reassessment process, we do not agree that those injured by their own deliberate actions should receive preferential treatment compared to those with other disabilities. 

“I was therefore shocked and angered on Monday evening when a DUP Minister, with the assistance of Sinn Fein MLAs, forced through the recommendation of the Evason welfare working group which will see former terrorists who are judged to no longer be entitled to PIP receiving additional top-up points and consequently continuing to receive payment for a further 12 months.

“I am disgusted that perpetrators who set out to cause death and indeed left many with disabilities will now receive the same mitigation package as innocent victims. In addition, the decision will inevitably also anger and dismay people with non-troubles related disabilities who lose out in the assessment process.  

“During the debate I challenged the DUP Minister how, with any integrity, he could ask the Assembly to approve such an immoral and perverse scheme. Unsurprisingly he chose not to answer, but whether he likes it or not his actions have set an incredibly dangerous and unwelcome precedent of financially rewarding those individuals who chose to commit acts of terror and violence.”