Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has said there will no giving up in the fight for justice for victims of Libyan sponsored terrorism.
Lord Empey was commenting after he was forced to abandon his amendment to the Criminal Finances Bill, because of reduced Parliamentary time.
Lord Empey said:
“During this Parliament, I along with Tom Elliott, Danny Kinahan and other supportive MPs and Peers, have sought to use our influence to secure compensation for victims of IRA terrorism, which the Gaddafi regime aided and abetted for decades, by supplying finance, weapons and explosives.
“Unfortunately the calling of a snap General Election has reduced Parliamentary time to an extent where I was unable to bring forward an amendment which sought to use some of the £9.5 billion frozen Libyan assets in the UK to compensate the victims of Gadaffi sponsored terrorism.
“The plight of the victims has never been formally recognised by the Libyan Government and the UK Government did not seek to achieve compensation from Libya, unlike their American, French and German counterparts.
“During the debate it was placed on the record by the Home Office Minister Baroness Williams that my decision to not move the amendment ‘in no way undermines his support for the victims groups he has supported over many years.’
“In the new Parliament, I will attempt to bring forward a new Bill to start the process again. There will be no giving up in the fight to achieve justice for those who have suffered.”
ENDS