The Ulster Unionist Party's Justice spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has said that the sentence in the Gary Haggarty supergrass trial has not delivered justice and has left the victims’ families feeling let down once again.
Doug Beattie MC MLA said:
“The conclusion of the trial of former UVF commander Gary Haggarty provides an opportunity for us all to take stock.
“Haggarty admitted to involvement in five murders and provided information on 55 murders, 20 attempted murders and admitted to 202 offences committed between 1991 and 2007.
“For this litany of terrorist crimes, he was sentenced to 35 years reduced to six and a half years. By no stretch of the imagination could this be classed as ‘justice.’
“The judge said that Haggarty was motivated by ‘self-interest and pragmatism’ rather any desire to atone for his crimes. His sentence amounts to just over a year for each life taken. His evidence was only deemed sufficient to warrant the prosecution of one other person.
“This is what passes for justice in Northern Ireland in 2018. The families of his victims are left feeling let down once again and I for one cannot blame them.”