Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann MLA has described a Report published by the Government on the Definition of a Victim, as pathetic.
Robin Swann MLA said:
“The Report issued earlier this week by the Secretary of State on the Definition of a Victim can only be described as pathetic and should be a cause of great concern.
“The Government had a chance to seriously address the issue of differentiating between terrorists and their victims and they have singularly failed to do it.
“Given that the Report ‘is based on information provided by the Northern Ireland Office’ we should hardly be surprised, because the current NIO leadership has been a bastion of weakness and ineptitude when it comes to defending the interests of Northern Ireland and its people, preferring instead to adopt a position of neutrality between terrorists and the terrorised.
“This is about right and wrong and it is disgraceful and shameful for the NIO to try and pass the buck to local political parties and a newly formed Executive at some point in the future.
“The Secretary of State needs to reject this NIO advice and the Government needs to take ownership of this issue and drive the change that is so badly needed.”