The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has described the latest DUP attempt to distance themselves from the Stormont House Agreement Legacy proposals which they championed, as the latest instalment of DUP hypocrisy.

Doug Beattie MC MLA said:

“Today at Westminster we saw the latest instalment of DUP hypocrisy on Legacy.

“Ian Paisley asked the Prime Minister if he will ‘bring to an end the sickening outrage of a witch hunt against former police officers who served Ulster through the heat of the troubles and who will now face the most odious prosecutions for non-criminal misconduct?’

“Having brought the Stormont House Agreement Legacy mechanisms to the green benches of Westminster - with the support of Sinn Fein – it is clear that some elements in the DUP at least, are now trying to distance themselves from the very scenario which they set in motion, which will see former police officers - even those murdered by terrorists – face non-criminal police misconduct charges.

“Ian Paisley may well stand and ask the Prime Minster questions in outrage in a bid to distance himself from this shameful proposal, and the heads on the Conservative benches may well nod in agreement – but the fact remains that the DUP brought the Historical Investigation Unit (HIU) to life and like Frankenstein’s monster it has now taken on a life of its own. To add insult to injury, the Prime Minister’s reply was rather vague to say the least, and suggested he was not fully across the issue.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has been clear and remains clear.  The HIU is not acceptable and the DUP should take responsibility for what they set in motion and come out and state unequivocally that they now no longer support the HIU and the Stormont House Agreement Legacy mechanisms.”