Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has called on Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O`Neill to stop playing politics with the lives of innocent victims following the death of Raymond Trimble. Otherwise the UK Government must take the Victims` Pension Scheme back and administer it from London.

Mr Beattie said:

“The news that another innocent victim has died while waiting on a pension should shame politicians both in the Executive Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

“Raymond Trimble lived with the impact of a bombing in 1969 and passed away after a long illness. The fact Sinn Fein are blocking the pension because they want the perpetrators to be equated to their victims is utterly reprehensible. Yet they will feel no shame as they continue to promote the rabid ideology of republican terrorists.

“In what fantasy land do Sinn Fein live? Nobody, with any sense of humanity, can genuinely believe those that injured themselves by bombing or burning innocent victims can in some way claim victimhood themselves. 

“In the same way those who carried out the atrocity at Loughinisland or Greysteel will never be the victims, those who bombed Frizzell`s Fish shop on the Shankill Road or the Balmoral furniture shop will never be seen as victims.

“It is time the leader of Sinn Fein stood up and directed her deputy leader - Michelle O’Neill - to stop playing politics with the lives of innocent victims and stopped blocking the pension they so desperately need. If not, the NIO must take the scheme back and administer it from London.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

https://twitter.com/WAVETrauma/status/1295057388370886659

'Sad news tonight as a member of the initial injured group Raymond Trimble has died after a long illness. Raymond was seriously injured, through no fault of his own, in a bomb at the Newsletter in 1969. He lived with the impact of his injuries daily. Where is the pension ?'