Responding to the court ruling on the Victims’ Payment Scheme, UUP Leader Steve Aiken OBE MLA said:
“At the core of this issue are injured victims who have been badly let down. They suffered serious, life changing injuries through no fault of their own because they dared to keep living their lives at a time when terrorists were wreaking havoc on our streets. They have been let down time and again in the years after by consecutive failures to meet their needs or recognise the burden they have had to carry. I pay tribute to them all for their tenacity in continuing to fight for what they deserve.
“The ruling by Justice McAlinden today provided no hiding place for those who have held up this payment. Sinn Fein have again been exposed as being totally obnoxious. They have placed their own needs above those of the people.
“The ruling could not be clearer. It was unlawful to block the payment from being put in place. Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Fein should be totally ashamed of themselves – although I doubt that they will be. Their obsession with placing perpetrators on the same level as innocent victims was allowed to hold up the payment for too long. Their stalling has been grotesque.
“Michelle O’Neill had to be dragged to court to fulfil her clear obligation. There were no excuses left and after months of twisting and turning and smoke and mirrors there was nowhere left to go.
“Those innocent victims will at long last receive what they have been promised – but it will be with no thanks to Sinn Fein.”