Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has said that claims that Dublin had accelerated the growth of the IRA could open the door for claims by innocent victims.
Lord Empey said:
“For many years now I have been seeking support for those victims of Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism. Colonel Gaddafi supplied the IRA with Semtex, money and training. Under international law, the State of Libya is liable for the actions of its former Head of State and compensation can be sought from the current regime of that country. This principle is well established.
“As more is emerging about the role of the Irish State in the formation, training and financing of the Provisional IRA in the late 1960s and early 1970s, there is a case emerging now where victims of the Provisional IRA may hold the current Republic of Ireland liable for the actions of a previous Irish Government. Claims from a former Irish Cabinet Minister that Dublin had 'accelerated' the growth of the IRA is compelling evidence that there was Irish State involvement.
“Whatever the subsequent legal implications of all of this are, there is now no possible excuse for Dublin delaying a full inquiry into State involvement in the creation and facilitation of the Provisional IRA in its early years.
“I am contacting Simon Hoare MP, Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee in Parliament, to draw these matters to his attention and suggest that his Committee looks at these matters as a matter of urgency.”