The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has rejected Michelle O’Neill’s calls for the UK Government to implement the Stormont House Agreement legacy arrangements.
Doug Beattie MC MLA, said:
“Michelle O`Neill`s latest comments about the need for the UK Government to implement the Stormont House Agreement legacy arrangements ignore reality. Sinn Fein need to accept that in terms of legacy the Stormont House Agreement has failed, and it has failed because it wasn`t victim centred.
“Despite what Sinn Fein says, a huge swathe of victims don`t support the Stormont House Agreement legacy arrangements. 90% of all those killed during the Troubles were killed by terrorists, not the state. The Stormont House legacy arrangements effectively ignored and sidelined them and that was made very clear by the Ulster Unionist Party and in thousands of responses to the public consultation process.
“The cheerleaders for these proposals - and not just Sinn Fein - need to get real. Whilst they continue to attempt to freeze out victims of terrorism, the reality is that there will be no agreement on a way forward."