Ulster Unionist Peer, Lord Empey has joined a delegation of victims as they submitted a letter to Boris Johnson at No 10 Downing Street in protest at the Government’s legacy proposals.
Lord Empey said;
“Earlier today I attended and spoke at a meeting held in Parliament by some victims of terrorism who were protesting at the Government's forthcoming legacy proposals. A number of MPs were in attendance, including shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh MP who also addressed the meeting.
“I pointed out that the Ulster Unionist Party had always opposed the principle of amnesty. Previous governments have polluted the justice system with Royal Pardons and so-called letters of comfort that were supplied to terrorists, but these current proposals extinguish forever any hope of successful prosecutions, however remote the possibility may be.
“I also made the point that 30 years ago DNA was not even a factor in solving crimes, but today it is standard practice. What other developments could take place in forensics in the future that would allow existing evidence to be enhanced and link a perpetrator to a crime? Closing the door now prevents that from happening and allows terrorists off the hook.
“After the meeting I accompanied the victims as some of them handed a letter of protest in to Boris Johnson at No 10 Downing Street.”