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Members debate Libya-IRA motion Interest in Libya case 'immense'
(about 11 hours later)
Members of the NI Assembly are to debate backing calls for compensation from Libya for IRA victims later. It is understood the legal team engaged in the campaign for compensation from Libya for IRA victims have taken hundreds of enquiries.
A DUP motion, by Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds, calls on the UK government to put pressure on Libya, which gave the IRA weapons and cash. More than 200 IRA victims are already involved in the case against Colonel Gaddaffi's regime which they believe supplied arms to the IRA in the 1980s.
Mr Donaldson said they wanted the assembly to unite behind the campaign. A DUP motion calling on the UK government to put pressure on Libya was debated at Stormont on Monday.
Jeffrey Donaldson said public interest in the issue had been "immense".
Mr Donaldson, who tabled the motion with his party colleague Nigel Dodds, said they wanted the assembly to unite behind the campaign.
"It would significantly strengthen our case if we are able to tell the Libyan government that we enjoy full political support for our campaign," he said."It would significantly strengthen our case if we are able to tell the Libyan government that we enjoy full political support for our campaign," he said.
"This debate should not be viewed as a unionist-versus-nationalist issue as Libyan sponsored terrorism made no distinction between Protestant and Catholic or unionist and nationalist. This motion should be considered in the context of victims being heard and their quest for justice being aided.""This debate should not be viewed as a unionist-versus-nationalist issue as Libyan sponsored terrorism made no distinction between Protestant and Catholic or unionist and nationalist. This motion should be considered in the context of victims being heard and their quest for justice being aided."
Both MPs plan to visit Libya to make the case for compensation directly to the Libyan government and have been working with victims from Northern Ireland, Warrington, London and Manchester.Both MPs plan to visit Libya to make the case for compensation directly to the Libyan government and have been working with victims from Northern Ireland, Warrington, London and Manchester.
During the Troubles, Libya supplied the IRA with tonnes of the explosive Semtex as well as thousands of rifles, small arms and flame throwers.During the Troubles, Libya supplied the IRA with tonnes of the explosive Semtex as well as thousands of rifles, small arms and flame throwers.
Last week, officials from Downing Street and the Foreign Office met with victims families to discuss the level of support they will receive to pursue their compensation claims.Last week, officials from Downing Street and the Foreign Office met with victims families to discuss the level of support they will receive to pursue their compensation claims.
However, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has said Libya will resist compensation demands.However, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has said Libya will resist compensation demands.
He said any claims based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for the courts.He said any claims based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for the courts.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown had declined to put formal pressure on Libya for compensation, but he has said the UK will support families making claims.Prime Minister Gordon Brown had declined to put formal pressure on Libya for compensation, but he has said the UK will support families making claims.