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| DUP seek victim definition change | DUP seek victim definition change |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The DUP has announced plans for an assembly bill which would change the definition of a victim. | The DUP has announced plans for an assembly bill which would change the definition of a victim. |
| The party said the bill is intended to ensure that the perpetrators of violence during the Troubles are not defined as victims. | The party said the bill is intended to ensure that the perpetrators of violence during the Troubles are not defined as victims. |
| Currently the legal definition makes no distinction between paramilitaries, who were killed or injured, and other victims. | Currently the legal definition makes no distinction between paramilitaries, who were killed or injured, and other victims. |
| Sinn Fein said there should be "no hierarchy of victims." | Sinn Fein said there should be "no hierarchy of victims." |
| Launching a public consultation on the proposed bill DUP assembly member Jeffrey Donaldson said the party was seeking to narrow the scope of the definition of a victim. | Launching a public consultation on the proposed bill DUP assembly member Jeffrey Donaldson said the party was seeking to narrow the scope of the definition of a victim. |
| "It is about how we deal with the past, and what we are not prepared to countenance is a rewriting of the Troubles where the perpetrators, whoever they are, who carried out acts of terrorism are placed on a par with the thousands of people they killed and maimed. | "It is about how we deal with the past, and what we are not prepared to countenance is a rewriting of the Troubles where the perpetrators, whoever they are, who carried out acts of terrorism are placed on a par with the thousands of people they killed and maimed. |
| "I want to see the process moving on and a Northern Ireland that puts the past behind it but in seeking to deal with the past, it is important we clearly understand that there was wrongdoing and that wrongdoing is recognised." | "I want to see the process moving on and a Northern Ireland that puts the past behind it but in seeking to deal with the past, it is important we clearly understand that there was wrongdoing and that wrongdoing is recognised." |
| However Sinn Fein MLA Francie Molloy described the DUP proposals as "unacceptable". | |
| "The current classification came about after years of consultation and painstaking campaigning by victims' organisations with the support of Sinn Fein," Mr Molloy said. | |
| "Given the universal view on this issue amongst those groups representing victims of British state violence I would fully expect the SDLP to join with us in blocking this offensive electioneering by the DUP." | |
| Victims are defined under the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 as: | Victims are defined under the Victims and Survivors (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 as: |
| • Someone who has been physically or psychologically injured as a result of a conflict-related incident | • Someone who has been physically or psychologically injured as a result of a conflict-related incident |
| • Someone who provides a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for a person who has been physically or psychologically injured as a result of a conflict-related incident | • Someone who provides a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for a person who has been physically or psychologically injured as a result of a conflict-related incident |
| • Someone who has been bereaved as a result of a conflict-related incident | • Someone who has been bereaved as a result of a conflict-related incident |
| The DUP proposal would mean that relatives of republican and loyalist paramilitaries killed in the conflict would be banned from seeking compensation. | The DUP proposal would mean that relatives of republican and loyalist paramilitaries killed in the conflict would be banned from seeking compensation. |
| The new victims forum is also intending to examine the definition of a victim. | The new victims forum is also intending to examine the definition of a victim. |