Donaldson's good intentions lack substance
Posted on 17/09/09 and tagged under Victims
Speaking to the Upper Bann branch of the TUV last night Traditional Unionist Voice Vice-Chairman Keith Harbinson said that the attempt by Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson in launching of a Private Members Bill to change the definition of a victim is “whilst full of good intentions, sadly without substance.”
Mr Harbinson said
“Mr Donaldson stated that ‘many victims were forced to watch the men who injured or bereaved them receive extensive support through ex-prisoner groups…while they receive nothing’. I would respectfully remind Mr Donaldson he was Junior Minister when the office of OFMDFM approved the scandalous payment of £7.5m of Peace funds to Coista, the republican prisoners’ umbrella group. But a far greater insult and something which has a much wider reaching effect is the fact that those same victims have been forced to watch the men who injured or bereaved them and their ilk, elevated to the highest office in this land, having a controlling Veto over the education of their children and soon a controlling hand on the levers of power controlling Policing and Justice. That is the eternal heartache and shame that Mr Donaldson and his party colleagues have bestowed on the real victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland
“Whilst I wish Mr Donaldson well, I have to question why it took so long for this matter of the definition of a victim to be addressed. The DUP have consistently told us that they will right the wrongs of Direct Rule, yet their representative during the process of appointment of the four Victims Commissioners endorsed a process that had as a pre-requisite to application, an acceptance of the definition under The Victims and Survivors (NI) Order 2006, the same definition which exists today, and which up until now the DUP have failed to seek amendment to.”
Mr Harbinson continued saying “the real absurdity however is that Sinn Fein/IRA once again hold the trump card in all of this with their Veto. This Private Members Bill has no chance of success without the support of Republicans, who by their lack of support once again reveal their true feelings towards the terrorist campaign waged against this country and those who carried it out. Whilst Mr Donaldson as outlined faces an uphill battle to secure this change, the DUP do of course have the ability to take meaningful steps to bring an end to the current sham that passes for government in Stormont and bring about an end to terrorist inclusive government which brings a sully to all real victims. Their reluctance to engage this path however raises significant questions as to their true commitment to securing truth and justice for victims.”
