‘The Libyan Factor is Only One of a Series of Issues to Be Addressed’

‘Until then we have urged the Libyan Government to withhold any payments in the wider interests of truth and justice for all those affected by the conflict throughout the island of Ireland. And in establishing who is really culpable as the easy way out is to only point the finger at Libya’

Speaking in response to news that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to now back families affected during the conflict by weapons allegedly supplied to the IRA by Libya in their compensation bid against Libya Relatives for Justice Director Mark Thompson released the following statement;

‘This only underlines the urgent need for a comprehensive truth commission in which victims and survivors of all aspects of political violence can have truth, accountability and reparations as a final outcome.

‘The Libyan factor is only one of a series of issues to be addressed. It is complex in that evidence exists which has previously revealed that Britain’s security agencies, MI5 and RUC Special Branch, had prior knowledge of planned attacks using these weapons yet permitted these actions to go ahead in order to protect agents. Many of these permitted actions involved the killings of ordinary policemen, policewomen and British soldiers as well as civilians. So where does culpability morally and legally exist? Many would say with Whitehall and Downing St.

‘Additionally the role of the British government intelligence services in arming and directing loyalism, the running of scores of agents that were involved in widespread killings, and the deliberate failings of the criminal justice in providing impunity to state agents thus facilitating policies of shoot-to-kill and collusion must equally be examined. The double standards and hypocrisy surrounding these issues need to finally end. Gordon Brown needs to acknowledge the role of the British government and facilitate a truth commission.

‘We need to examine the nature, causes and extent of the conflict. This can only happen via an independent and international truth commission.

‘We have been in contact with the Libyan Embassy in London concerning these matters and whilst empathetic with those currently seeking compensation nevertheless expressed our hopes that any intention to pay compensation must be linked to a proper examination of all these issues through an international and independent truth commission. Until then we have urged the Libyan Government to withhold any payments in the wider interests of truth and justice for all those affected by the conflict throughout the island of Ireland. And in establishing who is really culpable as the easy way out is to only point the finger only at Libya. ‘ENDS