Government pressed over victims of IRA attacks linked to Libyan explosives

by PA Media

The Government has been pressed to “urgently release” a report into compensation for victims of IRA attacks linked to Libyan explosives.

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary of state Louise Haigh made the call on behalf of victims of the 1996 Docklands bombings in London.

Two people were killed and scores left injured in the blast powered by semtex supplied by the regime of former Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Ms Haigh has written to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warning that the “intolerable delay” in the release of the report has left victims feeling abandoned.

Gaddafi supplied weapons, including semtex explosives, to the IRA during the Troubles.

Scene of the London Docklands bombing

The semtex is also thought to have enabled blasts at a Remembrance Day service in Enniskillen in 1987 which killed 12 people and the Warrington bombings in 1992 which left two children dead, as well as other IRA attacks.

A decade on from Gaddafi’s death, relatives of those killed continue to campaign for compensation from the current Libyan authorities.

William Shawcross was appointed special representative on UK victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism by the Government to look at levels of compensation for victims.

The report he produced was delivered to the Government last year, but has so far not been published.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said ministers are “carefully considering the complex issues” raised.

In her letter to Mr Raab, Ms Haigh said those acts of terror have left both a physical and emotional toll across generations.

Shadow Secretary of State Louise Haigh

“It is clear to the opposition that the government must communicate the findings to victims as a matter of urgency,” she wrote.

“It is time the report was urgently released and victims were given answers and the redress they have fought so long for.

“Further delays are simply intolerable.”

Docklands Victims’ Association chairman Jonathan Ganesh has accused the Government of cruelty.

Ihsan Bashir (left) with the head of the Docklands victims' campaign group Jonathan Ganesh

“It is shameful the UK government would raise our expectations and then so cruelly deny us access to this report,” he said.

“The present UK Conservative government have put the victims through immense pain by the lack of genuine care.”

Joyce Brown, a toilet attendant who was working and injured in the Docklands bombing, added: “How can a Government do this to victims of terror.

“It is not fair that we have been treated like this. We have campaigned for years to end this discrimination.

“If they cared they would have resolved this by now.”

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson responded: “We are taking this work forward.

“Ministers are carefully considering the complex issues captured in Mr Shawcross’ internal report, giving due respect to the victims.”