MLAs clash over definition of Troubles' victim

Sinn Féin and Alliance opposed the use of the term "innocent victims" in a DUP motion

Northern Ireland Assembly members (MLAs) have clashed over the definition of a Troubles' victim during a debate at Stormont.

It followed a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) motion demanding the Irish government be held to account for its "abject failure" in helping families who "suspected Irish state involvement in the murder of their loved ones".

Sinn Féin and Alliance opposed the use of the term "innocent victims" in the motion.

The motion also objected to Dublin having an oversight role in the new legacy structures agreed between the UK and Irish governments last week.

After some heated exchanges in the chamber the motion was amended to replace the term with just "victims".

It was then supported by Sinn Féin, Alliance and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) but not by the unionist members.

The new legacy framework - which has received a mixed reaction - was unveiled on Friday by Tánaiste (Irish deputy PM) Simon Harris and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn.

The deal seeks to heal a rift between London and Dublin created by the current Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.

'Every single family who lost a loved one feels the same pain'

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon criticised the wording of the motion insisting the "DUP does not get to decide who a victim is", adding the definition of a victim was outlined in the 2006 Northern Ireland Act.

"Every single family who lost a loved one feels the same pain," she said.

Defending his party's motion DUP MLA Phillip Brett said it is clear "some parties in this chamber have no interest in innocent victims" who he said will watch on "abject horror" as the word innocent is stripped out of the motion

He also challenged Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan to call on his "former comrades in the IRA" to come forward and give information they have about killings during the Troubles.

But Sheehan hit back and told the DUP MLA to "focus on their role in the importation of a massive amount of weapons which were used to kill innocent Catholics".

'No longer in state's interest to prosecute Troubles related crimes'

Brett then described Mr Sheehan as the "convicted cash and carry bomber" who had no interest in helping innocent victims.

Alliance MLA Paul Bradshaw said "victims were not best served by jabbing rhetoric or a political blame game" but are "best served by practical victim centred human rights approach".

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said he had no confidence in the Irish government's commitment to dealing with the past after a former Irish justice minister made clear it was "no longer in the state's interest to prosecute Troubles related crimes".

While SDLP MLA Mathew O'Toole agreed the Irish government could do more to help families, such as those involved in the Omagh bombing inquiry, he also attacked the UK government for hiding information from those families whose loved ones died as a result of state collusion.