THE Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi is to pay up to £2 billion to victims of Irish terrorism for his role in supplying shiploads of explosives to the IRA.
About £800m will go directly to victims of the violence. First in line will be the 147 families of those caught in atrocities in which Semtex, the plastic explosive supplied by Libya, was used.
Libya’s insistence that it will not acknowledge specific liability means the thousands of others affected by the Troubles will come forward for a share of the cash.
A trade deal between Britain and Libya is also expected to be part of the historic settlement. Gadaffi is seeking to present the payment as a goodwill gesture and is not expected to admit liability.
Semtex supplied by Gadaffi’s regime was used by the IRA in at least 10 atrocities, including the bombing of Harrods in 1983 and Enniskillen in 1987. The Real IRA used it at Omagh in 1998, killing 29 people and injuring 220. It was used in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 at Lockerbie, when 270 were killed, for which Libya has paid over £5m to each family.
The negotiations were given new impetus last September when The Sunday Times revealed that Gordon Brown was refusing to put Britain’s diplomatic muscle behind the victims’ claim against Libya for fear of harming trade.
A source close to the talks said: “Gadaffi can now make a major humanitarian gesture which will end the legal actions and build diplomatic and business relations with the UK.”
This weekend IRA victims welcomed the prospect of a payout. Anna Dixon, 73, who with her husband Jim, also 73, was injured at Enniskillen, said: “Jim’s injuries were horrendous — the doctors said it was as if his head had been crushed like an eggshell. He can’t close his mouth easily and he is in constant pain due to nerve damage. The doctors say they can do nothing. I would like some of this money to go to pain research.”
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed at Omagh, said: “A payment by Libya would be a recognition that people have unjustly suffered because of their interference in Ireland. It sends a message that anybody who supports terrorism in the future that, no matter how long it takes, victims will pursue them.” Libya is also discussing a £1 billion payment for development projects in Northern Ireland, including encouraging agricultural exports to Libya, while a sum of £200m is being proposed for projects to benefit victims and the community.
An additional £314m could be added if the US government agrees to co-operate. This money is left over from an earlier $1.5 billion compensation package for American victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorism, including the Lockerbie bombing. Families received more than £5m each and it is suggested that similar amounts can be paid to American victims of IRA terrorism, or Irish-born casualties who moved to America.
Politicians will be briefed on Wednesday about progress in the talks. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We believe success can be achieved through the direct contacts which we have helped establish between the campaign and the Libyan authorities.”
One commenter said the US supporters of the IRA who provided money to the so they could buy weapons and explosives should also be sued. I couldn't agree more heartily. As I recall the Democrat Party had a number of these fools, including Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd. Will ant newspaper in the US hold their feet to the fire for supporting terrorism?
And then there is this....
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