Paramilitaries aren’t victims says UDA-linked organisation as PUP chief states civilian pensions should be prioritised

In the latest twist in the long-running saga surrounding a Troubles pension – which is supposed to be paid to those hurt during the violence – a branch of the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) issued a statement on the matter yesterday.

The pension has been in the pipeline for years and could mean people receive from £2,000 to £10,000-a-year, depending on severity of the injury.

But it has long been dogged by controversy, with some victims insisting that paramilitaries (like those hurt in premature explosions, for example) must not be allowed to obtain such compensation.

MPs passed legislation last year to establish the scheme, and it was due to open to applications on May 29.

But Sinn Fein has blocked progress due to disagreements on who will be eligible.

Yesterday, the South Belfast UPRG weighed in with a statement that said: “The current furore around the scheme is one created by Sinn Fein who would seek to conflate and confuse people around the notion of what constitutes a ‘victim’.

“We’re very clear about this. Anyone who planted a bomb, shot and attacked security services or members of the public and who (in that process of committing those acts) were injured can’t claim to be a victim.”

Whilst the UDA leadership is understood to be based in south Belfast, the organisation has become somewhat fragmented in recent years.

So whilst the message was retweeted by an account belonging to “New Northbelfast UPRG” it is not clear if the statement is endorsed by other UPRG factions.

Meanwhile, Billy Hutchinson, an ex-UVF killer who now heads the PUP, told the News Letter he cannot prevent anyone applying for a pension.

“My mother was a victim when I was imprisoned,” he added.

But he also went on to say: “All innocent victims should be given their pension. It shouldn’t be held up for anything. And then you can argue about the others afterwards.”

He said this has long been his position, and that the failure to make it happen was due to a lack of political “courage” from other parties.

Sinn Fein said: “We want to see a victims’ pension in place that meets the needs of all victims. We cannot have a scheme which differentiates or discriminates.”

It added the UDA “is an armed group which was involved in collusion with British state agencies and continues to be involved in murder, drug dealing and organised crime – the most helpful intervention they could make is to go away”.

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