Doug Beattie: Secret talks process will not provide a legacy solution that is balanced, fair and proportionate

I am especially concerned — and not a little angry — that the representatives of political unionism and the representatives of the victims of terrorism have been excluded from the room where these talks have been taking place.

We need to find out exactly who organised this process, who was invited, who invited them, on whose authority they were acting, how invitees were selected, and what mandate they had to be there.

I am extremely concerned at reports that included on the invited guest list, was the Irish government along with representatives of the IRA and Sinn Fein, loyalist paramilitaries, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

I also understand that certain academics were there seeking support for their own draft bill, based on the Stormont House Agreement legacy arrangements, which the Ulster Unionist Party and many victims of terrorism have already rejected.

Two years ago in the foreword to the legacy consultation process, the then Secretary of State Karen Bradley said that legacy proposals must be ‘balanced, fair, equitable and crucially, proportionate.’

Now we find out that not only is this a one sided process, but the most important section of our community — the victims and survivors — have been excluded.

Is it any wonder that Sinn Fein are starting to shout about the Stormont House Agreement once more because they knew about these meetings? While courting support from other political parties they have kept them in the dark as to what was going on.

The Ulster Unionist Party is demanding answers as to what has been going on and particularly why we, and innocent victims of terrorism have been excluded.

We will not stand idly by and watch as unelected and unrepresentative elements make decisions that will affect Northern Ireland for decades to come and allow terrorists to dictate the terms of legacy investigation over the interests of victims.

We are committed to preventing history being re-written and to arrive at a legacy solution that is indeed ‘balanced, fair equitable and crucially, proportionate.’

This secret process clearly cannot do that.

Doug Beattie MC, Ulster Unionist MLA

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor