Baroness Hoey uses maiden speech in House of Lords to press for compensation for victims of Libya-IRA bombings

Former Labour MP Kate Hoey has used her maiden speech in the House of Lords to praise her Co Antrim upbringing and to call on government to secure compensation for victims of Libyan-IRA terrorism.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 30th Oct 2020, 06:30 BST
Kate Hoey, now Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin, during her maiden speech in the House of Lords on October 29, 2020.Kate Hoey, now Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin, during her maiden speech in the House of Lords on October 29, 2020.
Kate Hoey, now Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin, during her maiden speech in the House of Lords on October 29, 2020.

The Mallusk woman - who held the Vauxhall Westminster seat in London for 30 years, is now known as Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin.

Kate Hoey chooses title of Baroness of Lylehill & Rathlin after townland of her idyllic childhood

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She was speaking during a debate on the EU sanctions statutory instrument - a legislative means of ensuring the UK continues to operate in lockstep with the EU after Brexit in applying sanctions against those supporting international terrorism.

She told the house that she was “very proud” of her upbringing in Co Antrim, speaking fondly of her childhood school and church, and the tranquility of Rathlin Island.

Speaking in support of the new legislation, she said she had a particular interest in the issue of terrorism, agreeing that everything should be done to make the life of terrorists as difficult as possible.

NI suffered so much from terrorism, funded by money laundering and organsied crime,” she said.

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Added to that was the Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism which resulted in atrocities like the Enniskillen Remembrance Sunday bomb, the Harrods Bomb, and many others.

In every outrage, she said, the victims must be remembered, both those killed and the many left “wounded, disabled and deeply traumatised”. That is why she supports ongoing efforts to secure compensation for victims of Libyan-IRA terrorism from the £12bn of Libyan state assets frozen in London.

She also added that the law in NI which she said equates terrorists and their victims “must be changed”. In closing she added that she looks forward to finding ways in which the House of Lords can prepare to mark the centenary in 2021 of Northern Ireland.

Responding, Minister of State Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said the government is working to have “guidance” on the Libya regime ready for the end of the transition period.

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