Government silence on why it may withhold Gaddafi-IRA report

The government has declined to say why it may withhold a report on securing compensation from Libya for those injured by Semtex it supplied to the IRA.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 11th Aug 2020, 06:30 BST
Updated 11th Aug 2020, 09:55 BST
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi outside Tripoli in 2011. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA WireFormer Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi outside Tripoli in 2011. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair meeting Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi outside Tripoli in 2011. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Libyan officials have previously detailed millions of pounds and 120 tonnes of weaponry the late Libyan dictator Col Gaddafi provided to the IRA.

After holding its own inquiry, the NI Affairs Committee at Westminster said in 2017 that successive UK governments had badly failed victims and must set up a compensation fund for them before seeking reparation from Libya. MPs noted that Germany, France and the US had all secured compensation for their own victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorism.

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However the committee was angered when the government took the unusual step of dismissing its recommendations. In January it appointed William Shawcross to scope out the scale or compensation required.

However last week the government said ministers will consider the Shawcross report in detail in due course “including whether to publish any elements of it”.

The comments angered campaigners and victims, as they have felt there has been a persistent lack of candour from the government on the issue.

UUP peer Lord Empey says the possibility of the government keeping the report under wraps has caused “quite a lot of annoyance from MPs who follow the matter closely”.

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“If we are going to get a redacted report, then there is little point,” he said, noting that IRA victims across the UK are angered.

“This is proving a difficult nut to crack. I still believe there was a deal with Libya back in Tony Blair’s time. Nothing else makes sense.”

Libya claims IRA terror compensation claims were settled with investment in the UK

Victims angered after revelation that government took £17m in tax from frozen Gaddafi assets

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A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman responded:“We are committed to supporting the victims of these horrific attacks,” he said. “The government is considering the recommendations in the report and will decide on next steps.”

Asked to clarify why the government may keep the report under wraps, the spokesman declined to give any further comment.

Lord Empey said experts agree that whatever deal may or have been struck with Libya, the country is still liable under international law for the actions of a former leader.

He believes the UK Government has now reverted to pre-2017 position, that it is up to private citizens to approach Libya for compensation, a position he said was “completely untenable”.

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