SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has called on Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill to confirm if they support comments made by Foyle MLA Martina Anderson that the Victims Pension is £800 million mainly for “those who fought Britain’s dirty war’’.
The Foyle MP described the comments as grossly insulting to victims who have sustained life altering injuries through no fault of their own and has called on the party’s leadership to apologise.
Said Mr Eastwood: “The comments made by Martina Anderson this evening are unacceptable, disgusting and grossly insulting to hundreds of victims who sustained life changing physical and psychological injuries related to troubles incidents.
“The campaign that Sinn Féin has waged against delivering this pension, forcing victims who have endured decades of hardship living with deep physical and emotional scars to go to court to get what they deserve has been deeply disturbing.
“These comments, coming less than a week after the High Court criticised the Executive Office, and specifically the deputy First Minister, for failing to meet their obligations to these victims under the law, are astonishing.
“How much more insult can Sinn Féin add to the injury that these victims have sustained? How much more pain are they willing to inflict on people who have survived the most horrendous atrocities?
“Martina Anderson is a senior Sinn Féin MLA.
“Her party President Mary Lou McDonald and joint First Minister Michelle O’Neill should urgently clarify if they believe victims applying for this pension are ‘mainly those who fought Britain’s dirty war’ or ‘involved in collusion’.
“Time and again, Sinn Féin has proven that it has no interest in putting the needs of victims first.
“The party’s leadership needs to urgently address the immense hurt these comments have caused and apologise immediately.”
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