UK victims of Libya-sponsored IRA Terrorism have blasted a top-secret government report over their campaign and demanded “what can be more important than justice for those injured and killed in the attacks”.
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s provision of Semtex explosives, arms, training, and financial support significantly bolstered the IRA’s lethal campaign across the UK towards the end of the 20th century. The heinous acts supported by Gaddafi resulted in widespread devastation in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, leaving many individuals with severe disabilities and numerous families grieving.
In 2006, the “Libyan Claims Resolution Act” in the US led to Gaddafi compensating IRA victims who were US citizens, including Mark McDonald, who suffered serious injuries from a Semtex bomb in the Harrods attack in London in 1983. Gaddafi, due to his backing of international terrorism, also compensated French and German victims.
While the governments of the US, France, and Germany secured reparations for their citizens, the UK government declined to assist its own victims. Britons affected by Libya-sponsored IRA terrorism were encouraged to privately settle the issue with the Libyan authorities.
In March 2019, following nearly 14 years of relentless campaigning by victims and supportive parliamentarians across the political divide, Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Mr William Shawcross as the “Special Representative on UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA Terrorism”.
Initially, the announcement, made through a government press release, was met with optimism by the victims and their families, as Mr Shawcross was expected to prepare a report aimed at advancing the Libyan IRA compensation issue.
However, to the victims’ and their families’ dismay, Mr Shawcross’s report has not been made public for ‘national security reasons’. The victims and their families are now eager to access the promised report.
Sarah Butt, sister-in-law of Paul Butt, who died in the IRA bombing at Baltic Exchange on April 1993, said at a meeting with parliamentarians at Westminster this wek: “We are now told the Shawcross report is classified, which begs the question what is in it and what can be more important than justice for the victims?”
Despite numerous requests from countless Parliamentarians over the years, the UK government has declined to use a portion of the seized assets of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to aid IRA victims. UK governments have consistently told the victims and their families that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s assets belong to the Libyan people and are safeguarded by international law.
However, this position now appears to be highly contradictory and insincere due to the release of Russian assets to Ukraine.
The absence of authentic backing from the UK government and its peculiar approach of maintaining this remains a private affair, expecting victims and their relatives to settle matters directly with the Libyan authorities, has wreaked havoc on the psychological wellbeing of those affected and their loved ones.
Numerous individuals who have courageously fought for justice are now battling serious mental health struggles, experiencing fresh trauma as a result of the UK government’s bewildering tactics and lack of honesty.
Gemma Berezzag, who devoted herself to caring for her husband Zaoui – left profoundly disabled following Gaddafi/IRA terrorism – and who had publicly championed the cause through the Docklands Victims Association for all those affected by Libya-Sponsored IRA Terrorism, tragically ended her own life in May 2016.
Jonathan Ganesh, President of the Docklands Victims Association who was left severely injured in the London Docklands IRA attack on February 9, 1996, said: “We have courageously campaigned for nearly 20 years to rectify to appalling injustice that sadly has devalued the life of every UK citizen. It is unimaginable to think after nearly 20 years our past and present UK governments have been so disingenuous. It is a catastrophic failure of the UK government that they have not fought for their citizens.
Ihsan Bashir, whose brother Inam Bashir was killed in the London Docklands IRA attack said: “The government have treated the victims of Gaddafi/IRA terrorism like rubbish. My beloved brother and countless other innocent victims have been let down by successive governments time and time again.”
Ms Susanne Dodd, daughter of Inspector Stephen Dodd of the Metropolitan Police, who was killed in the Harrods IRA attack in December 1983, said: “I’m heartbroken with the way the government have treated the victims. They do not care about my brave dad and all those killed. Before Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, whilst in opposition in 2020, he promised in writing he would help all the victims. The PM should keep his promises and release the Shawcross report and resolve this terrible lack of equality which has occurred.”
A historic victims conference, organised by a coalition of parliamentarians this week, included members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The conference hosted victims and their families affected by IRA atrocities such as the Harrods, Manchester, Aldwych, London Docklands, Baltic Exchange, Enniskillen bombings and more.
Discussing Tuesday’s proceedings, Jonathan Ganesh, chairman of the Docklands Victims Association, remarked: “This was an historic meeting with many others including victims attended and participated by video link from Northern Ireland and around the world. We have now collectively developed a strategy to move this matter forward with the support of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons.”