Blair denies halting compensation for victims of Libya-backed IRA attacks

Former British prime minister Tony Blair has strongly denied trying to halt compensation to the victims of Libya-sponsored IRA attacks.

Muammar Gadafy gave arms and Semtex explosives to the republican group during the Troubles. Semtex from Libya became the IRA's most devastating threat during the Troubles and caused the loss of many lives.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of MPs is considering how UK victims of the late Libyan leader's aid can be compensated. It has invited Mr Blair to give oral evidence.

Chairman Laurence Robertson wrote to the former prime minister asking about his role in negotiations which produced a deal between the US and Libya.

“There is a real sense amongst the victims that an opportunity to include them in the agreement reached between the US and Libya was missed in 2008.

“The committee is keen to shed some light on this and, in doing so, maybe provide some kind of closure for the victims.”

Unionist members of the committee have urged Mr Blair to accept Mr Robertson’s invitation to appear in person before the committee.

The DUP’s Gavin Robinson said: “As a result of Libyan sponsored terrorism against US citizens, Gaddafi’s administration agreed in 2008 to pay $1.5bn [£1.03BN] to compensate families affected. For IRA victims in the United Kingdom, however, it would appear that our government made no effort whatsoever to pursue compensation.

“An invitation has been issued for Tony Blair to give oral evidence to the committee. The seriousness of the issue, and the impact on victims are such that I would hope he will take the opportunity to answer questions in more detail.”

The former prime minister wrote to the committee last month.

“The attempt to implicate me in deliberately trying to stop IRA victims receiving compensation is utterly without foundation and wrong,” he wrote. “I appreciate the opportunity you have provided me to set the record straight.”

The committee is exploring options for compensating the bereaved like using the frozen assets of the Gadafy family.

Links between the IRA and Libya date back to 1972 when Gaday praised the group. He later provided the IRA with the weaponry to wage an armed conflict which lasted 30 years.

He was ousted from power in 2011 and later killed during an assault on his birthplace.

Mr Blair said Libya admitted the extent of its IRA links, from 1992 to 1995.

“The issue of compensation for the victims of IRA terrorism made possible by the provision of material by the Gadafy regime was not an issue raised with me, as far as I am aware.

“And of course a statutory compensation scheme for victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland was already in existence, having been set up by a previous government.

“The needs of victims were therefore being addressed through the existing structures and mechanisms.”

He said he understood why victims of IRA terrorism would have wanted their claims raised at the same time as the 2008 compensation settlement of the Lockerbie passenger jet bombing.

Mr Blair said for the Americans this was never going to be made part of the settlement since they were focused on their own citizens affected by Lockerbie and a Berlin discotheque bombing and were precluded legally from such an action.

“I never tried to get the Americans to exclude the claims of IRA victims. I did not raise this issue with President (George W) Bush.

"The email from former ambassador Vincent Fean to my office evidences no such thing.

“It was simply a reflection of government policy at the time.”

He said he favoured the US having good relations with Libya because it assisted in the fight against terrorism.

Mr Blair added he did not raise the issue of IRA victims in any meeting with Mr Bush in 2008 nor any detail about Lockerbie compensation - he was not in government at the time.

The former prime minister also recorded his sympathy for the IRA’s victims.

“It was to ensure that there were not further such victims that I spent more time than any prime minister, before me or since, on Northern Ireland and the peace process there.”