IRA bomb victims set for Tripoli talks

Victims of IRA bombs take their reconciliation campaign to Tripoli at the end of the month, it was announced today.

DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds are part of the delegation probing Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s role in supplying Semtex explosives to the IRA.

Mr Donaldson said: “Colonel Gaddafi has once again shown that he is keen to draw a line under past differences and this peace and reconciliation delegation is a major step toward achieving that, as well as justice for our victims of human tragedy.”

The visit will be from October 31 to November 2. Gordon Brown has confirmed the UK will support compensation claims being made against Libya by IRA victims’ families.

The British government has been criticised for its closer ties with Libya by victims of the IRA, which was supplied with explosives by Tripoli.

Colin Parry, whose son Tim died in an IRA bomb in Warrington in 1993, said: “We look forward to discussing the outcome of the meeting with the UK delegates and anticipate eagerly the day when we can discuss those matters openly and directly with Libyan dignitaries.”

Jason McCue, advisor to the Peace and Reconciliation Delegation, said: “”Every time I listen to the words of Colonel Gaddafi, I hear a country that is positive and wants dialogue to put the past behind it. Our peace and reconciliation delegation can achieve just that by resolving remaining thorns in a humanitarian context.“