Emma Little-Pengelly asked to refute Gavin Robinson’s ‘disgraceful’ ‘move on’ remark about Bloody Sunday justice campaign
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has been asked to refute DUP party leader Gavin Robinson’s ‘disgraceful’ remarks that the families of the 14 victims of Bloody Sunday should ‘move on’.
North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly raised the matter with Mr. Robinson’s party colleague at the Stormont Assembly following the 54th anniversary of the British Parachute Regiment massacre in the Bogside in 1972.
Mr. Kelly told MLAs there is an ‘ongoing denial of justice to the families’
“Last week, her party leader, disgracefully, told the families that they should ‘move on’,” said the Sinn Féin MLA.
He asked whether the Deputy First Minister would, ‘in line with her statutory obligations to represent all victims, refute those highly inappropriate and insensitive comments’.
Mrs Little-Pengelly replied: “I have worked very closely with victims and survivors right across Northern Ireland for many years, and I always believe in taking a very sympathetic and empathetic approach to them.
"Legacy is one of the big issues that was not resolved in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Far too many victims and survivors, including the 90 per cent who were victims and survivors of terrorist atrocities, have never seen justice.
"There are many people who know truth. There are people in the Chamber who know truth but have not come forward to the authorities to tell the truth that they know and about what they perhaps did. I appeal to all in the Chamber and, indeed, across Northern Ireland that, if they have knowledge about a crime that was carried out — a terrorist act or atrocity — they should come forward, speak to the police and give families closure. All families deserve closure and truth.”
Mr. Kelly said Mrs. Little-Pengelly had not answered his question.
The Deputy First Minister responded: “I am not sure that I can be any clearer. I said very clearly that all families deserve truth and justice. Too many families have been denied truth and justice, and that includes the 90% who were victims of terrorist acts and atrocities.
"People across Northern Ireland are appalled by the hypocrisy of some, who demand truth from others but are not prepared to give truth themselves, when they know that they hold truth that could give great comfort to those families whom they made victims.”