In 2019, following mounting pressure, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt appointed William Shawcross Special Representative on UK victims of Gadaffi-sponsored IRA terrorism. Part of the former Charity Commission head’s remit was to write a report detailing what levels of compensation should be given to victims of IRA bombs that used Semtex explosives supplied by Libyan dictator Muammar Gadaffi. An estimated £12 billion worth of Libyan assets linked to Col Gaddafi are frozen in the UK.
Though completed nine months ago, however, the report was shelved with conflicting explanations.
“We have been campaigning for ten years and were hopeful when William Shawcross was appointed to write this report,” said Jonathan Ganesh, president of the Docklands Victims Association last night.
“First we are told that the delay is due to Covid-19, which must be a priority. Then one of our lawyers applied through the Freedom of Information Act to be told its publication would affect British interests abroad. Then we were told it would prejudice relations with the Northern Ireland Executive and finally that it contains private and confidential information.
“It makes no sense. This was the Government’s idea to appoint Shawcross. He met us all, talked to us and he listened. Why do this if they had no intention of revealing that he said?How can they do this to us?”
Susanne Dodd, whose father, Metropolitan Police inspector Stephen, was killed in the 1983 Harrods attack, said: “We have been treated like rubbish by three conservative Prime Ministers. They do not care about us despite their warm words.
“My brave Dad gave his life to save others. The present government does not care about my dad or the other innocent victims. I’m very disappointed with Boris Johnson for withholding the Shawcross report and not helping us”.
The DVA contracted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer who sent Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh to see them.
In a letter to the DVA, seen by the Sunday Express, Sir Keir said: “Families are still living with the consequences of outages such as Enniskillen the Baltic Exchange, the Warrington bombings and the devastating bomb in the Docklands area of London.
“I appreciate how frustrating the lack of progress must her…particularly when you look to governments in the US, Germany and Glance which have managed to secure compensation.
“It is clear that the Government must consider the report and communicate its findings to victims and the public as a matter of urgency. Further delays are simply intolerable.
“Last night the FCDO refused to discuss the issue, but said in a statement: “We are taking this work forward. Ministers are carefully considering the complex issues captured in Mr Shawcross’ internal report, giving due respect to the victims.”
