Millions of pounds in taxes paid on the frozen assets of Colonel Gadaffi should be used to compensate victims of IRA bombs that used Libya-supplied Semtex, an MP has said.
Westminster s Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has summoned William Shawcross, who wrote an in-depth report on the Libyan dictator s IRA links and the compensation issue, to appear before it later this month.
His report was submitted to the Foreign Office in May 2020, but the Government has so far refused to publish it. Committee chairman Simon Hoare said despite repeated public and private correspondence and written and oral parliamentary questions , the Foreign Office has taken no substantive action and is apparently determined to suppress your report and the matter .
“That has not materialised to date.”
He added: “It is important to recognise that there have always been pressures and always been a degree of criminality which will seek to adapt to the circumstances.”
He said the authorities needed to be able to respond quickly.
“Part of the intelligence-sharing that we have on a cross-border basis is about having those conversations.”
He doubted whether the extra paperwork requirements of the Northern Ireland Protocol would prevent seasoned criminals from sending their wares across the Irish Sea.
“It is unlikely to be the case that someone committing a crime and smuggling is going to be deterred by having to fill out a form, they may say they are shipping something else.”
Cross-border policing co-operation is continuing after Brexit in a timely manner, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said.
Minister Robin Walker said dealings between the PSNI and Garda in tracking criminals were happening speedily and generally faster than the minimum standard between EU states.
The worst predictions about the impact on law enforcement of the end of the transition period have so far failed to materialise.
Mr Walker said: “Exchanging information continues to work very effectively and in a timely manner.
“From my perspective that is not something which has changed.”
He recognised previously aired fears around delays in exchanging information between the forces.
Extra cost of post-Brexit paperwork sees NI exports routed via Republic instead runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.