Government backs Docklands victims campaign

By Rob Virtue on September 3, 2010 2:04 PM |

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The campaign to compensate victims of the Docklands bombing received a boost after the Coalition government announced its support.

Foreign office minister Alistair Burt met representatives from the group aiming to seek redress for those affected by Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorist attacks, including explosion at South Quay.

The meeting came almost a year after Gordon Brown set up a unit to assist the campaign.

Speaking after Thursday's meeting, Mr Burt said: "The Government continues to support the campaign's goals. Acknowledging and addressing the suffering of victims is an essential part of Libya's full re-engagement with the world.

"Libya's relations with the international community have been fundamentally transformed in recent years and we have a common interest in moving forward.

"The campaign offers an opportunity to deal with a difficult legacy of the past in the right way."

A statement released by the campaign group said: "(Mr Burt) had a very positive meeting with our Reconciliation Campaign Team and reiterated Her Majesty's Government's commitment to supporting the initiative's efforts.

"HMG now also actively seeks to engage with Libya mutually to develop this common sense approach so that it might become a reality as soon as possible."

The 1996 South Quay bombing resulted in the death of two shop workers.