Empey says UUP stands ready to oppose OTRs “tooth and nail” as Hain seeks to resurrect proposal
UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey today vowed the UUP would oppose ‘tooth and nail’ any attempts to resurrect the OTRs proposal as it emerged that the Secretary of State Peter Hain has been in contact with the American Attorney General to try and move the proposal forward.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“Despite the Secretary of State assuring the political parties here that an amnesty for OTRs was off the political table and giving the impression that this distasteful side-deal which should never have seen the light of day in the first place would be consigned to the dustbin where it belongs, it appears he has been working behind the scenes with the American Attorney General to keep the issue of OTRS alive.
It seems he is intent on trying to resurrect this proposal that is deeply divisive as it does not command the support of a majority of parties here.
The question has to be asked whether this is yet another side deal emanating from the St Andrews Agreement? It also means that the glossy DUP ‘Your Verdict’ document needs to go back to the printers as in the Belfast Agreement v St Andrews Agreement section it states: ‘As a result of the present negotiations the Government has agreed to abandon proposals to give an amnesty to ‘On The Runs’.’
The UUP remains utterly opposed to this insulting and ill thought out proposal and we stand ready to oppose it tooth and nail should it rear its ugly head again.”