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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ann Travers: IRA victim's sister to meet SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell | Ann Travers: IRA victim's sister to meet SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An IRA victim's sister is to meet the SDLP leader over his party's decision to block a bill to prevent former prisoners guilty of serious offences becoming Stormont special advisers. | |
| Ann Travers said she hoped to persuade Alasdair McDonnell to change his party's mind. | Ann Travers said she hoped to persuade Alasdair McDonnell to change his party's mind. |
| Earlier this week, she accused the SDLP of "putting two fingers up to victims". | Earlier this week, she accused the SDLP of "putting two fingers up to victims". |
| Ms Travers' sister Mary was shot dead by the IRA as she left Mass with her father in Belfast in 1984. | Ms Travers' sister Mary was shot dead by the IRA as she left Mass with her father in Belfast in 1984. |
| Ann Travers criticised the SDLP after it said it would try to block a bill that would prevent former prisoners guilty of serious offences holding posts as Stormont special advisers (SPADs). | Ann Travers criticised the SDLP after it said it would try to block a bill that would prevent former prisoners guilty of serious offences holding posts as Stormont special advisers (SPADs). |
| The party could use a petition of concern to stop the bill from becoming law. | The party could use a petition of concern to stop the bill from becoming law. |
| The petition requires 30 or more signatures and triggers a cross-community vote in the assembly. | The petition requires 30 or more signatures and triggers a cross-community vote in the assembly. |
| Ms Travers said she did not know if the SDLP was representing victims or victim-makers. | Ms Travers said she did not know if the SDLP was representing victims or victim-makers. |
| The Traditional Unionist Voice brought forward the bill after ex-prisoner Mary McArdle was appointed as an adviser to a Sinn Fein minister. | The Traditional Unionist Voice brought forward the bill after ex-prisoner Mary McArdle was appointed as an adviser to a Sinn Fein minister. |
| McArdle was convicted of the murder of Mary Travers. | McArdle was convicted of the murder of Mary Travers. |
| "I feel so disappointed, gutted - I have been punched in the stomach - and I feel they don't understand how hugely symbolic this bill is for victims of violence in Northern Ireland," Ms Travers said. | "I feel so disappointed, gutted - I have been punched in the stomach - and I feel they don't understand how hugely symbolic this bill is for victims of violence in Northern Ireland," Ms Travers said. |
| The bill seeks to ban anyone who has been sentenced to more than five years in prison from taking up a post in the future. | The bill seeks to ban anyone who has been sentenced to more than five years in prison from taking up a post in the future. |
| Sinn Fein, which has 29 MLAs, is opposed to the bill and if the party joined forces with the SDLP's 14 MLAs, both parties would be able to secure a petition of concern. | Sinn Fein, which has 29 MLAs, is opposed to the bill and if the party joined forces with the SDLP's 14 MLAs, both parties would be able to secure a petition of concern. |