Thread by @SEFFLisnaskea

We share George Larmour's letter knowing it'll resonate with many. It's once again an excellent piece of writing from him.

A HEARTLESS ACT OF POLITICAL SELF INTEREST
@BrandonLewis, Sec of State, in recent comments regarding @GOVUK ‘Statute of Limitations’ Troubles proposal, ..

..has the audacity to say “This is ultimately about delivering for the people.”
Yet despite overwhelming opposition from the people who matter most, the victims & their families, it would appear that Mr. Lewis & @BorisJohnson are intent on heartlessly & selfishly delivering ...

..what they want – a repugnant AMNESTY for killers.
When I was a child I was his annoying wee brother. Now I am a 72 yr old grandfather remembering my big brother John who was murdered on the 11/10/88. No-one has been brought to justice for John’s murder. I am not naïve enough..

..to think that anyone will now so many yrs later. But the hope that this could still happen & the truth be told is something that should never be stolen from any victim’s family.
I buried my dad on that same date (11/10) the yr after John was killed. I buried my mum a few yrs..

..after that. They died from broken hearts.
Oct 11th is also the date in 1974 I held one armed football legend Jimmy Hasty as he lay dying on the pavement in Brougham St, Belfast, after he was shot by loyalists for simply being a Catholic. Trying to reassure him I cared about..

..him. Not realising that morning that the date would play such a significant part in my life.
It is a simple fact of life that I was born a Protestant & Mr. Hasty was born a Catholic. Something that neither of us had any control over.
I didn’t ask what religion he was before

..I sat on that cold pavement & held him as he died. I didn’t care. He was another human being. That is all that mattered to me.
I have written many letters & newspaper articles on my battered old keyboard about the grief that has touched my life & the lives of so many people. ..

..None of the pain inflicted on all sides was worth it. I hope it never gets repeated. Our children & grandchildren deserve better.
But history has the potential of repeating itself Mr. Lewis especially if you send out the wrong message that killers can get away with murder. ...

..That is the danger in your cleverly worded ‘Statute of Limitations’ AMNESTY proposal.
All victims & their families deserve the potential for truth & justice to never be taken away.
THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON GRIEF
If you truly care about how we feel, ...

..you & Boris Johnston should do the right thing. Ditch this shameful AMNESTY proposal now. Find another way to deal with the past that treats victims & their families with the dignity & respect we deserve.
George Larmour
Author: ‘They killed the Ice Cream Man’