Ms Forsythe said,
“As reported in the Belfast Telegraph, Tony Blair’s Cabinet admitted to ‘turning a blind eye’ to IRA terrorists. This is a gut punch to victims of republican violence and their families.
For decades, these victims have sought truth and justice. Instead, of justice, they’ve been handed betrayal, dressed up as political expediency.
At the time, my colleagues challenged the Government of turning a blind eye to criminality and terrorism from Republicans. These papers appear to stand up our well-grounded concerns.
We stand with those who feel abandoned by a government that chose to shield murderers rather than uphold the rule of law. The declassified files, showing John Reid’s confession to Sinn Fein leaders, expose a chilling reality. The pain of victims was a price Tony Blair’s administration was willing to pay to keep the peace process on track. This wasn’t pragmatism, it was a moral failure.
Today’s news reopens old wounds and demands new answers. The innocent victims of the IRA deserve more than platitudes. They deserve accountability for the atrocities committed against them.
I have written to the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable asking that an investigation is opened. Cabinet Ministers from that time must outline which IRA crimes were swept under the carpet. We need to see an immediate review of how such decisions were made, and who signed off on them.
Justice is in the balance, and it is the cornerstone of any democracy. The people of Northern Ireland must be able to see the truth for themselves.”